On Fox News, Williams cited McCain's immigration record as evidence of "working across party lines," but not his abandonment of bipartisan position
SUMMARY: On Special Report, Juan Williams cited Sen. John McCain's record on immigration as evidence of a willingness to "work[] across party lines," without noting that McCain has said he no longer supports his own bipartisan bill. Williams then claimed that Sen. Barack Obama "doesn't have a record" of "working across party lines." In fact, Obama has co-sponsored bills with Republican Sens. Tom Coburn and Richard Lugar that have been signed into law.
During the May 7 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume, White House correspondent James Rosen aired a clip of Fox News analyst and NPR contributor Juan Williams claiming: "You think about everything from campaign finance to immigration and on, and there's John McCain, working across party lines." Williams did not note that McCain now says that he would no longer support his own bill if it came up for a vote in the Senate. Additionally, McCain has reversed himself on the issue of border security; he now says that "we've got to secure the borders first" -- a position at odds with his prior assertion that border security could not be disaggregated from other aspects of comprehensive immigration reform without being rendered ineffective.
Williams also said: "Senator Obama doesn't have a record. Now, he can make the claim and he can hold himself up as pure and trying to reach to a new generation of post-partisan politics, but he has to do so largely based on rhetoric and wishful thinking because he doesn't have the record." Similarly, during the May 7 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News analyst Karl Rove stated of Obama: "His campaign is built on two foundations: that he will be a bipartisan, post-partisan president who will bring Republicans and Democrats together. There is, however, no evidence that he has done this in the Senate." But neither Williams nor Rove noted that, as Media Matters for America has documented, Obama was a key co-sponsor of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (S.2590) with the bill's primary sponsor, Republican Sen. Tom Coburn (OK). In a press release upon Senate passage of the bill, Coburn himself referred to the legislation as the "Coburn-Obama Bill." Obama also worked with Republican Sen. Richard Lugar (IN) to produce the "Lugar-Obama proliferation and threat reduction initiative," which President Bush signed into law on January 11, 2007, and which received funding on June 28 of that year. The initiative, according to Obama's Senate website, "expands U.S. cooperation to destroy conventional weapons. It also expands the State Department's ability to detect and interdict weapons and materials of mass destruction."
Moreover, during the Special Report segment, Rosen referred to McCain as "the maverick senator." Media Matters has documented numerous others in the broadcast and print media using the term "maverick" when discussing McCain despite his growing list of falsehoods and his rightward shift on immigration as well as on taxes and the religious right.
From the May 7 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume:
[video clip]
ROSEN: Where during the Republican primaries the maverick senator courted the GOP base and made scant mention of his alliances with liberal Democrats, McCain now has his eye on the fall and capturing blue-collar Democrats and other swing voters, and is accordingly playing up his ability to unite Americans. This shift came just hours after Senator Barack Obama, also with his eye on the fall campaign, cast McCain without naming him explicitly as a mean-spirited divider.
OBAMA: Yes, we know what's coming. I'm not naive. [video break] The attempts to play on our fears and exploit our differences, to turn us against each other for political gain, to slice and dice this country into red states and blue states.
ROSEN: The McCain campaign responded last night with a spokesman statement saying, quote, "With no record of bipartisan success, how is Barack Obama going to deliver the meaningful change America needs?" If the fall race shapes up as a battle for the mantle of bi- or post-partisanship, analysts suggest the two candidates will resort to familiar and competing themes, touting experience versus freshness.
WILLIAMS: You think about everything from campaign finance to immigration and on, and there's John McCain, working across party lines. Senator Obama doesn't have a record. Now, he can make the claim and he can hold himself up as pure and trying to reach to a new generation of post-partisan politics, but he has to do so largely based on rhetoric and wishful thinking because he doesn't have the record.
[end video clip]
ROSEN: The Democrats may be right to worry about McCain's crossover appeal. His campaign cited polling data today showing that at this stage of the race four years ago, President Bush was pulling away only 9 percent of Democrats, but that if McCain's opponent is Obama, that Democratic defection rate doubles to 18 percent. In Washington, James Rosen, Fox News.
From the May 7 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:
BILL O'REILLY (host): OK, so we go forward now. And Barack Obama then becomes the nominee sometime after June 3. They have a big conclave, and then they both come out and say for the good of the party, this is what's going to happen. So then you have two months -- let's see, July, August -- almost three months before the conventions. What should Barack Obama then do? I mean, he's got to take a vacation. The guy's, like, shell-shocked here.
ROVE: Sure. Yeah, he's got to recharge personally. That's an important part of this.
O'REILLY: Right. And then what?
