Wednesday, October 03, 2007

JOHN MCCAIN

John McCain Talks to the Campaign Spot: 'Rush Is Saying He Was Only Talking About One Figure. To Me, This Issue Is Closed.'

Senator John McCain was kind enough to answer a few questions from the Campaign Spot while he was between events in South Carolina.

The controversy of the day seems to be the Democrats in a fury over a something Rush Limbaugh insists he didn’t say. First, have you been able to hear or read the transcript for yourself?

McCain: I had a transcript read to me over the phone. What I said in my statement earlier was IF Rush had said it, and I gave a bit of an opening. They wanted an immediate reaction, and I gave it, emphasizing the ‘if.’

Looking at Senator Harry Reid’s reaction and the response of other Congressional Democrats, do you think this is an effort to create an equivalent to the MoveOn.org “Betray-Us” ad?

McCain: Sure. As I said, I don’t think it was appropriate to say that, but really, to demand apologies and whatnot? I can’t tell you the number of times I have misspoken, and when I have, I’ve tried to correct it and tried to move on. I think Rush is saying he was only talking about one figure. To me, this issue is closed.

Moving on to that other big controversy, one you’re a little more directly involved in, he American Jewish Committee responded to your ‘Christian nation’ comment by saying, “To argue that America is a Christian nation, or that persons of a particular faith should by reason of their faith not seek high office, puts the very character of our country at stake.” Senator McCain, are you putting the very character of our country at stake?

McCain: No! I’ve said a thousand times that this nation founded on Judeo-Christian values, and I strongly believe that those values should be the guideposts for the conduct of this nation.

In the end, these things never matter. You know, twice before in that interview I said Judeo-Christian values, and then the third time I said Christian nation. And then kaboom! Life isn’t fair. I have the firmest belief in this, and I’ve read the Federalist papers, I’ve read the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence and a lot of other papers of our Founding Fathers and not a doubt in my mind that they were guided by Judeo-Christian values. And I thank God for that every day.

In that interview, I said, look, the lady with her lamp beside the golden door says ‘send me your tired huddled masses,’ she doesn’t say only send one group or kind of people.

Abe Foxman called your comment “an appeal to religious intolerance.” In the vociferousness of these responses, do you detect any desire for publicity?

McCain: No. But you know, I’m not into conspiracies, but I can’t help but think that if we weren’t making the traction that we are, would the response have been like that? I think we’re getting traction, and that as we progress, Republicans are realizing I’m the one best equipped to defeat Hillary Clinton.

I presume you heard the rumors of religious conservatives talking about a third-party bid if Rudy gets the nomination. Realizing that you’re pro-life, that you want to be the nominee and thus your first choice is that this scenario doesn’t come to pass, what does it mean for the Republican Party if the presidential nominee is pro-choice?

McCain: I think it obviously, it is a brand new scenario… One of the really important aspects of our Republican Party position and its views and its principles is respect for human life and the rights of the unborn. But I also have to say, you know, if we’re Republicans and it’s a fair process and every Republican that wants to is involved in that process, I’ll support the nominee. I’ll strongly disagree with that [pro-choice] position, and I’ll advocate against that position… I am confident when our Republican base really examines the candidates, I will be the nominee, and my consistent pro-life record will be helpful.

Do you think a pro-choice nominee would tear the party apart?

McCain: I don’t know if the right phrase is ‘tear the party apart’ but it certainly would be controversial. We have to respect the primary process, but I think we will come around to the values our party has stood for.

Since 2000, you’ve gone out and campaigned for dozens of Republican candidates in House and Senate races across the country, and it’s a similar situation with Giuliani. You’ve established your credibility as a party man in a way that, say, a one term governor of Massachusetts can’t. Does Mitt Romney have the credibility to argue that the Republican Party has to change its ways?

McCain: I think any candidate has a right to argue their ideas for the best course for the future of the party. But you know, I have been railing against this spending. I begged the White House to veto those bills. I joined with Tom Coburn and others on all of these spending fights and we earned the title of ‘Ms. Congeniality.’ [Note, this is sarcasm.]

Any candidate can take any position they want to and convince our voters, but I would also say I have a clear record of working to try to reform our party and I predicted the system in which we were functioning was a three party system – the Republicans, the Democrats, and the Appropriators, and I said this was going to cause corruption years ago… I have a clear record of fighting as long as I could against corrupt spending practices, which were a major factor in our losses in 2006.

I’m out there on the trail, I’m telling you – people are frustrated and saddened about Iraq, but our base is angry. Our base is angry about the spending. The “Bridge to Nowhere” was the tipping point.

Finally, for most of today, there’s been screaming giant red headline on Drudge that reads:

RETREAT: MCCAIN BACKS OFF CLINTON CRITIQUE...

Is that an accurate description?

McCain: I was scheduled to give speech to Camden Academy. It’s kind of unique, it’s like a military academy, it’s sort of like the Citadel, but on a high school level. They had prepared a speech for me, and these kids, they’re in uniform. They want to hear stories like my Christian [I think he’s referring to the guard in the POW camp who loosened his bonds and drew a cross on the ground] and the flag, and how great military service is. I scrapped the entire prepared remarks — not specifically my comments regarding Senator Clinton.

I am doing an event tonight at the College of Charleston, and I’ll be talking about my frustration with the Democrats and Senator Clinton tonight. How in the world this [headline saying “McCain backs off Clinton Critique] came is just bizarre…

I’ve spoken to enough high school students to know if you try to read them a speech, half will be asleep by end of the first page. I try to grab the microphone, walk right up to them, make my remarks brief and have them ask questions. I did that today, and they liked it very much. Tonight I’ll be talking to an entirely different group of people and I will be criticizing the Democrats.

10/03 06:26 PMShare