The Note
W A S H I N G T O N, Dec. 17—
, 2003 -- Today's Schedule (all times Eastern):
—8:00 am: Connecticut Gov. John Rowland speaks to the press about the controversy over renovations done to his Litchfield cottage, Cromwell, Conn.—9:25 am: President Bush commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight, Kill Devil Hills, N.C.—10:15 am: Sen. John Kerry takes a harbor boat tour and speaks about homeland security, Portsmouth, N.H. —11:15 am: Sen. John Edwards speaks about children's education and health care at the Zion-Olivet Presbyterian Church Day Care Center, Charleston, S.C.—12:30 pm: Sen. Kerry meets with voters, Concord, N.H. —1:30 pm: Gen. Wesley Clark speaks to the press to discuss his Hague testimony at Franklin Pierce Law Center, Concord, N.H.—4:00 pm: Rep. Dennis Kucinich speaks at the Ohio Democratic Party Headquarters and files for the Ohio primary, Columbus, Ohio—5:00 pm: Sen. Kerry attends a chili feed at Harlow's Deli and Café, Peterborough, N.H. —5:30 pm: Gen. Clark speaks with voters at New Hampshire Community Technical College, Laconia, N.H. —6:00 pm: Rep. Kucinich speaks at the Ohio Democratic Party Holiday Gathering, Columbus, Ohio —7:30 pm: Sen. Kerry attends a chili feed at Keene Middle School, Keene, N.H.
NEWS SUMMARY
For some, December is about holiday cheer, shopping, and figuring out what to say to President Bush in the photo line at a White House holiday party.*
But for The Note, this month represents one last chance to compile our Dos and Don'ts lists, check each of them twice, and try to be ready to cover the January nominating contests in a way that will swaddle America's political journalists in glory and garlands.
So … .
All we want for Christmas is a cycle in which the political media:
1. doesn't try to force candidates out of the race simply because the hopefuls don't meet the Iowa and/or New Hampshire expectations of Charlie Cook, David Yepsen, and the Boston Globe columnists.
2. doesn't treat every new poll — whether of questionable methodology or not — as a chance to frame (or re-frame) the storyline for voters, listeners, viewers, and readers in a way that tries to take the election away from them.
3. quickly (before it is too late to matter!) analyzes the content and origin of attack ads.
4. doesn't give free ("unearned") coverage to phony ads, with no real money behind them, that just amount to video press releases.
5. looks up the definition of "embedded." LINK
6. remembers we still know virtually nothing about what kind of governor Howard Dean was in Vermont.
7. covers President Bush as a candidate when appropriate.
8. allows all candidates to demonstrate that they have changed, grown, and improved — without locking onto initial stereotypes.
9. doesn't (always) assume a Dick Morris worldview when analyzing the Clintons' every move.
10. stops acting like a spoiled special interest and earns back our reputation as guardians of the public interest, explaining to voters how to connect how they vote with what their government will do.
Now, we aren't the only ones with media scrutiny on the brain today.
Apparently, all Dick Cheney wants for Christmas is a more careful press corps.
In an interview with commentator Armstrong Williams — the text of which was obtained by the Washington Post 's Mike Allen — the VPOTUS had a lot to say about the chosen profession of Tom DeFrank and Eric Schmitt.
Per the television interview — that will air in various places at various times:
"Cheney … criticized what he considers a proliferation of 'cheap shot journalism' about the administration. 'People don't check the facts,' he said … ."
"Cheney called the free press 'a vital part of society,' but added: 'On occasion, it drives me nuts.' When Williams asked what drives him nuts, Cheney said, 'When I see stories that are fundamentally inaccurate.'"
"'It's the hypocrisy that sometimes arises when some in the press portray themselves as objective observers of the passing scene, when they obviously are not objective,' he said. 'Cheap shot journalism. Not everybody is guilty of it, but it happens.'"
"He said coverage has changed over the years, asserting that there is 'such an emphasis now on getting there fast with a story that oftentimes accuracy goes out the window.'"