ROVE: I think there are two things that he needs to do, and he may want to think about starting to do them sooner rather than later. First is, he needs to add substance to his arguments. His campaign is built on two foundations: that he will be a bipartisan, post-partisan president who will bring Republicans and Democrats together. There is, however, no evidence that he has done this in the Senate. So, if I were him, I'd be finding something in the Senate that -- where he could work with Republicans and say, "This is an example of how I'm going to do it." He ought to be talking about how he's going to bring Republicans into his administration and appoint them to the Cabinet, and hopefully get one or two prominent Republicans to say they would serve in the administration.
O'REILLY: He could probably get Colin Powell to do that.
ROVE: I don't know if he could or not. Colin's a -- Secretary Powell is a very cautious person.
McCain's "working across party lies" being something that is completely undocumented, this makes him an Undocumented Worker... and requires that he be sent back across the borderline, back where he came from.
I don't think even ONE pudding-brained pundit has ever gotten Gramps immigration flip-flop correct.
They're too blinded by His Maverickness, I guess.
but not his abandonment of bipartisan position
Regardless your stance on the particular immigration topic, its a very far stretch to consider this a "bipartisan" position. McCain crossed party lines with his stance, but it no way, shape, or form did it include much of anything demanded by the Republican side of the house.
Im not a McCain backer by any means, but this whole immigration flip flop is being blown out of proportion. Who cares what his stance was then, or now....the American people have voiced their opposition of McCain & Bush's attempts.
If we want to curtail immigration, we need to get past the fear and loathing of 'the other' and break loose the grip of the profit over people mindset that drives all these free trade agreements and restore the dignity we owe laborers. That means rewriting free trade policies into fair trade policies that provide work place safety, living wages and health benefits for laborers around the globe.
Focusing hate on those who leave their home to make a better way in the U.S. totally ignores the responsibility of corporatists to act in good faith on behalf of laborers.
Anything less is barberous crime and punishment mumbo jumbo distractions that fail to resolve the root cause of the mass exodus of economic refugees across borders.
You haven't any credibility on what the american people are saying.
The repubs saw some hard choices and wanted no responsibility for bringing rationality to the immigration issue. Similar to the abortion issue. It makes no political sense to them to actually resolve either.
You haven't any credibility on what the american people are saying.
The polls say otherwise. And exactly why McCains bill and GWB's attempt were quickly washed out. Just like the drivers license for illegals plan. 70% of the people in the liberal state of NY were angry about it.
Until you can prove what I say is incorrect, then your jibber-jabber is just "stuff and nonsense".
McCain-Kennedy overwhelmingly failed, Drivers licenses failed miserably, and the vast array of polls out there prove you wrong.
Go ahead, show me some of your favorable data...
Don't feel like putting myself out for no good reason. You spew and ask me to be definitive?
Why should anyone take into account the position of someone who, by your previous posts, has never been made aware of a social contract that you didn't immediately piss on. Beyond the fear that you might hurt them.
You really are Chenny's clone aren't you.
Does it make you sad that overwhelming majority of American citizens do not share your view?
Sound like a sore loser....resembles my nephew's attitude when losing a little league baseball game.
Which you'll undoubtly remind him of for as long as your both alive.
Never really been much concerned about how many people share my views. If they're too comon I should probably come up with some new ones.
Your views? That an attempt to rationalize the situation was shot down. Thereby proving most everyone hates the potential immigrants, just like you?
I remember the Repubs about to split in two over it. The Latino population tend to a conservative point of view. An expanding population population quiet likely to vote in a conservative manner. Potentially a significant republican voting block. But the fear of them, the latino's and somehow having the white population swept under a brown wave, trumped.
So now the issue can fester and become something that would lead to maybe you and Chenny Prime paying to sit in a tower and pick off some unfortunate wretch going for one intolerable thing to another.
You offer nothing to the issue but a stupid invitation to pile on some unfortunates.
Your term paper: F+
The plus for was effort to sound convincing, although none of your rant held any logical basis.
Rant? Somehow you and sensitvity just does not mesh.
Just so you can't say the difference was never pointed out to you.
In fact a four participent rant at no extra charge.
The second of the unatural acts, from Waiting on the Count of Monte Cristo, or Someone Like Him.
Persona dramatis(hic).
Soldier 1: Pete, no Sir name given.
Soldier 2: Andrew Lount.
Fake Ghost: Of fabled King Bernardo.
Prince Edmund Edmund: That B*st*rd.
S1; Oh a soldier's life, it ain't so grand. Bend boys bend!
But me feets at least are on dry land. Bend boys bend!
S2: HHOOAAAHHH!!!
S1: Ah tis the ghost Ods Balls! Evacuate into the morning mist oh dreadful Wraith!
S2: BBBOOAAHH!!
S1: Come not closer oh spirit cold! Oh I'll slit your sheets with me Lanceslot Bow!!
