[big campaign] Media Monitoring Report - Morning 07/09/08

podesta-emails 3,858 words email

P17 P22 V11 V16 D4

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*Main Topics*: Mitt Romney Praises McCain, Iranian Missile Test *Summary of Shift*: Mitt Romney took up most of the morning's news coverage with interviews on several networks discussing McCain's plan for the economy and avoiding any VP questions. Responses to Iran's missile test also received extensive coverage. Obama appeared on several networks to discuss Iran and refute flip flopping charges. Non-McCain coverage focused on the California wildfires, an attack on the US consulate in Turkey, Alex Rodriguez's and Christy Brinkley's divorces, Bush's G8 Summit visit, and another man attempted to climb the New York Times building. *Highlights*: 1. MSNBC: McCain jokes about killing Iranians with cigarette exports 2. Mitt Romney saturates news coverage with his praise for McCain a) CNN: Romney Can't Explain how McCain will balance the budget by 2013 b) FNC: Romney praises McCain on energy and being a Maverick on Hannity and Colmes c) FNC: Mitt Romney discusses McCain's economic plan on Fox and Friends d) MSNBC: Romney talks Iran foreign policy and McCain's national security strengths 3. MSNBC: McCain political implications of Iran's missile test discussed 4. Comedy Central: The Daily Show mocks Bush/McCain's addiction to oil *Clips:* Highlight #1 *McCain Jokes About Killing Iranians With Cigarette Exports* (MSNBC, 07/09/08, 8:17am) REPORTER: We've learned that the exports to Iran increased by ten fold during the Bush administration. The biggest export was cigarettes. Giving that the, yeah, that the supposedly […] McCain: Maybe that's a way of killing them. [McCain and reporters laugh] McCain: I meant that as a joke. JOE SCARBOROUGH: *Ok, he jokes a lot about killing Iranians, I'm sorry!* ANDREA MITCHELL: That's before the missile tests, let's just point that out. CHUCK TODD: But you know what's funny, in all this re-tooling of McCain that we've read about over the last couple of weeks, apparently one of the things that they want to have him stop doing are these jokes! SCARBOROUGH: *About killing Iranians! Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran!* TODD: But I think this is what people like about John McCain. WILLY GEIST: It is! TODD: I mean, I'm sorry […] SCARBOROUGH: Not killing Iranians, but […] TODD: No! But when he does things like that it's sort of like that's what makes him real and that's what makes people that disagree with him say, ah you know what, the guy seems like any guy you'd want to have around the dinner table or the bar stool. Highlight #2 *Romney Can't Explain how McCain will Balance the Budget by 2013* (CNN 07/09/08 07:55AM) KIRAN CHETRY: […] If there's evidence that dipping into our reserve would provide immediate relief is that something Senator McCain would support? MITT ROMNEY: […] If we 're going to see long term energy prices brought down were going to have to have more supply and more supply here in this country. That is why John McCain is focused on saying lets have additional drilling, lets have new nuclear plants so we can have less expensive electricity to power our plug in cars, and lets also use coal and natural gas more aggressively. […] CHETRY:[…] We talked to T. Boone Pickens earlier this morning, who talked about his plan to reduce our dependence and it involves spending billions of dollars on wind energy and being able to then harness natural gas to power our cars. Is that something that seems like a working solution, something that a McCain administration would pursue? ROMNEY: *What you're going to find in the McCain administration is an aggressive desire and willingness to support new technologies that help America become energy independent.** **[…]* CHETRY: John McCain says he can balance the budget by 2013 and one way he says he's going to do it is by reigning in spending. You still have him though promising to extend the president's current tax cuts, adding tax cuts of his own. And he needs to find hundreds of billions of dollars. How will he be able to do that by simply reigning in spending? ROMNEY: I think the key thing the American people want to see right now is who's going to help them deal with some very tough economic situations at home, with gasoline prices through the roof and some of them upside down in their home mortgages. And John McCain has a plan to do exactly that. […] Oil prices down, […] taxes down for middle-income families, and that's by eliminating the alternative minimum tax […] and double the personal deduction. And finally he's got a plan to create more jobs […] CHETRY: What would he be able to cut? What would he cut though? ROMNEY: […] cut out the earmarks, the waste, the fraud, the abuse. […] CHETRY: Right, but let me ask you this. *Earmarks make up about 2% of the overall budget so that's not going to be enough.* And when it comes to entitlement programs like Medicare, you have more seniors getting older and more people that are going to be needing to rely on Medicare, so how does he make that happen by 2013? ROMNEY: By reforming the system to make sure that we are providing for the needs of those who need it but we are not spending excessively. For instance in the area of Social Security. *The President proposed certain personal accounts, that would have helped. […] Medicaid is a place were enormous savings are potentially there.