From Talking Points Memo, “Fibbin’” by Josh Marshall

Here’s the post in its entirety:

From a Republican pal ...

“You didn't get this from me, but use it as you will. Is it just me -- as a Republican knowing how we've played this game before -- or should there be genuine puzzlement why Obama isn't unleashing Democratic veterans (Jim Webb, Jack Reed, John Kerry, BOB Kerrey perhaps, etc. Some Democratic generals, whatever) to go after McCain on this ‘cross in the dirt’ stuff? I mean, if there was one issue tailor-made for ‘Swift-Boat’ payback, I can't think of anything else."

It ain't bean bag.

As Byron York points out, this story is unlikely to go away. Obama supporters actually think they have a winner in disputing a story John McCain has told about his years in the Hanoi Hilton and that his bunkmates have corroborated. It’s a brilliant plan – how could the American public not warm to a campaign that calls some of our most highly decorated Veterans liars while bringing increased attention to John McCain’s wartime heroics? Besides, it’s not like Obama didn’t show amazing courage himself as a younger man while intrepidly prowling the notoriously rough lecture halls at the University of Chicago Law School. Just for the record, as a fellow Republican (though not a pal of Josh Marshall), I heartily endorse the notion of Obama embracing this strategy.

What’s especially interesting here is how John McCain has responded to these attacks, or rather hasn’t responded. Yesterday, in replying to the much milder barbs that he has received, Barack Obama alternated between unsuccessfully talking tough and successfully whining. At one point, Obama told a friendly audience they shouldn’t worry because they had a candidate who didn’t “take any guff.” I swear, I thought it was John Wayne talking for just a moment. Yet at another appearance, Obama pleaded for John McCain to “acknowledge” that he wants to serve America’s national interest. (One might wonder why Obama so needs the approbation of his rival, but that’s a topic for another day.)

Regarding the cross in the sand allegations, McCain hasn’t felt the need to respond to this rubbish, and why should he? Obama responds to every slight, real or perceived, because he feels the need to show that he’s tough enough to be president and not just some Ivy League egghead with few tangible accomplishments. McCain’s experiences speak for themselves as far as the toughness department is concerned. I’m quite certain we’ll never hear John McCain say anything so magnificently lame as “I don’t take any guff.” As for the subject of potential presidents whining, perhaps McCain’s life lessons have taught him better than Obama’s that whatever your situation and whatever unfairness life has hurled at you, pouting seldom makes it better.

On a related note, virtually every new poll that comes out seems to bring more bad news for Obama. How could that be?