DeclinetoState
03-30-2007, 07:58 PM
Would the real John McCain please stand up?
<table class="contentpaneopen"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" width="70%"> By Bob Cusack </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="createdate" valign="top"> March 30, 2007 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top"> Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Thursday that there is “not a shred” of truth to claims that he was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001.
On Sean Hannity’s radio show, McCain said Democrats approached him about leaving the GOP, but denied any suggestion that he engaged in serious discussions to become an Independent.
The Hill Thursday reported that former members of Congress, including Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D), claimed that McCain nearly left the Republican Party before Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) did so in May of 2001. In a statement provided by his 2008 campaign in that article, McCain said he never considered leaving his party.
Asked by the conservative pundit whether there is any truth to the assertions made in the article by Daschle and former Rep. Tom Downey (D-N.Y.), McCain responded, “Not a shred. Not a shred.”
</td></tr></tbody></table>The Hill (http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/mccain-no-truth-in-claims-he-was-close-to-bolt-from-the-gop-2007-03-30.html)
WASHINGTON — This is a partial transcript of The Tony Snow Show, FOX News Radio, July 7, 2004, that has been edited for clarity.
TONY SNOW, HOST: Welcome back, friends. I’m joined now on the line by Senator John McCain of Arizona. Senator McCain, thanks for joining us.
SEN. JOHN McCAIN, R-ARIZ.: Thanks, Tony. Good to be with you.
SNOW: You know Senators Edwards and Kerry. Do you think that these guys naturally have a chemistry?
McCAIN: I’ve never seen them together, you know. I’ve known each one of them separately, because we’ve dealt together on separate issues, but I think they have very different personalities, perhaps they’re complimentary.
SNOW: Well, it’s going to be interesting to see how it blends.
McCAIN: Yes, you know, I think one is obviously from Seneca, South Carolina, the other one is from Boston. I think they have a very different upbringing. But you know, we’ll see, we’ll see. Clinton and Gore had different upbringings. At least to some degree, well maybe not as much as this one.
SNOW: Well, you’re absolutely right though, it’s going to be fun to see. Now John Kerry (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,124970,00.html#), is it true that John Kerry asked you to be his vice president?
McCAIN: Uh, no. No, it was never offered.
SNOW: It was never offered. So, it may have been discussed elliptically, but never flat out request.
McCAIN: Never was an offer, no.
Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,124970,00.html)
<mcc head="">Kerry, McCain create buzz</mcc>
Web-posted Apr 7, 2004
<mcc story="">WASHINGTON - The game inside the Beltway now focuses on John Kerry's pick of a running mate. The same game rages inside Kerry's campaign headquarters.
</mcc> If there is a consensus among Kerry aides about the boldest and most potent pick, it is Sen. John McCain of Arizona - a Republican.
While Kerry has talked about his search with few people, many high-level staffers believe McCain will get serious consideration.
The other name heard most frequently is that of Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., who defended Kerry last week in a CNN interview. In the primaries, however, Kerry questioned Edwards's ability to deliver Southern votes.
Not only could McCain help Kerry pick up Electoral College votes in a pivotal Southwestern state, but the former Vietnam POW would also be a staunch ally for what is expected to be a fierce battle with President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
Such a ticket could offer the prospect of a reduction in partisanship on Capitol Hill, as well as a return to the national unity of the time after Sept. 11, 2001.
Above all, Kerry aides hypothesize that by choosing McCain, Kerry would energize the election, create a buzz and attract swing and independent voters. Surveys this year showed that many people who backed Howard Dean were the "McCainiacs" who helped McCain win the 2000 Republican primary in New Hampshire against Bush.
"The narrative fits the country right now," a Kerry aide said of a Kerry-McCain partnership, while not ruling out others.
McCain has said he would not run with Kerry, but last month he renewed speculation when he was asked on ABC's "Good Morning America" whether he would consider running with Kerry. He replied, "Obviously, I would entertain it."
Oakland Press (http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/040704/nat_20040407053.shtml)
Nothing completely contradictory here (unless you believe Daschle, and I'm not sure that I ever would), but John McC's ambiguous comments on a number of occasions do leave room for concern.
