Woah, when did Greg Sargent turn into Greg Snark-gent?

So? Let the McCain campaign keep harping on the comments. The more the media repeats Clark's line - "I don’t think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president" - the more likely it is people start to think "you know, maybe that Clark fellow's got a point".

As for Obama, he's simply playing good cop to Clark's bad cop.

You and Josh ask why the Obama campaign isn't hitting McCain directly on his war service, and you only have to look to the traditional media this morning for your answer.

Almost EVERY newschannel was bleating in anger about the perceived 'attack' on McCain's record. When McCain's got the media in his defense like that, how are you going to respond without being painted as some sort of scurrilous anti-patriotic bastard?

Gee, what a shock. The mcbush camp would love to talk about this issue 24/7 until november. They have nothing else to talk about, so they would love to argue about serving 5 years in a pow camp and getting shot down serving his country should not be "smeared" by obama. What a no-brainer. Obama obviously has to run from these types of attacks big time. It's a lose, lose proposition.

Wow, I didn't know that "Being a Centrist" meant "Being a Wimp". First FISA, now this. Being impressive and courageous is a great way to win the democratic primary, but we all know Americans just love to vote for people they perceive as wimps in the general election!

Wesley Clark should get back on the air & insist on his framing . . . Neither he nor Obama should cower to the MSM and McCain camp's terrible twisting of the comments. This is a decisive moment. The right to untangle qualifications for the highest office in the land from military service is legitimate, fair, and reasonable -- and in no way demeans or disrespects that service. Making this an attack on McCain's patriotism is a horrible perversion of patriotism. Clark should speak again and Obama's camp should not stop him.

F*&% John McCain and the MSM. But frankly, I'm not all that happy with Obama right now either. I'll still vote for him--should go without saying--but my "enthusiasm" factor is dimming by the day.

He needs to stop letting McCain push him around. And his quick, inartful rejection of Wes Clark just egged McCain on (remember HRC and the Samantha Powers incident?)

Count me as a very disgruntled Obama supporter right now. I do NOT want Campaign 2004 reruns all summer long.

you and josh must really not understand. did you see ANY OF THIS OUTRAGE when mccain said that bringing the troops home was NOT TOO IMPORTANT?

NO. obama knows that he can't win this battle even playing good cop/bad cop.

well politico has some good news, Obama snubed the DLC. http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0608/Not_a_DLCer.html

McCain's green screen background was more fun. Is he now being sponsored by 'Air Designs'?

Clark was exactly on point, I don't think he made any mistake. He was not dissing McCain's service, he simply pointed out the truth. McCain has never done anything to qualify him to command a nation, at least not any more than Obama.

I am really sick of all the touchy feely about McCain. Frankly, yes, he suffered. I cannot even begin to imagine. However, that was then, this is now, and McCain is a D.C. fixture that has no clue about world politics. Screw the MSM, it doesn't matter what anyone says, they will strike if it is in reference to Obama's benefit. And Obama better find his bullocks and start backing his own people. I am SICK of him apologizing in any way.

I find it kinda funny TPM, OpenLeft etc are discussing whether Obama should have denounced Clark's comments solely based on the question of whether Obama doing what he just did helps Obama in the election campaign. The idea of whether, you know, demeaning the personal combat experience of a rival politician is the right thing to do seems to be something that nobody ever even thought to ask.

Shorter McCain: "You guys in the press are my goon squad, I'm just gonna stay above the fray and act like I'm mildly disappointed while my surrogates and you my friends make me out to be the most patriotic American who ever lived and Obama who I'm not sure is even an American has just made the most scurrilous attack ever made in a presidential campaign. Now thanks but I really need a nap."

Ugh, I just started to watch the beginning of his comments and I had to shut it down. It totally allowed him to play the sympathy card and play up his service. What a stupid f'n comment on clark's part. It really is indefensible. I would guess that we won't see clark out there again for quite some time. Dammit. That comment was a disaster for the obama campaign. I don't care about context or if it's right or anything else. Ugh!!!!

I guess Wes for VP is less likely now . . .

