Watching the local news tonight - which is all most Americans see in the way of news, I got a bit annoyed about the framing of the McCain conversation till I stepped back and looked at the entirity of the election coverage tonight.
First it was OBAMA makes speech about patriotism, and sound clips of him saying no-one would challenge his patriotism.
Then Clark quote - they talked over the BS question that led to the "flying in a plane getting shot down comment" making it look like Clark originated the turn of phrase for which he is being so pilloried when he didn't - it was BS that summarized the entirety of the McCain experience to that couplet. And McCain shaking his head, finishing with Obama "distancing himself from the comments", with the last remarks being Obama saying neither side should dispute the other's patriotism.
So Clark / BS exchange bugged me. But then I looked again. Obama's speech got elevated to the degree that the message was that both sides were patriotic and this crap needs to be cut out. It's a well crafted message... (i don't know if deliberate or not, but if it was it's smart)
the big hoo-haa puts the fact out there that many are thinking anyway (i.e. that McCain's military experience doesn't by itself qualify his as President or even a foreign policy expert, it bears no resemblance to being commander in chief, just because it was military experience)
the controversy hitting the same day as Obama's patriotism speech gets the coverage of both
and the person on record as saying no let's not go there on this stuff, is Obama
am I wrong?
or, in watching how the actual news people watch has cut the whole day's politics down into a couple of minutes, is it that the day looks remarkably good for Obama?
LATE UPDATE: Oh i love this from Clark... this guy is tough and good
Statement from Wes Clark:
"There are many important issues in this Presidential election, clearly one of the most important issues is national security and keeping the American people safe. In my opinion, protecting the American people is the most important duty of our next President. I have made comments in the past about John McCain's service and I want to reiterate them in order be crystal clear. As I have said before I honor John McCain's service as a prisoner of war and a Vietnam Veteran. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in Armed Forces as a prisoner of war. I would never dishonor the service of someone who chose to wear the uniform for our nation.
"John McCain is running his campaign on his experience and how his experience would benefit him and our nation as President. That experience shows courage and commitment to our country - but it doesn't include executive experience wrestling with national policy or go-to-war decisions. And in this area his judgment has been flawed - he not only supported going into a war we didn't have to fight in Iraq, but has time and again undervalued other, non-military elements of national power that must be used effectively to protect America But as an American and former military officer I will not back down if I believe someone doesn't have sound judgment when it comes to our nation's most critical issues."