From The Hotline Latest Edition for Thursday, April 17,2008

MCCAIN

No Country For Old Men

Thu. Apr. 17, 2008


John McCain was on "Your World" last night, where he was asked about Hillary Clinton supporter/Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) saying 4/16 that the presidency is "no old man's job."

McCain: "Well, I didn't know John was running, so I guess he will have to speak for himself. But I invite John to come out with me on the campaign trail. I out-campaigned everybody else, and that's why I'm the nominee of my party. I can certainly out-campaign either Senator Obama or Senator Clinton. I would match my record and my schedule, not only now, but in the past, with anybody's. And I guess Congressman Murtha will have to speak for himself and his own condition."

FNC's Cavuto: "In a race where they're very touchy about mentioning race as an issue, feminism as an issue, age is okay. ... What do you make of that?"

McCain: "I'm outraged. It should be never mentioned. Look, I had to show my party in my campaign, not only my vision, but also my vigor and my strength. ... There's no time for on-the-job training, seriously. My response to Jack Murtha is, look, we need somebody that needs no on-the-job training, that knows the challenges we face, and can take them head on and hit the ground running" (FNC, 4/16).

FNC's Barnes, on Murtha's comments: "Look, I don't think anybody has any illusions about McCain's age. They all know. ... I think that's a minor issue. He polls the weakest among older people, actually" ("Special Report," 4/16).

McCain adviser Charlie Black: "I don't think it's much of an issue. If you talk to the reporters who cover McCain, who go out with him on 14 and 15-hour days, sometimes seven-day weeks, they see the energy level that tells them that age is not an issue. But, you know, think about it. Ronald Reagan won the Cold War during his second term when he was a lot older than McCain is now" ("Morning Joe," MSNBC, 4/17).

Get Carter

Also during the interview, McCain brought up Jimmy Carter's meeting with Hamas leaders.

McCain: "The word that springs to mind is 'unacceptable.' And another one is 'disgraceful.' These are thugs and murderers. Senator [Barack] Obama and Senator Clinton should directly repudiate and tell President Carter he should not meet with what is fundamentally a terrorist" (FNC, 4/16).

Obama spokesperson Bill Burton responded by saying: "Proving once again that the Straight Talk Express has lost its wheels, John McCain is repeating tired and divisive attacks about Barack Obama that he knows are flat out untrue. Barack Obama disagreed with President Carter's meeting with Hamas and has said so repeatedly, and we look forward to John McCain's clarification and apology for his latest false political attack" (release, 4/16).

Philly Phanatic

McCain appeared on Bloomberg TV this a.m., where he talked about last night's Dem debate.

McCain, asked if he watched the debate: "No, I did not. I obviously heard some of the dissection of it and analysis this morning, but I did not watch it last night."

Bloomberg's Cook: "Senator Clinton said last night ... that Senator Obama's comments about Pennsylvania voters ... also his connections to Reverend Wright that have drawn so much attention, that that would be ample ammunition for you in a general election. Is she right? Is that going to be fair game?"

McCain: "In the case of Reverend Wright, I have expressed in the past that I am sure that Senator Obama does not share the extremist statements that Reverend Wright made. But in the case of Pennsylvania made, I think it's very revealing, a very elitist statement, a failure to recognize history. ... I note with some interest that Senator Obama basically defended those statements and continues to do to this day. So, yeah, I think it would be because that really is a fundamental difference between myself and Senator Obama about our faith and confidence and trust in the American people."

Asked if he will have a single Dem opponent to take on after the PA primary: "I have no clue. You and I were last together in South Carolina. The relationship, as far as Senator Obama and Senator Clinton and their chances, were different than they are today. And I am sure the next time we get together, they may be different again. One thing about this primary season on both sides of the aisle, I think you would agree, it's very unpredictable, including in my case" (4/17).

Go For The Green

McCain also touched on climate change during the interview.

Asked if he will support Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-CT) bill that would cap and reduce greenhouse gas emissions about 63% by '50: "I will support if we have a dramatically increased role for nuclear power. The radical environmental groups are still playing too great a role in this legislation. Nuclear power has got to be a very big part of any effective action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I am glad that Congress is moving."

On Pres. Bush signaling for the first time he wants to stop the growth of greenhouse gas emissions by '25: "In due respect of the president, it is not enough, and it is too late" (4/17).

A Three-Hour Economic Summit, A Three-Hour Economic Summit

"Joined by a who's who" of Milwaukee area business execs., McCain spent "nearly three hours as questioner-in-chief" at an "economic summit" on 4/16.