The questions to McCain from the press were as weak as the questions at McCain's "staged" townhall meeting. I was embarrassed for the ass-licking journalists. But still McCain looks slow and so tired that he needs the podium to hold him up; definitely not strong enough for the rigors of the presidency. Plus that background matching his suit to the shoulder gave him a comical look. McCain was again not impressive at all. Obama looked sharp in Missouri and hopefully his speech will get more play in Missouri than the MSM is willing to give it. It was a good speech.

My preferred explanation for this episode is good cop - bad cop pressure on McCain.

Though technically Clark did not dismiss McCain's service and did give him proper due for his sacrifice, he did manage to slip in the obvious but overlooked point that McCain got himself shot down. Oops. What do we really want from our heros-- that they get shot down or that they fly home victorious? I think it's kind of in the weeds, and frankly I put the chance this was engineered by Clark let alone Obama at very low odds. Yet, if there's a low information bottom line that will be reinforced by the constant mention in the press, I think it is that getting shot down doesn't make you a president.

Hmmm, that young vigorous general may have a point. Why is being a victim of the Vietnam war a good thing in a candidate? On the other hand it's cool Obama doesn't attack the victim for getting himself shot down Good for him.

But, I think there's a lot less to Clark's comment and Obama likes keeping the election focused on bigger issues so my good cop / bad cop hope is just that. No more.

Dear Greg,

I don't know ya and I'm sure you know WAY MORE about politics and campaign winning politcal strategies than I ever will. However, I don't care if John McCain was the biggest f**k-up to ever sit his butt behind the controls of a fighter plane and I don't care if he was drunk and/hungover the day he got shot down and 'confessed' all to the enemy. He did suit-up for combat and took enemy fire. Barack Obama has never worn so much as a boyscout uniform,to my knowledge, and, therefore, he has NO standing, not evern through surrogates to question ANY aspect of John McCain's military service and he OBVIOUSLY knows this.

Now, since Wes Clark's words are going to be blamed on Obama, rightly or wrongly, the ONLY thing for Obama to do is distance himself from them and nip the whole sh*tstorm as quickly as he possibly can. Because, even with my very limited knowledge of politics, I do know this: The last argument someone WHO HAS NEVER WORN THE UNIFORM OF THIS COUNTY (not even the Texas Air National Guard 'champagne unit'), wants to have is over the details, quality, relevance, or anything else related to the military service of someone who IS STILL crippled, maimed,and mutilated from being tortured for FIVE years as a soldier. That is not a debate the guy who NEVER served wins! EVER!

Christ, you would think that someone that got shot down, got "tortured", etc. wouldn't have their feelings hurt so easily.

If Democrats are spooked by the comments of Wesley Clark, then we might as well just hand McCain the election now as we're looking at Kerry redux. People need to grow spines, stand up to the bullshit Republican rhetoric and call 'em out.

I swear to god some Democrats haven't learned anything in the past 20 years. If it's not navel-gazing, it'll be hand-wringing or purity-clucking; we'll find a way to fuck up this election. Obama better show some mettle soon or we're toast.

I've always believed that McCain's suffering and service was praiseworthy. No question.

But will some of the nervous nellies quit hyperventilating about this?

A former senior Army General and former presidential candidate just made a useful distinction: McCain's heroics (and they are that; he was an exemplary Naval officer) are not necessarily the same thing as being able to make presidential decisions.

He's already made a bunch of boneheaded decisions, in fact, not to mention a whole lot of questionable moral moves in order to win the GOP nomination.

Since when is it illegal, imoral or fattening to talk about a candidate's qualifications for the office he seeks?

God knows McCain's (and Hillary's, before that)surrogates have been doing that to Obama every single chance they can, and a lot of it is a whole lot less savory that what Clark said.

For my money, McCain's a crybaby. He squeals over every little thing. I'll bet he never whimpered like this when his torturers worked him over in Hanoi.

Jesus, John. Get a grip. Getting shot down is not a gold pass to the Oval Office. It's a major part of who you are, but quit riding this pony where it doesn't belong.

Not very presidential.

Wait, I am missing something. How does the Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO, get busted for criticizing the command credentials of an airman?

How the F did that get twisted around. If anyone in this entire sordid mess has the right and experience to tell you what a serviceman can and cannot do, it's Clark. Isn't he also a Rhodes Scholar?

If I were Clark, I would remind Senator Obama who he is obliquely referring to, and reiterate my statement.

This is just nuts. McCain should fucking salute every time he mentions Gen Clark's name.