So having been scooped on what the third-most powerful person in the White House wants from the media for Christmas, The Note did some fast reporting this morning, and came up with some of the other press(ing) holiday desires of the people we cover:
John Kerry would like the media to give all candidates (or at least one particular other one) the same kind of tough-love the Boston Globe gives him.
He would also like the media to pull back from process and see politics, once again, as the art of the possible instead of the inexact science of polls, money, and organization.
This career politician would like the media to forget about the Senator's minutia mistakes and focus instead on what the Kerry camp sees as the broad brushed horror that Howard Dean, as the Democratic nominee, would be.
John Edwards would like the media to stop casting the election as about jobs and health care and national security — when it is so OBVIOUSLY a referendum on whether our children and grandchildren can grow up in an America in which the son of a meeaal worker can beat the son of a president.
General Clark wants the media to realize this election is all about finding Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, and the "guy who leaked the memo"--oh wait, Bush actually found Saddam Hussein.
Ok, The General would like it to be about challenging Bush to find the other two.
General Clark also wants the media to focus on his Madonna endorsement as much as Gore's endorsement of Dean.
Dan Bartlett would like to see the media filter punctured — so he is setting up Dan TV in Iraq to filter out the filter.
Stephanie Cutter would like to have read that Robert Gibbs memo a LITTLE more closely, particularly the Nagourney section.
Karl Rove wants his name to stay out of the papers, off TV, and nowhere near The Note.
Congressman Gephardt wishes the media would come to their senses and realize that a president in today's world should have a long track record in Washington, instead of someone whose only political experience is being governor. Whoops … isn't that our (enormously popular) current President?
Howard Dean wants the press to stop doing the other campaigns work for them (?!). (Hey, Governor, that's called "reporting.")
Joe Lieberman wants to start seeing the time-delayed dividend returns on all that money spent on Penn polling.
The Democratic congressional leadership wants the national press to start covering what they say and do (Uhm … our holiday gift to y'all: don't hold your breath.).
The Iowa and New Hampshire political establishments want us to remember that they are general election battleground states.
And, finally, The Note wants you to know that this Friday will be our last regular edition of 2003.
We will have some late December surprises for you, and we will be back in early January, with a new, improved, fully resolution-ized election-year Note.
Tonight, World News Tonight continues its special series "Who is … " with a personal look at Senator John Kerry. The piece, reported by Peter Jennings, should give even the most hard-core Kerry watchers (yes, that means you Mr. Johnson) some new insight into the man behind the candidate. Tune into your local ABC station to see and hear Massachusetts' junior senator talk revealingly about his experience away from home at boarding school and his meeting with President John Kennedy.
President Bush travels to Kill Devil Hills, N.C., to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight.
Senator Kerry speaks about homeland security today in New Hampshire.
Gen. Clark speaks about his Hague testimony today in New Hampshire.
Senator Edwards speaks about children's education and healthcare in South Carolina this morning.
Rep. Kucinich campaigns in Ohio today.
Gov. Dean, Rep. Gephardt, Senator Lieberman, Rev. Sharpton, and Amb. Moseley Braun have no public events today.
Connecticut Governor Rowland speaks about the controversy over renovations done to his Litchfield cottage this morning.
He's an M.D. (not an I.R. Ph.D.):
Rival candidates continue to try to use the Saddam opening and Governor Dean's speech as a way to begin Howard's End.
But Dr. Harwood says hold on, wait a minute, and not so fast.
The Wall Street Journal 's John Harwood sees no signs of Saddam Hussein's capture derailing the Dean candidacy as he writes up a Midwestern focus group.
The session "produced three clear impressions: They're voting their fears over the economy, not security; they loathe George W. Bush; and they credit Mr. Dean — far more than any rival — with a feisty defense of their values."
The Los Angeles Times' Rainey and Brownstein write Dean's opponents are "challenging him for opposing the war with Iraq and for having too little foreign-policy experience." LINK
The New York Times lets John Kerry wail on Dr. Dean. LINK
The paper lets a Gored and pumped Joe Lieberman do the same. LINK
Patrick Healy reports that Kerry blasted Dean on his UN stance in calling for an expanded military. LINK
The Des Moines Register 's Beaumont reports on the same. LINK
Walter Shapiro says Dr. Dean has been pretty consistently anti-war, even if he is less precise than, say, Margaret Tutwiler. LINK
Glen Johnson reports that as rivals sense a weak spot, Dean defends his stance on Iraq. LINK
Slate's Saletan says Dean just doesn't want to look like a "sissy." LINK
Do Note the Ivo Daalder quotes.
