WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, PART II: JOHN MCCAIN AT FOX NEWS DEBATE
McCain Turned In "Solid," "Passionate" And "Effective" Performance
The Wall Street Journal's John Harwood: McCain Was "Effective ... Looked Good." "He does have a fairly effective Republican rival in John McCain who was effective in last night's debate ... I thought McCain looked good ... he got off a strong response to Romney ..." (MSNBC's "Gregory Live," 5/16/07)
Slate's John Dickerson: McCain Turned In "Solid Performance." "McCain did pretty well. He stood by some of his decisions that have caused him trouble in Republican circles. That works for him because of his reputation of speaking his mind. and he had a pretty solid performance last night ..." (CNN's "American Morning," 5/16/07)
Spartanburg Herald-Journal's Michael Smith: McCain "Reasonable" And "Passionate." "Tonight ... John McCain made the most ground. ... [McCain] sounded more reasonable on the subject of Iraq and terrorism, pointing out that if America leaves Iraq , the conflict will follow us home. He was passionate in his rejection of torture, protecting the nature and values of this nation. He responded appropriately to the question of the Confederate flag, saying it was time to move on." (Michael Smith, Spartanburg Herald-Journal's "BlogHub" Blog, "Giuliani, McCain Make Best Impression," www.bloghub.goupstate.com, 5/15/07)
The Politico's Jonathan Martin: McCain's "Experience Showed." "One of the biggest benefits that the Arizonan enjoys in the campaign -- and it's not mentioned often enough is that he has run this incomparable gauntlet before. That experience showed tonight. He delivered his Iraq views effectively, had the chance to hit his spending message and concurrent drunken sailor joke (still a new line to hundreds in the audience) and, most impressively, was able to deflect tough questions in a way that also jibed with the broader themes of his candidacy." (Jonathan Martin, The Politico's "Smith And Martin" Blog, "SC Debate: Final Thoughts," www.politico.com, 5/16/07)
CNN's Jacki Schechner: Political Blogs Gave McCain "A Lot Of Kudos" And Say "He Looked Strong Last Night." "There was a lot of kudos for McCain [from political blogs] that he had good opportunities that he took advantage of, that he looked strong last night " (CNN's "American Morning," 5/16/07)
Townhall's Mary Katharine Ham: "I noticed that several other candidates, on several occasions referred back to things McCain said with, 'Sen. McCain is right ...'" (Mary Katharine Ham, "Townhall" Blog, "Winners, Losers And Slapfights, Baby!" www.townhall.com, 5/15/07)
The Politico's Roger Simon: "McCain ... hit his talking points: He would reach across the aisle to Democrats; he has consistently been a conservative; and 'my life, my experience, my knowledge of the military and national security qualifies me most to lead.'" (Roger Simon, "Gloves Come Off At Second GOP Debate," www.politico.com, 5/16/07)
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): "He's been to war ... He knows what war is about. He understands our enemy. He's going to make sure that this nation is well defended, and he understands what an American is all about. We're the good guys." (Byron York, "Giuliani Up, McCain Up, Romney Down, and Ron Paul Out Way Out," National Review Online, 5/16/07)
McCain "Drew Thunderous Applause" And Delivered "Most Important Answer Of The Night"
CBS' Harry Smith: McCain Answered Confederate Flag Question "To Thunderous Applause." CBS' HARRY SMITH: "[O]n that particular subject was the Confederate flag. He was asked about it last night. Let's take a look." SEN. MCCAIN: "I still believe that it should not have flown over the capital and I was wrong when I said that it was a state issue, but now I think it has been settled and I think it's time we all moved on on this issue." SMITH: "To thunderous applause, I might add." (CBS' "The Early Show," 5/16/07)
