This is absolutely infuriating. (I just watched it and started yelling at the screen. My friend Reuben, looking on, seemed concerned about me.)
In short, the difference between the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth thing and these comments from Gen. Clark are as follows:
- The Swift Boat guys disparaged Sen. Kerry's war-hero status, unequivocally and openly. Gen. Clark acknowledged McCain's service but questioned the assumption that it's equivalent to being prepared to be president.
- The SBV4T talking points consisted of carefully constructed half-truths, personal attacks, and spin. Gen. Clark, speaking off the cuff, said something that was at worst carelessly worded, because it's OBVIOUSLY TRUE: Getting shot down while serving your country might make you a hero, but it has nothing to do with your ability to govern.
Wow. I am now furious. Or at least frustrated. Do you think there is some inherent problem in the mainstream media that makes them incapable of seeing the difference between "attacking McCain's service" and "questioning the relevance of McCain's service to his viability as Commander in Chief"?
ReplyDeleteAlso, "Deja Swift Boat" is like the laziest TV headline ever.
Yes, "Deja Swift Boat" sucks, though I'm curious whether TPM is treating that particular clip a bit like the TV news folks are treating Gen. Clark--between that one's Rachel Maddow, a leftish Air American personality and one of the smarter commentators on television.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid to watch, because I walk around infuriated these days what with the coverage of the election.
ReplyDeleteJake and I just watched this video and even a nine month old got bored with the media's short sighted review of clark's statement. His is his response: jj78bdssuizsdaZAZA N N TF Z
ReplyDeleteand now he's playing with computer cords and fire. gotta go.