This is the third day of the fauxtrage game from the McCain campaign, stomping about demanding apologies and ignoring the real issues. Wahh. Wahh. Wahh. I thought Clark's point was pretty reasonable. Having been a POW makes a person a hero and there is no question that McCain conducted himself honorably. However, it does not entitle one to be president, and it is not an excuse for repeatedly confusing basic, strategically relevant facts about the world in which McCain wants to be our leader. It does not entitle one to unimpeachable authority on foreign affairs, especially when one's judgment has, as it the case with McCain, been in line with the past eight years of Bush policy. The BY FAR more important "attack" from the Obama campaign over the past few days is the attack on the Bush/McCain strategy of directing resources away from al Quaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and into Iraq. Yet the M(cC)ain Stream Media has let the McCain campaign focus attention on their hissy fit over Clark. No wonder he calls them "his base".

Oh, but McCain and Obama, aren't trying to win a debate on points of logic; they are trying to win at politics. That's a whole other ball game. And that's why McCain is pretending to be outraged.

I don't know... maybe he's sensitive about the 5 years he spent getting tortured on a daily basis. Is it inconceivable that he would take offense at a fellow military man minimizing his sacrifice in the name of politics, during a time of war no less?

Obama was careless to let one of his cronies get out of line like this. It's the type of cheap shot that led to Hillary's downfall during the primaries.

I didn't hear anything "minimizing his sacrifice". I heard him saying that having been a POW is not a trump card qualification to be president. That's no more of a "minimization" than saying that it's not a trump card qualification to be a neurosurgeon. Clark was perfectly clear about honoring McCain's service. He was simply discussing its relevance as a qualification for the job for which he is under consideration. Having been a POW doesn't entitle one to be president, admiral, etc.

Yes, what you're saying is true, but it's so inherently obvious that it doesn't even need to be said. Clark is trying to deflate the high image many have of McCain's military service by making him sound like a bumbling idiot who "got shot down" while "riding in a plane". We all know that politicians try to use words that will be understood differently by different people. Nobody's arguing that his statements aren't true if taken in their most literal sense. Politically, I just don't think you can lessen the importance of his military service. If Barack's going to attempt a swiftboat, it's probably going to backfire.

I'm not following you. First you say that Clark's point is true, then you compare his true point that does not in any way denigrate McCain's service to "swiftboating". That just proves my point that this is a nontroversy and that the winger's are playing fauxtrage. Clark was just making a literally true point by your own admission but then you interpreting it in non-literal ways so you can pretended to by offended... just offended... oh so offended... outraged... simply outraged...

If McCain wants to prove he's qualified for the job he doesn't need to be playing the fauxtrage game with every single quote that might be non-literally interpreted as something other than a true point. He needs to answer the criticism of his 100+ years strategy.

You're right about not following me. Sounds like you're looking for a Winger to argue with, which I am not. I don't trust anybody that sees the world through Liberal vs. Conservative eyes. So I'll move on and try to engage somebody with a more nuanced approach to politics.

Oh, and one last thing. I don't have to pretend to be offended by this. I truly think it's despicable.