Gen. Tony McPeak (USAF, RET.) served his country honorably and is a highly decorated combat veteran. With serious credentials.
No one can dispute that. He is currently an adviser for Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign and lends his considerable credence as a distinguished officer and leader. However, a recent statement he made about Sen. Clinton seriously made me wonder if he harbors past animosities or sour grapes toward Sen. Clinton.
Why would I ask that? Perhaps this statement from the LA Times may help you understand why that thought crossed my mind. (And to Sen. Obama's campaign's credit, they disavowed his remarks.)
-excerpt-
The advisor, retired Gen. Merrill A. "Tony" McPeak, said in a telephone interview that Obama has "real gravitas, not artificially created, focus-grouped, poll-directed, rehearsed gravitas."
He also said Obama "doesn't go on television and have crying fits; he isn't discovering his voice at the age of 60" -- references to Clinton's much-publicized show of emotion during the New Hampshire primary campaign and her speech after winning the contest in which she declared that she had "found my voice."
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-
na-iraqpol2feb02,0,1272905.story
Again, I credit the Obama campaign for distancing themselves from those remarks.
Maybe we should be happy he didn't say Hillary probably played with dolls as a girl. That may be harsh on my part and it is simply a thought, but let me return a little fire. He can take it.
You see, Tony McPeak was replaced as acting Sec. of the Air Force by - gasp - a woman during Bill Clinton's tenure. Her name is Dr. Sheila E. Widnall. Gen. McPeak retired after a distinguished career and continued to do honorable work.
He also was the Oregon chair for Bob Dole's campaign and we know how that went. (McPeak also served as an adviser to Howard Dean and John Kerry, he's a good guy.) Dole lost to Clinton.
Sour grapes? Just a thought.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrill_A._ McPeak
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_E._W idnall
And my parting shot - I am glad that the redesigned officer uniforms he brought to the USAF - that look like the RAF's - were canned.
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