The event was held one day after McCain unveiled a plan to boost the nation's sluggish economy "that is based largely on a variety of tax cuts, including a summer 'gas tax holiday'" (see 4/16 Hotline). And on 4/16, McCain "settled in for two panel discussions" with the top execs. from A.O. Smith, We Energies, Northwestern Mutual Life, Froedtert Hospital and others -- "and asked as many questions as he answered."

"In that regard, the event was meant to give McCain a statesmanlike role on a day in which Obama and Clinton met for a debate" in Philly. "It also amounted to a comfortable platform for McCain on the economy, an issue he has acknowledged is not his strong suit."

McCain: "We know that America is facing challenges today. ... These are tough times now and [people] are hurting. I believe it's the responsibility of government to act quickly and decisively" (Borowski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4/16).

Holiday, Celebrate

Meanwhile, McCain sent letters to both Clinton and Obama on 4/16, calling on them to join him in supporting the McCain-Kyl Summer Gas Tax Holiday Amendment, which would suspend the 18.4 cents/gallon Federal gas tax between Memorial Day and Labor Day '08 (release, 4/16).

Cool Hand Luke

McCain's recent economic proposals "have been greeted coolly by some of his fellow" GOPers.

"While generally supportive," cong. GOPers "are split on some of the details, including a plan to stem the tide of foreclosures and another creating a summer gas-tax holiday."

When asked 4/15 for his reaction to the McCain plan, Senate Min. Leader Mitch McConnell said he was in the process of receiving the details of the gas-tax plan. McConnell: "Well, I just heard about it. ... We'll be thinking about it and see if it has any merit."

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) said he supports elements of McCain's plan, including the reduction of the corporate tax rate. "But he opposes the gas-tax holiday because it would reduce money going to the highway trust fund, which provides money to local projects" (Raju/Kucinich, The Hill, 4/17).

More from the response to McCain's economic proposals:

• New York Sun's Peek writes, McCain's gas-tax-holiday "is a terrible idea. Although Americans would no doubt enjoy some relief from soaring oil prices, policymakers should work to keep prices as high as possible for as long as possible. Sound heretical? It's not. It is painful, yes, but also the only real shot we have of attacking our greatest economic weakness: our reliance on imported oil" (4/17).

• Meanwhile, Orange County Register editorializes, McCain's economic plan is "pretty good. We wish it went considerably further," but it is "considerably more palatable than what's offered" by Dems (4/17).

• Roll Call's Kondracke writes, McCain "will have to be clear why he originally opposed Bush's tax cuts as gifts to the rich, but now favors making them permanent." Obama "hits McCain constantly on this." For a candidate who allowed that economics "wasn't his strong suit, McCain has proved a quick study. But he doesn't just have to learn economics -- he's got to teach it. The task has barely begun" (4/17).

Three's Company

McCain, who is basing his WH bid on "his credentials as a decorated veteran and leader on defense policy, has become the target of veterans groups pushing hard for more aid and relief for troops returning from" Iraq and Afghanistan.

"At issue is a growing slate of legislation to boost veterans' education assistance and to rest troops between combat assignments." Two of the bills were written by Sens. Jim Webb (D-VA) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE), and would "substantially boost college assistance for returning war veterans," while mandating that troops "spend a month out of the combat zone for every month in it." A third measure introduced 4/16 would provide more education aid to Nat'l Guard members and reservists.

"It is generally agreed that McCain is key to the bills' prospects for passage." And on 4/14, VoteVets.org delivered petitions with nearly 30K signatures to McCain's Senate office, "imploring him to back Webb's updated GI bill."

McCain told reporters on his campaign plane 4/14 "that he is open to boosting educational benefits for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and is working with colleagues on language changes to the Webb-Hagel bills." McCain: "We are working on proposals of our own. I'm a consistent supporter of educational benefits for the men and women in the military. I want to make sure that we have incentives for people to remain in the military as well as for people to join the military."

"All three measures could come up for votes this month or early next month" (Weisman/Shear, Washington Post, 4/17).

Charles In Charge

McCain will visit Tampa on 4/28 and 4/29 to hold two fundraisers and a public event concerning health care.

The first fundraiser will be sponsored by FL Gov. Charlie Crist (R). And the next day, McCain will host a $1K/person fundraising lunch (March, Tampa Tribune, 4/17).

Do The Right Thing

Newt Gingrich sat down for an interview with GQ.com's Hylton, where some of the conversation focused on McCain.

