On Demand
McCain Update
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
We get an update on the McCain campaign from Jason Riley, member of The Wall Street Journal editorial board and author of Let Them In: The Case for Open Borders (Gotham, 2008). Also, Michael D. Shear, staff reporter for The Washington Post, joins us from the campaign trail.
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Brian asks, "What ever happened to both [McCain & Obama] shifting to the 'middle'?"
McCain IS the middle, Brian. [If one doubts this, he isn't paying attention to the conservative press / blogs and is ignorant of the facts about McCain's record.] Obama, in fact, is one of the most most liberal of all US Senators and is making a (transparent) propaganda attempt to get moderates to 'believe' otherwise.
McCain became enmeshed in a scandal during the 1980s when he was one of five United States Senators comprising the so-called "Keating Five". McCain had received $112,000 in political contributions from Charles Keating Jr. and his associates at Lincoln Savings and Loan Association, along with trips on Keating's jets that McCain failed to repay until two years later. In 1987, McCain was one of the five senators whom Keating contacted in order to prevent the government’s seizure of Lincoln, which was by then insolvent and being investigated for making questionable efforts to regain solvency.
We read about his campaign in disarray. He's on his 3rd strategy. His base doesn't like him, and in catering to them these past several years, he's lost his independence mojo.
McCain is a decent public servant. But he is just too old. It's not his fault the clock never stops. But in our extreme telegenic age, with the pressures of the Presidency, the powers of this country, the relative youth and vigor of our rising rivals, his time has passed. He was maliciously abused by Bush in 2000, then lamely cozied up in an attempt to be his successor. Kerry offered him the VP slot in a magnanimous gesture no Republican would ever emulate. But he chose '08 and it shockingly worked, at least in his pathetic field of competitors. But now it's Obama, and the future.
You can't steal this one.
"But Senator Obama is not just tacking gently toward the center. He's lurching right when it suits him, and he's zigging with the kind of reckless abandon that's guaranteed to cause disillusion, if not whiplash."- Bob Herbert, NYT
"Has there ever in recent political memory been so much calculation and bad faith by a politician who has made so much of eschewing both?" - Rich Lowry, NYP
...didn't Obama "steal" it from Hillary? She won the popular vote, after all.
What does that mean, both are shifting to the right?
If Obama is left leaning, and shifts to the right, he is going to the center. I wish the media would stop lumping McCain and Obama into the same catagories, as so to give equivocation. There is no shame with telling it like it is. Obama is shifting to the center, and McCain is shifting to the right. In a country that likes to be governed from the center, so too bad for McCain.
Big deal, McCain will probably lose, and Obama will probably win. Is this so damn hard for the media to say?
The political 'center' has been pulled to the right. See 'The Right Nation' {an engaging study of American conservatism, Micklethwait and Wooldridge of the Economist disclaim any allegiance to America's "two great political tribes." It is this Tocquevillian quality of informed impartiality that makes their book so effective at conveying how profoundly the right has reshaped the American political landscape over the past half century] http://www.amazon.com/Right-Nation-Conservative-Power-America/dp/1594200203
or David Brock's The Republican Noise Machine
C'mon, Brian...
Obama didn't shift to the right on Iraq.
Don't be so clumsy.
mcMod
i'm so sure u care about HRC. funny strategy
mccain is still right of BHO that's why i'm voting for obama. there's too much at stake. our nation is in danger from the GOP yes men profiteer from american weaknesses
mccain is not just right he's wrong
NOOOO Brian, to help understand here's Obama this morning, via Daily Kos:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/8/91059/06768/34/548123
Obama: "I am a progressive. I believe in a progressive tax code, universal healthcare, etc. But those who say I am "shifting my views" haven't been paying attention. This includes my friends on the left and in the media. I have always believed in faith-based charities, I worked with churches since I was young. I have always believed in the 2nd amendment, but we can still have common sense gun laws.
The reason people assume I am shifting is because people are cynical about politics, and instead of thinking that I may just believe it, assume I'm doing it for political reasons. Now, we may not always agree on every point, but we will 90% of the time. But if we disagree, it's not just for political reasons.
Now, on Iraq, I opposed the war from the start. I think we can get out in about 16 months. John McCain talks about "waving the white flag of surrender," I'm talking about common sense! We can't stay there forever!
