November 12, 2007
Sunday Snapshot
Lots of '08ers on the Sunday public affairs shows this weekend:
Barack Obama was on "Meet the Press":
Asked why Dems are skeptical about his knowledge and experience to be POTUS: "I have not been on the national scene as long as some of the other candidates in this race, and so part of our job throughout this campaign is to give people some sense of what I've done before I got to Washington; what I did as a constitutional law professor, as a civil rights lawyer, as a state legislator. And what we discover is when people actually find out my track record, they're pleasantly surprised. And so that's why our focus on the early states like Iowa and New Hampshire's been so important, because we can interact much more intimately with people and give them a sense not only about my track record but also my vision for the future."
Asked if he can compete with HRC's exerience: "If you're comparing how long I've been in public office, I've actually been in public office longer than her."
On Giuliani saying he doesn't have executive experience: "I have shown through my legislative work my knowledge of the issues, my judgment and character, and those are the qualities that I think the next president is going to need. One of the things that I'm very clear about during the course of this campaign as I'm meeting voters all across the country is they don't expect the president to be the next chief operating officer. What they want is somebody who understands the struggles they're going through, is going to be thinking every day about how to make their lives better, has a grasp of the issues that not only Democrats, but Republicans and independents are worried are not being attended to in Washington."
On Charlie Rangel saying he'd be getting on-the-job training: "The only real training for the presidency is the presidency."
On HRC: "What Senator Clinton's been doing is running what's considered a textbook Washington campaign, and what that says is that you don't answer directly tough questions."
Asked if he would consider raising taxes: "A tax increase for people like myself, probably."
On saying Dems are "talking and acting and voting like George Bush" GOPers: "On a series of issues, what I believe is that the Democrats have not stood forcefully against George Bush, they have not been clear about what an alternative foreign policy strategy would be, and, unless we present as a party a different vision about how we would approach national security, how we'd approach battling terrorism, I think that we are going to make ourselves vulnerable in the fall, and, more importantly, we're going to be doing a disservice to the American people."
Asked if he'd still be willing to meet with Fidel Castro, Kim Jung Il, and Hugo Chavez: "I do. Now, I did not say that I would be meeting with all of them. I said I'd be willing to. Obviously, there is a difference between pre-conditions and preparation."
On fundraising: "My commitment extends beyond just not taking lobbyists' money and taking PAC money. It's absolutely true that, in the past, there have been times where I received lobbyist and PAC money. But the interest in reducing money in politics is one that has been consistent and that I have consistently fought against. And that, I think, is the kind of track record, of being willing to take on not only Republicans, but oftentimes taking on leaders in my own party who are resistant to change that I think gives me credibility to say when I am president I am actually going to take this seriously and use my political capital to deal with it."
NBC's Russert: "But if you say you don't take federal lobbyist but you take state lobbyist money or you take money from people who work for federal lobbying firms, or you take $2 million from people who work on Wall Street or hundreds of thousands of dollars from people who work in pharmaceutical companies, isn't it just a word game?"
Obama: "Of course it's not perfect. That's the problem for running for president right now is you've got to raise millions of dollars in order to compete. We've got more small donors than every other candidate on the Democratic side combined. We have set out admittedly imperfect rules to try to reduce the influence of money in politics. But you are absolutely right. Most of the people that are writing $2300 checks are wealthy people, and that's one of the problems with our political system. That's something that I am intent on changing, and I've got a track record of actually bringing about change that I believe nobody else has."
Asked where his records are from his time as an IL state sen.: "We did not keep those records. ... In the state senate, every single piece of information, every document related to state government was kept by the state of Illinois and has been disclosed and is available and has been gone through with a fine-toothed comb by news outlets in Illinois. The, the stuff that I did not keep has to do with, for example, my schedule. I didn't have a schedule. I was a state senator. I wasn't intending to have the Barack Obama State Senate Library. I didn't have 50 or 500 people to, to help me archive these issues."