S2: AArr, put up your pipe pete. Tis I Andrew Launt. Your battle mate.
S1: Me bottle mate ya mean. You've just set me pants afloat! Its only right that you should fill me up again.
S2: A sorry mess. If fabled King Bernardo really walked. You'd turn to jelly!
S1: Ha hah, if I be jelly. Where be me breakfast toast!
S2: There's toast enough for both of us. Come fill ya!
S1: Aye, we'll meet the dawn with elbows up!
Together: Bend boys bends!
FG: HHHAAOOOOOHHHHA!!!
S1: Look up upon the battlements! A real ghost!!
S2: It seems to float with no more substance than thy steaming breath!
FG: Ah long have I walked. In aimless mindless searchng. Searching for a man with blunted aim and mottled tights!
S2: Mottley tights! Thats good! Like spots.
S1: Spotted tights!
S1: Aye, there's but one man that fits in that consription!
S2: And but one butt in spotted pants!
S1: Edmund.
S2: Edmund?
FG: Not Edmund Edmund, but happy Edmund, princely Edmund.
S2: He means drunkun Edmund. I know the nock in which he sleeps. A rock away, I'll get him Flat!
To be continued.
Now you attack Juan Williams and NPR! What's next, Al Franken?
It is HILARIOUS watching you far lefties grasping at straws to discredit McCain: who has more character than Clinton or Obama. It all seems like whining now. God you people love to whine and complain that you're being victimized. Get over it!
It is HILARIOUS watching you far lefties grasping at straws to discredit McCain
LOL
At historically black Xavier University, McCain added, "We’ve got a range of issues here in New Orleans correcting the mistakes from the past policies and past actions to the hear and now. I want everyone of us to be able in the near future to walk through the 9th ward and see everyone of those homes restored with people living in them."
Later that same day on his campaign bus:
He also told reporters he was not sure if he would rebuild the lower 9th ward as president.
"That is why we need to go back is to have a conversation about what to do -rebuild it, tear it down, you know, whatever it is,” he said.
But McCain:
McCain Voted Against Emergency Funding Bill, Including $28 Billion for Hurricane Relief
McCain Voted Against Five Months of Medicaid For Hurricane Katrina Victims For Up To Five Months
McCain Voted Twice Against Establishing A Commission To Study The Response To Hurricane Katrina
McCain Opposed Granting Financial Relief To Those Affected By Hurricane Katrina
Now the Shia-Al Qaeda connection:
HH: Senator McCain, welcome to the Hugh Hewitt Show, thanks for joining us.
HH: What’s the concern you have about Iran, and about, in particular, Ahmadinejad? Some people want to meet with him. He’s not on your agenda this trip.
JM: (laughing) The day I meet with the president of Iran will be the day after he announces his country no longer is dedicated to the extinction of the state of Israel, the day after they stop exporting these most lethal explosives into Iraq. Just yesterday, up in the Mosul area, they uncovered a cache of weapons, and a lot of it was these Iranian copper, high…most lethal explosives. As you know, there are al Qaeda operatives that are taken back into Iran, given training as leaders, and they’re moving back into Iraq. I think Americans should be very angry when we know that Iran is exporting weapons into Iraq that kill Americans.
Honoring the fifth year anniversary of the war, McCain wrote:
Today in Iraq, America and our allies stand on the precipice of winning a major victory against radical Islamic extremism. The security gains over the past year have been dramatic and undeniable. Al Qaeda and Shia extremists -- with support from external powers such as Iran -- are on the run but not defeated."
McCAIN IN IRAQ: That al Qaeda is going back into Iran and receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran. That's well known.
Then after Senator Lieberman whispered in his ear.
MCAIN: I'm sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not al Qaeda. Not al Qaeda. I'm sorry.
Pearlene,
What is your point?
grasping at straws to discredit McCain
LOL
We don't have to grasp at anything. Every time that Gramps opens his mouth his provides the material.
Irony...
Sorry - McCain is no fraud, no matter how much you wish it to be true. He probably can't beat Obama because we are a country of useful (and apparently liberal) idiots.
By the way...you are describing Hillary Clinton.
Would you like me to point you out to a video of several notable figures (Pelosi, Dean, Reid, Clinton, Obama, others) all giving public speeches about Iraq and WMDs in 1998, and how their stances have changed, when the facts havent?
So they are all frauds - changing position to further political career. Isn't that the definition of a politician? Yes.
Fallwell is not in the US congress. That would be like comparing reverend Wright.
What i am referring to is how everyone one of those names I mentioned publicly spoke out about Iraq and how dangerous Saddam was, and how they had WMD and were trying to obtain Nuclear weapons...all in 1998 when WHO was president? Now, they change their story, and try to wish away the documents that prove what they really said 10 years ago?
