Election Central Morning Roundup
WaPo's Kurtz: McCain Has "Decided To Go Tabloid"
In a sign that John McCain's usual friends in the establishment media are catching on to his new campaign tactics, Howard Kurtz has a new article in the Washington Post going after the "Celeb" ad. "In a celebrity-driven culture that has left little space for John McCain," Kurtz writes, "the Republican presidential candidate has decided to go tabloid."
Obama in Florida Today
Barack Obama is in the big swing state of Florida today, where the candidate will be holding a town hall event in St. Petersburg to focus on national security issues. Recent polling has given Obama a narrow lead here after trailing McCain all season long, and he'll be working very hard to sustain that newly-won advantage.
McCain Addressing Urban League, Then A "Country First" Event
John McCain will also be in Florida today, where he'll be addressing the annual convention of the National Urban League -- a minority audience that is sure to have the campaign's current racial overtones on their minds. Then later this evening he'll be attending a new kind of campaign event: A "Country First Concert" with country singer John Rich -- part of the "Country First" slogan designed to present him as the truly patriotic candidate.
Country Singer Writes Song For "American Plan" McCain
Country singer John Rich has written a song about John McCain, which he'll perform tonight at that concert McCain is attending. The lyrics celebrate McCain's heroism as a POW, and also feed into the campaign's latest themes that he's the true patriot in the race -- calling him "a real man with an American plan."
Obama Supporters Helping Hillary With Debts Tonight
Hillary Clinton is attending a fundraiser tonight in Silicon Valley, featuring many of that area's top fundraisers for Barack Obama. The purpose: Raising money to retire her massive campaign debt, a cause for which some Obama backers have been reluctant to help, but many others see as important to forging a spirit of party unity.
McCain Alienates Celebrity Friends
John McCain used to be one of Hollywood's favorite Republicans, but the Los Angeles Times reports that many people who used to donate to him now deeply resent his "Celeb" ad: "But the truth is most of Hollywood won't return McCain's calls nowadays because many of the stars and executives he initially impressed now believe the maverick stance they found so attractive was just a pose."
That even Howie Kurtz is turning on McSame shows that the Chicken Littles clucking about Obama's response to this crap are dead wrong. The "maverick" brand is all McSame's got. Once he's done tarnishing that label by showing himself to be just another sleazoid Rove puppet, he's toast.
August 1, 2008 9:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's one thing to have the media tsk tsk-ing and another to have Obama's camp taking the fight to McCain. He defends himself but he won't attack McCain. Why? There are so many legitimate issues that Obama should be calling McCain out about in the ads but he's not.
I'm very frustrated with the campaign. They seem to think they can embarrass McCain into playing nice or that the voters will reward him for being "above it all." It's a stupid, stupid mistake. I thought we had a fighter but he's looking like Kerry and Dukakis.
August 1, 2008 9:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
"I thought we had a fighter but he's looking like Kerry and Dukakis."
Do you have any idea how silly you sound?
August 1, 2008 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sound? I didn't know you could hear me from just reading my posts but I guess you've got ESP or something.
I stand by what I said: Obama is acting like he's afraid to point out the many, many flaws of McCain's policies and his candidacy. Kerry and Dukakis.
August 1, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama points out those flaws everyday, it just doesn't receive the same level of media attention because it isn't glamorous or sensational.
I don't recall the Dukakis campaign very well but I remember that Kerry virtually disappeared between the end of the primaries and the convention, apparently assuming that with escalating violence in Iraq, etc., the Republicans would hang themselves before the election and spare him the trouble. Obama is out there attacking McCain policies
August 1, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
not sure why that got cut off...
Anyway, the fact that Obama doesn't try to undermine McCain's character is just smart politics. It would only serve to undermine his own reputation. I believe that ultimately the negative ads will be more damaging to McCain than Obama.
August 1, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think Obama should do the same thing as McCain and attack his (supposed) strengths. His experience - go decade to decade and document his work as a senator. Remind people that McCain is now in his 80th decade of experience-gathering.
His military career makes him now see everything as a potential battle-ground. He resents losing in Vietnam and he wants to "win one." How many people will have to die to let John have his Vietnam closure?
