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Obama insinuated that McCain is senile, and the wily McCain took advantage.

Look at this, which I think CNN obtusely misheadlined:

McCain's campaign reacted with outrage Thursday to Obama's remark that the senator was ?losing his bearings? over the course of the campaign ? a phrase they said was a dig at the Arizona senator's age. But McCain himself said Friday the language didn't bother him.

?I ignore it,? McCain said. ?I don?t take offense to it.?

Asked if the Obama comment was in fact a reference to his age ? and whether that topic was a fair issue in the campaign ? McCain said voters are welcome to discuss it.

?Any discussion in my view of any issue that the American people think is legitimate is up to them,? McCain said, adding that the topic of Obama?s former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright is also fair game.

?Every issue that the American people want to be an issue, if it's part of their discussions, it's fine with me, it's fine with me,? he said. ?Just as the Rev. Wright?s remarks. I don?t believe that Sen. Obama shares his views in any way, but he has said it?s a legitimate topic of discussion. If that?s what the American people want to discuss, that?s fine.?

1. When McCain says it didn't bother him, he's demonstrating that he's not the hothead he's reputed to be.

2. He showed that he's sharp and therefore it's wrong to insinuate that he's getting senile.

3. There really is nothing McCain can do about his age, which is plainly visible and which people ? including me ? are going to think about a lot whether Obama pushes us to think about it or not.

4. McCain highlights that Obama has stepped down from that lofty, inspiration plane where some people think he dwells.

5. (And this is where he really, humorously took advantage.) McCain turned the occasion into an opportunity to restate some of the most worrisome things about Obama as if he wasn't even the one bringing them up.

Well played!

Full post as published by Althouse on May 10, 2008 (boomark / email).