'I Will Never Question the Patriotism of Others'

Obama: Patriotism Used as Political Sword

Today, Obama said "the use of patriotism as a political sword or a political shield is as old as the Republic," citing Thomas Jefferson who was accused by the Federalists of selling out to the French.

Barack Obama is fond of saying there's only one president at a time, but he's putting his capital on...

Barack Obama is fond of saying there's only one president at a time, but he's putting his capital on the line early by jumping into the debate over a bailout bill for the auto industry -- and could wind up owning a stumbling economy a bit earlier (and more completely) than he would have liked

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

"For me, as for most Americans, patriotism starts as a gut instinct, a loyalty and love for country rooted in my earliest memories," he said.

"As I got older, that gut instinct -- that America is the greatest country on earth -- would survive my growing awareness of our nation's imperfections: it's ongoing racial strife; the perversion of our political system laid bare during the Watergate hearings; the wrenching poverty of the Mississippi Delta and the hills of Appalachia," he said, "Not only because, in my mind, the joys of American life and culture, its vitality, its variety and its freedom, always outweighed its imperfections but because I learned that what makes America great has never been its perfection but the belief that it can be made better."

After talking about how war in Iraq and Afghanistan has been used as a symbol of American patriotism, Obama said, " no party or political philosophy has a monopoly on patriotism," he said. "The young soldier who first spoke about the prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib – he is a patriot."

Obama Touts McCain's Military Service

The presumptive Democratic nominee said he believes patriotism involves the willingness to sacrifice, and he touted the military service of his GOP rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

"For those who have fought under the flag of this nation -- for the young veterans I meet when I visit Walter Reed; for those like John McCain who have endured physical torment in service to our country -- no further proof of such sacrifice is necessary," he 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."

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Clark Questions McCain War Record Value

That was an indirect reference to a comment made by retired Gen. Wesley Clark, a 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, who may have talked himself off the vice-presidential list by calling into question the value of Arizona Sen. John McCain's military record on Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation."

"He hasn't held executive responsibility. That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded -- that wasn't a wartime squadron," said Clark, who did command NATO allied forces during the war in Kosovo. "I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president," Clark added.

Democratic guru Rand Beers made similar remarks Monday, arguing McCain's time as prisoner of war in Vietnam "limited" his foreign policy view.

Sadly, Sen. McCain was not available during those times, and I say that with all due respect to him," Rand Beers said Monday during a talk at the liberal think-tank the Center for American Progress. "He was in isolation essentially for many of those years and did not experience the turmoil here or the challenges that were involved for those of us who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam war."

"So I think," he continued, "to some extent his national security experience in that regard is sadly limited and I think it is reflected in some of the ways that he thinks about how us forces might be committed to conflicts around the world."

Camp Distances From Wes Clark Comments

Obama spokesman Bill Burton told ABC News' Rick Klein, "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."

The Obama campaign Monday further distanced themselves from Clark's comments, saying the retired general was not booked through the campaign for his CBS appearance.

However, he did contact the campaign for talking points. Bashing McCain's military service, Obama aides say, was not one of those talking points.