Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama defended his own patriotism and vowed never to use the issue against anyone during the race for the White House, rejecting comments by a retired general and backer about the military record of his opponent, Republican John McCain.
Shortly after, the Obama campaign announced he and former president Bill Clinton had a “terrific conversation” by telephone, breaking an icy silence between two of the US’ most gifted Democratic politicians.
Obama has been attacked for not wearing a US flag lapel pin and for allegedly failing to place his hand over his heart during the pledge of allegiance to the flag. He challenged his critics in a forceful speech in the aptly named city of Independence, Missouri, as he kicked off a campaign week that includes the July 4 US holiday celebrating independence from Britain.
Obama, baptized a Christian two decades ago, also has fought persistent Internet rumors that he is Muslim.
“I have found, for the first time, my patriotism challenged — at times as a result of my own carelessness, more often as a result of the desire by some to score political points and raise fears about who I am and what I stand for,” he said before a crowd of a few hundred people at the Truman Memorial Building in president Harry Truman’s hometown.
Obama, who has vowed to change the tenor of US politics by rejecting negative campaigning, also sought to distance himself from remarks retired General Wesley Clark made regarding McCain during a weekend TV interview.
Clark, who backed Hillary Rodham Clinton until she dropped out of the race for the Democratic nomination, said on CBS television on Sunday that McCain’s military service and five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam did not necessarily qualify the four-term Arizona senator to be commander in chief. Clark, who sought the Democratic nomination four years ago, now backs Obama.
Clark’s remarks set off a familiar pattern from earlier tussles over criticism: The candidates, Obama and McCain, took the high road while the harsh language was left to surrogates.
Obama, without mentioning Clark by name, said that patriotism “must, if it is to mean anything, involve the willingness to sacrifice.”
“For those like John McCain who have endured physical torment in service to our country — no further proof of such sacrifice is necessary,” Obama said. “And let me also add that no one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters on both sides.”
McCain was asked about Clark’s remarks during a news conference in Pennsylvania.
“I think that that kind of thing is unnecessary,” McCain said. “I’m proud of my record of service, I have plenty of friends, leaders who will attest to that.”
Separately, in a statement, Obama spokesman Bill Burton said: “As he’s said many times before, Senator Obama honors and respects Senator McCain’s service, and of course he rejects yesterday’s statement by General Clark.”
Obama, meanwhile, asked Bill Clinton to campaign for him when they had their first conversation since the heated Democratic primary contest was lost by the former president’s wife.
“[Obama] has always believed that Bill Clinton is one of this nation’s great leaders and most brilliant minds and looks forward to seeing him on the campaign trail and receiving his counsel in the months to come,” Burton said.
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