Earmarks for Israel?

What complete and utter nonsense:

John McCain will make an exception for at least one category of spending in his pledge to "veto every bill with earmarks": aid to Israel.

ThinkProgress pointed out earlier that military and other assistance to Israel is included in definition McCain's aides say they're using of the term, to the tune of about $2.9 billion, about 5% of the total, depending on how you count.

"Senator McCain will bring wasteful spending under control, and he will ensure America remains committed to the security of Israel, including maintaining America’s assistance levels," emails spokesman Brian Rogers.

That's one thing about spending cuts: Much harder when you get to the details.

UPDATE: DNC Spokesman Damian LaVera emails, "Once again John McCain is trying to have it both ways. Rather than playing rhetorical games McCain should say which is his priority: maintaining our miliary and economic assistance to Israel, or his promise to veto the earmark that provides that support?"

In no way does this provision meet either the House or Senate definition of an earmark. Democrats are reaching here by combining their increasing hostility to our best ally in the Middle East with their insatiable desire to knock McCain down a peg or two on one of his best issues. Nice try...