Tues. 03.20.2007 - What’s New
On Monday, Campaignia Participates in Live Q&A Session with Senator McCain in Philadelphia; Topics Include Ways to Reach Younger Voters and Campaigning Online
Campaignia participated in a live question-and-answer session with Senator McCain, on Monday evening, March 19, 2007, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here is a complete transcript of the question-and-answer session (”Q.” indicates that a participant, other than Campaignia, asked the question; also present at the session were the CBS, Fox, and ABC affiliates in Philadelphia, and a writer from the Philadelphia Bulletin). The question-and-answer session lasted for about five and a half minutes.
This is as complete a transcript as possible. Due to the fact that there was another, unrelated reception, going on at the other end of the hotel lobby, the noise would sometimes drown out the questions- as all of the TV microphones, as well as Campaignia’s microcassette recorder, were placed in front of the Senator. As a result, not all of the questions were clearly recorded (although all can be determined, from the Senator’s answers).
Senator McCain: I’d like to say, that we’re glad to be here in Philadelphia, and meet with my friend, Governor Tom Ridge, and others. And we’re doing a little fundraising - and looking forward to many visits back, as I have in the past - including, since I have a son at the Naval Academy, coming back for the Army/Navy game again [in December 2007]. I have no other comments to make. If you have any questions for me, I’d be glad to respond.
Q. (Fox affiliate) Can you react to the President’s speech today, and the anniversary - the four-year anniversary of the Iraq war?
Senator McCain: The war has been long, frustrating, and sad. And we made many, many mistakes, and mismanaged this war. Now, we have a new strategy, and a new general, and I believe it can succeed. And I believe the consequences of failure are catastrophic. But, I understand the frustration and the sorrow, that many Americans feel about this war. I believe if we withdraw, that we will face severe consequences.
Q. (CBS affiliate) Do you still believe the “troop surge” in Baghdad is the right way to go? And that it will go well, just give it time?
Senator McCain: I do. Remember, only two of the five brigades are there now. There are some small signs of success, and I don’t want to overstate that, because of the gross exaggerations, that were made in the past. But, yes, I do believe we can, and I believe that we have a good chance of succeeding. But I also do guarantee the consequences of failure are catastrophic, and I believe they’ll follow us home.
Q. (Fox affiliate) - something along the lines of “Senator Clinton was here [Philadelphia, at another venue] earlier, disagreeing with the President’s statement that things were going somewhat better there in Baghdad”…
Senator McCain: I would rather be cautious, in talking about success, than exaggerate it, as we have in the past. I think we’re seeing some small signs of success, and I hope we see more. But, I don’t want to get people’s hopes up, because it’s very tough.
Look, we only have one commander-in-chief, not 535. And I would hope that my Democrat friends, particularly since we defeated, in the Senate, a motion to withdraw, that we let this new strategy and this new general have a chance to succeed.
Q. …. (Bulletin writer) Senator McCain…..(citing some conservative credentials)…. in the military, consistently pro-life. Yet conservatives have been reluctant to embrace your candidacy. How do you explain that?
Senator McCain: I hope that during this campaign, that I can convince all parts of my party to support me. I think that we have some very good people running. But I’m confident over time, during this campaign, that I’ll be able to get the nomination.
Campaignia: Senator, would you mind commenting on some of your more innovative campaign tactics: the “McCainSpace”, the streaming video from Iowa, the streaming video from New Hampshire, how do you think that will affect young voters?
Senator McCain: One of our major targets, of course, is young voters. That’s why we’re Webcasting, and we’re showing my old Saturday Night Live performances, on our web site, and trying to do as much as we can, to outreach, and get young people involved. So far, we’re seeing a lot of new hits to the web site. I also like to see Wedding Crashers, in which I had a starring three-and-a-half second role. And also, I starred once in 24. Jack Bauer and I are very similar. We both got captured. (He escapes - I never escape.) But other than that…
Q. (CBS affiliate) You also starred on CBS, on [The Late Show with David] Letterman. Talk about that strategy, and that audience that you’re reaching there..
Senator McCain: You really need to reach out to people and get them involved in the political process. By the way, on the Letterman thing, when ”we announced that I was going to announce” - as I mentioned on the show, that ’you drag it out, as much as you possibly can’. And I think it’s important, to get out of the strictures of the conventional, political environment, and reach out, particularly to the young people.
Q. (CBS affiliate) A lot of pressure coming down on Attorney General Gonzales, that he resign. Do you think that this is the Democrats just playing politics? Or do you have some concerns about him staying in office as well?
Senator McCain: I have concerns. He’s going to testify before Congress, and I think he ought to be given that opportunity. But clearly I have some serious concerns.
Q. (Fox affiliate) - too much noise to hear, clearly something about Gonzales…
Senator McCain: I think that anyone who has been involved, I hope would come forward with the information. There is the separation-of-powers issue, concerning some. But I certainly think that Attorney General Gonzales should testify - and I believe that he is.
Q. (Bulletin writer) Regarding trade policies, do you think that they need to be revisited, in light of some of the advantages that other countries have, with the value-added tax and the ability to rebate?
Senator McCain: I think that we should - clearly - make sure that we have a clear playing field. I am a free trader, and I believe that’s an important aspect of our economy. But certainly, we have to take care of some of these workers that have been displaced, by this global economy, that we’re in.
(To all participants): Thanks very much, thanks for coming down. (From all participants): Thank you, Senator. (Note: The end of Senator McCain’s Q&A was followed by some spontaneous applause. It came from the other end of the lobby of the downtown Philadelphia hotel, where a private party for an unrelated company, had been taking place the entire time. Obviously, nobody in that group had expected McCain to be holding a brief press conference 10 feet away from their own reception, and some of them were listening to it. When McCain concluded, they gave him a round of applause.)