Thats a hypocrite sonny boy.
everyone one of those names I mentioned publicly spoke out about Iraq and how dangerous Saddam was, and how they had WMD and were trying to obtain Nuclear weapons...all in 1998 when WHO was president?
Not a SINGLE person you listed said INVADE Iraq! The only nuts dumb enough to invade Iraq was Junior and Satan. Heck in 1994 Satan listed the reason NOT to invade Iraq. But Junior and Satan lying through their pearly white teeth decided to start a war! Junior and Satan said Saddam has something to do with 9/11
Over 4,000 dead, over 25,000 wounded, countless children without a parent, countless parents without a child. Billions of taxpayers dollar spent with no end in sight. Gas prices off the charts, job loss and the worse mortgage crisis in the country's history.
Now who is the real liar?
FG: I grow cold. Night slips away!
S1: As does thy beard. Uncovering blue and goosely flesh.
FG: Nay nay, touch me not!
EE: Where is it! Show it to me man!
S2: There it is. Up upon the Battlements!
EE: Hand me my swordflask varlet!
S2: But of what use this steel upon a ghost melord?
EE: A ghost? methought you spoke of goats upon the battlement!
S2: Ghoost! melord!
EE: Well be he ghost or goat or ghost of goat orboth. I'll spirits need to goad my spirits on! (swallows)
S2: See he beckons.
S1: And stands not his foot upon a slip of stone!
FG: EDmuund.
EE: Stamp not impatient spirit. For I'll not cancil thee.
S2: Take care master. Let him lead thee not to hell.
EE: Hell! What hell, we tore it down! Whats hell to me, or me to hell. What the ell! As a tot was betold me not to cross the mote. But then the monk did bespeak me to cast out the mote from mine own eye. Instead I crossed my eyes and doublecrossed the monk. Who fellinto the mote. And soon they bade me warning. I play not with myself. Twill make me blind. But I was def and though I fell into the burning bush and was consumed. I rose again to bite another apple off another Eve. Afraid of hell? I've dreamt I've left my senses many times and fought great monsters, pink boheamith, rats upon my bed! Who cares! Are we not men! If we fall, can we not rise again! Hot headed, flushed with blood! We'll get sitting down, or standing up! Or get it anyway we can!! Staint Micky Save Me!!!
FG: Shut up Edmund!
EE: You see he knows me! I go for Grid, for Goofy, and Staint Walt!!
The end, now read on.
Hope Mary catches it. Columbus gave me enough of an excuse to fianlly get it past the filters.
Too much free time for you....get a job, and help save welfare dollars.
So what kind of overtime are you getting this evening? Your pathologicalness is very busy.
I count four incorrect assumptions just on this thread so far. Try harder clone.
They must have a picture of this guy with a duck ,he to me is such a sellout.I caught him one day commenting on something regarding Barack.
He so twisted the logic of his argument it was shameful to say the least.He is the go to black guy to substantiate foxs right wing talking points.
Disgusting
350 million legal citizens in this country and we have these three stooges before us? Ok, two stooges and Obama, the well-intentioned naive Democrat.
Apparently, none of them will commit to upholding the law and actually close the borders against all illegal entry. If that doesn't happen, then none of the rest will matter. With such open borders, there can be no workable solutions to many of the issues we face. And that becomes truer and more evident every day we are borderless, till it will one day be too late - if we aren't there already. How can anyone think we'll control medical costs, or employment, the economy in general, or much of anything else - if the target keeps moving and effecting us in ways that are essentially unpredictable?
It sounds to me like many Americans, possibly most, believe this country is sliding downhill faster and faster and that there exists somewhere a point of no return. Personally, I believe most current Republican "leaders", and virtually all Democrat "leaders", will only increase the speed of this slide - and I don't expect we'll see much improvement as long as we and they continue to allow corporations (domestic AND foreign) to own the government, allow the Pres and Congress to shirk their duty at the borders, and fail to take a collective stand (based on the voices of those they pretend to serve) that doesn't change month to month on issues of morality and law.
It's very bleak, but it's not hopeless yet. Is it?
350 million legal citizens in this country and we have these three stooges before us? Ok, two stooges and Obama, the well-intentioned naive Democrat. Apparently, none of them will commit to upholding the law and actually close the borders against all illegal entry.
LOL
Karltripp, have you asked the Republican controlled government of 2000-2006 what happened? You talk about Democratic candidates but your lazy flip flopping Republican nominee co-sponsored a bill on illegal immigration and when Republicans yelled and screamed he flip flop totally against the bill HE co-sponsored. Check out 6 years of a total Republican controlled government and look at how concerned THEY were about illegal immigration. You have nerve to talk about Democrats? "People who live in glass houses DON"T throw stones".