From The Hotline Latest Edition for Wednesday, April 30,2008

MCCAIN

He's The One They Call Dr. Feelgood

Wed. Apr 30, 2008


John McCain laid out his vision for the U.S. health care system 4/29, "rejecting universal health insurance and embracing a system with fewer regulations in which consumers shop for coverage on their own rather than get it from an employer."

His plan, "parts of which are similar to a failed effort" by Pres. Bush last year, "embraces" a GOP approach to an issue long "dominated" by Dems. McCain "aims to introduce more competition into the system, giving people more choice in insurance and the ability to keep it when they change jobs." McCain: "The key to real reform is to restore control over our health care system to the patients themselves" (Meckler, Wall Street Journal, 4/30).

In the plan, McCain "is calling for eliminating the tax breaks that currently encourage employers to provide health insurance for their workers, and replacing them with $5,000 tax credits for families to buy their own insurance." McCain also "implicitly acknowledged some of the shortcomings of his free-market approach" in his plan. Rather than "force insurers to stop cherry-picking the healthiest -- and least expensive -- patients," McCain "proposed that the federal government work with states to cover those who cannot find insurance on the open market. With federal financial assistance, his plan would encourage states to create high-risk pools that would contract with insurers to cover consumers who have been rejected on the open market" (Cooper/Sack, New York Times, 4/30).

The plan, which "offered few details beyond the scant outline" McCain first offered in Oct., "isn't expected to make a major dent in the number of uninsured Americans, and questions remain about how the plan would help older, sicker people who can't find insurance on the open market" (Wall Street Journal, 4/30).

CNN's Bash, reporting from Tampa, FL: "What voters heard from Senator McCain's speech today was evidence of an enormous contrast on how each party's candidate will approach one of their biggest priorities" ("Situation Room," 4/29).

Among the responses to McCain's proposals:

• Barack Obama's spokesperson, Hari Sevugan: "At a time when 47 million Americans don't have health care, and millions more are being driven to financial ruin trying to pay their medical bills, John McCain is recycling the same failed policies that didn't work when George Bush first proposed them and won't work now" (release, 4/29).

• Hillary Clinton: "John McCain is proposing a radical plan that would mean millions of Americans would lose their job-based coverage: The McCain plan eliminates the policies that hold the employer-based health insurance system together, so while people might have a 'choice' of getting such coverage, employers would have no incentive to provide it. ... Older Americans or those with pre-existing conditions would be allowed to get only one type of coverage in a high risk GAP pool. That kind of arrangement does more to help insurers than individuals. ... To top it off, Senator McCain has offered no straight talk on how he would pay for these initiatives" (release, 4/29).

• Washington Post's Robinson, on McCain's health care plan: "I think it's about McCain trying to have something to say about health care that doesn't sound like the standard Republican party line, which is basically, what's the problem. He realizes that this is a huge issue for millions of Americans. I think it's not really a health care plan. It really doesn't speak in terms people understand" ("Race for the WH," MSNBC, 4/29).

• Wall Street Journal editorializes, if McCain's plan "is short of ideal, the innovative portions outweigh its false lunges. It also energizes the intellectual progress conservatives have made in recent years in their health care thinking. Not least, it marks significant progress" for McCain, "who often hasn't seemed as engaged with domestic policy as he ought to be. Fortunately, it looks as though the curtain is rising for a necessary debate about the role of government in health care" (4/30).

• FNC's Cameron: "McCain has not yet completed his health care reform proposals. Aides say more will be revealed as the campaign unfolds. By their own admission, McCain's plans are a work in progress and, no, they have not yet put a price tag on all or even part of it" ("Special Report," 4/29).

Well, We're Living Here In Allentown

Meanwhile, in Allentown, PA, today, McCain "will showcase Lehigh Valley Hospital's use of information technology" as he "continues a week of events aimed at staking out his position on health care."

