Obama demands high road on patriotism

Barack Obama, speaking before the VFW today, responded forcefully -- at last! -- to John McCain's charge, repeated frequently in various forms recently (including, disgracefully, by my erstwhile political man-crush Joe Lieberman), that Obama "would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign" -- which, to be clear, is inherently an attack on Obama's patriotism. Obama said:

[O]ne of the things that we have to change in this country is the idea that people can't disagree without challenging each other's character and patriotism. I have never suggested that Senator McCain picks his positions on national security based on politics or personal ambition. I have not suggested it because I believe that he genuinely wants to serve America's national interest. Now, it's time for him to acknowledge that I want to do the same.

Let me be clear: I will let no one question my love of this country. I love America, so do you, and so does John McCain. When I look out at this audience, I see people of different political views. You are Democrats and Republicans and Independents. But you all served together, and fought together, and bled together under the same proud flag. You did not serve a Red America or a Blue America -- you served the United States of America.

So let's have a serious debate, and let's debate our disagreements on the merits of policy -- not personal attacks. And no matter how heated it gets or what kind of campaign he chooses to run, I will honor Senator McCain's service, just like I honor the service of every veteran in this room, and every American who has worn the uniform of the United States.

Yes.

Now: what will McCain say? And if (when) he tries to fudge it with contradictory double-talk, as he's done before, will somebody in the media call him out on it, and make him address the contradiction inherent in paying lip service to acknowledging Obama's patriotism, while at the same time basically accusing him of treason on national-security issues?

(Mind you, attacking his positions is perfectly fine; saying America would be less safe with Obama as president is perfectly fine; suggesting he doesn't "get" the war on terror, is too inexperienced or lacks the judgment to wage it, etc., is perfectly fine ... but saying that Obama wants to lose the war, or cares more about his personal ambition than the country's national-security interests, or doesn't "put the country first," is NOT fine, at least without acknowledging that, yes, you are in fact calling him unpatriotic.)