I see.

Well, if there's anything this election has shown again and again it's how quickly a lie can travel.

I'm beginning to think they're going to have to re-work Relativity Theory. Lies are faster than light.

original comments.  I think rather that he's trying to cover his butt and disavow what he wrote, so as to mitigate any possible repercussions from having violated military rules.  I don't see where he explicitly says that he does not believe that Obama blew them off and that he takes it all back.  That, to me, would be recanting.

planning to vote for McCain and was glad to hear rumors supporting his point of view -- and then pass them on to family members.  It sounds to me like he honestly believed what he was told.  
This is something we should all be aware of -- there are people willing to make up stuff and swear it's true as they send it to everyone they know.  I don't understand people like that, but I've certainly encountered a number of them, and unfortunately, they're not all right-wingers; some are on our side (or view themselves as being on our side).  
After 15 years as a researcher for a progressive advocacy organization, I've learned to be skeptical of just about everything.  We receive reports from allied organizations that aren't worth the paper they're printed on, even though they are promoting the same point of view we have.  I have no respect for that.  If you can't make your point with facts and careful analysis, you should keep your mouth shut.