[mcg1969]

Yes, we agree on our recollection, and sarasota saw this too. However, sarasota claimed to have heard a different statement from McClellan that was more forceful. I haven't found that yet but I sure do hope sarasota just misunderstood something. I know McCain directly condemned the ad and the vets, but I would be disappointed if Bush & Co. did so.

[mcg1969]

Hey fellas,

I just saw McClellan on Brit Hume. He used exactly the same language as he did at the press briefing: that the Bush administration will not question John Kerry's service in Vietnam, and that they deplore the use of unregulated soft money in advertising. Very careful parsing, to be sure: again, he did not condemn the ad itself.

However, listen to how the Fox News correspondent set up the quote: "John McCain called on the administration to condemn the ad, and later that afternoon, they did just that."

That is not an accurate assessment! Even Fox botched this one.

[sarasota]

I defer to freepers who have corrected me. Thanks.