Move America Forward's new television ad certainly inspires some degree of awe-not for a persuasive argument or clever presentation (the ominous string section is a nice touch) but because it indicates that the "pro-troop" group may somehow have reached a level of inanity we once though attainable only by our local protest groups.

In the ad-easily viewable on YouTube for comedy fans and the morbidly curious-various all-American spokespeople demand that Berkeley officials apologize for their actions against the Marine Recruitment Center. Watching a military mother wag her finger at the "ingrates" of the City Council, however, one can't help but suspect that an apology isn't what the group wants at all.

The council's move was irresponsible, irrational and may well have warranted its subsequent media pillorying. The flag-waving protesters on the city's front lawn two weeks ago were right to remind the city of an outside world where government-sponsored military-bashing isn't such a casual undertaking.

At this point, however, Move America Forward's national Berkeley-bashing campaign is pure political opportunism. The organization wants an empty, meaningless apology far less that it wants the city to continue serving as the made-for-TV epitome of what it would like to call liberal America. Demonizing Berkeley is easy-thanks to the council's short-sighted vote-and profitable: What better to inspire donations and voter energy than an ex-Marine calling for a "fight" against any city that "disrespects our troops"?

If Move America Forward wanted to discuss a substantive issue, perhaps an ad like this would make sense. As it is, the organization is pointlessly dragging out an episode that, apart from having already been beaten to death, should never have been taken so seriously in the first place. We can only advise them to-well-move on.