What with his stand on FISA, his support of the gun ruling by the SC and now this, I am really starting to lose faith in Obama--is he on his way to becoming another of the spineless Democrats like Reid and Pelosi? The Obama response to Clark is really disturbing, as is the rather blind support of some of his followers who seem to think the only thing that matters is getting him elected.

Hopefully, the coverage of this race can put the myth of the "liberal media" to rest once and for all. Time and time again, we've seen them launching new attacks on Obama, some deserved, others having to employ a considerable amount of truthiness to achieve their goals, while McCain has generally gotten a pass. At their worst, they are often the first to rush to McCain's defense, as with their latest coverage of Clark's comments.

I'm convinced that media is trying to create as close a race as possible, constantly taking shots at whomever the front runner is, in this case that front runner happens to be Obama. As long as the race is close, people will continue to tune into their networks and buy their magazines, so it's in their best interests to manufacture a razor-thin margin between the candidates. Nevermind their duty to question official reports or to dig deep for the truth that lies between the pandering and faux outrage.

From what I've seen, the only coverage worth checking out is from the foreign media.

BTW, welcome back, Steve. It's good to have you here offering some real analysis to these stories.

Obama's response to this was way off. What he should have done was make a statement to correct the coverage, then point out he has nothing to do with General Clark...it would be like McCain being asked to apologize for anything David Duke might have to say about Obama.

The feigned, coordinated outrage here is transparent. The way in which the media is buying into the outrage, and exaggerating it, makes me wonder if the McCain campaign will have to report today's coverage as an in-kind contribution.

Adding snark to snark: If anyone brings this question up, all McCain's campaign will need to do is point out the precedent of years of prior practice. After all, no-one ever questioned whether the entire Fox News budget for all these years should've been reported as an in-kind contribution to the RNC.

It's sad that Repubs and their enablers can always get away with this kind of thing. They can't respond to the actual content of criticism, so they pretend the criticism is about something else and feign outrage. And their media eats it up and belches it out over the airwaves.

Sure Dems could and probably should respond more aggressively, but they know full well they're operating at a handicap.

I am very unhappy with Obama's response to Gen. Clark's comments about MCCain's qualifications for leadership. Clark did not question anyone's patriotism or service. But he had a valid point about whether getting shot down and being imprisoned automatically qualifies one for Commander in Chief or any other position of leadership. It is a point that I have been making to friends from the beginning.

I take Obama's repudiation as the kind of politically motivated action, perhaps even pandering, that I repuduate.

Obama's moving to the center is one thing but repudiating a valid question makes me question my support. Gen. Clark deserves better.

It's amazing that the media can report anything at all, since McCain's dong is in their collective mouths most of the time.

Then again, as Glenn has so clearly shown, Time magazine is nothing more than a pathetic, partisan rag at this point. Pity that people still think of them as a legitimate news source.

There are only two choices and the worst one is John McCain.

...that he doesn't "do cowering"?

Obama is really starting to worry me. All of Clark's points were well made and true. I was relieved to finally hear someone state the obvious about McCain and I figured that Clark was speaking for Obama since he has been rumored to be a possible VP choice. Now Obama backs off? What is he afraid of? Pissing off the press? WHO CARES about that? Obama's campaign called me this weekend for support (both financial and other) and I refused because of FISA. Looks like I now have another reason. Obama better finds his balls - and soon!

I sometimes feel that I have awakened in a different country, one where lies are taken as truth and everyone believes the emperor and his court are clothed when they are clearly buck naked liars.

Obama going along with this media-constructed strawman is appalling. He cannot be who he has claimed to be and still be complicit in lies and leave his path littered with broken promises.

The other night on The News Hour on PBS I listened to Shields and Brooks analysing Obama. Their theme, in which they were singing a not so amusing duet, was whether or not Obama had moved enough to the center. Has he moved enough and fast enough? Their conclusion was that he had. They were quite pleased with this.

God help us.

Wesley Clark's comments in their full context were not derogatory. In fact, they pointed out the obvious fact that just because you were shot down does not quality you to be CIC.

The sad part is that Obama is making comments that indicate he is afraid to fight with the truth on his side. This is a seriously flawed strategy that will make the GE a toss up by November.

The 527's strategy is from the Rovian playbook. It is dated and the public is well aware of this tactic. Accordingly, the best way to combat the smear attacks is to shine a light on the facts and let independent thinking voters see for themselves that hallow arguments should not be construed as making John McCain appear to be more qualified than he really is.