So don't be confused: I WILL BRING THIS WAR TO AN END WHEN I AM PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!"
Obama has always been much more of a moderate.
Brian Lehrer gets stuck on a cutesy concept that he makes up like "they're all moving to the right," and then repeats it like an advertising slogan 4 times as if to make it true by repetition.
Yes, Brian, Obama is a right wing nut like McCain. Happy?
Maybe you want to say it like this: Obama is a sellout, who originally sold people on the idea that he is a Messianic Lefty, but now will slowly come to the middle just like the Clintons, just like anyone who wants to get into office, because the sad truth is, they have no moral center and they are easily sellable for the right price, ie, power.
I should clarify that the "quote" of Obama is a paraphrase of what he said THIS MORNING via Daily Kos.
John McCain was given credit by people like Joe Lieberman for supporting the increased troop presence in Iraq. But let's not forget he was for the Iraq war in the first place. Gen. Eric K. Shinseki said we needed hundreds of thousands of troops in Iraq in 2003 where was McCain then? On Bush's side and didn't think we needed more troops then.
This man is a mess, he is a liar and he is a criminal.
Didn't McCain break the law in campaign financing during the primary?
The McCain strategy: attack Obama, raise doubts on Obama, mock Obama.
The McCain agenda: attack Obama, raise doubts on Obama, mock Obama.
Brain, can you please stop spreading "inartful" statements (AKA lies) about Obama's position on gun control!?
Truths:
1) He was a board member of anti-gun Joyce Foundation;
2) He is on record supporting the DC ban
3) He didn't sign on to any pro-Heller briefs
4) He supported bans on the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns
5) "bitter", "cling to their guns" ring bells?
The McCain agenda: I Will Not Raise Your Taxes, the hippy Democrats will drain your wallet dry. Listen a little closer.
I think "lies" is a little strong Sally
It is irrelevant what the candidates say about many of the campaign issues. The fact is when the new president walks through the door of the white house he will be privy to information that he currently does not have and information that the general population will NEVER be privy to. It will be then that the decisions will be made. To make promises now is silly-they are uninformed and subject to change.
Neither candidate can actually move to the center. Their opinions and perspectives are not allowed to expand or evolve.
The extremists on the right and left won't allow it.
They must be appeased!
The McCain agenda: I deserve to be president merely for suffering in Vietnam, whereas the leftists/Democrats are tax raising pacifists who endanger the world.
Brian is Right, Obama is now a Right Wingist!
Good Brian!
didn't mccain spilt with bush after '06 election when
voters gave a thumping to the GOP?
Isn't Brian's whole game semantics????????????
Obama is a lefty. SO if he burps he's moved to the right which is closer to the center.
Brian, you missed your career as Bill Safires replacement
one more thing about Obama and guns...
He keeps parroting that statement to the effect "I believe that the 2nd amendment supports an individual right to arms..." Duh! THE ENTIRE SUPREME COURT ENDORSES THAT VIEW! All nine.
The collective rights view is dead: Obama's only "position" on guns is vapor. He is and always was a hoplophobe.
www.sportsmenforobama.org
If you're a Right wing nut and you modify your views you've moved to the Center Brian, and same if you're a leftist who decided in favor of gun control, you moved to the Center. You are not now a Rightist!!!!!!
Brian!
You did it again!
Now Obama "said" that he's moving to the right on Iraq?
Please explain this. Quote him at least.
Be responsible.
Brian WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!?!
You spoke to a "journalist" yesterday that told you that Obama has not moved to the "center" because Obama has ALWAYS been at the CENTER.
Seriously you make me very angry. First it was all Hillary all the time. You dismissed people like Kuccinich and Gravel like they were pointless.
You are doing a HUGE disservice to your audience. We are not that stupid stupid!
This guy is not an independent journalist why are you giving him a platform.
Brian is not big on quotes.............
He's big on fancying himself a "wordsmith"
This guy is SOOOOOOOOOOOO biased.
so if the government asks you to break the law we should break the law?
The segments on McCain shows you what he or at least his supporters are about - really what their strategy is. They can't even talk about McCain for a second without switching to Obama. They are obsessed with Obama, they can't stop attacking him, perhaps they even have fantasies involving him. Even Bill M above, an apparent supporter in defense of the McCain agenda describes it as opposing "hippy Democrats". They have nothing but fear and "against".
