Archive - July 13, 2008 - The Page by Mark Halperin

The Page

Politics up to the Minute

Obama: McCain's Iraq Trips Taught Him Little

Speaking to reporters in San Diego, the Democrat dismisses the value of McCain's multiple trips to Iraq. "I'll recall the visit he made last year in which he was surrounded by helicopters and SWAT teams and came back and reported how safe everything was in Baghdad. You know, I don't think that that was indicative of what was actually happening on the ground at that time." Throwing another punch, he says, "Before we went into Iraq, I knew the difference between Shia and Sunni"-- and more. Response from McCain adviser Randy Sheunemann: "Had he bothered to return to Iraq to speak with commanders on the ground with John McCain in December of 2006, he might not have made the mistake of opposing the strategy that’s winning in Iraq today." Read full response. Permalink

Claim: Obama Told Fellow Legislator in '97 "I'm Going to Kick Your Ass!"

A fellow Illinois state Senator says Obama made the threat -- or something sounding like it -- during a tense exchange in the Legislature. The lawmaker says a third person had to phyiscally intervene to separate them. Ryan Lizza's 15,000-word New Yorker opus also includes Obama's initial response to Sept. 11. "The essence of this tragedy, it seems to me, derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers...." Read more here. Permalink

Obama to Latinos: "You Hold This Election in Your Hands"

The Senator makes his pitch to the National Council of La Raza in San Diego, the country's largest Latino advocacy and civil rights group. Read his address here. Criticizes his opponent on immigration: "I know Senator McCain used to buck his party on immigration... (but) he abandoned his courageous stance...." McCain will address the same conference Monday. Plus: Obama unveils a $6 billion tax credit for employers offering healthcare to employees -- an idea championed by Sen. Clinton. Read details here. Clinton spokesman Elleithee says she believes the plan "makes Senator Obama's health plan even stronger than it was before, and she salutes him for doing so." Read full statement. McCain response: "This is an obvious and crude effort to spackle together a quick political fix – but it lacks specifics, lacks funding and he lacks credibility." Permalink

Bush Proposes Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Rescue

The White House will ask Congress to OK a rescue package allowing the government to invest billions and also lend money to the troubled mortgage companies. Secretary Paulson: "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac play a central role in our housing finance system and must continue to do so in their current form...." Permalink

McCain Team Takes Offensive on Iraq

On afternoon conference call, aides to the Republican pound the "total confusion" of Obama's stance on Iraq. Michael Goldfarb: "We have seen him all over the map in the last couple of weeks." Says plan on Obama's Web site does not match his rhetoric. "He is sending so many different signals to so many different people." Also calls 16-month withdrawal plan "not a realistic proposal." Randy Scheunemann: "There's nothing less than total confusion about where Sen. Obama is on Iraq... the exact opposite of what we've seen" from McCain. Again stresses that Obama has not been to Iraq in almost 900 days, and has never been to Afghanistan. Obama response: "Senator Obama has consistently said that he would support residual forces to carry out discrete and well-defined missions." Read more here. Permalink

Nine U.S. Troops Killed in Afghanistan

Troops were killed in day-long clashes with the Taliban near the Pakistani border. One of the deadliest battles in Afghanistan in years. Permalink

Obama: McCain Has "Slim Record on Education"

Speaking to the American Federation of Teachers by satellite, the Senator says his opponent "won't even get us to (a) starting point" in education. Read his remarks. "For someone who’s been in Washington nearly 30 years, he’s got a pretty slim record on education, and when he has taken a stand, it’s been the wrong one." Slams him for voting against No Child Left Behind funding and Head Start funding. "His only proposal seems to be recycling tired rhetoric about vouchers and school choice." Obama delivered the speech from San Diego's W Hotel -- read pool report. Response from McCain camp: Obama's "biggest accomplishment may be getting the financial backing of the big labor unions that oppose meaningful reforms in our public schools." Read full response. Permalink

Iranian Official Criticizes McCain

A spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry says McCain's joke last week about cigarettes killing Iranians was "inappropriate." Permalink

Bush Comments on Tony Snow's Death

"He loved to laugh, he loved his country, and he loved his family," the president says at the White House Sunday. "Our thoughts are with Jill and the three children now as they deal with their grief." Permalink

Aide: Gramm Out As McCain Adviser

Senior campaign aide Douglas Holtz-Eakin tells PBS that Phil Gramm is no longer giving economic advice to the candidate. A result of last week's "nation of whiners" and "mental recession" comments. Holtz-Eakin: "I haven't spoken to Senator Gramm since the comments took place, and I'm not expecting to." Permalink

Obama on Iraq Trip: "I Am There to Listen"

The Senator talks about his upcoming trip, and other topics, aboard his campaign plane. Confirms that Sens. Reed and Hagel will join him in Iraq. Plus: On a possible speech at the Brandenburg Gate: "I want to make sure that my message is heard as opposed to creating a controversy... I don’t want the venue to be a distraction.” On his fundraising: “I think you guys should wait until we release our numbers to make a decision as to how underwhelming they are.” Read more from Obama's press availability. Permalink

ON THE SUNDAY SHOWS

Sens. Dodd and Kyl, McCain adviser Pfotenhauer and Obama aide Furman, and a remembrance of Tony Snow from Vice President Cheney-- all on Sunday's shows. Read more here. On next week's "Meet the Press": Al Gore Permalink

Despite Feuding, Candidates Share Many Views

LA Times: McCain and Obama largely agree on many issues once considered divisive, including stem cell research, immigration, global warming. Also moving toward one another on Iraq. "In many areas of policy, the general direction of the next White House seems already set...." Permalink

Broder: Voters Don't Elect "Enigmas"

The Dean of the DC press corps says Obama's short political resume, flexible stances makes him a difficult GOP target. Also warns that voters need to understand what "makes him tick. They don't elect enigmas to the Oval Office." Plus: Stephen Hayes: Many conservatives still uninspired by McCain. Permalink

Obama a Factor in Southern Races

Local candidates in the deep south latch on to the Senator, who may boost Democratic prospects. Chicago Trib: "Southern Democratic politicians are seizing what they see as the best opportunity for victory since Bill Clinton won Louisiana, Georgia, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee in 1992." Plus: Democrats may be breaking the GOP lock on Florida's Cuban-American vote. Permalink