** **So the idea that somehow we are going to have to take more and more and more out of people's pockets to pay for federal programs is something John McCain rejects.* CHETRY:[…] I*s your campaign digging a hole by saying that by 2013 the budget can be balanced.** **Politico has a story today that says many of the economist that signed on and said they support McCain's plan, still don't think that he can balance the budget by 2013.* ROMNEY: […] *Senator McCain believes that by the end of his first term we'll have wound down our major contributions to our efforts in Iraq, that will save a lot of money, we'll have reformed many of our entitlement programs, cut out waste, fraud and abuse. And if we also see a strong growing economy, those things can combine to balance the budget.** **But I must admit,** **I think most people want some help balancing their own budget right away.* […] <https://issuealliance.box.net/shared/kr49shbc48> *Romney Praises McCain on Energy and Being a Maverick on Hannity and Colmes* (FNC 07/08/08 09:05pm) […] HANNITY: I have publicly said I think you'd be the best choice. COLMES: You'd like the job though right? You wouldn't say no? MITT ROMNEY: […] I think its one of the least interesting parts of the campaign at this point. I think the most interesting thing that's going on relates to Barack Obama and his aggressive shift on policy positions in breathtaking speed. As regard to the VP sweepstakes, I think its all speculation that I'm going to avoid. COLMES: It's very interesting because during the campaign now you and McCain said a lot of things about each other, which were not always particularly complimentary including what you just said about Barack Obama, that he changed his position on ethanol and go down the list. How do you square that with your now in support of John McCain? ROMNEY: […] He is a person of great capability that has been tested and proven, that I respect enormously. *There are places we disagreed on certain issues; I wouldn't have been running if we agreed on every issue.* But the American people spoke and they chose John McCain to be our nominee. *And on the major issues of the day, he is consistent, he is right; I agree with him, He has charted the right course for America*. And right now with the number one issue on people's minds the economy, he's got the right prescription to make our economy stronger. COLMES: You once referred to him, as outside the mainstream of Republican thought, do you still believe that? ROMNEY: […] what's characterized John McCain over the years is that he is not someone who has marched in lock step with the party. Some would even say that he was hard on the President. I remember him saying that Don Rumsfeld was the worst Secretary of Defense in the history of the United States of America. That's pretty tough on your own administration or your party's administration. And it's that very, if you will, Maverick outspoken nature that's making it so hard for Barack Obama to try to characterize John McCain as being a continuation of George Bush. Everybody that has watched the last eight years knows that is far from the truth. COLMES: […] You once referred to his program to limit carbon emissions as something that would raise gasoline prices $0.50 a gallon. Is that one of the areas where you and he disagree on the trade and cap issue? ROMNEY: What I would do on a trade and cap program is make sure what's done is done on a global basis and not just on a US only basis. […] The real heart of energy is what we are going to do about our natural resources, are we going to drill for more oil, John McCain says yes […] Nuclear power plants, John McCain says absolutely [….] John McCain will get us energy independent. […] HANNITY: […] Barack Obama basically saying that it's embarrassing that American's can't speak French when they go to Europe. [Clip of Obama] ROMNEY: […] our concerns about our education system is less about speaking French and more about whether we can keep up with the world in Math and Computer Science and other Sciences. […] HANNITY: […] Don't you think a lot of Americans are going to find this arrogant? ROMNEY: […] I think Barack Obama looks towards Europe for a lot of his inspiration. * **As he thinks about his tax plan, raising taxes in this country is exactly the sort of thing that happened in Europe, putting in place a governmental healthcare system, that's what Europe has done. The European course is not the right course for America.** **I think John McCain is going to make sure that America stays America.