The Union Leader's Mr. DiStaso reports on Lieberman's blasting of Dean as "Dr. No." LINK
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Mark Steyn of the London Daily Telegraph and Spectator writes that the capture of Saddam Hussein makes the agenda of "angry peacenik" Howard Dean look puny by comparison.
If Dean is the nominee, look for an endless stream of such pieces in all the usual places.
The politics of national security:
President Bush said Saddam should face the "ultimate penalty" in his interview with ABC News. LINK
The Wall Street Journal 's Dreazen and King report that Pentagon officials are putting off until next year meetings with companies seeking reconstruction contracts in Iraq.
At issue: questions within the Bush Administration over how to spend $18.6 billion for reconstruction, and controversy over cutting out countries like Germany and France, and whether to turn over a large portion of funds to the U.S. Agency for International Development.
The New York Times on U.S. plans to filter out the filter and launch Iraqi TV all on its own. LINK
The land of 5-plus-2-equals-7:
As news of the groups donors, including the pro-Gephardt industrial unions such as the machinists, the laborers, and the iron workers, comes to light, the pressure on the group Americans for Jobs, Healthcare & Progressive Values to release its donors mounts.
Note the calls by some donors for the group to take down the spot featuring Osama Bin Laden.
As promised, we have been working on this ourselves. ABCNEWS' Gayle Tzemach reports that despite speculation to the contrary, the Teamsters say they are not involved in this effort.
Says Teamsters Governmental Affairs Director Mike Mathis, "We wanted to be a part of it in theory, but started processing the check and had some reservations about it. There was a decision made (by the group) to go beyond jobs and health care, and that was beyond where our priorities are at this point."
When the Teamsters and others initially considered the fundraising solicitation, they say the group's name was simply Americans for Jobs & Health Care, as its Nov. 13, 2003, IRS filing shows.
In the meantime, members of Congress, led by Rep. Zoe Lofgren, have sent a letter "calling on each presidential candidate to denounce this despicable ad."
The letter says the spot "represents exactly the sort of politics that discourages Americans from voting in the first place, and it is unworthy of any candidate for the White House."
Other letter signees reportedly include Reps. Neil Abercrombie, Jerry Nadler, Ike Skelton, Jesse Jackson, Jr., and Jim McDermott, he of recent-statements-on-Iraq fame. As well as at least one Kerry endorser.
The Los Angeles Times' Martelle calls the group "secretive" and reports donations from the Longshoremen, Ironworkers, and Machinists unions account for 25% of the $500,000 the group has raised. Note Gephardt's call for the donors to be revealed in a "timely manner." LINK
The Chicago Tribune's Zeleny reports that Dean called on his rivals Tuesday to condemn the Osama ad. LINK
Howard Kurtz on the Americans for Jobs, Health Care & Progressive Values ad featuring Osama Bin Laden, quoting International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers spokesman Rick Sloan, whose union gave to the group, denouncing the spots. LINK
AP: Gephardt backers demand detail on advertisements. LINK
The New York Times ed board writes that supporters of Howard Dean's Democratic rivals have delivered a low blow by using Osama bin Laden's image in a commercial. LINK
And one more from the outside …
No rest for the folks over at BushRecall.org this holiday season. No, siree, they are staying mighty busy. Today they will release a 60 second flash animation titled "Lord of the Right Wing" to what they say are the more than 50,000 members of the BushRecall.org list-serv. Other BushRecall.org backers and allied groups will be receiving the bit of flash as well.
You can see it for yourself, dear readers, at LINK.
