Republican Presidential candidate Senator John McCain was interviewed on NBC Meet the Press on October 26, 2008. In his first appearance on the program in nine months, he sought to distinguish his policies from those of President George W. Bush, he defended his campaign’s latest strategies, including the constant evocation of Joe the Plumber and allegations that his Democratic opponent Senator Barack Obama seeks to raise taxes and spread the wealth, and McCain’s VP running mate Governor Sarah Palin labeling Obama a “socialist.”
Tom Brokaw cited a recent interview in which McCain had criticized Bush. This contrasted strongly with an interview from three years ago, of which Brokaw played a brief clip.
“The fact is that I’m different, but the fact is that I’ve agreed with President Bush far more than I have disagreed,” McCain said at the time. “And on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I have been totally in agreement and support of President Bush.”
The June, 2005 interview concluded with McCain stating that “I strongly disagree with any assertion that I’ve been more at odds with the President of the United States than I’ve been in agreement with.”
A somewhat flustered-looking McCain asserted the areas that he had differed with Bush, saying “I was the harshest critic of the failed strategy in Iraq” and saying that “I’ve supported action to address climate change since 2000 and said we’ve got to do something. Sharp disagreement there.”
But he seemed to wave aside Brokaw’s question about the apparent contradiction between his statements.
“I know how it is on this show. You show various segments and comments that we make thousands of. And I understand it. But the fact is that I am not George Bush,” McCain said. “Do we share a common philosophy of the Republican party? Of course. But I’m still up against my own party.”
Source: McCain, Bush and ‘Meet the Press’
On his chances for victory, McCain said, “I guarantee you that two weeks from now, you will see this has been a very close race, and I believe that I’m going to win it. “We’re going to do well in this campaign, my friend. We’re going to win it, and it’s going to be tight, and we’re going to be up late.” He went onto say that he feels “like Knute Rockne … go out there and get one for the Gipper.”
“We are very competitive in battleground states,” McCain said. “Obviously, I choose to trust my senses as well as polls. The enthusiasm at almost all of our [events] is at a higher level than I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been in a lot of presidential campaigns, usually as the warm-up act. … And I see intensity out there, and I see passion. So we’re very competitive.”
McCain added: “We’re going to have to just get out our vote, work hard over the next nine days, and make sure that people know that there’ll be a better future. People are very worried now — very, very worried, and have every reason to be. I think it’s all about who can assure a better future.”
Source: McCain guarantees victory
On calling Obama a socialist and labeling his policies socialism” Brokaw asked McCain did he “honestly think that Barack Obama would have as his advisers–Warren Buffet; Paul Volcker, former chairman of the Federal Reserve under Ronald Reagan, who is widely credited with saving the economy at that time; Bob Rubin, former Treasury secretary; and even Chris Buckley, the son of the godfather of the modern conservative movement–both endorsing his economic policies and help shaping them if they thought he was a socialist of some kind?”
McCain skirted the question first by talking about Obama’s record, which he said “is very clear. It’s his record, not Volcker’s record, not anybody else’s.” McCain then backed down and labeled Obama a “liberal,” saying, “He started out in the lefthand lane of American politics and has remained there. He has been judged the most liberal United States senator. Biden’s number three. “Joe the Biden” is number three. Bernie Sanders is number two. And, and I respect that. But let’s not, let’s not call it anything but it is.”
Sarah Palin at a rally in Kissimee, Florida, October, 26, 2008
Regarding Sarah Palin, “I don’t defend her, I praise her,” McCain said when Tom Brokaw asked him about her qualifications for Vice President. He was dismissive of polls that Brokaw cited showing a majority of voters do not view her as qualified. He said, “It sounds like I’m ‘defending’ her, but the fact is she is a dynamic person with executive experience, leadership, reform. She’s exactly what Washington needs. I’m so proud of the way she ignites the crowds. The way that she has conducted herself is, in my view, incredibly admirable.
On the clothing controversy.
McCain defended Republican National Committee clothing purchases on behalf of his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Politico revealed during the past week that the RNC spent $150,000 on designer outfits at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue for the vice presidential nominee and members of her family.
“She lives a frugal life,” he said. “She and her family are not wealthy. She and her family were thrust into this and there was some — and some third of that money is given back. The rest will be donated to charity. … She is a role model to millions and millions and millions of Americans.”
Source: McCain guarantees victory
Regarding former Secretary of State Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama on last week’s program, Tom Brokaw showed a clip of Rush Limbaugh emphatically declaring that the endorsement was about race. McCain declined to comment on Limbaugh’s assessment and instead noted that five former secretaries of state had endorsed him. He was only able to name four of the five; Henry Kisssinger, Jim Baker, Larry Eagleburger, Al Haig. A moment later, he recalled George Schulz as the fifth.
The program ended with poignancy as Brokaw noted that McCain’s appearance on Meet the Press was the 41st anniversary of his capture by Vietnamese civilians in Truc Bach Lake near Hanoi, Vietnam. Brokaw showed the AP photograph of his capture on the screen and a photo of the letter his mother, Roberta McCain had sent to President Lyndon B. Johnson days after the capture, expressing support of his policies in Vietnam.
See also – Meet the Press Transcript – October 26, 2008
Photo credit: Getty Images North America
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Video & Photos: John McCain Meet the Press Interview 10-26-08