His foreign policy experience -- does it bother anyone that he doesn't realize that Czechoslovakia isn't even a country any more? That he can't keep straight which is which in the Sunni/Shiite/Iraq/Iran confab?
Go after the things people say he's good at, and show that he is NOT good.
Then ask him, or ask rhetorically, if McCain might have some insites into the mortgage crisis based on his experience in the Keating Five scandal. I wish someone would do it to his face -- he would blow like a top! Then we'd see the "real John,"
August 1, 2008 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Despite Eric's summary, I don't see much evidence in the article that Kurtz is turning on McCain. The opening sentence is pretty close to the standard media excusing of any slime or pandering from McCain as not being something he really believes: "In a celebrity-driven culture that has left little space for John McCain..." (Ignoring the fact that he's been a celebrity his whole career, somehow it's unfair that he can't get any attention now.)
The rest of the article is mostly about whether it worked or not, and while the article mentions criticisms of the ads, it "balances" them with statements from the McCain campaign in the usual he-said-she-said fashion, and even the blatant falseness of ad statements is couched in "according to news organizations, there is no evidence to support them."
August 1, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Does the song explain what the plan is? About the only plan I see out of McCain recently is
August 1, 2008 9:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why write a new song. Garth already wrote it.
...I've got friends in low places!
August 1, 2008 10:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
ouch score one for GTFOOH
August 1, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
So bye-bye, mister pie-in-the-sky.
Total bullshit's what you call your American Plan.
Yer good ol' boys all know ain't worth a damn,
Singin', "It won't be too long 'til you die...
It won't be too long 'til you die!"
August 1, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
John McCain is winning the press battle, by throwing out this charge (and there will be a new one every day), they are successfully getting the eyes off of the substance of what Obama is saying and onto these faux-controversies.
I'd love to see Obama take the whole thing on directly in his comments at the Florida town-hall, and call out the press for falling for it too.
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
August 1, 2008 9:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
the press is buying into this mccain attack by even taking it seriously. No talk of Exxon Mobile, the presidents "new" troop plan and the economy. this is just getting more and more depressing as we go on.
Maturity Went Out The Window And People Noticed
August 1, 2008 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wal-Mart Mobilizes against Democrats
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080801/bs_nm/walmart_democrats_dc_1
August 1, 2008 9:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
When will it be time to start mobilizing a revolt against Walmart? It is long overdue!
August 1, 2008 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well considering big unions are out supporting Obama, nobody can get really upset.
August 1, 2008 10:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
where the hell are obama surrogateS??!?!
they need to blanket the televisoin calling mccain out on their bullshit.
August 1, 2008 9:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
John Rich is exactly what's wrong with Nashville country music. He's a no-talent loser in the tradition of Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney. That he supports McCain (and Fred Thompson before) makes perfect sense.
August 1, 2008 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wait a minute...John Rich...as in "Big and Rich"?
*shudder*
As they say on KHYS, "that's not country, that's psuedo-syncopated Nash-Vegas crap"
August 1, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
KHYI, I meant.
August 1, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Garth is untalented? You, sir, are a moron. Great songs; great voice; great instrumentation.
August 1, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
They're out there. I've seen Claire McCaskill and Jim Clyburn multiple times since yesterday. Democrats are getting their message out, they just need to settle on what that message will be, and push it as hard as Republicans are willing to.
I'm not as worried about the last 24 hours as some people are. It was simply impossible for this not to happen. In a very real way, this had to happen in order to move forward and get past the fear of electing Barack Obama. This is a conversation that we, as a country, need to have.
I just hope Obama and his surrogates are up to the task. In the meantime, I urge everyone to not panic. :)
I don't think McCain really recognizes the depths of the dialog he just initiated.
August 1, 2008 9:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
This was supposed to have been a response to ye ye ye.
August 1, 2008 9:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well put.