** *<https://issuealliance.box.net/shared/tg0xxf400g> *Mitt Romney Discusses McCain's Economic Plan on Fox and Friends* (CNN 07/09/08 08:51am) STEVE DOOCY: John McCain said something about that the Economy is not his strong suit. […] Are you confident he knows enough to run the country. MITT ROMNEY: […] He's laid out a plan to get our economy going again, and it includes at the top of the list finally becoming energy independent. Something that of course Barack Obama, because his need to adhere to the desires of the extreme environmentalist in his party, he just cant do. ANDREW NAPOLITANO: […] John McCain has said that by 2013, by the end of his first term, he will balance the budget, keep both Bush in place, make them permanent, and double the standard deduction of $3,500 for parents with children. How can he possibly do all that? ROMNEY: […] by cutting unnecessary spending, also reforming entitlements to make sure we don't have growth way out of line with our ability to pay, and of course we have to see a fast growing economy again, and that is something that Senator McCain is counting on by the end of his first term, that we'll have the economic growth that combined with reigning in federal spending well be able to balance the budget. GRETCHEN CARLSON: Governor you have to admit that you do know the economy. […] Maybe he needs someone like you. […]. […] <https://issuealliance.box.net/shared/vhr8w2a04g> *Romney Talks Iran Foreign Policy and McCain's National Security Strengths*(MSNBC, 07/09/08, 8:23am) JOE SCARBOROUGH: This morning, Iran of course fired that, uh, long range missiles in a test that many people believe was provocative. Certainly in Israel and the United States. *Do you think that John McCain is better equipped to handle a crisis like this than Barack Obama?* MITT ROMNEY: *No question about that. I think the American people recognize that and it's not just with regards to foreign affairs, with regards to our economy and keeping America strong and providing good jobs for Americans. John McCain has the experience of a leader*. And Barack Obama is a wonderful and charming person, but he's never been a leader. Wasn't a leader in the state senate. Hasn't been a leader in the federal senate, hasn't pushed through a major piece ever legislation. He is untested and unproven when it comes to leadership. John McCain if you agree with him or disagree with him, you do know the man is a leader. SCARBOROUGH: Well, Barack Obama would say for all of John McCain's experience not only in war but in peace, not only in the house but also in the senate, this is a guy who is a guy who supported a disastrous war in Iraq while Barack Obama opposed it. ROMNEY: […] but John McCain, you know where he is. John McCain says look, we are going to protect this country and without question, based upon what we knew at the time we had that information, we took action, which frankly most senators agreed we ought to take. And that was to go after Iraq and go after Afghanistan. ANDREA MITCHELL: […] if this were a McCain Romney administration and Iran fired these missiles, what would the McCain Romney team do? ROMNEY: Well, I'm afraid I'm not going to pick up any speculation with regards to my involvement with senator McCain's ticket. I'm happy to support it but I'm not anticipating being part of it. With regards to response to Iran, you respond as well with, in my view, tightening the economic sanctions that we have been arguing for that great Britain and the rest of Europe is lining up behind as well. You tighten sanctions on Iran as long as they continue to take belligerent action and particularly as they pursue their nuclear capacity for weapons building. MITCHELL: But Russia and china have been vetoing sanctions. I mean there have been economic sanctions that have impacted Iran. But the really tough action against Iran, for years now, Condi rice has failed to get a deal because of vetoes from Russia and china. ROMNEY: Oh you are absolutely right. And so the action that America has it take is to continue to use every source of leverage we have to put tighter and tighter sanctions on Iran. To take those actions unilaterally that we can take, as well as actions from our friends throughout the world, particularly, our European friends. It would be nice if we could get U.N. sanctions as well. But as you point out that is going to be tough with Russia and china. *But without question, short of taking military action, which we do not want to take at this stage, the only way we can put real pressure on Iran is by having the kind of economic sanctions that will make the people of Iran and the leadership say enough. * SCARBOROUGH: governor but that hasn't worked, obviously, over the past seven years to stop them developing nuclear weapons. George w. bush, dick Cheney, this administration has said Iran will not be allowed to get nuclear weapons. Suggesting if sanctions don't work then they'll have to take military action. Do you believe that the United States of America should take military action if that is the last and only option to keep nuclear weapons away from Ahmadinejad and Iran? ROMNEY: *Of course you always leave military options on the table.* You never tell someone like Iran that is developing nuclear technology potentially for the purpose of weaponry that we are going to take military action off the table. It is on the table but you pursue every other possible avenue. And that's what we're doing. SCARBOROUGH: And when those avenues are closed off, do you go militarily to stop them. ROMNEY: *When I say you leave it on the table, I mean it's on the table. You show very clearly your willingness to potentially take military action*. And I'm not going to suggest you take that off the table nor am I going to announce exactly what kind ever action that might be. But we have a wide array of options, which include the military. PAT BUCHANAN: […] you used the phrase at this stage, military action is really not in the cards. That we're going down this diplomatic road. In that the united states believes that Iran could not acquire the enriched uranium at weapons grade to test it on a missile, for any number of years, are you not sort of saying that we are, we ought to rule out military action at least for the next five or six months to the end of the Bush-Cheney presidency? And if we are going to take a look at that option, that is far, far down the road? ROMNEY: I don't think that's an option which is going to be picked up in the immediate future, Pat, I think it's far more likely to be considered down the road. But I must admit that the reliability of our intelligence sources in the Middle East is somewhat in question. *I thought the national intelligence estimate comments were overstated in terms of confidence that a weapon is not being created in Iran.