Gingrich, on how McCain should deal with Bush: "Sarkozy distanced himself from Chirac without being hostile. That's what McCain has to do with Bush. And what McCain is trying to achieve by explaining the dangers of the world to the public is like what Lincoln had to do in the Civil War."

Hylton: "McCain doesn't exactly have Lincoln's rhetorical skills."

Gingrich: "In style he's closer to Truman, who did not have the rhetorical skills, but had passion."

Hylton: "Do you think that's enough against somebody like Obama?"

Gingrich: "If you mean three weeks from now, I'd say no. But over the next eight months, I hope so. I think it'll be a question of whether people think McCain has the better argument. I f the issue is who's the better performer, Obama will win. If the issue is who is right, McCain will win easily" (4/16).

If Only Rosie O'Donnell Was Still Around

Cindy McCain will be a guest co-host of ABC's "The View" on 4/21. "There's no word on whether she'll be bringing any recipes to share" (AP, 4/16).

Meanwhile, Wall Street Journal's Langley writes the latest profile of C. McCain. Some highlights:

• C. McCain "doesn't seek the limelight. While the picture-perfect Mrs. McCain regularly introduces her husband at campaign events, she often retreats after her duties are done, donning her fully loaded iPod and typing away on her silver BlackBerry." C. McCain: "The campaign gets to be a little too much for me. ... I take some time off occasionally...and then I get back out."

• "She heads one of the nation's largest beer distributorships, an Anheuser-Busch Cos. franchise inherited from her father. She has sported 'MS BUD' on her license plate, and from the campaign trail she uses her BlackBerry and cellphone to oversee this region's rollout of Bud Lite Lime and to expand her corporate empire."

• McCain "calls his wife 'a real trooper.' After knee-replacement surgery following a fall in a grocery store a few months ago, Mrs. McCain, always meticulously dressed and coiffed even on crutches, quickly hit the trail. 'Sometimes when we get in bed at night, I hear her groan' from the pain, the senator said in an interview" (4/17).

Be It Ever So Hostile, There's No Place Like Home

Lecturer/commentator Gebe Martinez writes in Politico, McCain, "the Latino-friendly senator, has morphed into McCain, the presumptive presidential nominee" of the GOP "that is hot over immigration." McCain "now talks only about border security 'first.'" So "add one more item to the list of reasons that Hispanic, immigrant and labor leaders plan to challenge" McCain's bid "in his own home state" in Nov.

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ): "He is the standard-bearer for the party. He is the standard-bearer for the poisonous atmosphere aimed at immigrants. He has to carry some of that poison around. ... I think we have a chance to cause him to spend some serious time and resources in his own backyard" (4/17).

When Has Infuriating Democrats Stopped Him Before?

Meanwhile, discussion of Lieberman possibly speaking at the GOP convo (see 4/16 Hotline) continued.

Newsweek's Fineman, asked the pros and cons of Lieberman giving a keynote address: "I don't think there are that many cons for him. Probably if he had a big choice to make, it would be for somebody who could help him more in the Bible Belt, perhaps, but Lieberman can help him there, too. So, I think it's something he'll probably end up doing. I think it will infuriate the Democrats, but I don't think it will help McCain all that much."

More Fineman: "If Lieberman wanted to, he could turn the majority over the to the Republicans by switching parties. That's why Harry Reid and other Democratic leaders haven't been attacking him frontally for this conversation today" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 4/16).

Lieberman: "It was a quick conversation but my feeling is once I decide that I'm for somebody, and I'm really for John McCain, ... you are in it all the way. And if John McCain thinks I can help his candidacy for president by speaking at the convention in Minneapolis, I'll definitely do it" ("Morning Joe," MSNBC, 4/17).

What About Bob?

Ex-Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA) may have launched a WH exploratory cmte as a Libertarian, but many remember him as a "vocal" House GOPer. Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA): "I'm concerned that [Barr's candidacy] will detract from the Republican candidate and simply enhance the Democratic candidate."

Columnist George Will went one step further, writing: "Come November, Barr conceivably could be to John McCain what Ralph Nader was to Al Gore in 2000 -- ruinous" (Alarkon, The Hill, 4/17).

I Love The '80s

Washington Times' Andres writes, McCain's "track record and personal style fit well into today's new electoral profile. Working with a smaller" GOP "base universe and a larger group of independent voters -- and possibly an augmented contingent of disgruntled" Dems, "bitter after a long and divisive primary" -- McCain "is positioned to perform well in this environment."

"While this election is about change and the future, there are some aspects of the current electoral landscape that resemble"'80 "all over again." And "due to a nominee who knows this new terrain, it does give" the GOP "hope and a road map to potential victory" (4/17).

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