On the August 13 broadcast of his nightly WABC radio show, show host and Landmark Legal Foundation president Mark R. Levin compared Senator John Kerry (D-MA) to the notorious American Revolution traitor Benedict Arnold, arguing that military service does not make someone “presidential material.”

When a caller suggested that attacking Kerry's war record was not the best tactic for conservatives, Levin countered by saying, “not that he's this, but just to make the logical point, you ever heard of Benedict Arnold?” He said Arnold “had a great military career” and was “considered a master strategist,” but that “simply because someone served in the military doesn't make them presidential material ... I do not believe John Kerry is presidential material.”

From the August 13 broadcast of Levin's WABC radio show:

CALLER: His [Kerry's] boat could have been blown up, he could have been killed, I mean, he didn't have to put himself --

LEVIN: Sir, have you ever heard of -- let me give you a couple of names -- not that he's this, but just to make the logical point -- you ever heard of Benedict Arnold?

CALLER: Yes, I've heard of Benedict Arnold.

LEVIN: He was a -- had a great military career, right?

CALLER: Right.

LEVIN: Some of our great victories during the Revolutionary War were due to Benedict Arnold. He was considered a master strategist, isn't that correct, sir?

[...]

LEVIN: The fact is, simply because somebody served in the military doesn't make them presidential material. I do not believe that -- hold on now, let me just finish my thought -- I do not believe John Kerry is presidential material.