Washington (AP) Wesley Clark says Barack Obama played no part in remarks the retired general made about John McCain's qualifications to be president.

And the former supreme NATO commander said on ABC's “Good Morning America” today that he's “very sorry” his comments have distracted from Obama's message on patriotism.

Clark says he fully respects McCain and all others who have served in the military.

The controversy ignited Sunday when Clark told CBS' “Face the Nation” that McCain's being shot down during the Vietnam war did not make McCain qualified to be commander in chief.

Today the Obama supporter says his point was that there's a difference between fighting in a war and high-level decision making.