October 02, 2007
Hotline After Dark -- America's Next Top Candidate
Barack Obama was on the "Tyra Banks Show" 10/1:
Tyra Banks offered Obama gift suggestions for his upcoming 15th wedding anniversary, which is the crystal anniversary. Banks suggested a crystal vase or a crystal ball. She show Obama the crystal ball and asked him what he saw in it:
Obama: "I see the White House right there."
Obama, on going out in disguise so he's not bothered when he's with his daughters: "I've got to wear my hat and my glasses. And then they said since I always dress really boring in blues and blacks that I should wear something pink. And I said that actually was a bad idea because that would attract more attention."
On how he keeps his daughters from bad influences: "My nine-year-old Malia is very down on very Paris Hilton and all that. In fact, when she finds out we're staying in a hotel she asks, 'We're not staying in a Hilton hotel?'"
Asked the last time he had a cigarette: "It's been many months."
Banks: "If you become the president of the United States, can my momma and I have a slumber party in the Lincoln bedroom?"
Obama: "I've got to get elected first. ... I've been in the Lincoln bedroom and it's not as fancy as you think. It's just an old bed." More: "I generally don't make promises about the Lincoln bedroom."
Asked who'd play him in the movie version of his life: "Denzel, of course. But somebody pointed out with my ears it might have to be Will" (Fox, 10/1).
AT LEAST YOU'RE NOT LIKE MIKE
Mike Gravel was on "NewsHour" last night as part of their '08 candidates series:
On how he did in Q3: "To tell you the truth, I don't know. For some candidates, it may be big news. It's not big news for me. Stop and think. We all know that money is the corrupting element of politics. Why should we pay attention to who's got big money, except to define who are the most corrupt running for office?"
Asked if he has what he needs to keep his campaign going: "I have this interview. This is big money. We're being viewed by thousands and thousands of Americans. They're going to hear my voice, not translated by watching a spot that I may pay $100,000 for."
On his campaign: "I've taken the bus back from New York because I couldn't afford to take a plane ride or didn't want to take a plane ride. I take the train. You know, we don't travel around with a retinue of media in a private jet. And, of course, I pay a price for that, because they don't cover me on a continuous basis like they do the other candidates, but that's the nature of the beast. I am an ordinary person, and I will be an extraordinary president" (PBS, 10/1).
ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
And there was a lot of talk on the Christian conservatives threatening to bolt the GOP if Rudy Giuiliani is the nominee:
ABC's Gibson: "Usually it's the Democratic Party that has problems keeping its factions in line" ("World News," 10/1).
NBC's Gregory: "The turmoil within the party is rare and could ultimately undermine the nominee's chances" ("Nightly News," 10/1).
CNN's J. King: "The Giuliani camp plays down the threat, noting polls showing strong support among churchgoing Evangelicals and Catholics. ... But while there are huge hurdles to third party candidacies, one born of social conservative frustration would be a huge threat to Giuliani" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 10/1).
Family Research Council's Tony Perkins: "This was more of a proclamation of principle, rather than a declaration of intent. There's no desire to run a third-party candidate. But there's been a line drawn, which I think most pro-life conservatives are not willing to cross."
More Perkins: "The vast majority of social conservatives came to the Republican Party because of the life issue and the other social issues. If the party leaves those issues, I think it's unreasonable for them to demand that they stay in the party. And I don't think they will."
Perkins: "Social conservatives are about a third of the Republican primary voters. ... There will be some that vote for Mayor Giuliani. But I'm hard pressed to think he's going to get the majority. There's no way" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 10/1).
Rep. Peter King (R-NY): "I'm pro-life myself. I'm supporting Rudy Giuliani for a number of reasons, one of which is that, on the life issue, the judges he would support to the Supreme Court, judges like Alito and Scalia and Roberts, they are strict constructionists. And that is where the battle is going to be fought. It's going to be fought in the courts. And, on federal funding of abortion, he supports the Hyde amendment, would not allow federal funding of abortion. But, also, among Republican primary voters, those who are church-going, those who are self-professed evangelicals, Rudy Giuliani is getting the most votes of any of the Republican candidates among them. And I think it's because of leadership, because of terrorism, and because he is basically a neighborhood guy who does represent basic values. People may disagree with certain aspects, but, on the overall issue, he's the one who can defeat Hillary Clinton. And he's the one who, on issues such as life, will be able to advance, I believe, the pro-life cause by his appointments to the courts."
More King: "Whether it is Governor Romney, or Senator Thompson, or Senator McCain, none of them has a perfect pro-life record. ... I think it would advance the cause of pro-choice -- or pro-abortion, if Mr. Perkins wants to say -- if we run a third party, or if we block Giuliani, and we allow someone like Senator Clinton to become the president. That's the moral decision you have to face" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 10/1).
Perkins, asked if Giuliani is the only GOPer that can beat HRC:"Actually, I believe that Rudy Giuliani is Hillary's ticket to the White House. ... I cannot under any circumstance see the conservative base of the Republican Party being excited and working for a ... presidential candidate that is pro-abortion. I think turnout will be depressed, and I think Hillary's base will be motivated. I think he is her ticket to the White House" ("AC 360," CNN, 10/1). [EMILY GOODIN]
Posted at 09:03 AM
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