No one could have anticipated that the Washington Post and Associated Press might completely over-read and misinterpret something that a Democratic candidate said. No one.

I guess the best thing for Obama right now is that there's no recording of him saying the equivalent of "I was for it before I was against it".

The Corporate-pig media wants a close race.

They see the apoplectic reaction from the left toward Obama on FISA, so they creat a "new controversy" in hopes of whipping up more discontent toward Obama from his base, while at the same time, trying to paint Obama as a "flip-flopper" to undermine his core message of change.

fortunately, it's the 4th of July weekend already, and most people are paying scant attention.

Right now, Obama's having a second press avail according to Mark Halperin at The Page to correct this misreporting.

Well, well, more distortions and making-shit-up from the MSM. Good thing we have TPM & Election Central to debunk the bullcrap.

Meanwhile, if anyone wondered what Barack is really planning on doing on the day of the big Senate vote on FISA, here is his schedule for next Tuesday evening, July 8:

"The candidate is then scheduled to participate in two events in Washington within the span of two hours on Tuesday. At 6 p.m., Mr. Obama is to attend a dinner at the home of Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, Democrat of West Virginia, where guests must spend $28,500. At 7 p.m., he is expected at a V.I.P. photo reception at a nearby hotel, where the ticket price is $23,000."/

That is from this NYT piece talking about all the big-dollar fundraising Barack is doing:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/us/politics/03donate.html?pagewanted=print

A little bit of John Solomon will forever linger at both institutions.

If I may make a suggestion, Greg, how about putting this on the TPM front page?

As if by magic, Barack just posted this over on HuffPo about three minutes ago:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barack-obama/my-position-on-fisa_b_110789.html?view=print

He says, among other things, the following:

"Now, I understand why some of you feel differently about the current bill, and I'm happy to take my lumps on this side and elsewhere. For the truth is that your organizing, your activism and your passion is an important reason why this bill is better than previous versions. No tool has been more important in focusing peoples' attention on the abuses of executive power in this Administration than the active and sustained engagement of American citizens. That holds true -- not just on wiretapping, but on a range of issues where Washington has let the American people down." *** [snip] "Democracy cannot exist without strong differences. And going forward, some of you may decide that my FISA position is a deal breaker. That's ok. But I think it is worth pointing out that our agreement on the vast majority of issues that matter outweighs the differences we may have. After all, the choice in this election could not be clearer. Whether it is the economy, foreign policy, or the Supreme Court, my opponent has embraced the failed course of the last eight years, while I want to take this country in a new direction. Make no mistake: if John McCain is elected, the fundamental direction of this country that we love will not change. But if we come together, we have an historic opportunity to chart a new course, a better course."

Oh great, here's another media hack calling Obama's "refine" comment "ill-advised".

There was nothing wrong with Obama said - it's the idiotic media reaction that's the problem here.

The AP constantly gets the facts wrong, particularly where Dem candidates are concerned.

I can't stand Obama, as some of you may know, BUT - he ain't McSame, and I hope to hell he wins. Let's just hope he continues to defuse this kind of crap every time it comes up.

Giving Obama his due, I don't think it's a flip or a flop if he refines his position here. The situation in Iraq won't remain static; it would be silly for Obama's stance to remain so. It sounds like he knows that. Good on him.

And no, thanks. I'm not thirsty. ;)

Interestingly, Fox News appears to have the most reasonable and accurate headline:

Obama Willing to ‘Refine’ Iraq Withdrawal Plan

www.elections.foxnews.com

I guess even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

Well, the MSM is doing what it does. Obama needs to demonstrate what he and his campaign team is made of. Come out and make your position clear. Where do you stand? What can the electorate expect of you? Is he going to let the spinmeisters define him?

Obama is showing his inexperience. He's doing nothing except making problems for himself these days.

He might have been the media's darling during the primary, but the Press are out to bring him down now and he needs to learn how to deal with it and that means not speaking unless he absolutely has to.

It's really ridiculous, McCain has outright contradicted himself at least a dozen times and gets a free pass (outside of youtube vids).

With this much garbage being hurled at Obama today, I won't even have to send out my newsletter, Ha Ha Haaaa!

Cheers!

FUCKING REPORTERS!! LAZY PIECES OF GARBAGE!

The media has this all wrong. I have listened to every statement Obama has made on Iraq -- not only today, but throughout the campaign.

He has been consistent. His exit strategy has not changed -- it was 1 to 2 brigades a month then, it is 1 to 2 brigades a month now. He said then he would listen to commanders on the ground, he says now he will listen to commanders on the ground.

If you see or hear someo