General Clark's Supposed Attack

I see on MSNBC, their graphics, that what Wesley Clark said about John McCain is called an "attack." Of course that's the way McCain also is spinning it.

You can understand McCain wanting to put as bad a spin as possible on anything Obama's side says. If Obama says "Good morning," McCain has to see that somehow as an insult. But the media -- MSNBC in this case -- ought to have enough familiarity with the basic meaning of words and be able to hear what is said for what it is.

It is not an "attack" to say, "I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.'' That ought to be common sense. Take it at face value. Being in a fighter plane and being shot down have nothing to do with being president. Why would being shot down in itself qualify you for anything?

Clark actually went out of his way to praise McCain's service, calling him "a hero." For McCain's side -- and the media, always looking for a fight -- this is 'demeaning' and 'attacking his service record.'

One other comment. You know they're lying and it's all spin. But just assume this is the way McCain really hears language. Common sense and praise constitute a vicious demeaning attack. That would not be someone I would want on the other side of the negotiating table as president. We want someone who knows what language actually means.