On Tony Rezko: "The, the purchase of the land was after it was reported that he was under federal investigation. The support that he gave to my campaign prior to that -- at that point any problems that came up had not surfaced. I've already acknowledged this was a mistake. Not only should I not have been involved in any business transaction with him, in particular, but with contributors generally. But keep in mind ... that there was no evidence of wrongdoing. This was a above-the-board market-based transaction. Everybody who's looked at has acknowledged as such. But there's no doubt that it was a mistake on my part."
Asked if Rezko is still his friend: "You know, I have not talked to him since he got into trouble with the law."
On his wife saying IA is a must-win: "We have to do well in Iowa. Now, keep in mind when Michelle goes to New Hampshire or South Carolina, I think, you know, she probably says the same thing there. The early states are critical to us because, you know, I am not as well-known as Senator Clinton and some of the other candidates in this race. And my biography is not known, what I stand for is not known as well. What theses early states allow me to do is to not only present what my agenda is for change in this country, but also it allows me to listen and learn from the American people, and it has been a powerful journey traveling around places like Iowa, where, you know, you go to small rural towns, they've got the values that have built this country, and yet they feel entirely forgotten."
More: "There is no doubt that we have to do well in Iowa. If we do not do well in Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina..."
Russert: "Race is over."
Obama: "Yeah, well, I think that's true for any of the candidates. I don't know a candidate out there who thinks that they can lose Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina and still be successful" (NBC, 11/11).
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MADE ME DO IT
Bill Richardson was on "Fox News Sunday":
On Pakistan: "It's a failure of leadership on the part of the Bush administration. We should be saying to Musharraf very clearly, 'We give you $10 billion since 9/11. Unless you have free elections and return to democracy, unless you go after al Qaeda in a determined and effective way, your conditional assistance may be terminated.' That's what I would do. I think right now we have a failed nation state on our hands."
Asked about signing a law for drivers' licenses for illegal immigrants: "Four years ago, the legislature sent a bill to me and, at the request of my law enforcement leaders, I signed it, which allows licenses for undocumented workers. The reason I did this is because there's a failure of an immigration law in the Congress and the president. It's a matter for us in New Mexico of public safety, of safety on the roads. At the time that I signed the bill, 33 percent drivers were uninsured. Today it's 11 percent uninsured. This law has helped. It's a matter of public safety. Now, I also have a responsibility as a governor, you know, when the federal government and the Congress don't act, to protect my citizens. That's the reason I did it, as a matter of public safety."
More: "We have had this law now for four years, and it has been successful. It has lowered the number of uninsured. Traffic safety accidents have gone down. We're able to keep track of where these individuals are."
Richardson: "This is an unpopular decision, but I believe it's the right decision for my people. What we need is comprehensive immigration. Why isn't the Congress and the president getting together and passing standards that would allow states like mine to protect our own citizens without having to take these measures? We are acting because the federal government and the Congress and the president are refusing to act."
FNC's Wallace, asking about his debate performance: "Governor, you deny you're after the number two slot, so tell us quickly a few issues where you disagree with Senator Clinton."
Richardson: "Well, first, I want to get all our troops out of Iraq and leave no residual forces behind. She wants to leave 75,000. Secondly, on Iran, that resolution branding the revolutionary guard terrorists -- I would have voted against it because it was saber-rattling. We don't need to give the president another opportunity to justify a potential military effort. Third, on education issues, no child left behind -- I want to get rid of it. She wants to keep it. There are many ways that we're different. My point there ... is that we shouldn't get personal. We shouldn't engage in personal attacks about whether we trust the candidate or the candidate is controlled by special interests. The American people want a positive campaign. They don't want us to tear each other down. I'm a candidate who's positive, who's patriotic. I want to talk about what's good for America, how we can bring people together. The point I was making is that, in my judgment, both Senator Edwards and Senator Obama were getting in that range that would be branded as personal attacks. We don't need that."
More: "I'm not interested in being vice president" (11/11).
UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OFFENSIVE
John McCain was on "Fox News Sunday":
FNC's Wallace's first question to him: "You were, of course, a Navy flier, Senator McCain. You ever see a UFO?"
McCain: "I can't say that I did, but I kept looking all the time."