August 1, 2008 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
I watched the Charlie Rose interview with Tim Kaine a couple nights ago and whether or not he gets the VP nod, he is an EXCELLENT surrogate. All I can find is this 6 minute clip. If anybody knows where to view the full hour interview it is worth seeing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqFCH5tTv5g
August 1, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with several commentators that the Obama should go on the attack against John McCain. It would be trivial to make ad taking McCain's own words on how Social Security should be privatized that would paint a clear picture that McCain is another out-of-touch Republican who cares more about ideology and "the base" than you. An ad like that, maybe one or two other substantive ads defining McCain as more of the same as Bush and he'd be done, game over.
Why haven't we seen these ads?
August 1, 2008 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know why we haven't seen these ads. It's driving me crazy. They keep asking for money but act like they're afraid to spend it to go after McCain.
Instead of just defending himself (lamely IMO) Obama needs to drive the anti-McCain narrative for a while. They should put out ads showing that McCain's image as a straight-talker is a myth. They need to show just how draconian his policy prescriptions are. They need to hammer home him getting $1 million from the oil industry after supporting off-shore drilling.
August 1, 2008 9:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
FreeRider,
I'm going to explain this to you as plainly as possible. I'm even typing in my calming, soothing, typing style right now... You ready?
The Obama Campaign [the same one that brought Barack Obama from relatively unknown first term Senator to presumptive Democratic nominee] is spending money doing something that is vital to winning in November: Building a widespread, grassroots organization that can register and turnout the voters that the party needs to win back the White House, strengthen the Democratic majority in Congress, and win other down-ticket races that previous Presidential campaigns have taken for granted. TV ads are expensive. Grassroots organizing can be expensive too. But one of those things has a proven track record of actually getting people so motivated that they don't just vote, but donate and volunteer themselves. I'll give you a hint: It's not TV ads.
Maybe you haven't seen evidence of this grassroots organizing. It's possible. I can think of two reasons why that might be the case. Maybe you're in a solidly blue state and there is less of an effort taking place, fewer offices opening and less obvious signs of other widespread activities. Or maybe you live in a heavily contested state but you aren't actually doing anything that would bring you in contact with the organizing that is certainly going on right now. Perhaps you're just arm-chair quarterbacking the election and lamenting the rapidly falling sky on the internet while the organizing is going on all around you.
This election will not be won and lost on television. This election will not be won and lost in the comments section of the Election Central Morning Roundup. This election will not be won and lost because of pundits and arm-chair pundits. This election will be won because of canvassing, phone banking, and voter registration/mobilization efforts. Are you doing any of that? Or are you just second-guessing the people who are running a campaign that has already proven so successful that they are leading a nationally known figure to flush his reputation down the toilet in July and August? 95 days...
August 1, 2008 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Your post reminds me of McCain saying he wants to "educate" Obama about Iraq. I'll respond to you like I'm sure the Obama campaign responded (privately) to McCain. Fuck you.
August 1, 2008 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ooooh, burn! Pwnage! You should link to that on your MySpace page!
August 1, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
This election will not be won and lost on television.
ondioline, I appreciate your thoughts and confidence, but do you have any evidence whatsoever that a national campaign in the past, oh I don't know, 50 years has been determined by the level of grass roots organizing?
Conversely, there is loads of evidence that every national election since the advent of the TV in 1960 has been, in fact, won and lost on television.
Don't get me wrong, I support grass roots organizing for both short-term and long-term reasons. In a close election, turn out is critical. But make no mistake: this campaign will be won or lost on TV. They always are, and this year is no exception.
August 1, 2008 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Except for the part where people vote in polling stations not on their televisions, I agree with you 100%. Which is to say I agree with you about 23%. I wasn't suggesting that television won't play a role any more than I would suggest that the Internet isn't playing a role. They are both playing significant roles and will continue to do so. But if you think 2008 is 2004 or 2000 or 1988, you're not paying attention. This race has one thing that none of those races or any of the others since 1960 had...
August 1, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
hmmm sound like mccain is his own 'celeb ad' with john rich..................
August 1, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Looks like that settles it: Bobby Jindal for veep. Exorcisim is just too natural a fit for the National Enquirer.
Damn. He oughta bring along his top economic advisor, Phil Gramm. They could turn the event into a Countrywide-First concert!
August 1, 2008 9:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. Can't wait to hear the McCain country song. I'd say it'd ripe for parody...but these things have a tendency to deliver pre-packaged self parody.
