"Global Test" Testing, post-Prezzy Debate #1

Is the Republican Noise Machine so effective or is the public so dim that Kerry's reference to a "global test" continues to be misrepresented? It was eminently clear at the time that Kerry in no way required “approval” from any other country prior to the US taking action. Rather it was that the US, indeed any state seeking to be trusted, should in effect prove its case prior to major unilateral actions. Kerry’s words:

No president, though all of American history, has ever ceded, and nor would I, the right to preempt in any way necessary to protect the United States of America.
But if and when you do it, Jim, you have to do it in a way that passes the test, that passes the global test where your countrymen, your people understand fully why you're doing what you're doing and you can prove to the world that you did it for legitimate reasons.
Here we have our own secretary of state who has had to apologize to the world for the presentation he made to the United Nations. [emphasis added]

Kerry followed that statement with an anecdote that showed how meaningful it is when the US has credibility among our allies as when Charles DeGaulle said, “The word of the president of the United States is good enough for me.”

Bush, it seems, was only able to take in a few words before he became confused. “I'm not exactly sure what you mean, ‘passes the global test,’ you take preemptive action if you pass a global test.” Either through dimwittedness or shrewd message manipulation Bush made it seem that the “global test” was equivalent to “global approval” and was required before Kerry would take any action. Clever…or plain dumb…either way this has become the focal point of the Bushie’s post-debate spin and I fear that, like all their other false claims, this one will stick around long enough to seep into the consciousness of the voters. Many people, even those who are interested enough to have watched the debate are not beyond having their memories usurped by a oft-repeated message. I still remember how it was obvious to so many immediately following the first Bush/Gore debate in 2000 that Al Gore clearly beat W. But after a few days of GOP spin about how mean and condescending Gore was and so boring with all his facts, that Bush emerged as the winner. Even just a week or so ago people were still commenting on how good W is in debates, after all “he beat Al Gore every time.”