McCain, on his criticism of the other GOPers: "It's well to point out that neither Governor Romney nor Mayor Giuliani have any national security experience."
More: "I'll match my public ethics in public office with anyone who's running for president of the United States today. I'm proud of my record, and I will stand on it."
Asked if he would threaten to cut off all aid to Pakistan: "No, because if you play that last card and it doesn't work, then obviously you have no leverage whatsoever." More: "I would be doing intensive behind-the-scenes negotiations, and I would do my best to convince Musharraf that the best thing for him, as well as the future of Pakistan, is to go ahead and schedule these elections and move forward with the democratic process. But to issue ultimatums and threats right now that may result in damage to United States national security I think is inappropriate."
Asked about the new SC ad created by Rick Reed: "I have not called Rick Reed because I don't know what his involvement in it is. I don't know who is involved with it. I have condemned those ads. If I knew who was involved in it, I would tell them to -- that I would like to see them taken down, and Mr. Reed has not been involved in our campaign except in an advisory capacity -- give us some advice a long time ago as there are many, many others who have. But I have always condemned these kinds of ads and I will continue to do so. But I don't know any of the details of them, obviously."
Asked about Pat Robertson's endorsement of Giuliani: "As I said about Pat Robertson's endorsement of Mayor Giuliani, I'm not often rendered speechless. I certainly was at this event" (11/11).
CALL ON ME, OKAY
Joe Biden was on "Late Edition":
On the situation in Pakistan: "I'm going to look very closely at whether or not, A, he continues to keep his promise and we actually have elections, actually have a fair election, and actually end up with Benazir Bhutto and he negotiating what the changes in the constitution have to be, as well as whether they're actually engaged in fighting terrorists. Otherwise, it's not a very good bargain for us."
On Giuliani saying he doesn't have foreign policy experience: "He thinks being an ambassador qualifies you to be president, and that's the only way you get foreign-policy experience. Look, I know most of these world leaders, you know, only because I've been around a long time. I've negotiated with them. I've been involved with them. I understand the circumstances that are out there. I've spent my whole adult life dealing with this. And God love him, he's been mayor of New York City, which is a wonderful honor, and he's probably done a lot of good things. But the idea he understands how Iran impacts on Pakistan and how Pakistan impacts on India, I've seen no evidence of the fact he is able to connect the dots, God love him. But I'm anxious to debate him on these issues."
Asked if he's said Obama doesn't have the experience to be POTUS: "What I'm suggesting is, I'm the one with the experience. That's what I'm suggesting."
CNN's Blitzer: "All right, Senator, we're going to see you Thursday night in Las Vegas at the Democratic presidential debate."
Biden: "Now ask me some questions this time, Wolf, OK?"<
Blitzer: "I definitely will, Senator" (CNN, 11/11).
HE'S NOT RULING VP OUT
Mike Huckabee was on "Face the Nation":
Asked why the sudden surge in his campaign: "Well, we like to think it may be the Chuck Norris endorsement. People are now afraid not to vote for me. But whatever the reason, I can tell you this ... it's on fire. In Iowa earlier this week, we would have two and three times, sometimes four times the size of crowds we were anticipating or prepared for. In New Hampshire, it's been the same thing. And these are not just people who kind of come casually. These are folks who are ready to sign up and who are ready to walk through eight feet of snow to get to the polls. We've had to upgrade our web server three times in one week. We've had to hire people to answer the phones and come in and open the mail. So something is working. I don't know all to explain it myself. I think it's a combination of a lot of people praying and a lot of people working, but it's really happening. And it's pretty exciting for us."
On Thompson calling him a "pro-life liberal": "The Hollywood writers are on strike and Fred's kind of hurting for some lines. And that's the best he could come up with. He's only half right. I am pro-life. But far from a liberal. And he certainly should know that. I mean, I've managed the state budget, every year balanced it, left the state with a surplus, cut taxes 94 times, passed pro-life, family-friendly legislation, strong defender of the Second Amendment. Give me a litmus test of conservative issues and I pass the test. But you know what? This is a sign that we're very alive. It's a real form of flattery when you start getting attacked, because no hunter points his gun at a dead carcass. You only shoot for the things that you want to put on the wall. ... But you know, I survived Arkansas politics. Became an elected Republican, which is a pretty oddity -- a pretty rare oddity in that state, and I'm sure we'll be seeing some more of that before it's over."