Anyone have a link?
August 1, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
That misquote from Dana Milbank went right into the Republican echo machine. Although Rachel Maddow and Michael Smerconish (my apologies to the conservative guy that I really can't remember how to spell his name) did a fine job on David Gregory's program. The real problem with the smears, including yesterday's misquote, is that corrections do not go into the echo machine. The Republicans are doing everything that they can to define Barack Obama and their resources are considerable. Millions of people will hear right wing talk show hosts claim that the coming quote is from the "liberal Washington Post. So it must be true." Now is the time to register more people to vote, put up lawn signs, and put on bumper stickers. (Available at BarackObama.com)
August 1, 2008 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
hee hee. wollcott:
August 1, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Indeedy!
August 1, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am of the opinion that "two wrongs don't make a right" . . Yes, Obama needs to defend himself and it can be done in a way that degrads McCain ...
Example, Hilton/Spears rant .... His answer "Is that the best you can do?" Think about it ..... it says a lot in a very subtle manner.
Remember his campaign is based on "We need change" .... Dirty politicing is definitely the old school politics .... the people want a better government, Obama is pledging to give it to them.
August 1, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama had a great comeback to McCain - he said "I notice John McCain doesn't have anything good about himself." That reframes the conversation and keeps things civil - 2 tricks that have eluded most of his predecessors (and apparently many online commentators).
August 1, 2008 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
The probalem isn't Obama not defending himself, it's the fact that the MSM isn't covering his policy speeches. Every day Obama is giving 2-3 speeches a day on various policies and that gets zero national coverage which is understandable since it's probably the same speech over and over again. However locally it gets pretty hardcore coverage - people look to their local news for information, not to the national anchors and their infotainment.
McCain would love for nothing more than Obama to attack him in ads because then McCain can say "Obama is just another politician", Obama has been all about staying above the political fray; rising above. He admitted that he got caught up in the mudslinging leading up to Pennsylvania against Hillary and said he learned from it and it wouldn't happen again.
August 1, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
We're also not seeing McCain's speeches. It would be great to get those out there, so people can see how he really does have the flop sweat runnin'.
August 1, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's got the flip-flop sweat.
August 1, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not calling for mudslinging, Penn primary style. Using McCain's own words and policies against him is not mudslinging and would not damage the Obama brand. If done right, it would kill McCain.
Take McCain's backing of Bush's Social Security privatization scheme. Bush pushed it, the media backed it, and the longer it was in the public domain the more unpopular it became. This was when Bush was popular. McCain is on record as supporting it, he still does. There's lots of great video to use.
Put an ad up there showing this, and McCain's support among seniors would crater. He'd be toast.
August 1, 2008 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's a pretty churlish reply. Even if you disagree with ondioline's comment -- and I acknowledge that there's room for disagreement -- the invective hardly is warranted. And if you just wanted to end the dialogue without having to respond in equal measure, better to just type I guess we'll have to agree to disagree and be done with it.
August 1, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Whoops ... meant this as a reply to FreeRider, supra. My bad.
August 1, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think anyone reading this thread knew who you were referring to.
I agree.
August 1, 2008 11:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
I would welcome anyone who wants to disagree and state the reason/nature of their disagreement to do so. I stand by every word I wrote. When this is all said and done, and people look back on the nature of McCain's campaign expenditures since the last Dem Primary, and the "red" states McCain has been compelled to campaign in, and all of the TPM-centered handwringing about how McCain was outspending Obama X to 1 on ads in Missouri in June, one thing is going to be very clear: The strategy that Team Obama used to win the primary is being modified and redesigned for the general election. McCain and his "media handlers" are doing all they can to steer the conversation at 30,000 feet, but all the money they are spending is going toward embarassing TV ads intended to keep the race "close". Team Obama has an army of volunteers spreading out in VA, to name just one example that I'm directly familiar with, in a way that no Presidential campaign has ever seen before. I know people who haven't given $100 yet who will probably knock on 1,000 doors between now and election day. They weren't being reported in the June fundraising numbers, but don't think they won't be impacting the election. Registering voters and maximizing turnout is the part of this little experience in Democracy that everyone on this site can participate in; second-guessing ads and responses and surrogates isn't doing anyone any good. Well, no one but McCain...
