Clark Misfires

The New York Times leads with Obama rejecting Clark's comment:

"The terse exchanges between the rivals, echoed even more vociferously by their campaign representatives and surrogates, underscored a central question both candidates are grappling with: How do they present themselves as practicing a new kind of politics, while they, and particularly their allies, are still pointing out flaws in each other? . . .

"Mr. Obama's effort to highlight his American values, delivered in a 30-minute address before a backdrop of flags, was complicated by the comment from General Clark. The war record of Mr. McCain once seemed like an unassailable asset to his presidential bid, but General Clark's comments on the CBS News program 'Face the Nation' -- that being shot down in Vietnam was not a qualification to be president -- raised the possibility that Mr. McCain's military record would face scrutiny."

The conservative blogosphere is on fire. National Review's Kathryn Jean Lopez questions whether this is part of a liberal assault:

"If this is a serious strategy on the Left for defeating McCain, Republicans may yet surprise in November. But although others have tried hitting McCain's military-service record, this Face the Nation story may be more about Democrats finally facing the reality that is the fringe recklessness of Wesley Clark . . .

"Conservatives should not let this Clark moment pass. Barack Obama should distance himself from efforts to dishonor McCain's military service."

At the Weekly Standard, John McCormack goes to the history books:

"Clark's attack is a bit like saying that JFK's boat getting sunk wasn't a qualification to become president in 1960. Can you imagine the outrage if someone said that Clark's getting shot four times in Vietnam didn't count as a qualification for the presidency?

"Is Clark unaware that McCain won a Silver Star for resisting 'extreme mental and physical cruelties' inflicted upon him by his North Vietnamese captors? Or that McCain won the Navy Commendation Medal for declining early release?

"The man that Clark supports, Sen. Obama, routinely refers to McCain's heroism.

"Shouldn't Clark apologize personally to McCain? Shouldn't Obama disavow Clark's comments?"

Michelle Malkin wants to bust Clark to private: