Maybe we're looking at it all wrong.

Maybe this didn't involve an accusation at all, but a moment of confession...

STEPHANOPOULOS: One of the points Mrs. Edwards made in the Wall Street Journal, she said that your whole life, you had government health care. You were the son of a Naval officer, a Naval officer, now a member of Congress. And her point is, why shouldn’t every American be able to get the kind of health care that members of Congress get or members of the military get?

MCCAIN: It’s a cheap shot, but I did have a period of time where I didn’t have very good government health care. I had it from another government.

After all, invoking the "I was a prisoner" card to evade a central question in a debate that affects millions of Americans certainly is a cheap shot. McCain seems to see that "period of time" as an all purpose, unassailable "Get out of scrutiny free" card. It's relevant to his character, perhaps, but can't be used to cover every question on every issue. My health care, or, rather, the lack thereof is not a question of his character.

Your card's not honored here, Senator.