Don't fall for the "optimal" trick.
Gaffe-generation is the name of the game of these last few weeks and it is clear that the GOP is going to try to spin every other statement by the president as a blunder (and vice-versa, of course). Early indications are that today's choice is Obama's statement on last night's "Daily Show" that "If four Americans get killed, it’s not optimal." I've seen some commenters on the left griping that it was an unforced error, and failed GOP presidential candidate and Sunday panel show darling John McCain had this to say:
"Well, the optimal line, of course, is very regrettable and makes me a little sad," McCain said on Fox News.
So will you be one of those concerned types that apologize for this line, or will you give the obvious answer that is below the fold?
There is a clear rebuttal, and if we all give it, we can neutralize this one: "Jon Stewart asked him if he thought it was the optimal response."
Obama was answering Jon Stewart's question:
Stewart: Is part of the investigation helping the communication between these divisions? ... I'd say even you would admit it was not the optimal response at least to the American people as far as us being on the same page.
Obama: Here's what I'll say: If four Americans get killed, it’s not optimal, and we're going to fix it.
Stewart: All of it?
Obama: All if it.
The question was
was it or was it not the optimal response. So John McCain had a sad because Obama answered
the whole situation was not optimal.
This was the right answer. The only other answer was that it was optimal, which he did not give. So it is really John McCain's sadness about which people should be concerned.