On Pat Robertson endorsing Giuliani: "I can no more explain that than I can, you know, him saying that he prayed the hurricane off the coast. I just don't fully understand it. I salute Rudy for getting it. Wish I had had it, but I don't. But here's the good news for me. I believe that if you look at the value voter debates over the past several weeks, we've won every one of them. Not just by a squeak, but got more votes than all the other candidates put together. In Washington, in South Carolina, and in Fort Lauderdale, Florida."
Asked if he could be VP on a ticket with someone pro-choice like Giuliani: "That's a question I hope I don't have to face. And after we do so well in Iowa and New Hampshire that I'll get the nomination, then I won't have to face it. But it's going to be asked, and my only answer is that that's a question that's months away" (CBS, 11/11).
ANOTHER BIG FUNDRAISING DAY A COMING?
Ron Paul was on "Face the Nation":
On his record fundraising: "I guess the first confession I have to make is I didn't do it. My campaign people did it. The people who volunteer put it all together."
More: "We knew that it was going on. And of course we didn't discourage it. But we had no control over it. We didn't organize it. And one individual decided to have a special day, which was November 5."
On the guy that organized it: "I've talked to him once on the phone to thank him, but I've never met him. He's never been involved in politics. And he heard about me, about the war issue. He looked up the Web site. He said, boy, I agree with everything he says. It's the first time he's ever gotten involved. He says, I think I'll raise him some money. And he did it. And it just goes to show I think how powerful the message is that we have. I don't think it's me, myself. I don't think it's the organization as much as the philosophy of limited government and freedom that people are just starved for."
Asked how much he knows about the Internet: "I've used a computer, especially since I went back to Congress in '97. That's when I got my first computer. And I use it a lot for basically research. I mean, it's just, to me, unbelievable what you can find out on the Internet."
Asked if he'll have another big fundraising day: "I'm not, but I hear there's another one coming on the 16th. I think it has something to do with the Boston Tea Party. So I'll tell you what, there may be another big day. And I will be encouraging them, but just because of the laws, they're independent expenditures. I don't know what they're doing, but, I mean, it sounds great. So if we have another $4 million day, I guess it won't hurt our campaign" (CBS, 11/11).
ONLY PLANT CORN IN IOWA
Chris Dodd was on "This Week":
Asked if the country is headed toward a recession: "It's certainly pointing in that direction. We hope that's not the case, but there are many people who watch this minute to minute and would have drawn that conclusion. Some are even predicting a far greater likelihood than I would at this juncture."
On Iran: "You'll excuse us if we feel worried and burned by an administration that in the past has used those resolutions as a justification for going forward."
Asked how big a deal it is that the HRC campaign admitted to planting questions in IA: "Well, it's probably a big deal here because people don't -- I mean, these house parties and town hall meetings, these are terrific vehicles. You've got to sit down and people want to drill down into you. They really want to know your views on various issues. If they discover in a sense that these are orchestrated events, then I think that's going to upset people here. ... The idea that this is a contrived setting, been orchestrated and set up ahead of time, I think would hurt you here" (ABC, 11/11).
ROUND TABLE ROUND UP
The "Fox News Sunday" roundtable discussed Bernard Kerik's effect on Giuliani, the J-J Dinner in IA, and the situation in Pakistan:
NPR's Williams: "The excerpts that I saw this morning really suggested to me that Obama is refining his approach to dealing with Hillary Clinton and saying that look, you can't talk like George W. Bush in order to prove that Democrats are tough on defense. And secondly, you can't use Bill Clinton's strategies -- the triangulation, the intensity on poll -- to obfuscate your positions and therefore not let people know exactly what you stand for."
The "Late Edition" roundtable discussed Kerik's effect on Giuliani and the upcoming CNN debate in Las Vegas [EMILY GOODIN].
Posted at 08:41 AM
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