August 1, 2008 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama Proposes Gas Tax Holiday:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12237.html
Obama should apologize to both Hillary and McCain.
August 1, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yo doofus.
He ain't raping the highway trust fund like your heroes want to do.
He's taking it from the profiteers.
No wonder you supported Hillary Clinton and now support Grampy McSame.
Don't let the facts get in the way of the talking points
August 1, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
That is what Hilary proposed. Take from the oil companies and use it to fund the infrastructure program that the gas tax was used for and, eliminate the gas tax. Her plan was not only similar but made logical sense. Obama is just proposing the same thing without the logical simplicity.
Chalk up another flip-flop to Obama on the Gas Tax Holiday.
August 1, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is using the strategy (pathology) of the troll to distract the voters from the issues. It is a bully's tactic. A playground taunt. And for many, it works.
It is so incredibly contemptuous of the American electorate that it would be laughable if it weren't so irresistible. Those who see through it, would chew their arms off to get at it. Those who push it forward, say that the response justifies the message (and they keep pushing it until they get a response). Those who are duped by it,are just looking for an excuse to be mean. Why? Because their lives are mean.
What can Obama do? I always thought that the best way to protest the Klan that wanted march down my street was to pull out a lawn chair, get a cooler of beer, put on a funny hat and laugh as they slithered past.
August 1, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Paranoid? You have an appropriate username.
August 1, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Troll? Can you smell me sweat?
August 1, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama has released an "emergency" economic plan today in Florida.
I watched him on CNN. It's a great plan and can be found at Politico.
August 1, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. It is Hillary's and McCain's gas tax holiday.
Obama should apologize to them.
August 1, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Apologize this, while your troll jizz infects the dialogue.
August 1, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why does your avatar have Obama missing in action?
August 1, 2008 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
He looks sad.
August 1, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dejected.
August 1, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Defeated.
August 1, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Guess that McCain is hanging out with celebrities again?
August 1, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain plays to attack Obama during the Urban League speech today, which his campaign will say he's been doing all along and he's not catering his message. However others are already calling it a dog whistle of sorts, he wants the negative reaction and booing from the predominantly black audience to be played on Faux News and others, and then be seen with John Rich at a good ol' boy Country Concert later in the day.
August 1, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain should take Bill-O along to the Urban League speech and have him order some iced-tea.
August 1, 2008 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
So many of you might think this is dishonorable and not worth talking about,....but what is it exactly about being a POW that makes you a hero? Is it just socially accepted that all soldiers are heros? I mean you have to be tough both mentally and physically to survive in any prison for that long,...can someone explain his specific acts of heroism? Sometimes I feel we label people heros just to make them feel better,...I mean we did lose Vietnam after all,....right?
August 1, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
When people sacrifice their lives, limbs, or liberty in service to the country they are called heroes. It makes no difference whether the war was one of necessity or a huge mistake, the blame for that lies with the leaders.
What is important is that having been a POW in no way qualifies McCain to be president, as Wes Clark rightly pointed out. Even more important, McCain's service in government has been at best mediocre and at times (see Keating Five scandal) dishonorable. His public persona as a straight talking maverick is nothing more than a contrived PR gimmick.
August 1, 2008 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Yo doofus.
He ain't raping the highway trust fund like your heroes want to do.
He's taking it from the profiteers."
Yo, Doofus, Hillary's plan was dependent on the windfall profits tax. How was she proposing "raping the highway trust fund?"
And absurdity007, please be real. I'm no McCain supporter, but the fact is that he refused to be released ahead of other prisoners. Sorry, but that counbts as heroic in my book. It may not qualify him to be President, but that one's a non-starter.
August 1, 2008 1:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama needs to apologize to McCain and Clinton for proposing a gas tax holiday after he went to such great lengths to say it made no sense.
He is the one making no sense these days...as if he ever did.
August 1, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep that's right. What a mavericky maverick.
"McCain: Country First - except when I'm making propaganda films for the North Vietnamese..."
