On a technical-glitch-filled conference call this morning, Hillary Clinton and Wesley Clark talked about the general’s endorsement of Clinton’s presidential bid. Clark emphasized Clinton’s preparedness — “she’s smart, she does her homework” — and said, pointedly,
“She’ll be a great commander-in-chief.”
With Rudy and McCain accusing Hillary of being anti-military — or at least anti-Petraeus, the endorsement comes at convenient time. However, Hillary didn’t take the opportunity, provided by question from ABC’s Kate Snow, to repudiate the ad or even really acknowledge its existence. Snow asked if Clinton “agreed” with the ad, and she responded, “I’ve made my respect for him [Petraeus] abundantly clear and I think that speaks for itself.”
I was curious to hear what Clark might say of the ad, seeing as how it’s been framed (on the right at least) as disparaging the military as an institution as much as Petraeus, but a glitch struck and the general’s call was dropped. Clark could have also provided a military man’s perspective on another criticism aimed at both Hillary and MoveOn: that their incredulousness at Petraeus’s testimony is not just disrespectful, but evidence of some fundamental misreading of the relationship between the military and civilian leadership.
Clark also wasn’t asked if he had any criticism of Clinton’s initial support for the Iraq war, his opposition to which was the signature issue of his own 2004 bid. Perhaps the campaign intends to signal something to skittish netroots with his willingness to back her despite the difference.
I didn’t make it into the question cue queue so was unable follow up on these issues when Clark rejoined the call. Maybe next time — though both Clinton and Clark were cautious about committing to any specific level of involvement by Clark in the campaign.
UPDATE: As with much in ClintonWorld, there is a Ron Burkle connection.