WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, PART IV: JOHN MCCAIN AT CNN DEBATE
John McCain "Won The Debate," Showed "Conviction And Compassion" And "Was In Total Control"
ABC's George Stephanopoulos: "John McCain Won The Debate." "[I] think John McCain won the debate last night ... [H]e really showed conviction and compassion and core principles last night." (ABC's "Good Morning America," 6/6/07)
Time's Mark Halperin: McCain Won Debate And "Commanded The Stage" With "Solid, Straight-Talking And Relaxed" Performance. "Solid, straight-talking and relaxed, in the assertive mode of what-you-see-is-what-you'll-get-if-I'm-president. ... Commanded the stage on the war several other times, and finished strong." (Mark Halperin, "The June 5 Republican Debate," Time Website, www.time.com, 6/6/07)
· Halperin: McCain "Gave Perhaps His Best Debate Answer Of The Cycle To A Woman Whose Brother Was Killed In Iraq - Passion, Patriotism, Poise, And Personality All In One Response." (Mark Halperin, "The June 5 Republican Debate," Time Website, www.time.com, 6/6/07)
MSNBC's Joe Scarborough: McCain "Was In Total Control" And "Had A Great Night." "Last night he was in total control. McCain had a great night last night." (MSNBC's "Morning Joe," 6/6/07)
New York Daily News' Michael Goodwin: "McCain Won The Night With A Showstopping Performance That Was Straight From The Heart." "[M]cCain's emotions became a decided political asset last night and led him to victory in the Republican presidential debate. McCain won the night with a showstopping performance that was straight from the heart." (Michael Goodwin, "McCain Wins Hearts - By Showing Own," [New York] Daily News, 6/6/07)
· Goodwin: McCain Delivered "Defining Picture Of The Debate" With "Touching Display Of Compassion ... A Very Commander-In-Chief Moment." "Images are everything on TV, and McCain's response to a question on the war was the defining picture of the debate. Unexpectedly rising from a chair to walk toward a woman in the audience who had lost a brother in Iraq, McCain approached as if he wanted to hug her. His voice choking, the heroic Vietnam vet assured her that, although the war had been 'badly mismanaged,' we now 'have a fine general and strategy that can succeed.' He was the only candidate in either party who could have dealt with the issue that way, and it was brilliant stagecraft as well as a touching display of compassion. It was a very commander-in-chief moment." (Michael Goodwin, "McCain Wins Hearts - By Show ing Own," [New York] Daily News, 6/6/07)
CNN Political Analyst Bill Schneider: McCain "Reminded New Hampshire Voters Of Why They Voted For Him In 2000. He Was, Once Again, The Straight Talker." "Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, had a good night. He reminded New Hampshire voters of why they voted for him in 2000. He was, once again, the straight talker. Even on issues where most Republicans disagree with him, like immigration, McCain made his case boldly and honestly. And probably the most effective moment in the debate was his response to the voter who had lost her brother in Iraq. He made the difficult and painful argument that, in the end, she would come to understand that it was all worthwhile. The camera shots of the woman's reaction were amazing. They showed a clear emotional connection with the candidate." (Bill Schneider, "Tonight's Headline? The Sparks Didn't Fly," CNN's Political Ticker Blog, www.cnn.com, 6/5/07)
Iowa Independent Blog's Douglas Burns: McCain Won Debate, Showing "His Straight-Talk Swagger." "John McCain has recovered his straight-talk swagger. ... The former Navy war hero started with a first inning home run on a question from a New Hampshire woman who lost her brother in Iraq. He touched the GOP base with his lines that if U.S. policy fails the evildoers will 'follow us home' and that Iraq, in the wake of withdrawal, will be a 'base for terrorism.'" (Douglas Burns, "Iowa Independent" Blog, "GOP Debate: McCain Wins Varsity, Huckabee The JV," www.iowaindependent.com, 6/6/07)
The Boston Globe's Scot Lehigh: McCain Delivered "Heartfelt" Answers, Appeared "Most Principled" Of All Candidates. "[McCain's] two best moments came in his heartfelt answer to a questioner who had lost her brother in Iraq, and his willingness to remind everyone that Spanish speakers had died for this country in both Vietnam and Iraq. Bottom line: Romney was most polished - but McCain seemed most principled." (Scot Lehigh, "Essential Qualities," The Boston Globe, 6/6/07)
John McCain "Showed Heart" And Delivered "Strong Performance," Exhibiting "Strength And Humanity"
