Later, when Pfotenhauer asserted that McCain has proven he’s a leader and has put his country’s interests first on more than one occasion whereas Obama has just given speeches, Mitchell questioned Pfotenhauer’s statement about the presumptive Democratic nominee and claimed that comparing Obama to Paris Hilton raises questions:
PFOTENHAUER: But there are real differences between these two candidates and their vision for the future of this country and Senator McCain has proven that he's a leader and that he has served this country and put his country's interests first time and time again and on one level Senator Obama’s just given a speech about it.
MITCHELL: All right. Well, I'm not going, I'm not going to argue with you about the fact that John McCain is a real leader, because I've covered him for years. And I know that is to be the case and has served his country. But I think the real question is whether your characterization of Barack Obama is accurate, when she -- you say he's just given a speech and he's a celebrity like Paris Hilton. I think comparing the Democratic nominee to Paris Hilton creates some questions, doesn't it?
However, as
Mitchell also defended the junior senator from
MITCHELL: Well, you guys said on that conference call, Rick Davis said that he launched the first negative ad. But the way we looked at it, we've gone back and checked the records, the first negative ad was the Republican National Committee ad. And then he, his ad, Obama’s, was in response to that Republican attack ad.
PFOTENHAUER: Well, between the two campaigns, that I can say, our analysis is that he launched the first ad, it was July 8th as a matter of fact, and it was on energy of all topics.
MITCHELL: In response to an RNC ad.
PFOTENHAUER: But I think it's basically the pot calling the kettle black, if you will.
Previously, Mitchell defended Sen. Obama against accusations that his speech in
The transcript of the July 30 segment, which aired at 1:09 p.m., follows:
ANDREA MITCHELL, host: And we want to talk more about that new campaign ad from the John McCain camp. Joining us now from McCain headquarters, Nancy Pfotenhauer, McCain’s senior policy advisor.
NANCY PFOTENHAUER: Not at all. We're trying to acknowledge the fact that he is a world celebrity. And it was wall-to-wall photo images and news coverage last week supporting that assessment. It's not just ours. It's most individuals'. But there's a big difference between being a world celebrity and being an American president. And the real question is that at a time when our country is facing the challenges that we're facing, and the economy, with rising energy prices in
MITCHELL: Well, let me give you the response now from the Obama campaign. This is from Tommy Veeder. “On a day when major news organizations across the country are taking Senator McCain to task for a steady stream of false, negative attacks,” such as “the New York Times'" piece, I should add parenthetically, “his campaign has launched yet another, or some might say, oops, he did it again.” That, of course, a paraphrase of the Britney Spears song. “Our dependence on foreign oil, says the McCain -- says the obama camp, is one of the greatest challenges we face in this election. The American people have a real choice between Obama’s plan to provide tax rebates to American families, while creating a renewable energy economy in
PFOTENHAUER: First of all, I'm not at all surprised by anything "the New York Times" does or doesn't print at this point. But the bottom line is you look at the economy, Senator Obama is proposing to raise taxes in an economic downturn. Senator McCain believes that lowering taxes is the best way to create jobs. On, on the energy, in the face of rising energy prices, Senator Obama opposes drilling and he doesn't think nuclear policy really has, nuclear power rather has a significant role as part of the solution for us. Senator McCain believes they do as part of a comprehensive plan that includes other things like renewables and, and technological innovation as well. And when you look at
MITCHELL: Well, you guys said on that conference call, Rick Davis said that he launched the first negative ad. But the way we looked at it, we've gone back and checked the records, the first negative ad was the Republican National Committee ad. And then he, his ad, Obama’s, was in response to that Republican attack ad.
PFOTENHAUER: Well, between the two campaigns, that I can say, our analysis is that he launched the first ad, it was July 8th as a matter of fact, and it was on energy of all topics.
MITCHELL: In response to an RNC ad.
PFOTENHAUER: But I think it's basically the pot calling the kettle black, if you will. But there are real differences between these two candidates and their vision for the future of this country and Senator McCain has proven that he's a leader and that he has served this country and put his country's interests first time and time again and on one level Senator Obama’s just given a speech about it.
MITCHELL: All right. Well, I'm not going, I'm not going to argue with you about the fact that John McCain is a real leader, because I've covered him for years. And I know that is to be the case and has served his country. But I think the real question is whether your characterization of Barack Obama is accurate, when she -- you say he's just given a speech and he's a celebrity like Paris Hilton. I think comparing the Democratic nominee to Paris Hilton creates some questions, doesn't it?
PFOTENHAUER : Well, it's about -- it's really about what there is there. What's behind the curtain, if you will, Andrea? And this is someone -- his campaign has really, in a very methodical way, tried to build this sense of celebrity. And you know that, because you covered them. I mean, there -- there's a lot of stage craft that goes on here. It just doesn't mean there's any state craft behind it. And that has resulted in things like lack of access to the media, really a lack of retail politics, if you will. If Senator McCain -- we had Senator Obama saying I'll meet Senator McCain anywhere, anyplace, anytime and then basically repeatedly refused to engage in a town hall meetings, kind of the one-on-one action, the retail politics and policy discussions that Senator McCain does every day, every week. And he's very open with his access both to the media and to the American people. And Senator Obama is kind of managed. That's their choice. That's absolutely fine. But it does raise the question about what real solutions are the two proposing in such -- at a time when the country is facing such serious challenges. And, again, the differences could not be more clear. Raise taxes, Senator Obama. Cut them, Senator McCain. Don’t drill, Senator Obama. Drill, Senator McCain. Pull out with a timetable in
MITCHELL: Nancy Pfotenhauer from the McCain campaign. One quick final question. Do you have a position, does John McCain have a position as to what Ted Stevens should do? Should he step down now that he's been indicted? Or should he stay in the Senate and serve in any capacity that hecan until he faces the legal process?
PFOTENHAUER: Honestly, Andrea, I haven't spoken with the Senator about it, and so I would wait to hear from him before I would even try to project what he would have to say on that.
MITCHELL: Okay, thank you very much, Nancy Pfotenhauer. Thanks very much for joining us.
PFOTENHAUER: Thank you.