ABC News Vote 2004: Bush-Cheney re-elect:
The Washington Post 's Mike Allen has the juicy details on that rare interview that Vice President Cheney gave to commentator Armstrong Williams. "Cheney's language about threats was similar to previous admonitions," Allen reports, and he also talks about Saddam, Al Qaeda, and the war on terrorism. LINK
A New York Times /CBS News poll brings good news for the White House and the folks across the river in Courthouse: The capture of Saddam boosted President Bush's approval ratings and more Americans said that the war in Iraq was going well and the nation was headed in the right direction. LINK
The New York Daily News also looks at the "Saddam bounce:" "It's difficult to predict whether the Bush bump will last, but for the moment the poll suggests that Democrats will have a harder time faulting Bush's foreign policy or arguing that the White House failed to do enough to plan for an orderly, postwar Iraq." LINK
President Bush signed legislation yesterday to pave the way for the creation of a National Museum of African-American History and Culture, part of the Smithsonian Institution, the New York Times 'Clemetson reports, Noting, "Though the White House took a low-key approach to signing the measure, authorization of the museum could help the Bush administration in its efforts to appeal to black voters." LINK
Bush will pay tribute to the Wright brothers today, making a quick trip to North Carolina. LINK
ABC News Vote 2004: The Invisible Primary:
PoliticsNH.com reports on Mrs. Edwards and Mrs. Heinz Kerry stumping in the Granite State. LINK
Dean:
The Miami Herald 's Peter Wallsten reports that Senator Graham "defended Dean's foreign policy agenda as 'visionary'" and "also called on Democratic candidates to end their sniping" at Tuesday night's DNC presidential fund fundraiser in Miami. LINK
The Boston Globe 's Kuttner doesn't have much use for the McGovern comparison but wonders if Dean can work his nomination-fight magic into general election gold. LINK
Nick Anderson writes up Howard Dean's burgeoning support in the Latino community. LINK
The Des Moines Register's Lynn Okamoto writes about the 50 some folks who crowded into a grocery store to have breakfast and hear from Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., on Tuesday, but instead listened to Dean's college roommate over the phone. [Jackson's flight was cancelled.] LINK
Gephardt:
From ABC News' Gephardt campaign reporter Sally Hawkins:
While on a four-day fundraising tour of several states, Gephardt held a conference call that was mostly a re-hash of Monday's Dean attack. Tuesday, Gephardt 's language was stronger, saying that Dean "has consistently exploited foreign policy for his political agenda and his positions don't demonstrate a person grounded in serious foreign policy experience and expertise."
In other Gephardt news, the campaign announced an endorsement received by the Northeastern Oklahoma Labor Council that is "affiliated with the AFL-CIO and is a consortium of more than 20 unions in northeastern Oklahoma", according to a release. Gephardt also received the nod of the Daily Nonpareil newspaper in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Read more from the trail with Gephardt on abcnews.com:LINK
Kerry:
The Des Moines Register 's Tom Beaumont reports that Kerry "stepped up his attacks on Dean on Tuesday." LINK
Patrick Healy reports four of Kerry's 35-minute long speech were dedicated to attacking Howard Dean. LINK
Kerry staffer's attack "on background" backfires when Adam Nagourney decides to out her. LINK
The AP reports that Kerry said Tuesday he would expand the U.S. military within his first 100 days as president. LINK
AP's Holly Ramer has the details on Senator Kerry's port protection plan set to be unveiled this morning. LINK
From ABC News' Kerry campaign reporter Ed O'Keefe:
Striding confidently into a quickly assembled hall on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines, Kerry read only five paragraphs of his forty-seven paragraph foreign policy address before unleashing on Dean. Kerry blistered, "When America needed leadership on Iraq, Howard Dean was all over the lot, with a lot of slogans and a lot less solutions." Kerry also charged, much to the delight of the mostly college-age crowd who may have been avoiding finals study time to hear the address, "To follow the path that Howard Dean seems to prefer is to embrace a 'Simon Says' foreign policy where America only moves if others move first."
After the speech, ABC News asked Kerry about the "Americans for Jobs, Health Care and Progressive Values" ad controversy. The Senator denied any connection to the group and denounced the ads, saying his campaign had "No connection whatsoever [with the ads.] I have never supported those kinds of ads. I, in fact, prohibited them in my last campaign when I ran against Governor Weld. I wish there were none. There shouldn't be any and I have no connection to them at all."