To answer the question upthread, being a POW makes people on the Right go all hard and ghey because THEY have no balls and send others out to do their fighting for them. There's nothing heroic about suffering - only sanctimony when it's flogged by a worthless campaign.
Being a POW who makes propaganda films while others suffer like REAL heroes? Now THAT'S mavericky!
August 1, 2008 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who would do the best job as a vice presidential candidate of helping Barack Obama stop the low road discourse that has been evolving this week?
I think Chuck Hagel.
Chuck Hagel also best fits the slim list of necessary characteristics Obama last weekend stated he would look for in a vice presidential candidate.
But how does Obama convince the Democratic base that Chuck Hagel would be his best vice presidential running mate?
There are all sorts of arguments, aside from the fact that Hagel is the best possible argument for a new political era of principled discourse. Most of which have been discussed or are self-evident. (Hagel would grab for the Democratic ticket a lot of independent minded McCain supporters who don't like what McCain has been doing and saying lately, Hagel in 8 years would likely not be himself a presidential candidate, etc., etc.)
But a review of Hagel's political history for those Democrats who may not be fully aware of it would also help.
Here's a chronological start, and perhaps others can fill in this hastily pulled together talking points timeline with many things likely left out:
1981: Reagan appointed Hagel the second-ranking official of the Veterans Administration, but contrary to administration policy he was one of the main speakers at the groundbreaking for the Vietnam War Memorial, and then resigned as a protest against cuts in benefits for Vietnam vets.
1996: Democrats had won every single Senate race in Nebraska for two decades when Hagel ran as a Republican and appealed to enough Democrats to win office in his first race by defeating a conservative Democrat governor. In the process he angered Alfonse D'Amato of New York, then chairman of the Republican campaign committee in the Senate by refusing D'Amato's instruction to run a series of attack ads against his Democratic appointment.
1998: Hagel ran against Mitch McConnell for the Republican Senate campaign committee's chairmanship, sending around a manifesto to his colleagues that promised to thin the ranks of consultants as a step toward cleansing "the political culture in America by 'defining up' the standards of debate, political discourse and campaigns." He lost by a vote of 39-13.
2000: Hagel told the press Bush had "sold his soul to the right wing" and called the Republican primary "the filthiest campaign I've ever seen."
2000: During Florida showdown in 2000 he was in favor of a statewide recount, which the Supreme Court stopped.
2001: He said the prestige of the US was at its height under Democratic Senate Foreign Relations Chairman J. William Fullbright.
2001-2005: He broke with his party leadership to vote against the new prescription-drug program under Medicare, the No Child Left Behind bill and a big farm bill stuffed with incentives for corporate agriculture.
2002-2003: He voted for the AUMF Resolution as a negotiating weapon, but when it became clear that an invasion would actually take place (even though he had not yet concluded good faith negotiations had never been planned) he warned: "How many of us really know and understand Iraq, its country, history, people and role in the Arab world?. . .The American people must be told of the long-term commitment, risk and cost of this undertaking. We should not be seduced by the expectations of dancing in the streets."
2005: He was one of only four Republican senators whose votes held up an extension of the Patriot Act, arguing for checks on federal powers to invade homes and private records that had passed the Senate unanimously but then had been dropped in conference. "When government continues to erode individual rights, that's the most dangerous, dangerous threat to freedom there is," he said, calling it "far more dangerous than terrorism."
2005: "I sometimes question whether I'm in the same party I started off in."
2006: Joe Biden said, "I've been in the Senate a long time, and there's nobody I've liked more than Chuck Hagel,"
2007-2008 He worked with Senator Chris Dodd on a plan to rebuild the nation's infrastructure and stimulate the national economy by doing so, and held a news conference with Dodd in Washington to discuss the issue just hours before the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed, plunging vehicles 60 feet into the river and killing 13 people.
2008: He told the Brookings Institute, "Politics, when all is said and done, is a business of belief and enthusiasm. Hope energizes, doubt destroys. Hopelessness is not our heritage," and argued "I believe what awaits the next President is an inventory of problems more complicated than what Franklin Roosevelt faced on March 4, 1933, and will require the same boldness of leadership and initiatives that FDR brought to his time in order to meet the challenges of our time."
August 1, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink