Bill Burton Needs To Take A Breath

It may be unrealistic in a 24-7, rapid-response team culture, but a few recent fake-media-driven-hullabaloos have shown that Obama's official spokesperson, Bill Burton, has his reaction timer calibrated a little too tight.  He's made a few quick comments that have fueled a media forestorm that Obama has then had to try to quell the next day.  

Most recently, Burton reacted to Wesley Clark's straightforward assessment of McCain's lack of experience with a quick "rejection" of Clark:  "Sen. Obama honors and respects Sen. McCain's service, and of course he rejects yesterday's statement by Gen. Clark."

Today, Obama walks back from his spokesperson, labeling Clark's statement as "inartful" and noted that his comments were not about Clark:  "I think in at least one publication it was reported that my comments yesterday about Senator McCain were in a response to General Clark. I think my staff will confirm that was in a draft of that speech that I had written two months ago."

Ok, I'll accept that, but Burton, Obama's official spokesperson, used Clark's name, so that theory doesn't fly with Burton's statement.  

We've been here before, with Obama walking back from Burton's initial flurry.  Remember Hillary's reference to the RFK assassination when she was noting that primaries often go well into June:

 Her remark about an assassination during a primary campaign drew a quick response from aides to Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama.

"Senator Clinton's statement before the Argus Leader editorial board was unfortunate and has no place in this campaign," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.

A day later, Obama backed off Burton's statement:

"I have learned that when you are campaigning for as many months as Sen. Clinton and I have been campaigning," he told the Puerto Rico radio station Isla, "sometimes you get careless in terms of the statements that you make. And I think that is what happened here.

"Sen. Clinton says that she did not intend any offense by it," he added, "and I would take her at her word on that."

Is there a strategy behind this -- a good cop/bad cop routine -- or does Burton speak first and consult the candidate later?  I'd guess the latter.  Obama seems to have superior judgment to Burton, and may need to shorten the leash.