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'Right-Wing Freak Machine' Hit Me: Clark

General thanks bloggers for defending his McCain remark

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 18, 2008 6:22 PM CDT

(Newser) – Wesley Clark told a netroots conference last night that he was attacked by the “great freak show” after saying John McCain’s POW experience wasn’t sufficient qualification for the presidency, the Huffington Post reports. “This is a playbook operation by the right-wing freak machine,” Clark said, “the great freak show where they take a statement, distort it, blast it out of context and make it personal.”

The general then thanked the Austin, Texas blogger crowd for its help after he became McCain campaign fodder: “They are so good at it, they did all three steps in three hours. and you fought back and I'm grateful for you from the bottom of my heart.”

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Retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark is interviewed at his Little Rock, Ark., office Friday, Sept. 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

In a Sept. 14, 2007 file photo retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark. (AP Photo)

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'Right-Wing Freak Machine' Hit Me: Clark