WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, PART IV: JOHN MCCAIN AT FOX NEWS DEBATE
McCain Knocked Questions "Out Of The Park"
Presidential Historian Michael Beschloss: Sticking To Convictions Is "A Big Part Of [McCain's] Persona, And You Saw It Last Night." MICHAEL BESCHLOSS: "It's hard, although I think the people running the debate did a great job. You know, one thing you really look for is conviction. And I love the fact that people mentioned Ronald Reagan so much." ... FOX NEWS' BRIAN KILMEADE: "So then John McCain should love what you just said, Michael. Because doesn't he stick with his convictions, right or wrong?" BESCHLOSS: "I think that that's a big part of his persona, and you saw it last night on Guantanamo and Iraq ... " (Fox News' "Fox And Friends," 5/16/07)
National Review's Michael Graham: McCain Knocked Confederate Flag Question "Out Of The Park" As The Crowd "Roared Their Approval." "One Confederate-flag question for Sen. McCain, a reasonable one related to his 2000 campaign, which he promptly knocked out of the park by essentially saying, 'Don't we have more important things to talk about?' The thousands of South Carolina Republicans in attendance roared their approval." (Michael Graham, National Review's "The Corner" Blog, "The No Nonsense Debate," www.nationalreview.com, 5/16/07)
Graham: McCain Delivered "Effective ... Serious And Substantive" Answer On Iraq. "There were other effective moments during the debate ... McCain's defense of the Iraq war. They were effective answers because they were serious and substantive, not pandering ... " (Michael Graham, National Review's "The Corner" Blog, "The No Nonsense Debate," www.nationalreview.com, 5/16/07)
The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza: McCain "Nailed A Number Of Key Policy Questions" And Showed He's "Best Able To Lead Given His Life Experience." "[McCain] nailed a number of key policy questions and generally stuck to his guns. Last night, McCain more successfully married style and substance. He was active without appearing antic and presented himself as [the] candidate best able to lead given his life experience." (Chris Cillizza, The Washington Post's "The Fix" Blog, "GOP Debate: Winners And Losers," blog.washingtonpost.com, 5/16/07)
Cillizza: "McCain Flashed His Wit" With Joke About Drunken Sailors And Congressional Spending. "McCain flashed his wit with his ... story about a former drunken sailor who took offense at having his spending habits compared to those of Congress." (Chris Cillizza, The Washington Post's "The Fix" Blog, "GOP Debate: Winners And Losers," blog.washingtonpost.com, 5/16/07)
South Carolina '08 Blog: "McCain stood his ground on several tough issues and expertly handled the Confederate flag issue." (Baufmuth, "South Carolina 08" Blog, "Thoughts On Last Night's Debate ..." www.southcarolina08.com, 5/16/07)
The Wall Street Journal's John Harwood: McCain "Had A Very Good Night." "[M]cCain had a very good night ... He was vigorous without being too energetic ..." (MSNBC's "News Live," 5/16/07)
Sen. John Thune (R-SD): "Nobody Understands The Issue Of Torture Better" Than John McCain. "You also have to keep in mind the importance of protecting men and women in uniform American men and women in uniform who serve beyond our shores. I think that was a point that John McCain raised. Nobody understands the issue of torture better than he does. I think he was responding in a way that's consistent with his experience but also understanding the importance of getting actionable intelligence that would prevent a future attack." (Fox News' "News Live," 5/16/07)
McCain Stood His Ground In Face Of Attacks, Delivered "One Of The Toughest Lines Of The Night"
New York Observer's Steve Kornacki: McCain "Put His Opponent In His Place." "After Mr. Romney very cutely referred to Mr. McCain's immigration plan as 'McCain-Kennedy' three times and then strained to tie it to 'McCain-Feingold' the Arizona senator moved to put his opponent in his place. 'I haven't changed my positions in even-numbered years, and I haven't changed my positions because of different offices I'm running for,' he said, to some surprising applause from the audience." (Steve Kornacki, New York Observer's "Bridal" Blog, "At Debate, Rudy Stops His Skid, Romney Wiltsby," thebridalblog.observer.com, 5/16/07)
Fox News' Carl Cameron: McCain Responded To Attack By Giving "One Of The Toughest Lines Of The Night." "[M]itt Romney, who took a shot at John McCain for some of the legislation that McCain is best known for, in each case working across party lines with Democrats. That prompted McCain to fire back about what some consider Romney's flip-flops in the past five years. ... Ouch. That was probably one of the toughest lines of the night." (Fox News' "News Live," 5/16/07)
Human Event's Jennifer Rubin: McCain Response To Attack Was "Best Counterpunch." "BEST COUNTERPUNCH: After Romney declared that he did not want McCain-Kennedy immigration reform to do for immigration what McCain-Feingold did for campaign finance, McCain retorted that he had taken and kept consistent positions on campaign finance reform and right to life and 'I haven't changed my position on even numbered years or changed because of the different offices I may be running for.' (Chris Wallace did not contain his laughter.)" (Jennifer Rubin, "Recap And Awards For Debate Winners," Human Events, 5/16/07)
The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza: "McCain Also Showed He's Not Afraid To Throw An Elbow." "McCain also showed he's not afraid to throw an elbow after former Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.) criticized McCain's support for immigration reform and campaign finance reform. 'I have kept a consistent position on right to life,' McCain said. 'And I haven't changed my position on even-numbered years or have changed because of the different offices that I may be running for.'" (Chris Cillizza, The Washington Post's "The Fix" Blog, "GOP Debate: Winners And Losers," blog.washingtonpost.com, 5/16/07)
