Tom Harkin Is Not a Big Fan of the Military

Tom Harkin, Democratic Senator from Iowa, was quoted by reporters saying that John McCain isn't fit to be president because of his military background. Story from the Des Moines Register.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain's family background as the son and grandson of admirals has given him a worldview shaped by the military, "and he has a hard time thinking beyond that," Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Ia., said Friday.

"I think he's trapped in that," Harkin said in a conference call with Iowa reporters. "Everything is looked at from his life experiences, from always having been in the military, and I think that can be pretty dangerous."

Harkin said that "it's one thing to have been drafted and served, but another thing when you come from generations of military people and that's just how you're steeped, how you've learned, how you've grown up."

It's okay to be drafted, but it's not okay to grow up in a family with a history of military service?What, you're suddenly disqualified from running for president if you grew up in a military family. And this attitude comes from a former Navy pilot. Real nice.

Harkin also served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam era but was not in combat.

He said that "I just want to be very clear there's nothing wrong with a career in the military" and that he has friends who are generals and admirals who have served the country well.

There's nothing wrong with a career in the military, except of course if you dare to run for president. And, some of his friends are in the military, so he must be right. Does he realize how ridiculous he sounds?

"But now McCain is running for a higher office. He's running for commander in chief, and our Constitution says that should be a civilian," Harkin said. "And in some ways, I think it would be nice if that commander in chief had some military background, but I don't know if they need a whole lot."

First of all, McCain is a civilian (just in case Harkin couldn't figure that out for himself). Harkin is essentially arguing that once you've been in the military, it's questionable whether you're a civilian anymore. Don't forget that some military service is okay, but McCain has too much military experience. Well, I'm glad the genius of Tom Harkin has enlightened me to such wisdom.
This guy really supports the troops.

(Hat tip: Hot Air)