Archive for October 27th, 2008
**NBC12 Speaks to Sen. John McCain**
For the second time since he was named the Republican nominee for president, NBC12 was granted a one on one interview with Sen. John McCain. I conducted the interview via satellite this morning. Sen. McCain was in Cleveland, OH and had just finished an address on the economy.
We spoke to Senator McCain about a number of issues specific to Virginia. I will have a portion of the interview available during out 5:30pm news and an extended look tonight at 11. In addition the entire interview will be posted on decisionvirginia.com later today.
Here are some quotes from our discussion:
On polls showing him behind in Virginia: “I’m concerned about every state in America. We are doing fine in Virginia, we are campaigning hard and getting out our vote, I am confident we will win the state of Virginia. We have other polls that show us ahead.”
On whether he regrets not taking public financing: “I will always tell the American people the truth. Senator Obama did not tell the American people the truth when he signed a piece of paper, that committed when he was a long shot, to taking public financing if I was. He didn’t tell the American people the truth when in two debates with Senator Clinton she, he looked into the camera and said ‘I’ll sit down and negotiate with John McCain before I forego public financing. So he didn’t tell the American people the truth. I am in the business of telling people the truth.”
On claims by Virginia Democrats that his campaign here is negative and dirty, specifically robo-calls: “The fact is that Senator Obama should come clean on his relationship with unrepentant terrorist and his wife who is an unrepentant terrorist. William Ayer’s wife. He said it was just a guy in the neighborhood, we know it’s a lot more than that, including sitting on a board with Mr. Ayers that gave 230 thousand dollars to ACORN. There is a lot more that needs to be, as Senator Clinton said in her debates, We need to know the full extent of the relationship and that’s what the robo-call says and it is factual and true.”
Senator McCain also talked about the claims by his campaign that the Kaine administration is “speeding up” the registration of ex-felons and the Obama tax plan. And yes, he did find a way to work in Joe the Plumber.
Check back for more on our interview and tune in tonight at 5:30pm.
**UPDATE**
Here is the video of the story that aired last night at 11.
Dave Matthews Rocks For Obama
Dave Matthews and his band-mate Tim Reynolds came to Richmond today to perform a free concert on behalf of Barack Obama’s campaign. Our reporter Andy Jenks was given the (..ahem) “difficult” assignment of covering the concert for NBC12 and provides this dispatch for Decision Virginia:
What’s in that mug Dave Matthews drinks while onstage? Tea, we’re told. Earlier in the day, it was coffee. These are the things you learn while listening to the all-acoustic Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds show held Sunday night at the Siegel Center. 6,353 people were treated to a free concert entitled, “Last Chance for Change” in support of Sen. Barack Obama.
We already know that Tim is as tall standing up as Dave is sitting down. We know Tim never speaks. We also know many of the acoustic tunes chosen for the night are from Dave’s solo Some Devil album. And we know that Dave loves to make, um, chatter in between songs during these more intimate affairs. So how does he feel about Obama, taxes, leather chairs and a host of other topics? Thanks for asking. That’s why I’m here.
On free tickets: “Thanks for spending your hard earned nothing-at-all to be here!”
On instruments: “I like to switch guitars because it makes me look professional. Tim doesn’t need to switch guitars because he already looks professional.”
On Obama: “It is my opinion, that if Obama is elected president, you will hear cheers from countries around the world without a microphone.
On the Obama tax plan: “I look very much forward to having my [rear end] taxed off. I’m well compensated for doing what I do. Tax me heavy so somebody can have a little break.”
On his chair: “This chair is too soft. This is the complaint of someone who is too fortunate. [I] should be taxed more. [I] must pay for the police and fire departments!”
On the audience: “Hope everybody’s having a good time. And if you’re not, just quietly sneak out the door because I’m paranoid enough as it is.”
On voting: “Tell your friends, if you’re undecided…just be cool!”
The show lasted about two hours and 45 minutes. See the official setlist here.
-Pictures and post by Andy Jenks (ajenks@nbc12.com)
Times-Dispatch Endorses McCain
I am sure that this post will lead to quite a few comments accusing the Richmond Times-Dispatch of being a “right-wing” mouthpiece and others that express the brilliance of the local publication. But I do feel that it is significant that the local newspaper did weigh in on the race for President today and decided that the choice for Virginia and for America is Sen. John McCain.
In a rather lengthy piece, the editorial board expresses many reasons why as the title of the endorsement says it is “Time for McCain”. The crux of their argument is that the state of the world is too unstable for an inexperienced person to ascend to the White House. They say that McCain is “the right man for our perilous times”.
It is a bit interesting that the McCain endorsement comes out today, in light of a few other endorsements that were probably a bit of a problem for the Republican ticket, including the Sarah Palin’s paper the Anchorage Daily News. It is interesting, specifically because of what the T-D had to say while sizing up the two candidates for Vice President:
The addition of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to the ticket has been a mixed blessing. She has electrified the Republican base and demonstrated an exceptional talent for retail politics. She boasts a strong record so far as governor. But it is a short record. At times, Palin’s limited experience has shown, raising questions about her mastery of some complex issues. Her treatment by the press has been deplorable. But that does not mean all of the doubts about her readiness are misplaced. Still, we suspect she has a bright future in national politics, particularly after she has broadened her experience, perhaps as vice president. She seems to be a quick study.
Democrat Joe Biden has made himself into a laughingstock. In his interview with The Times-Dispatch, McCain clearly enjoyed recounting Biden’s recent guarantee that a President Obama would face a major international crisis within six months of taking office. “It’s one of the most remarkable statements I’ve heard in American politics . . . .It’s about Joe Biden riding to the rescue,” McCain said. Obama has publicly dismissed his running mate’s comments as “rhetorical flourishes.” McCain’s response: “He didn’t know Joe Biden was capable of rhetorical flourishes? I could have told him that!”
They also stop short of any glowing comments about Barack Obama, aside from saying his candidacy “reflects well America’s remarkable progress over the past half century.”