Today's event "will be more of a town hall meeting." McCain "is expected to speak briefly on the role of technology in driving down health care costs, then take questions from an audience of about 300 employees at LVH's Kasych Family Pavilion." McCain spokesperson Jeff Sadosky: "There will also be some demonstrations by people from the hospital on how they are utilizing technology" (Kraus, Allentown Morning Call, 4/30).

Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog, Was A Good Friend Of Mine

CNN's Brown caught up with McCain, and asked him about the latest comments by Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Obama.

McCain, asked if Rev. Wright is a legitimate political issue in this campaign: "I believe that that's a subject between Senator Obama and the American people. I have made it very clear that I don't believe that Reverend Wright reflects the views of Senator Obama, and I don't have anything more to say about it."

Asked what this tells Americans about Obama and the kind of POTUS he would be: "I think that's a decision that the American people will make, and we will have a vigorous campaign if he's the nominee of the party."

Asked if there is a difference between Rev. John Hagee and Rev. Wright: "I think the voters know that I attend North Phoenix Baptist Church. I have never attended Pastor Hagee's church. I have said that I accepted his endorsement. It does not mean that I endorse his views or his statements ... and I strongly repudiated any comments that had to do with being anti-Catholic" ("Election Center," 4/29).

Ex-Romney nat'l press sec. Kevin Madden, on McCain remaining "tight-lipped" about Rev. Wright: "There's an old saying in politics that if your opponent is about to commit suicide, whatever you do, do not murder him. So, you know, I think the Republicans right now have to just sit back and let Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright be the story on its own. There's not a whole lot of need to put any fingerprints on this" ("Election Center," CNN, 4/29).

Did Somebody Call 9/11?

RNC Chair Mike Duncan accused DNC Chair Howard Dean 4/29 of running an ad that features footage from Michael Moore's controversial film, "Fahrenheit 9/11."

The ad, which slams McCain for his line that U.S. troops could be in Iraq for 100 years (see 4/29 Hotline), features footage of an IED going off near U.S. soldiers. ABC News "confirmed it was the same footage that appeared in Moore's movie."

In a letter to Dean, Duncan called Moore's movie a "conspiracy theory" and accused the DNC of not respecting McCain and U.S. troops. Duncan: "The DNC's combining its gross mischaracterizations with footage made famous by a movie director who meets with dictators and continually expresses caustic anti-American rhetoric only further reveals the DNC's utter lack of respect for Sen. McCain and his service to our country."

Meanwhile, the DNC said it bought the footage from Getty Images, noting it was created by AP Television and has been "used by a number of projects, including Frontline's documentary, 'Bush's War'" (Youngman, The Hill, 4/29).

He'll Start Taking Out The Trash Without You Having To Ask ... If You Agree To Stop Working So Much On The Weekends

The McCain camp and House GOPers, in an effort coordinated by House Min. Leader John Boehner, "are engaging in a bit of therapy to strengthen their political marriage."

Top McCain officials gathered recently with CoSs to House GOPers "to emphasize the idea that it is to their mutual advantage to pull together as the election unfolds." McCain has also "reached out more to the House leadership." GOP officials say that Boehner "sought and received assurances" from McCain in a private Feb. meeting "that he would not ignore the interests of his backers in the House when pushing his policy ideas."

Boehner: "Will there be an issue or two where we are going to be out of step? Sure. But we were with the Bush administration. ... The fact is that McCain is in a very solid position to win the White House, and Republicans are united around him" (Hulse, New York Times, 4/30).

I Ain't Gonna Work On Maggie's Farm Bill

McCain "is leaning against backing a massive farm bill that would rewrite agriculture policy over the next five years" -- a choice "that puts him in between his fiscal conservative base" and "important" rural states.

If McCain "opposes the final bill," Dems "are eager to use his position to characterize the senator as out of touch with rural states hurt by the economic downturn and in line with a president who called the bill 'bloated'" at his 4/29 presser. "But if McCain supports it, he is certain to anger some of the fiscal conservatives he has won over by vowing to eliminate" earmarks and pledging his support for Bush's tax policies (Raju, The Hill, 4/30).

