I am currently living overseas - with no cable television, and so no Fox, CNN, or MSNBC. Seeing a (substantial) clip of the Schieffer video, I did think Clark had gone to far (review my last diary, if you want to see my previous position.
However, apparently I had forgotten how disproportionate the response from the right wing media could be to any "offense". But after watching the video in this post - I now remember - and have fully changed my position. Clark should be defended, and rigourously. And not only defended - but his meme that capture and torture does not qualify one for president, should be spread far and wide. Because what this is all really about - is that becsause of his service McCain is somehow untouchable. And this needs to be rejected, vigorously.
I made another error. I suggested that Obama was so far ahead of McCain, that he did not need to resort to the type of politics in Clark's statement. But it is now clear to me that I had that the wrong way around. Rather, Obama is far enough ahead of McCain that he can finally call bullshit what it is. I hope he does. Vigorously. Please - Obama - spend a little of your politicl capital by not racing so quickly to the center.
Thanks to everyone here for helping to remove the scales from my eyes.