Sure enough Brian, McCain is now a machine gun shooting Right Winger who will take away your social security. Sure Brian. Yeah.
The heart of the matter is in the center. The foundation on which we build our beliefs is ever shifting and we always come back to the center.
i disagree w the WSJ editorialist that "Obama is more a man of the Left, than McCain is a man of the Right". McCain is firmly in the NeoCon mode on Iraq and IRAN
McCain has missed the most votes of any senator, he has missed more votes than even South Dakota Democrat Tim Johnson, who couldn't work for almost a year after suffering a brain hemorrhage in late 2006.
How can the speaker claim that McCain is a centerist or moderate in light of his recent (two year) strict GOP party-line voting record?
On what issue does McCain differ from Bush? The only one I can think of is that McCain admits that Global Warming exists, and Bush doesn't. However, neither believe in doing anything meaningful to deal with it.
Trial lawyers = GOP Dog Whistle ... doubt they had much to do with it. Gee - maybe it has something to do with the telecoms having broken the law. The government cannot, BTW, instruct you to break the law.
Let's face it: McCain is a charismatic man with balls who has a moral center and will lead America much like Reagan who came along in 1980 to spray disinfectant on the stink of the inefficacy of Jimmy Carter. It might take two or three months, but once people see that Barack Hussein Obama is a hardcore leftist who sells out the soundbyte depending on who is on the other side of the microphone for vote gain, well, EVERYONE will see through him: the black and proud, and the yuppie liberal.
"Brian is not big on quotes............."
Of course we have to remember Brian is phoning it in from the AIPAC conference today aka "Aspen Idea Conference."
How about doing a real segment on McCain Brian that is informative and not cowtowing??????????????????????????
BO is a shocking lying cheat and is destroying the democractic party. BO true character revealed when he sold out his grandmother to support his rabid reverend.
BO was never liberal or progressive and is out of place on the democractic ticket. OB should be running with McCain -- which is why BO moving more to right -- a direction he was already blowing toward. Two parties running one set of options.
Why would you have a WSJ editorial shill on to talk about McCain? Of course he's going to twist it all in McCain's favor.
Serenity now, Serena.
Why is it that when you call in to the show, they put you on hold check back with you then the segment just expires? Dont you have even a modicum of respect for your listeners?
Here you go (on Bush Admin. pre-9/11 spying): http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/10/qwest-ceo-not-a.html
That's true Serena, he did throw a number of people under the bus!!! Yes he can!
Who is OB?
"BO was never liberal or progressive and is out of place on the democractic ticket. "
DUH!?! He never said he was. Liberals and progressive voted for him and support him over Clinton.
Stop acting like Hillary Clinton was liberal. She voted to attack Iran.
The FISA bills allows the gov't to wiretap before the court order as long as the gov't does submit it before the court after the fact. The administration chose to break the law as did the telecom companies. The new bill doesn't allow immunity from criminal prosecution so let's get Obama to bring some suits together after he's elected
government has grown by 60%? is the military government? what about blackwater, are they government? why don't we talk about no bid contracts nad all of the money governemnt sepends to enrich corporations?
If you don't like the show, don't listen.
Yo you proud great McCain supporters: please tell us why you support your man. How has he been doing these last few months. What do you look forward to in his Presidency?
And please try to get one sentence out before you set your sights on the immoral, duplicitous, shallow and evil Obama.
tally
iran? when was that?
People who read (if they can read) that speech and get "he sold out his grandmother" etc. are really pathetic and mentally stunted.
"After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be Commander In Chief, Leader of the Free World, and fill the shoes of Abraham Lincoln, FDR, JFK and Ronald Reagan. 143 days -- I keep leftovers in my refrigerator longer than that. In contrast, John McCain's 26 years in Congress, 22 years of military service including 1,966 days in captivity as a POW in Hanoi now seem more impressive than ever." So there you go, 143 days. So this is the key. All of these so-called flip-flops, all these changes in position, they are due to his inexperience. His inexperience and his incompetence lead him to make goofs, to lie, to flounder around." -- Rush Limbaugh
stop the name calling
McCain Moderate
Go clean out your fridge and listen to Rush while we listen to the awesome Thom Hartmann whom has now betten Rush Limpbaugh in ratings and listeners!!