ABC's George Stephanopoulos: McCain's Dialogue With Woman Whose Brother Died In Iraq Was "Emotional Peak Of The Debate," With McCain Giving "Straight, Heartfelt Answer ... He Showed Heart." ABC's ROBIN ROBERTS: "[T]he moment for many last night, of course, when Erin Flanagan got up, so eloquent, so moving, and talking about her brother, who was killed in action in Iraq, and McCain's response to her." ABC's GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: "That was the emotional peak of the debate, Robin, no question about it. John McCain listening intently, leaning in, gets up out of his seat - the first candidate to do that - walks toward her and gives her a straight, heartfelt answer and you could see she was visibly moved by it. That's what John McCain showed last night, he showed heart." (ABC's "Good Morning America," 6/6/07)
· New York Sun's Seth Gitell: "[N]o Other Moment Exemplified Mr. McCain At His Best." (Seth Gitell, "Seriousness Dominates GOP Debate," New York Sun, 6/6/07)
Red State's Erick Erickson: McCain Delivered The "Best Moment Of Last Night's Debate." (Erick Erickson, "Best Moment Of Last Night's Debate," Red State Blog, www.redstate.com, 6/6/07)
National Review's Kate O'Beirne: "[McCain's] Strong Answers On Iraq Contributed To An Overall Strong Performance." ("Winning Debate," National Review Website, www.nationalreview.com, 6/6/07)
The Politico's Jonathan Martin: "John McCain Turned In A Strong And Steady Performance." "John McCain turned in a strong and steady performance. He was clearly prepared for the immigration question, and offered an effective defense of his position. ... And he smartly seized an opportunity to drive home his message when there was a rare silent moment during the two hours." (Jonathan Martin, "My Final Take," www.politico.com, 6/5/07)
· Martin: "McCain Was Also Impassioned And Even Powerful When Talking About The War And Praising American Troops." "McCain was also impassioned and even powerful when talking about the war and praising American troops. Responding to the lady who lost her brother in Iraq, McCain offered his condolences before explaining why failure there would create more terror and force 'more young Americans to sacrifice, as your brother did.' And when the no-win issue of gays in the military came up, McCain wisely used his answer to focus less on the contentious question and more on explaining to an appreciative crowd just why our troops were so great." (Jonathan Martin, "My Final Take," www.politico.com, 6/5/07)
· Martin: McCain Made "His Big Picture Case About Why He's Ready To Lead." "National security wasn't just the only topic in McCain's wheelhouse he was able to take advantage of. He also had the chance to talk energy and spending, two of his other favorites. And, lastly, he showed his experience by taking advantage of the last word not to answer the question - the one where Romney and Giuliani discussed what defines the GOP - but to rather make his big picture case about why he's ready to lead." (Jonathan Martin, "My Final Take," www.politico.com, 6/5/07)
The Boston Globe's Joan Vennochi: "Vintage McCain" Displayed "Strength And Humanity." "McCain also showed strength and humanity when he answered a question from a woman whose brother died in Iraq: This is long, hard, and tough. I think we can succeed and God bless you.' It's not what the anti-war faction wants to hear, but it's vintage McCain." (Joan Vennochi, "On Principles, McCain," The Boston Globe, 6/6/07)
CBS' Vaughn Ververs: On Immigration, McCain "Rose Above The Policy And Catchphrases To Put The Issue In Human Terms." "Among the candidates themselves, McCain gave one of his steadiest performances to date. ... [I]n the second half of the debate, when audience members were allowed to ask questions, McCain rose above the policy and catchphrases to put the issue in human terms. Recalling the contributions made by Hispanic immigrants and others before, he said, 'let's, from time to time, remember that these are God's children. They must come into our country legally. But they have enriched our culture and our nation, as every generation of immigrants before them.'" (Vaughn Ververs, "GOP Debate Forecasts Stormy Days Ahead," CBS News Website, www.cbsnews.com, 6/6/07)
CBS' Jeff Greenfield: McCain Was "Extremely Animated" And "Passionate." "Last night [McCain] was extremely animated. He got up, he walked across to the woman whose brother had been killed in Iraq. He was passionate, even on immigration, where he talked about the Hispanic names on the Vietnam Memorial and serve in Iraq and Afghanistan. My sense is that he's decided that the McCain of 2000 - you know, say what you mean and damn the consequences, is where he's going." (CBS' "The Early Show," 6/6/07)