G.I. Jim and John

Defense Sec. Robert Gates hinted 4/29 that the admin. supports McCain's version of the GI bill, and said it does not support the competing bill sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA).

Gates sent a 4/29 letter to McCain answering his questions about Webb's bill, which is supported by Clinton and Obama. Webb "had been trying for weeks to have McCain sign on to his legislation." But despite "being pressed by thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to support Webb's bill, McCain refused and last week presented his own bill with three other GOP co-sponsors." McCain "has yet to introduce it in the Senate officially."

Webb, however, said his legislation is far more comprehensive than McCain's. Webb: "I honestly believe if John McCain would sit down and let me talk him through this bill, he would co-sponsor it. It's not political. We have 11 Republicans, and if you look at those 11 Republicans, their views cover the whole spectrum of the Republican Party" (Tiron/Rushing, The Hill, 4/30).

McCain, on the two bills: "There are fundamental differences. He creates a new bureaucracy and new rules. His bill offers the same benefits whether you stay three years or longer. We want to have a sliding scale to increase retention. I haven't been in Washington, but my staff there said that his has not been eager to negotiate." Webb, in response: "He's so full of it. I have personally talked to John three times. I made a personal call to [McCain aide] Mark Salter months ago asking that they look at this" (Rogers, Politico, 4/30).

It's In The Mail

The AFL-CIO is dropping a tough mailer in PA today noting that while McCain's war service is admirable, his political views -- on the Bush tax cuts, NAFTA and overtime pay, in particular -- are out of sync with the needs and values of working Americans.

Mailer: "John McCain? War hero? Absolutely. Voice for working families? No way."

The piece has been sent so far this cycle to more than 400,000 swing voters, notably those much-courted Reagan Democrats living in OH, WI, MI and MN. The mailer features a photo of Jim Wasser, a Navy vet who served with John Kerry in Vietnam and was active in 2004 in countering efforts to muddy Kerry's war record.

Wasser, a resident of Saint Anne, IL, has been a member of IBEW 176 since 1970. He's an IBEW contractor with Ruder Electric Inc. in Kankakee.

"That's me, and I'm telling the truth," said Wasser, 61, who is retiring this year, said. "I'm concerned about what is happening to my brothers and sisters that I'm leaving behind, and I mean all working people, not just union people" (Hotline reporting, 4/30).

Caring, Sharing, Every Little Thing That We Are Wearing

According to an "analysis" conducted by Karl Rove, McCain "would have an easier time beating" Obama than Clinton in Nov.

In fact, the nationwide analysis of state polls shows that in a head-to-head matchup, McCain "would be just nine electoral votes short of the 270 needed to win the presidency." Obama "was 75 votes from the magic number." Rove: "In the seven weeks leading into Pennsylvania, Obama began to lose support among working-class Democrats and Catholics, two groups critical to any Democrat's victory in November" (Curl, Washington Times, 4/30).

Meanwhile, Rove writes in the Wall Street Journal, "private people" like McCain "are rare in politics for a reason. Candidates who are uncomfortable sharing their interior lives limit their appeal." But if McCain "is to win the election this fall, he has to open up." Americans "need to know about his vision for the nation's future, especially his policy positions and domestic reforms. They also need to learn about the moments in his life that shaped him" (4/30).

Enjoy It While You Can

New York Observer's Rubin writes, as Obama suffered defeat in PA, "losing many rural areas by thirty points, where was McCain?" In Inez, KY, "extolling the virtues of coal miners, and discussing Obama's 'bitter' comments in front of a cheering crowd heavy with religious, gun owners."

McCain's tours "may be the best solution for the dilemma that plagues the McCain campaign: they desperately want to refight the culture wars but have a candidate who doesn't want to get his hands dirty. The tours provide him with venue after venue to make the arguments about character and values which will form a key portion of his campaign message. Not that this soft offensive is likely to last much past the time" a Dem nominee "is finally selected" (4/29).

I Left My Heart In San Francisco

McCain "is boldly promising to mount the most serious" GOP campaign for CA "in years," as part of a strategy "that targets the entire Democratic-leaning West Coast."

"Despite traditionally tough odds," McCain is planning "to travel the state extensively" and compete hard CA. McCain: "There are 53 or 55 electoral votes in California. It cannot be written off again. ... I think Gov. [Arnold] Schwarzenegger has proven to anybody's satisfaction that you can, as a Republican, have differing views and win that state. I think it's a very important one, and so I will look forward to campaigning there."

CA Dems, however, "roll their eyes at McCain's threat" to make CA a battleground. CA Dem adviser Bob Mulholland: "We hear that joke every four years. What else could McCain say? McCain will also say that he's going after the youth vote" (Nowicki, Arizona Republic, 4/30).

Pick Me Out A Winner, Bobby

The latest figures for lobbyists' contributions, compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, "might tell as much about the lobbyists themselves as they do about McCain."

K Street, "like many others, likes a winner and abhors a loser and may be giving only grudgingly to McCain." The increase in fundraising by McCain from lobbyists in the 1stQ "is proportionally less than the growth in his contributions from all sources." In Mar., for example, McCain "added to his overall level of contributions at approximately twice the rate as he increased his sums from K Street" (Koffler/Bell, CongressDailyAM, 4/30).

A History Of Violence

Columnist Terence Jeffrey writes, in '06, Dems "took control of Congress in a referendum on Iraq." DIA statistics published by the GAO indicate violence reached an all-time high in Iraq in Oct. '06 -- "the month leading up to the midterm election." Since then, however, the surge has diminished violence in Iraq. Still, both Dem candidates "insist they will withdraw our troops."

To win in Nov., McCain "must persuade voters that withdrawing from Iraq before it is stabilized will catastrophically reverse our ability to defend America from terrorist attacks. If he can do that," Dems "could lose a third straight presidential election" (Washington Times, 4/30).

Sounds Like A Job For Sally Struthers

Columnist Cal Thomas writes, McCain "could announce the formation of H.O.P.E.F.U.L., which would stand for Helping Other People Enjoy Full and Useful Lives." Every American participating "would 'adopt' a poor person who would be screened for drug and alcohol addiction, criminal backgrounds and interviewed to determine whether, if given a chance, they were -- or might be -- motivated to escape poverty."

If McCain "rallied the good nature of Americans behind such a vision, it could be his top achievement should he become president. And it's a good idea, no matter who wins" (Washington Times, 4/30).

No Way Out

Hundreds of protesters from the disability advocacy group ADAPT gathered at McCain's suite in the Russell Office Building and at the RNC HQ on 4/29, "urging McCain to sign onto legislation that would increase access to community-based health programs for those needing long-term care."

After "blocking the RNC doors, some protesters wrapped yellow police-like tape around the entrances, while others unveiled a number of signs, including one reading 'Stop Funding Institutions' and another reading 'Sen. McCain Support Community Choice.'" In Russell, meanwhile, "dozens of protesters -- most of them also in wheelchairs -- blocked off much of the second floor and took over the lobby of McCain's office," chanting, "People are dying, shame on you" and "I'd rather go to jail than die in a nursing home" (Brotherton/Singer, Roll Call, 4/30).

Surprised Even Themselves

Several members of a liberal activist group, ProgressNow Action, said 4/29 that "they appear to have gotten seats" to McCain's town hall meeting in Denver on 5/2, "despite their earlier concerns that the audience was being screened."

And on 4/29, the group sent out an email urging people to attend the event. ProgressNow pres. Michael Huttner: "The mainstream media has basically given McCain a free ride so far by not asking him tough questions. ... So it's important for citizens to ask those questions ourselves" (Rocky Mountain News, 4/30).

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