* So, we obviously have to deal with the information we have. And clearly, the movement in Europe towards tightening sanctions is a positive development. I would like to see those sanctions applied and see if we can't put the kind of pressure on Iran to get them to pull back. MCCAIN: Governor, you said you don't anticipate being on John McCain's ticket, do you know something we don't know? Did he call you up and say hey, buddy, you are not on my short list any more. ROMNEY: You know we have never had a conversation with regards to the vice presidency. Between our staffs, or directly between myself and Senator McCain. It's a decision he's going to make all by himself. Highlight #3 *McCain Political Implications of Iran's Missile Test Discussed* (MSNBC, 07/09/08, 10:09am) CRAIG CRAWFORD: *Yeah, it strikes me that this missile test is as much of a test of the presidential candidates as it is of Iran's missiles*. And what happens here, it is no longer a hypothetical. And so now, I think the media and the public should press these presidential candidates for real specifics. […] CRAWFORD: *You know one problem for McCain, Monica, is if the administration takes some specific action and McCain is just "me too", just parrots that, says yeah that's great. Then that just further complicates the problem McCain has with appearing to be Bush three.* MONICA CHETNEY: Christina, how does this stay in the news cycle? Might this have been a bigger deal if we were talking about mid-October end of October for these test firings? Or is this something, will the conversation shift back to Iraq and Afghanistan now? CHRISTINA BELLANTONI: It's possible. I think foreign policy, we've seen a lot more conversations about the economy than we have about foreign policy lately, so this could bring it back to that. But it also, *I mean, we were talking about Charlie Black's comments a few weeks ago about how a terrorist attack might help Senator McCain as a candidate*. And this is an issue, that allowing them both to talk about foreign policy, they each believe that they have strengths with this among voters. And if it does stay into the fall then they can both kind of stress their main issues. And for Senator Obama that's judgment and for Senator McCain he's going to say he's more experienced and tougher on these issues. Highlight #4 *The Daily Show Mocks Bush/McCain's Addiction to Oil* (Comedy Central, 07/08/09, 11:15pm) JOHN STEWART: John, the president's got a plan to wean us from our addiction from oil by drilling for more oil. JOHN HODGMAN: Yes, john, it's typical addictive behavior. In the light of day, a vow to pursue alternative energy sources. Then at night, when the demons come, you find yourself outside naked in the garden trying to squeeze shale into your carburetor. STEWART: You seem to understand this subject quite well, John. HODGMAN: Well, I feel very strongly about this, Jon. I see what addiction does to people everyday in my private addiction treatment clinic and my t.v. show "Quit It! With John Hodgman." STEWART: it's a very cute title. HODGMAN: […] But I digress. My point is, before an addict can recover, he's got to hit rock bottom, and in this case rock bottom, as it is for many people, means the coast of Florida. STEWART: Oil companies, though, why do we have the drill off the coast of Florida or in Anwar? Oil companies already own leases to millions of acres of unexplored territory deep in the Gulf of Mexico. Why not just explore out there? HODGMAN: Deep water crude? That's schwag, john. Stems and seeds. Do you want that skunk fossil when there's ten billion barrels of the good stuff within swimming distance? And by barrels, John, I mean it's just sitting there already in barrels. It's got spigots and everything. John: I'm not sure even that would really help, john. Listen to John McCain talk about offshore drilling. [McCain clip shown from May 28th] HODGMAN: Okay. But when was that, John? STEWART: That was in May. HODGMAN: And what month is it now? STEWART: June. [McCain clip shown from June 16th] HODGMAN: You see, John? An addict will say anything he has to in order to get is fix. STEWART: So McCain is addicted to oil as well? HODGMAN: No, John, he's not addicted to oil, he's addicted to wanting to be president. He's suffered from it for years. […] STEWART: John, what's the solution here to this addiction? HODGMAN: Well, in many ways both President Bush and John McCain are on their way to recovery already. They both recognize they have no control over their addiction and they have submitted to a higher power, named Exxon. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the "big campaign" group. 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