CBS' Jeff Greenfield: McCain Made "One Of The Most Important Local Comments," Discussing Confederate Flag To "Thunderous Applause." CBS' JEFF GREENFIELD: "That was also key, and that was one of the most important local comments if not the most important made. You're quite right. ... This was an appeal to South Carolina Republicans saying 'I'm with you ... It's over, you handled it correctly.' That thunderous applause was clear, at least in my mind, that McCain had made some points in South Carolina, which, as you point out, is a key early primary state." (CBS' "The Early Show," 5/16/07)
Charleston Post And Courier's Robert Behre: McCain "Drew Heavy Applause." "While the debate was held just blocks from where a Confederate battle flag flies on the Statehouse grounds, only one question directed to McCain touched on the flag. McCain said he was wrong to say previously that it was a state issue when the flag flew above the dome, but he then drew heavy applause from the partisan crowd by adding, I think it's time we all moved on on this issue.'" (Robert Behre, "Hopefuls Debate Terror Question," The [Charleston] Post And Courier, 5/16/07)
Los Angeles Times' Michael Finnegan And Mark Z. Barabak: McCain "Drew Thunderous Acclamation From The Crowd." "'I was wrong when I said that it was a state issue,' McCain said solemnly. 'But now I think it has been settled, and I think it's time that we all moved on o n this issue especially the people of South Carolina.' His response drew thunderous acclamation from the crowd." (Michael Finnegan and Mark Z. Barabak, "A Feisty Republican Debate In South Carolina," Los Angeles Times, 5/16/07)
TigerHawk Blog: McCain Won The "Biggest Applause Of The Night." "To McCain: The Stars and Bars question, summon[in]g moans from the crowd! 'It is settled. I think it is time that we all moved on on this issue.' Biggest applause of the night." (TigerHawk, "Tiger Hawk" Blog, "The GOP Debate Live-Blog Post," tigerhawk.blogspot.com, 5/15/07)
TigerHawk Blog: Discussing Iraq, McCain Delivered "A Solid Response, The Best Line." "First question to McCain: Why should Americans continue to fight and die when Iraqi politicians do so little? McCain: A solid response, the best line: 'When we lost the war in Vietnam, they didn't follow us home. They will this time.'" (TigerHawk, "Tiger Hawk" Blog, "The GOP Debate Live-Blog Post," tigerhawk.blogspot.com, 5/15/07)
The Heritage Foundation's Robert Bluey: "McCain Got It Right" On Spending. "Sen. John McCain got it right at the presidential debate when he said: Spending is out of control. We didn't lose the 2006 election because the war in Iraq. We lost it because we in the Republican Party came to Washington to change government and government changed us. We let spending go out of control. We spent money like a drunken sailor, although I never knew a sailor drunk or sober with the imagination of my colleagues.'" (Robert Bluey, "Bluey" Blog, "I Wonder What Tom Cole Thinks Of This?" robertbluey.com, 5/16/07)
Voters Praise McCain
David Haskins Of Greenville, SC: "I may not agree with him on every issue ... but I know he votes based on principle, not because that's what the head of the party wants him to do or even the [public] wants him to do." (Scott Helman, "GOP Foes Tout Conservative Credentials," The Boston Globe, 5/16/07)
Cicely Greaves-Vegas Of Yonkers, NY: McCain Is Gutsy. "[C]icely Greaves-Vega, 47, of Yonkers ... praised ... Arizona Sen. John McCain, whom she found gutsy for saying he was wrong' in a past position about the Confederate flag flying from the South Carolina Capitol building." (Maggie Haberman, "Abort Stance Clear: Panel," New York Post, 5/16/07)
Blake Bryson Of Lake Wylie, SC: "McCain is the only candidate who can win and work with the Democratic Congress ... He can get things done. He can handle the job." (Andrew Dys, "They Love Their Country And All Things GOP," The Herald, 5/16/07)
Bryson: It Is "An Honor" To Stand Up For McCain, "This Is Who I Want To Lead My Country." "'I'm here because this is my future, the future of all of us in this country. It is my generation's time to get involved.' Bryson called it 'an honor' to stand up for his candidate, with a 12-foot sign. 'People died in this country so I could vote, so I could stand here and say, "This is who I want to lead my country."'" (Andrew Dys, "They Love Their Country And All Things GOP," The Herald, 5/16/07)
