On the Phone with John (McCain)
I have mixed feelings about “blogger calls” – those conference calls political candidates and corporate types arrange with supposed representatives of the new media. There’s a self-serving, preaching to the choir quality about them (Dems almost always set them up with the left blogosphere and vice-versa), but it’s hard to resist when the man on the other end is The Man Who or the Man Who Has a Strong Possibility of Being Who.
So I quickly put my qualms to rest, dialed the 800 number I had been sent and gave the secret word to the receptionist (it wasn’t “swordfish”). What’s interesting about blogger calls these days, on this level at least, is that the aura of amateurism is gone. Many of the bloggers on the call now represented serious media organizations: Hugh Hewitt (Town Hall), Michael Goldfarb (Weekly Standard), Jennifer Rubin (Contentions of Commentary Magazine), and yours reasonably truly (Pajamas Media). This was my second time interviewing McCain, although on this occasion I wasn’t able to get in a question, not that I had a particularly good one.
For the most part, the bloggers on the call were “in the tank” for the candidate, but I’m not sure that was an entirely bad thing because McCain got to discourse at length and, as many have written, the man is forthcoming with his opinions in a refreshingly direct manner for a politician. Despite the mythos about his temper, I think one of the most laudable things about McCain is that people who disagree with him do not seem to threaten him. He relishes the rough and tumble of political discussion—not that this call featured a whole lot of that.
He is also more sophisticated than some of his supporters. The one bone of contention on the call was the North Carolina Republican Party campaign ad, using Wright and Ayers to bash Obama. McCain, as most know, asked for that to be taken down. He is taking the high road, as well he should, since he is running for President of the United States. If he wins, he’s going to have to be president of all Americans. Not only that, as everyone knows, national elections are won in the center. The wise candidate keeps his eye on that.
Nevertheless, there were a couple of people on the call who sounded as if they would rather be “right” than win. I’m not going to name names simply because I can’t. (Hey, I’m not that polite.) I couldn’t hear very well. I was on this call while going through security for a flight from Burbank to Seattle. I left the cellphone on as it passed along the conveyor belt through the x-ray device and, remarkably, was able to pick up on the conversation without redialing on the other end. (What does this say about our security? That iPhone, it keeps on ticking.)
In any case, my reportage on the call is therefore a bit slipshod. I did hear the following: McCain eloquently defended his proposal to lower the gas tax temporarily this summer—something about which I was skeptical—by pointing out that it is the poorer Americans who are paying far more than their share of this. They are driving the aging gas guzzlers (not Laurie David). He also reiterated his stand on keeping capital gains taxes low, contrasting his position with Clinton and Obama (who fumbled badly on that issue the other day).
On the foreign policy front, we all know where he stands. He called himself Hamas’ worst nightmare—“It’s very clear who Hamas wants to be President, as well as Danny Ortega…”—and pointed out that Iran was up to yet more mischief today.
What most impressed me though is that McCain seems to genuinely enjoy talking to bloggers—and not entirely because we may be “in the tank” for him. (Who wouldn’t like that?) Like Fred Thompson before him, he appears to be genuinely down with New Media. It must be that maverick thing.
Hey… Glenn Reynolds for Press Secretary?
Roger L. Simon is an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter, novelist and blogger, and the CEO of Pajamas Media.
I sympathize a lot with McCain’s desire to take the high road, but I think he’s taking it too far by coming out strongly against the Wright-Obama commercials. Obama himself made character and judgment a core selling point of his campaign, so how his relationships reflect his judgment are fair game for political commercials.
(BTW, is it just me or had Michelle Obama really gone quiet?)
He’s also cutting off this line of attack in the general election. If his campaign calls out Wright now, McCain looks desperate and hypocritical. Dumb, dumb move.
McCain is on the high road? Really? Most of us conservatives only experience his irrational attacks.
As far as enjoying bloggers, maybe you should check this out…
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/12/13/mccain-war-on-blogs/
Besides this info … McCain is no friend to free speech. McCain -Feingold?
“He relishes the rough and tumble of political discussion”
Wow! That’s why he tells the Republicans in North Carolina to take down a factual effective ad.
I don’t think you should be so quick in thinking he’s down with the “New Media” They certainly aren’t down with him.
Not only is this slipshod…. were you drinking? Seriously.
I suspect Tim pretty much nailed it. Also, why should he enter the fray now and provide an opening for Obama to use McCain as a diversion?
When Obama finally wins the primary, I suspect McCain will bring the issues involving Rev. Wright, Ayers, Rezko and Michelle to the front, just perhaps not with such a blunt instrument.
Roger, please explain to me how McCain can criticize Obama-Ayers relationship (McCain is very, publicly critical), but NC Reps can’t criticize the Wright-Obama relationship?
Also, please explain this logic:
“If he wins, he’s going to have to be president of all Americans.”
So, he (or we) can’t criticize anyone?
What is wrong with the NC ad (besides being a bit weak in linking NC dems to Wright)? The only people I can see it offending are people who want to be offended, or want to pretend offense.
