The Plank

Former White House advisor Karl Rove and other defenders of President Bush are being slightly absurd in insinuating that former press secretary Scott McClellan, author of a new book critical of the Bush administration, is the victim of a liberal editor or ghostwriter, Jason Zengerle writes. If Barack Obama chooses Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) as his running mate, Obama will need to make sure that Hillary Clinton’s supporters don’t take it as a slap in the face to women, according to Zengerle. Though the left’s criticisms of Webb over his views about women, the military and affirmative action might help Obama show that the Democratic tent is a big one, Webb might not go over too well with female Democrats, Zengerle writes.