I agree with you that Obama need not defend Clark.  But he doesn't have to throw him under the bus either.  Clark isn't really viewed as a surrogate of Obama.  Obama could have just left the issue alone entirely.  He didn't.  So now, he made it his battle too.  

It was a mistake on Obama's part, IMHO.  What Clark said was twisted by the media.  It could have been settled on it's own, where it started, in the media, by the two parties who were involved, the media and Wes Clark.  Now it's a much bigger deal than it ever had to be.  It's ridiculous that all this time is spent on such things, when the sky is falling around us in several other ways.

As usual the media chose to make up their own version and that is what Obama responded to instead of the actual events.

Most of the news stories are about whether Clark was now off the vp bus.

In the matters of national security policy making, it's a matter of understanding risk," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "It's a matter of gauging your opponents and it's a matter of being held accountable. John McCain's never

done any of that in his official positions. I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in the armed forces, as a prisoner of war.

"He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee and he has traveled all over the world, but he hasn't held executive responsibility," Clark said. "That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded -- that wasn't a wartime squadron."

Clark would probably be doing the same thing if HRC were the dem nominee. Think about it - who else could do it and not get laughed out.

Most people who were paying attention in 04 like General Clark and figure he's earned the right to voice his opinion about whether or not McCain's service experience makes him qualified to be president.

This sort of shriek and shove off that the Obama campaign has done in response makes them look panicked. Heck, it took Jeremiah Wright making an extraordinary ass out of himself repeatedly before Obama could finally disavow him. People like Wes Clark a lot more than they like Wright. The Obama campaign needs to tread carefully here. They needn't defend Clark but they shouldn't diss him, either. They'll only alienate more people....

Who are they trying to play to these days anyway? Clark and his fans just got smacked a bit. And Obama lowered the boom on MoveOn's "General Betrayus ad" in his patriotism speech--and MoveOn has been a hand that has fed him well.

If I had my drothers, he would be President of the United States.

Clark says it, Obama goes, "Oh my god, how could he say that?"

But the message got out.  The conversation has changed.