When marginal rate was at 70%, reducing it would have a huge impact on tax payers -- making them want to pay their fair share. When marginal rate is at 35%, reducing it will have little impact, but to reduce revenue.
[[BL Moderator Writes: Yes, let's please refrain from the name calling and keep the discussion productive and relevant to the discussion taking place on the air. If you want to register an opinion about the content or production of the show, feel free to contact listener services: listenerservices@wnyc.org or (646) 829-4000. Thanks for listening.
-BL Show]]
Katie
speak for urself. i keep it on WNYC all day
BO said he would withdraw troops on a sort of sixteen month timetable depending on what the situation is should he be elected which has been misconstrued as a commitment. It is not. It is dependent on a certain climate.
Hlllary developed real gameplans to solve issues like healthcare. BO is a nothing.
(OB is a typo I meant BO)
Variety is nice too. I listen to both all day. I adore Thom Hartmann. He is my hero and my day is not complete unless I hear his show.
In the grand tradition of the WSJ editorial board, this guy has cherry-picked his data on the results of the Reagan tax cuts: Reagan increased govt. revenue ONLY if the massive, unprecedented deficits he ran are not taken into account! Spending went UP massively under Reagan, but the balance sheet improved because they borrowed more. A ridiculous lie of omission.
BRIAN: People who are obviously biased on either side, playing for their "team" rather than uncovering the facts through fair analysis, are not worthy of your great show. This goes for guests both left, right, and "moderate."
A moderate who quotes Limbaugh?
hjs
"iran? when was that?"
It was called the "Kyl-Lieberman Iran Amendment" I think it passed in September. Obama skipped it. Clinton voted for it. Kuccinch did not. It passed by a HUGE margin and basically authorized Bush to attack Iran whenever he wants. I think the language stated the Iran's military is now considered a terrorist organization allowing Bush to use that as an excuse.
143 days
= number of actual days of Obama's Senate "work experience"
= days between Senate swear in and announcement of presidential exploration committee
[wish one could list important legislative work, but that is an "empty set"]
Oh, and he helped build an uninhabitable public housing project in Chicago! :)
tally,
oooh, that's a bit of a stretch
mcmod,
where does the constitution say one has to be in the senate or be elected to office to be president?
"Moderate," #67
Ronald Reagan had only eight years of government experience - three fewer than Obama - on his "resume" when he was elected president.
He was horrible and the most overrated person in history but I chose him as an example because you probably admire him.
Sadly, we have to choose between two Senators -- legislators -- for executive office.
Far better preparation for the office, IMHO, is experience as a state governor or big-city mayor -- Republican or Democrat, it doesn't really matter. [Here one deals with the myriad issues that executive office entails.]
Experience matters -- words...more and more... it seems, don't!
worst president ever bush only 5 years as constitutionally weak governor of texas before drivng the USA into the ground.
mcmod,
all you've done here in many posts is denigrate Obama; i've been trying to see if you admire your candidate, look forward to his presidency, can talk about him and his agenda but alas, the answer must be no
mcmod
the founders didn't seem to care about experience. do u know better?
A true moderate is an equal-opportunity quoter!
"I think Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that Richard Nixon did not and in a way that Bill Clinton did not. He put us on a fundamentally different path because the country was ready for it. I think they felt like with all the excesses of the 1960s and 1970s and government had grown and grown but there wasn't much sense of accountability in terms of how it was operating." - Barack Obama
mcmod
never thought bho was perfect
#75,
The quote exhibits the nuance of Obama.
I don't have to agree with someone 100% of the time to vote for him. Anyone who agrees with 100% of what a presidential candidate says is loony.
could one say, the mid-sized cities have no economic base. they are all rust belt leftovers. NYC on the other hand has a thriving service economy.
UNEXPECTED DIRECTIONS
Obama's barging toward the center,
McCain is lurching to the right.
So tell me, please, political mentor,
Who's the more presidential fright?
Oof, what a virulent message board today. Good thing this show's not intimidated by the trolls who flood every political segment with their hotheaded claims of bias.
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