Read more from the trail with Kerry on abcnews.com: LINK
Clark:
Bill Clinton's Hague cameo "endorsing" The General's fitness is sure to get tongues wagging.
The AP reports that Clark wants U.S. intelligence to focus on finding Osama bin Laden. LINK
The AP also reports on Clark's assessment of Milosevic. LINK
The Milosevic trial helps The General get Noticed. LINK
The Boston Globe writes up General Clark's commitment to his opposition to the war in Iraq while he cheers Saddam's capture. LINK
The Washington Post scrutinizes Clark's role in the NATO . LINK
From ABC News' Clark campaign reporter Deborah Apton:
"Welcome Home General Clark" signs filled Terminal E of Boston's Logan Airport as groups of Kosovar Albanians, Bosnians, and native Bostonians scrambled to shake General Clark's hand, congratulate him, and give him flowers on his return to the U.S.
Clark told reporters it "felt good" to see Milosevic on trial at the end of the prosecution phase at The Hague. Clark seemed happy with how his testimony went at The Hague and how he was received overseas.
He told ABCNEWS that if he were elected president, he'd probably be the most popular American president in England. But General Clark could not be happy about one thing. One of his suitcases was missing. Fortunately for Clark, it was only his suit bag and he had on his standard dress for the flight — navy suit, white shirt, red tie. Really, who will know the difference?
Read more from the trail with Clark on abcnews.com: LINK
Lieberman:
Joe Lieberman is trying his best to paint himself as a centrist who can beat President Bush and Howard Dean as an out of step lefty, but David Lightman of the Hartford Courant isn't sure it's quite that simple. LINK
The New York Times ' Cardwell reports that Gore's rejection of his former running mate has sent a jolt of life into the Lieberman campaign. LINK
John DiStaso writes Joe Lieberman delivered his "strongest attack so far" on Howard Dean and explores the new energy infused into Camp Lieberman since the Gore endorsement and Hussein capture. LINK
From ABC News' Lieberman campaign reporter Talesha Reynolds:
Lieberman's Tuesday speech was originally billed as an economic address, but following the capture of Saddam Hussein, a foreign policy section was added. It was always, however, intended to be an indictment of Howard Dean. Today's new catch phrase: "Dr. Dean has become Dr. No." Lieberman mentioned Dean by name 21 times in his 20 minute address, citing a laundry list of reasons why Dean would take the party backward.
Judging from the swarm of press assembled for the speech, the line of attack is getting Lieberman the attention he's shooting for. On Wednesday, the campaign unveils another ad, focusing on the choice to take the Democratic Party forward or backwards, another not so subtle reference to the Doctor.
Read more from the trail with Lieberman on abcnews.com: LINK
Kucinich:
The San Francisco Chronicle's Carla Marinucci heard Dennis Kucinich taking on his opponents over gay marriage during his recent trip to the Bay Area. LINK
The San Francisco Examiner's Adriel Hampton Notes that Kucinich's fundraiser with author Alice Walker "was as holistic as the candidate, with a wine and cheese buffet, candlelit tables and masseurs working in the foyer." LINK
Sharpton:
From ABC News' Sharpton campaign reporter Beth Loyd:
Sharpton strolled up to the steps of City Hall for his endorsement rally about 15 minutes late. Reps. Towns and Serrano took turns praising their choice for president. Both men made not-so-subtle references to the Dean-Gore swing through Harlem last week. Towns said, "I want to thank Reverend Sharpton for making it possible for the other candidates to go to Harlem because if he was not in the race, they would not have gone to Harlem."
Read more from the trail with Sharpton on abcnews.com:LINK
Moseley Braun:
From ABC News' Moseley Braun campaign reporter Monica Ackerman:
Moseley Braun's campaign got a wake-up call last Friday. The campaign was 700 signatures short of making the Virginia Democratic primary ballot. Campaign Manager Patricia Ireland said that although Virginia is a fairly conservative state, the campaign was hoping to do all right there. Each of the other eight Democratic candidates got the 10,000 names required by the State Board of Elections. In Ireland's words, not getting on was "a messed up task that we didn't get." Campaign officials also feel that now they will have more time to focus on New Hampshire and South Carolina.