<table class="contentpaneopen"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" width="70%"> By Bob Cusack </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="createdate" valign="top"> March 30, 2007 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top"> Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Thursday that there is “not a shred” of truth to claims that he was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001.
On Sean Hannity’s radio show, McCain said Democrats approached him about leaving the GOP, but denied any suggestion that he engaged in serious discussions to become an Independent.
The Hill Thursday reported that former members of Congress, including Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D), claimed that McCain nearly left the Republican Party before Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) did so in May of 2001. In a statement provided by his 2008 campaign in that article, McCain said he never considered leaving his party.
Asked by the conservative pundit whether there is any truth to the assertions made in the article by Daschle and former Rep. Tom Downey (D-N.Y.), McCain responded, “Not a shred. Not a shred.”
</td></tr></tbody></table>The Hill (http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/mccain-no-truth-in-claims-he-was-close-to-bolt-from-the-gop-2007-03-30.html)
WASHINGTON — This is a partial transcript of The Tony Snow Show, FOX News Radio, July 7, 2004, that has been edited for clarity.
TONY SNOW, HOST: Welcome back, friends. I’m joined now on the line by Senator John McCain of Arizona. Senator McCain, thanks for joining us.
SEN. JOHN McCAIN, R-ARIZ.: Thanks, Tony. Good to be with you.
SNOW: You know Senators Edwards and Kerry. Do you think that these guys naturally have a chemistry?
McCAIN: I’ve never seen them together, you know. I’ve known each one of them separately, because we’ve dealt together on separate issues, but I think they have very different personalities, perhaps they’re complimentary.
SNOW: Well, it’s going to be interesting to see how it blends.
McCAIN: Yes, you know, I think one is obviously from Seneca, South Carolina, the other one is from Boston. I think they have a very different upbringing. But you know, we’ll see, we’ll see. Clinton and Gore had different upbringings. At least to some degree, well maybe not as much as this one.
SNOW: Well, you’re absolutely right though, it’s going to be fun to see. Now John Kerry (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,124970,00.html#), is it true that John Kerry asked you to be his vice president?
McCAIN: Uh, no. No, it was never offered.
SNOW: It was never offered. So, it may have been discussed elliptically, but never flat out request.
McCAIN: Never was an offer, no.
Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,124970,00.html)
<mcc head="">Kerry, McCain create buzz</mcc>
Web-posted Apr 7, 2004
<mcc story="">WASHINGTON - The game inside the Beltway now focuses on John Kerry's pick of a running mate. The same game rages inside Kerry's campaign headquarters.
</mcc> If there is a consensus among Kerry aides about the boldest and most potent pick, it is Sen. John McCain of Arizona - a Republican.
While Kerry has talked about his search with few people, many high-level staffers believe McCain will get serious consideration.
The other name heard most frequently is that of Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., who defended Kerry last week in a CNN interview. In the primaries, however, Kerry questioned Edwards's ability to deliver Southern votes.
Not only could McCain help Kerry pick up Electoral College votes in a pivotal Southwestern state, but the former Vietnam POW would also be a staunch ally for what is expected to be a fierce battle with President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
Such a ticket could offer the prospect of a reduction in partisanship on Capitol Hill, as well as a return to the national unity of the time after Sept. 11, 2001.
Above all, Kerry aides hypothesize that by choosing McCain, Kerry would energize the election, create a buzz and attract swing and independent voters. Surveys this year showed that many people who backed Howard Dean were the "McCainiacs" who helped McCain win the 2000 Republican primary in New Hampshire against Bush.
"The narrative fits the country right now," a Kerry aide said of a Kerry-McCain partnership, while not ruling out others.
McCain has said he would not run with Kerry, but last month he renewed speculation when he was asked on ABC's "Good Morning America" whether he would consider running with Kerry. He replied, "Obviously, I would entertain it."
Oakland Press (http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/040704/nat_20040407053.shtml)
Nothing completely contradictory here (unless you believe Daschle, and I'm not sure that I ever would), but John McC's ambiguous comments on a number of occasions do leave room for concern.