Again, in a moral sense, what is wrong with the ad?
Like Senator McCain said in the WWE Wrestling Video…
“To be the MAN, You’ve got to beat the MAN”.
It gets tiresome when my republican party candidate (McCain) starts beating on his own party, again and again. Where does John McCain’s high road lead to? It ain’t victory.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HbaxHjxOlo4&feature=related
“Not only is this slipshod…. were you drinking? Seriously.”
A grande soy latte with an extra shot. As far as I know, it was espresso.
But thanks for sharing.
Then try a double Bombay Sapphire on the rocks.
Thanks for writing… Seriously.
Thank you for the Marx Brothers reference. Nice to see someone else remembers the greats.
Now that McCain is organizing fund raising that takes advantage of a loophole in McCain-Feingold, I wish someone would ask him his opinion on the effect of his bill. Has the McCain-Feingold law had an overall positive effect on campaign financing? Were the controversial restrictions on political ads worth it?
Maybe next time.
Roger – Don’t make too much of an issue of being “in the tank.” These blogger calls are no different than meetings with editorial boards of certain newspapers. When McCain sits down with the editorial board of the NYT or WSJ, he knows his crowd and can tailor his conversation accordingly. These blogger conferences are the same. Nothing unusual about it.
McCain is such a tool. He didn’t even watch the darn NCGOP ad, but he certainly had the audacity to condemn it! Of course, this comes as no surprise from someone who gave us the McCain-Feingold debacle, as well as voted in favor of banning the incand. light bulb. My g-d, when will this hack exercise a modicum of basic competence?!?!
“McCain is such a tool. He didn’t even watch the darn NCGOP ad”
John McCain has a serious character flaw: he indulges in “good person” anti-intellectualism. He feels that it is not necessary to study an issue if the so-called good people already have a position on it. This is most troubling and likely will not go away anytime in the near future. Nonetheless, the election in November is not between Seantor McCain and the perfect candidate. No, it will between John McCain and “Barry” Obama! The latter gentleman is a very destructive human being. He will cause enormous harm. McCain is the lesser of evils. That is why I unhesitatingly support him.
Look, guys, the more McCain condemns the ad, the more he steers people right back toward the controversy. He’s not as stupid as you think he is. Nothing draws more attention than an album that is banned. Think about it.
BTW, Bush distanced himself from the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
klrtz wrote: “…wish someone would ask him his opinion on the effect of his bill.”
The net effect of McCain-Feingold is the present mess you see in the Democrat party. The DNC no longer has control over the tone and messages, these radical Soros-funded 527s are fragmenting and radicalizing and bullying the party, and the Dems are screwed once again.
Here’s a new media tip he should follow. Stop the Hamas bull and start acting like a leader. And he should start catching up with how war mentality works. I bet you Al-Qaeda will endorse Obama if they could make another video from a cave somewhere in “allied” Pakistan. Because they know how to use reverse psychology (you idiot, McCain). How do you get your enemy to do what you want them to do? Tell them the opposite. Want war? Then endorse the one guy from the “enemy” who wants peace. McDrain and the gang please note – Hamas is playing you like a little toy drum. And you are walking to their beat. McPain should wake up and think a little bit more. Think. Think. What do Al-Qaeda want? What do you think Hamas want? Chaos so they can recruit more. Anarchy so they can continue a mindless war. They want one thing and will tell you the opposite. You think you can trust what they tell you? They are playing you for a fool. You played into their hands in Iraq. And you are going to play into their hands again. You stupid, stupid man. http://angryafrican.net/2008/04/26/i-angry-african-endorse-mccain/
Angry African: you stupid, stupid man.
Wow angry African…. why don’t you preach to your country since you know so much? I bet your advice would be truly helpful to that continent!
Once again, John McCain… one of the few intelligent politicians left.
For those of you that seem confused about NC, let me break this down a bit:
John McCain can easily beat Obama.
John McCain can easily beat Hillary.
Both Obama people and Hillary people (in surprising numbers) say that McCain is their second choice.
John McCain is the Republican Candidate… he doesn’t need to fight right now, he can let Hillster and Obama fight it out among themselves. Meanwhile, by pulling little tricks like he did with the NC ad, he makes points with the middle and LEFT citizens that may vote for him.
This, is a game called politics. This is not the game called “STAND BY MAH PARTY EVEN IF IT KILLS MAH CANDIDACY”. Please grow up, grow a pair (if you can) and get your mind out of the sink hole that Gingrich and friends turned the US government into.
McCain can win, McCain can be a decent President, Hell McCain might even get a start on cleaning up some of the putrid feces that has spewed from the GOP in the past 10 years… its a lot to ask of one man, but if anyone is gonna do it, it may well be the Old Bastard.
You can seethe that Obama didn’t get picked on more… but I guarantee if McCain follows your political advice, you’ll be seething while Obama takes the oath, while our health care turns into the next Federal Black Hole, while Iraq turns into Vietnam and while the GOP turns into dust.
Its a free country, the choice is yours.