Barack Obama yesterday landed a right hook on one of his biggest left-wing supporters yesterday – blasting MoveOn.org for labeling Gen. David Petraeus “General Betray Us.”
Obama, in a patriotism speech in Independence, Mo., hit the Web site for taking out an ad in The New York Times last year that targeted Petraeus, then the top US commander in Iraq.
While not naming names, the Democratic presidential candidate – who had been heavily supported by the Web site in his primary race – said, “A general providing his best counsel on how to move forward in Iraq was accused of betrayal.
“We can no longer afford these sorts of divisions.”
Many of Obama’s Senate colleagues already felt the same way – and had expressed their anger at the ad back in September, when they voted to “strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of” Petraeus.
Obama skipped the vote.
But yesterday, he couldn’t have been more red, white and blue, proclaiming his love for America and vowing not to question the patriotism of his political opponents.
“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.
His campaign issued a statement more specifically condemning Sunday’s comments by retired general and top Democrat Wesley Clark, who said of McCain, “I don’t think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president.”
In the statement, spokesman Bill Burton said Obama “rejects [Sunday’s] statement by Gen. Clark.”
The skirmish overshadowed Obama’s carefully orchestrated speech intended to quell doubts about his patriotism.
“Throughout my life, I have always taken my deep and abiding love for this country as a given,” said Obama, sporting a shiny flag pin on his lapel.
One recent poll found only 61 percent of Americans believe Obama loves his country.
The McCain campaign, meanwhile, launched a “truth squad” yesterday, slamming Clark’s remarks belittling McCain’s military record as beyond the pale.
They alleged it was part of a pattern of pro-Obama supporters trying to tarnish McCain’s record of service to his country.
churt@nypost.com