Sen. John McCain has released a commercial that's reportedly airing only in New Mexico. Of course, it's on the Web too.

The ad is largely biographical. It's positive. It doesn't reference the Democrats nor is there anything in it directed at the Democratic Party.

That didn't stop Howard "Foot-in-mouth" Dean from deciding to open his yap.

"The American people have been waiting for a president who understands the challenges they face, not another out of touch Bush Republican who promises four more years of the same failed leadership. John McCain can try to reintroduce himself to the country, but he can't change the fact that he cast aside his principles to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with President Bush for the last seven years. While we honor McCain's military service, the fact is Americans want a real leader who offers real solutions, not a blatant opportunist who doesn't understand the economy and is promising to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years."

Blatant opportunist? Apparently the image that prompted this outrage from Dean is the couple of seconds of footage from a North Vietnamese propaganda film where McCain is interrogated.

Yep, for the Democrats being brutally tortured for five years by commies is blatant opportunism. Hell, everyone should try it.

Too bad there isn't actual video of McCain having the tar beaten out of him so that you could run that with a Howard Dean voiceover of McCain's blatant opportunism.

There's going to be plenty of ads, both from the McCain campaign and 527s, to get riled up about during this political season. This isn't one of them. Dean's complaint about this ad really reveals that the Democrats are outraged by McCain's mere existence.

Howard would be well-advised to shut his piehole.