The campaign's Deputy Manager, Paula Xanthopoulou, who had just recently relocated to Chicago to work out of the campaign's headquarters, is now moving back to Florida. Xanthopoulou will return to her home state to focus on campaign filing, according to Ireland.
Read more from the trail with Moseley Braun on abcnews.com: LINK
Iowa:
The Des Moines Register's Beaumont reports that all Democratic candidates but Clark and Sharpton have accepted their invites to the paper's January 4 debate. LINK
TheDes Moines Register's Bosellino contemplates gay politics in Des Moines. LINK
The economy:
The Wall Street Journal 's Greg Ip reports that underlying inflation fell to its lowest level in 40 years in November, with an 0.2 percent drop in the overall consumer-price index and an 0.1 percent drop in core consumer prices. Fed officials are getting uncomfortable with the 1.1 percent underlying inflation number, Ip writes, because it's getting a little close to deflation.
Strong farm prices are driving economic recovery in the Midwest, the Wall Street Journal 's Scott Kilman reports. Net farm income rose to $55.8 billion, 58 percent over the past year, and it's prompting new spending and investment in the agricultural sector — from farm supplies to equipment and new houses for farmers reaping the benefits.
Bush Administration strategy/personality:
Gary Fields of the Wall Street Journal reports that Attorney General John Ashcroft was on the receiving end of a one-two punch yesterday. First, his campaign PAC was fined $37,000 for exceeding contribution limits and for unreported contributions in his 2000 U.S. Senate race. Then, U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen admonished Ashcroft for making public comments about a terror case in Detroit after the judge placed a gag order on the trial.
The Los Angeles Times' Shogren writes, "Acknowledging that a proposed rule change would have reduced safeguards for wetlands and streams, Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael O. Leavitt announced Tuesday that the administration would drop its effort to revise the 1972 Clean Water Act." LINK
The Wall Street Journal ed board argues that the Bush Administration does have plans to reduce pollution — if only greens will agree. And the discussion will sort out the real environmental protectionists from those blowing hot air.
A judge has struck down the Bush snowmobile rule, a judge left park officials scrambling to comply with Clinton-era entry rules that the Bush administration had scrapped. LINK
VPOTUS to SCOTUS:
New York Times ' columnist William Safire on the Supreme Court hearing Vice President Cheney's appeal on the energy task force: "If 'freedom' is the word Bush and Cheney want as the hallmark of their administration, they should begin with freedom of information." LINK
The politics of gay marriage:
In his interview Tuesday with ABC News' Diane Sawyer, President Bush said he could support a constitutional ban gay marriage, AP's Jennifer Loven reports. He also said, however, that the administration position was to support "whatever legal arrangements people want to make, so long as it's embraced by the state or at the state level."LINK
The New York Times on Bush's interview and gay marriage: LINK
The Massachusetts Supreme Court is soliciting briefs as it prepares an advisery opinion on the legality of civil unions. LINK
The Clintons of Chappaqua:
The AP reports on Senator Clinton headlining Tuesday night's DNC presidential fund fundraiser in Miami. LINK
There is a Dick Morris column in the New York Post about how Howard Dean should put Hillary Clinton on the ticket and why she should say "yes," but there is no link at this hour because News Corp. hasn't updated the website.
Politics:
The AP has the latest on the Rowland situation in Connecticut. LINK
David Broder says he thinks the Supreme Court "got it right in upholding the ban on the unlimited, frequently six-figure "soft money" contributions to the parties from business, labor and wealthy individuals," but finds the law's restrictions on broadcast ads "far more troubling." LINK
The AP reports on John Thune's decision to not seek his old House seat. LINK
Happy Holidays, Senator Stevens! The Los Angeles Times has the results of a 6 month investigation into Senator Stevens' financial holdings and their relationship to his legislative work in the Senate. Be sure to take Note of the written Q&A. LINK
The Christian Science Monitor looks at NRA and GORE- TV. LINK
*No need to practice in the mirror, however, like Howard Fineman does