May 30, 2007
Hotline After Dark: Domestic Discord
Aside from talk about Lindsay Lohan's DUI and Rosie O'Donnell leaving "The View," last night's TV focused on May being the deadliest month for U.S. troops in Iraq since Dec.' 04, as well as Pres. Bush imposing tougher sanctions on the gov't of Sudan. There was also a fair amount on WH '08ers:
CNN's Dobbs: "The middle class in this country making it to the top of the presidential campaign agendas, at least for today. Presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton campaigning in New Hampshire. Both Senator Clinton and Senator Barack Obama turning their attention to the plight of our embattled middle class. Senator Clinton attacked excessive corporate profits. Senator Obama unveiled a vision for health care" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 5/29).
Fortune's Easton: "I think the most interesting thing about these speeches was the extent to which both candidates borrowed from the No. 2 candidate we saw there, John Edwards. In the case of Hillary Clinton there was almost a 'to America' speech theme running throughout her remarks today. You know, the haves and the have-nots, the trickle-down hasn't occurred and how can we address that. She even talks about unions. ... Then Barack Obama borrowed from Edwards on the healthcare plan. The details are different, yes. But it involves both their healthcare plans are large government rolls that would be subsidized by business taxes and increasing taxes on individuals at the wealthy end. ... To me it's like they're all joined at the hip on domestic policy, in particular, and so the race starts to become who do you like better, who you trust better, who do you believe?" ("Special Report," FNC, 5/29).
WashingtonPost.com's Cillizza: "In the last two hours after Obama put out his plan, I got a statement from both Edwards and Clinton, both of whom expressed some skepticism subtly, but still skepticism that Obama's plan does not mandate universal coverage, that this would not cover everyone. ... That's the danger when you put out a big comprehensive plan. It gives a lot of people a lot of time to shoot at it. ... He has been criticized that his resume is too thin. When he comes out and puts out a policy proposal to show he has some depth to his position, people say it's wrong. ... So he's in a catch 22. He has to roll out some big policy proposals, but he also has to realize that he's going to have to weather some criticism from his opponents who don't think it's enough or think it's too much" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 5/29).
CNN's Bash, on why Obama and HRC are shifting to domestic issues: "It's one of the things that voters are yearning to hear about from candidates. Just being here in New Hampshire, certainly the Iraq War tops the list in terms of things that really give voters anxiety, but when it comes to issues close to home, the economy is right there behind it" ("Situation Room," 5/29).
ALRIGHT, WE GET IT
Al Gore was on "Countdown" last night to talk about his book, but conversation turned to WH '08.
Gore, on Newsweek reporting that a close friend and financial backer of Gore's says Gore is 50-50 about running: "Whoever that was doesn't reflect my thinking. And I can't even answer the question without sounding repetitious. You know my answer. I'm not thinking about running. I don't expect to run. Yes, I haven't ruled out the possibility at some point in the future. But I'm not keeping that exception alive to be coy. I really don't expect to be a candidate again. But here we are, 500 days or so before the next election. I don't see why, you know, everybody has to close the doors and say, OK, let's narrow the field and make your bets" (MSNBC, 5/29). [KATHERINE LEHR]
Posted at 08:31 AM
Comments
Dobbs: S.T.F.U.
goethean | 05.30.07 01:59 PM
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