From The Hotline Latest Edition for Monday, May 12,2008

MCCAIN

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Mon. May 12, 2008


After spending several weeks staking out positions "designed to appeal to conservatives," John McCain "is shifting his attention" to indies and Dems, "with proposals on climate change" (Meckler/Power, Wall Street Journal, 5/12).

In a speech today at a wind power facility in Portland, OR, McCain "plans to renew support for a 'cap-and-trade' system that 'sets clear limits on all greenhouse gases, while also allowing the sale of rights to excess emissions,'" according to excerpts of his speech. A cap-and-trade system would "change the dynamic of our energy economy," McCain will say. It also "would encourage industry to adopt or develop cleaner forms of energy, such as wind, solar, nuclear and 'clean coal.'"

He "plans to propose a series of goals for reduction of carbon emissions," ending at 60% below '90 levels by the year '50. McCain: "The facts of global warming demand our urgent attention, especially in Washington" (Jackson, USA Today, 5/12).

Meanwhile, he will also argue that China and India must take equal responsibility with the U.S. and industrialized nations in cutting global warming pollution. McCain: "No nation should be exempted from its obligations. ... Least of all should we make exceptions for the very countries that are accelerating carbon emissions while the rest of us seek to reduce emissions" (Chipman, Bloomberg, 5/12).

Ahead of his speech today, McCain released a new TV ad, "A Better Way," focusing on his "commitment to addressing the challenge of global climate change." The ad will air in OR. Full script:

ANNCR: "Our environment in peril, oil and food prices out of control, climate change wreaks havoc with deadly weather. One extreme thinks high taxes and crippling regulation is the solution. Another denies the problem even exists. There's a better way." McCAIN: "I believe that climate change is real. It's not just a greenhouse gas issue. It's a national security issue. We have an obligation to future generations to take action and fix it. I'm John McCain and I approve this message" (release, 5/12).

Meanwhile, McCain is scheduled to visit western WA on 5/13 for an environmental roundtable in North Bend and a fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Bellevue. The North Bend event "will be at the Cedar River Watershed Education Center -- the gateway to the Cedar River Municipal Watershed, the main drinking water source for the greater Seattle area."

And according to a website for the Bellevue event, tickets are $10K for a photo reception, $2,300 for a VIP reception, $1K for the main reception, and $33,100 for a "victory dinner" (AP, 5/12).

Global Cooling

There was a fair amount of pushback against McCain's planned remarks on global warming:

• The DNC "is challenging McCain's credentials as an environmentalist. It developed a list of McCain supporters who have lobbied for oil companies or run companies that have been cited for pollution." DNC Chair Howard Dean said in a statement that McCain would "appoint right-wing judges bent on gutting environmental regulations" (USA Today, 5/12).

• Washington Post's Eilperin notes, McCain "has made the environment one of the key elements" of his WH bid. "But an examination of McCain's voting record shows an inconsistent approach to the environment: He champions some 'green' causes while casting sometimes contradictory votes on others." He "has been resolute in his quest to impose a federal limit on greenhouse gas emissions, even when it means challenging his own party. But he has also cast votes against tightening fuel-efficiency standards and resisted requiring public utilities to offer a specific amount of electricity from renewable sources." He has "worked to protect public lands in his home state," but "has also pushed to set aside Endangered Species Act protections when they conflict with other priorities, such as the construction" of a Univ. of AZ "observatory" (5/12).

• "Huffington Post"'s Stein reports, today, McCain "is slated to appear before a wind power plant to tout the merits of such environmentally friendly technologies." But back in '05, "when McCain had the chance to vote for a bill that would have included the largest expansion of financial incentives to produce clean wind energy, he didn't. And the clean energy firm he will address today -- Vestas Wind Technology," a Portland business "planning to build the world's largest turbine factory -- is part of a trade association that pushed aggressively for the legislation" (5/12).

We Gonna Rock Down To Electric Avenue

McCain Victory chair Carly Fiorina was on "This Week."

Fiorina, on McCain supporting the Warner-Lieberman bill: "This is an area, as you and I both agree, where John McCain differs pretty substantially from the administration. But I think what John McCain has always said, whether it was the cap-and-trade legislation that he has supported and sponsored with Joe Lieberman or this current bill, what he has always said is that the United States must take a leadership role in addressing climate change and global warming, that we must apply some of the disciplines of the private marketplace to spur innovation in this area, as well as to incent companies to do better."

ABC's Stephanopoulos: "Even if it means higher gas prices, higher electricity prices?"

Fiorina: "Well, I think we can debate that. There is no question that Senator McCain has said over and over again that we have to incent innovation so that we are building these new green technologies."

Fiorina, asked if she can name one credible economist who supports the gas tax holiday: "No, I can't, but, you see, I don't think it matters. ... Because I think economists sometimes argue about the theory. Economists, right now, are arguing theoretically about whether we're in a recession or not. An American family who is sitting around the kitchen table wondering how they're going to pay for groceries, fill their gas tank, whether they're going to stay in their home, whether or not they can send their kid to college this fall. For them, the economy is in difficulty, and all the theoretical discussion is, sort of, irrelevant" (ABC, 5/11).

When I Was Seventeen, It Was A Very Goodyear

Doug Goodyear, the man picked by the McCain camp to run the nat'l convo, resigned 5/10 after Newsweek reported that his lobbying firm "used to represent the military regime in Myanmar."

Goodyear, in a statement: "Today I offered the convention my resignation so as not to become a distraction in this campaign. I continue to strongly support John McCain for president, and wish him the best of luck in this campaign." McCain spokesperson Brian Rogers: "We respect Mr. Goodyear's decision, and look forward to the convention in September" (AP, 5/11).

Newsweek's Isikoff initially reported, "some allies" worried that Goodyear's selection "could fuel perceptions that McCain -- who has portrayed himself as a crusader against special interests -- is surrounded by lobbyists." Goodyear is CEO of DCI Group, a consulting firm that earned $3M last year lobbying for ExxonMobil, General Motors and other clients. But "potentially more problematic: the firm was paid" $348K in '02 to represent Myanmar's military junta, "which had been strongly condemned" by the State Dept. for its human-rights record (5/19 issue).

Meanwhile, McCain mid-Atlantic regional mgr. Doug Davenport, who "founded the DCI Group's lobbying practice and oversaw the contract" with Myanmar in '02, resigned as well (Ambinder, "Atlantic Online," 5/11).

Episode Two: Attack Of The Clones

Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid said 5/11 that McCain "has become a disappointing 'clone of George Bush'" (Batt, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 5/12).

Reid: "I've always expected more out of John McCain than the Karl Rove brand of politics. But with his Hamas statement, I'm not too sure that he's picked up and he's going to try to run a good, clean campaign."

ABC's Stephanopoulos: "In 2001, you counted Senator McCain as a possible crossover to join the Democratic caucus. Did you have any discussions with him about this? And what did he say?"

Reid: "Those are private in nature. But let me just say this -- John McCain was a different John McCain in those days than he is now. Those were the days before he wrapped his arms around George Bush. I mean, in those days he did a few independent things. ... He's a different person now than he was then, and that's a disappointment to a lot of us."

Stephanopoulos: "But you do think he indicated he might vote with the Democrats to you?"

Reid: "Well, listen. I reached out to a lot of people. Well, I shouldn't say a lot. There weren't that many to reach out to. I talked to a number of Republicans. I have to admit I only batted about .250. I got Jim Jeffords, and that's not bad, even in the big leagues today" ("This Week," 5/11).

Roy Blunt: Not Helping

McCain released a new TV ad, "Accountable," on 5/9, which will air in IA. The ad focuses on McCain's "pro-growth plans to get our economy back on track." Full script:

McCAIN: "The great goal is to get the American economy running at full strength again -- creating the opportunities Americans expect and the jobs Americans need." ANNCR: "As president, John McCain will make taxes simpler, fairer; Energy cleaner, cheaper; Health care portable and affordable; Corporate CEOs accountable; Mortgage debt restructured; Big ideas for serious problems, John McCain." McCAIN: "I'm John McCain and I approve this message" (5/9).

House Min. Whip Roy Blunt, asked if McCain's pro-growth tax policies would be a third Bush term: "It would be. I think it would be. And I think that's a good thing. You can't go out in the country anywhere and find people who believe that doubling the capital gains rate is a good thing, that raising the highest rate on every small business in America is a good thing, that eliminating those bottom brackets, that mean that people at the lower levels of tax pay less taxes than they would otherwise. In fact, I think one of the reasons that the economy has slowed down the way it has is the fact that there's great uncertainty about how those tax policies move forward" ("Late Edition," CNN, 5/11).

Still Crazy After All These Years

The second part of McCain's interview with FNC's O'Reilly aired 5/9. Some highlights:

McCain, asked if he would "knock out" Iran if he believed it had a nuclear weapon: "You can't get into these hypotheticals; you really can't. ... But I would not allow a second Holocaust.

On Iraq: "This government is functioning badly but better. ... The problem in Iraq today is not so much the government as it is rule of law. The progress is there. The progress is there on the ground" ("O'Reilly Factor," 5/9).

The second part of McCain's interview with CBS' Couric also aired 5/9. McCain's mother, Roberta McCain, was also in attendance.

Couric, on R. McCain eloping to Tijuana: "So you were a bit of a maverick. Is that where your son gets his streak?"

R. McCain: "I don't know. I was just young and stupid."

R. McCain, asked how she was able to get through the years J. McCain was held as a POW: "Well, I do have faith. I have faith in God's will and that's all I ask for."

Couric: "You don't like when your son's age is brought up, do you?"

R. McCain: "No. No, I don't mind. When you think about the experience and what he's accomplished as opposed to a man who two years ago was in the state legislature in Illinois. So that is a big minus, in my view."

J. McCain: "That's why I have to take her with me wherever I go."

R. McCain: "With someone with so little experience, and then who has the most liberal record of voting in the United States, and I'm no liberal."

Couric: "Do you ever say, 'Mom, please, zip it?'"

J. McCain: "I think at 96, she probably has earned the right to express her views. In the interest of full disclosure, mentioned it from time to time, we have spirited discussions ... because we don't always agree. ... It's such a big issue, I'm not going to bring it up."

R. McCain: "I don't want to fight on television."

J. McCain, asked what he's going to do for R. McCain on Mother's Day: "Tell her how beautiful she is" ("Evening News," 5/9).

Just An Old Sweet Song Keeps Georgia On My Mind

According to McCain GA finance chair Steve Croy, his upcoming 5/19 fundraiser in Savannah is expected to rake in "at least" $400K. Croy: "I think $400,000 to $600,000 is a fair estimate of what we'll end up with" (Peterson, Savannah Morning News, 5/11).

Airplane!

Cindy McCain said recently "that she would never release her personal income tax filing" even if her husband was elected POTUS. But FAA records "indicate that she appears to be using her personal wealth to help" his bid, "through the continued use of her corporate jet."

The New York Times reported in Apr. that during a crucial five-month period, McCain's camp "regularly used a corporate jet owned by the Phoenix-based beer distributor" that C. McCain heads. And according to public records, the camp "has continued to use the plane," even as McCain became the presumed GOP nominee and his camp's finances have improved (Meier/Williams, "The Caucus," NYTimes.com, 5/10).

A Man For All Silly Seasons

McCain on 5/9 again disputed Arianna Huffington's contention that she heard him say he voted against Bush in '00.

McCain, speaking to reporters: "I voted, campaigned for, worked as hard as I could for President Bush's election in 2000 and 2004. ... I voted for President Bush, I said so at the time. I know we're already in silly season, but my record stands very clearly of campaigning all over this nation on behalf of the candidacy of President Bush. It's nonsense" (Quaid, AP, 5/9).

One Is The Loneliest Number That You'll Ever Do

McCain "has said he's not ruling out the possibility of two terms," but his past comments about "running for a four-year term" have got people "thinking about a one-term" POTUS.

Ex-Sen. Jack Danforth (R-MO): "Terrific. ... I think it's a really good idea."

Ex-Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan: "Brilliant."

McCain "essentially would benefit in two ways, advocates say." As the oldest man ever to take the oath of office, "he'd deal with the age issue head-on. And he'd set a tone that might result in an unusually productive presidency. No kowtowing to special interests. No jockeying for electoral advantage. No playing to the opinion polls" (Kraske, Kansas City Star, 5/10).

Fairy Tales Can Come True, It Can Happen To You, If You're Young At Heart

McCain "has vowed to make a serious play for the 18- to 29-year-old crowd that's often identified with 'Obama-mania.' Could the 71-year-old grandfather possibly have a shot?"

McCain "is seizing the opportunity to challenge" Dems "for a group that hasn't gone strongly Republican since the Ronald Reagan era." McCain has appeared on MSNBC's "Hardball" college tour, and he has "launched his own YouTube channel and various social networking pages -- though, so far, his numbers of 'friends' and supporters on Facebook and MySpace are far fewer than [Barack] Obama's."

And "so far," McCain "has managed to avoid looking like he's trying too hard to be hip," according to Pace Univ. prof. Christopher Malone. Malone: "He's not going to blow the saxophone on MTV or talk about boxers or briefs. ... But that's part of the allure. There's a real dignity about him in terms of his patriotism and war record" (Irvine, AP, 5/12).

Among the other forecasting for a McCain/Obama match-up:

• Chicago Tribune's Zuckman writes, "defining one's opponent is a key task of any campaign, and simply put, McCain has had a long head start. ... Day by day, week by week, McCain has been portraying Obama as inexperienced, self-entitled and effete, a candidate coddled by a loving press corps and lacking the judgment necessary for the highest office in the land." And "it's a line of attack likely to last through the fall election" (5/11).

• Syndicated columnist Froma Harrop writes, McCain "has used these weeks of Republican calm to dive into the Democratic lunch pail." As the Dem rivals "continued their Deathmatch, McCain was rippling his compassion muscles before some of the wavering groups." And "with a likely" Hillary Clinton "loss exposing the underbelly" of the Dems' "white blue-collar and Latino constituency, McCain has his knives sharpened. If he can reprogram his robotic support for tax cuts favoring the rich -- and contain his fondness for cheap labor -- he may find a feast" in the Dems' lunch pail. Obama "has a lot of work to do" (Everett Herald, 5/11).

• Time's Scherer offers seven steps for McCain to beat Obama: (1) "Paint Obama as a False Messiah" (2) "Work, Woo and Win the Referees" (3) "Meet With the People, and Force Obama to Follow" (4) "Claim the High Road Without Leaving the Low Road" (5) "Use A Vice President to Temper The Age Issue" (6) "Make Inroads Among Traditional Democratic Voters" (7) "Rely on the Historic RNC Advantage" (5/12).

20 Questions

George Will has a series of questions for McCain, including:

"Because strenuous diplomacy has not dented Iran's nuclear ambitions, is not a vote for you a vote for war with Iran?"

"Your goal in Iraq is 'success,' which you define as 'the establishment of a generally peaceful, stable, prosperous, democratic state.' Would a 'generally' peaceful, stable, prosperous but authoritarian state be unacceptable? Or a mildly prosperous and 'generally' stable state but one with simmering violence -- which describes a number of nations today, including Iraq?"

"You vow to nominate judges who 'take as their sole responsibility the enforcement of laws made by the people's elected representatives.' Their sole responsibility? Do you oppose judicial review that invalidates laws that pure-hearted representatives of the saintly people have enacted that happen to violate the Constitution?"

"You propose a 'cap and trade' system to limit the carbon dioxide that many companies can emit. Is not your idea an energy-rationing proposal akin to Bill Clinton's BTU tax?" (Newsweek, 5/19 issue).

Sister Christian, Oh The Time Has Come

Chicago Sun-Times' Novak writes, "an element of the Christian community is not reconciled to McCain's candidacy but instead regards the prospective presidency" of Obama "in the nature of a biblical plague visited upon a sinful people." These "militants" look at Mike Huckabee as "God's candidate" running for POTUS in '12. "Whether they can be written off as merely a troublesome fringe group depends on Huckabee's course."

Huckabee's "announced support of McCain is unequivocal, and he is regarded in the McCain camp as a friend and ally. But credible activists are spreading the word that Huckabee secretly allies himself with the bitter-end opposition. That hardly seems possible considering his public backing," but critics of Huckabee's 10 years as gov. "say he is all too capable of playing a double game" (5/12).

Isn't It Ironic, Don't You Think?

Bloomberg's Hunt writes, McCain's candidacy "is turning history on its head. Not long ago, the independent-minded McCain was vilified by his party's leaders." Now, "in a delicious irony," embattled GOPers "see McCain as a lifeboat. They know voters don't like" Bush "or being in bed with sleazy special interests."

A few months ago, McCain "said he'd campaign in any district where he was wanted and stay out of any where he'd be a liability." Retiring Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL): "I don't know of anyone that doesn't want him in" (5/12).

Say Cheese!

"Few blue states are fatter targets" for GOPers than WI. "That was true" for Bush, "who lost the state twice by an average of three-tenths of a percentage point. And it will be true again" for McCain, "now busy crafting his battleground plans."

McCain strategy dir. Sarah Simmons: "Wisconsin will be a top target. ... There is a path to victory there" (Gilbert, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/10).

No Time Left For You

Las Vegas Review-Journal's Tetreault reports, McCain "helped the Del Webb Corp. buy valuable time" in '94 "to strategize land deals in booming" Clark Co., according to the Center for Public Integrity.

As the "home-state" company "was eyeing development opportunities in the Las Vegas Valley," McCain "secretly blocked a bill that would greatly increase the size of the protected Red Rock National Conservation Area." Del Webb "was being frustrated in trying to get a 4,000-acre portion that it wanted in a trade excluded from the Red Rock bill. It turned to McCain for help, according to the center's research."

In '94, "it was a mystery to the public which senator was holding up the expanded protections for Red Rock. The delay gave Del Webb time and leverage to pursue a backup deal, according to the center" (5/11).

The Incredible Hulk

New York Daily News' Rush/Molloy report, McCain "was in a jovial mood last week" at the Time 100 gala in NYC, "so we felt it safe to ask how -- when Democrats are trying to dredge up his past outbursts -- he's managed to keep his cool."

McCain: "Over time, I think I've tamed [my temper]."

A little later, McCain "was in mid-sentence when one of his aides tried to interrupt our chat. Suddenly, the senator's eyes bulged, and his neck tightened, and he flashed a face that would've scared Grendel's mother." The aide, "who seemed to recognize the face, quickly backed off. Just as quickly, the monster shape-shifted back into jovial" McCain, "who went off to talk with his pal Lorne Michaels about his upcoming appearance on 'Saturday Night Live,' and with comic B.J. Novak about his plan to make Novak's 'Office' co-star Rainn Wilson (aka Dwight Schrute) his GOP running mate" (5/12).

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