Charlie Rose to McCain: Ryan Plan a 'Prescription for American Decline'?
Charlie Rose boosted two of the left's talking points about Rep. Paul
Ryan's budget proposal and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney on
Wednesday's CBS This Morning. Rose asked Republican Senator John McCain,
"Does Mitt Romney have to redefine himself...against the charges that he's out of touch, and that by endorsing the Ryan budget, it is a prescription for American decline?"
Rose also highlighted how McCain and President Obama both slammed the
Court's Citizens United decision. But the Arizona Republican clarified
that "I agreed that it was a bad decision, but certainly...I
never questioned that they didn't have the right to do that. Apparently,
the President doesn't read the Constitution the way some of us do."
The anchor led with the Supreme Court issue during the McCain segment.
He first asked, "here has been, in the long history of this country,
much debate about what the Supreme Court does. Is what the
President...saying appropriate?" The veteran senator replied, in part,
"[F]or him to think, somehow, that it's not within the Court's
purview to overturn what most of us knew from the beginning was an
unconstitutional act...then clearly the President- a quote, teacher of constitutional law- (laughs) doesn't have the same fundamental understanding most of us do."
Moments
later, McCain stated that " I thought...their [the Supreme Court"
decision on Citizens United- that's the campaign finance law- was
terrible, outrageous. I'm still outraged, but I certainly never
challenged their right to do it." Rose followed up by stating, "Well, on that, you and the President agreed." The politician replied with his "I never questioned that they didn't have the right to do that" answer.
The CBS journalist continued by bringing up Romney's victories in the
Tuesday primaries and included the left-leaning attacks on the former
governor and on Rep. Ryan. Rose also raised the concerns about Romney
from conservatives and spotlighted the recent "Etch-A-Sketch" comment
from his campaign aide:
ROSE: This campaign has begun. It looks like Romney's the nominee.
You've endorsed him. Does Mitt Romney have to redefine himself now? Is
there a window of opportunity to define himself against the charges that
he's out of touch, and that by endorsing the [Rep. Paul] Ryan budget,
it is a prescription for American decline?
MCCAIN: Well, I think that now that it's clear that he's the nominee,
that most American voters will be looking at Mitt Romney from that
viewpoint. They've watched this, really, rather disastrous campaign,
which has really raised the unfavorables of all of our Republican
candidates rather dramatically, so- but they'll be looking at him and
give him, I think, another opportunity.
I also hope that Rick Santorum would understand that it's time for a
graceful exit. But I think that the American people will be looking at
him- and speaking of out of touch, I can't imagine the President
belaboring Mitt Romney for supporting a budget- at least we voted on.
There has been no budget in the United States Senate in well over 1,000
days, which is required by law- remarkable.
ROSE: Let me go to- your description of 'disastrous' raises an
interesting question- whether some conservatives are right in fearing
that the nominee will not be as conservative as they would like for him
to be, and that he will, quote- in a sense, 'Etch-A-Sketch' his own
campaign.
MCCAIN: Well, that was said by an aide. It was an unfortunate comment
and, obviously, it was pounced upon. That's the world we live in. I'm
far more concerned about the president of the United States telling a
corrupt dictator- who was just elected in a terribly corrupt election in
a corrupt country that is not our friend- that he's going to be, quote,
'flexible' on one of the fundamentals of our national security since
Ronald Reagan, and that's missile defense. The President owes the
American people an explanation as to- what does he mean by 'flexible'?
ROSE: Yeah. This is a conversation he had that was overheard by an open mike with [Russian President Dmitry] Medvedev....
MCCAIN: He [Medvedev] said he would pass it on to Vladimir [Putin].
Co-anchor Erica Hill concluded the interview with a question about
prospective Republican vice presidential candidates, which turned into a
light-hearted discussion with McCain about his former running mate,
Sarah Palin, and the senator possibly guest hosting as she did on NBC's
Today show.
The previous morning, the CBS anchors deferred to Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod
and his spin about the President's rant against the Court. Rose and
Hill also let Axelrod attack Romney, while tossing softball questions at
him, such as, "[Romney] said he believes the President is to blame for
the number of single mothers living in poverty. How do you respond to
that?"
The full transcript of Charlie Rose and Erica Hill's interview of Senator John McCain, which began 12 minutes into the 7 am Eastern hour of Wednesday's CBS This Morning:
CHARLIE ROSE: With us now from Phoenix is Arizona Senator John McCain. Senator, good morning.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R), ARIZONA: Good morning, Charlie.
[CBS News Graphic: "Supreme Court Showdown: McCain On Obama's Healthcare Comments"]
ROSE: There has been, in the long history of this country, much debate
about what the Supreme Court does. Is what the President is- saying
appropriate?
MCCAIN: Well, as usual, he's backing off some from his initial, rather
remarkable, statement. Anybody who- a cursory reading of the
Constitution of the United States clearly indicates that there's a
balance of powers, envisioned by our Founding Fathers, and one of those
important responsibilities is the rein that the Supreme Court places on
the legislative branch, which has worked pretty well.
So, for him to think, somehow, that it's not within the Court's purview
to overturn what most of us knew from the beginning was an
unconstitutional act- by forcing the American people to accept a product
and describe what's in the product and fine them if they don't- then
clearly the President- a quote, teacher of constitutional law- (laughs)
doesn't have the same fundamental understanding most of us do.
ROSE: But the Supreme Court has a right to rule on the constitutionality of federal law since Marbury versus Madison?
MCCAIN: They've been doing it for- yeah, absolutely. In fact, I thought
that- their decision on Citizens United- that's the campaign finance
law- was terrible, outrageous. I'm still outraged, but I certainly never
challenged their right to do it.
ROSE: Well, on that, you and the President agreed.
MCCAIN: (laughs) Yeah, that's right. But we agreed in that- I agreed
that it was a bad decision, but certainly, we should- I never questioned
that they didn't have the right to do that. Apparently, the President
doesn't read the Constitution the way some of us do.
ROSE: This campaign has begun. It looks like [Mitt] Romney's the
nominee. You've endorsed him. Does Mitt Romney have to redefine himself
now? Is there a window of opportunity to define himself against the
charges that he's out of touch, and that by endorsing the [Rep. Paul]
Ryan budget, it is a prescription for American decline?
[CBS News Graphic: "GOP Fight: McCain On Romney's Path To Nomination"]
MCCAIN: Well, I think that now that it's clear that he's the nominee,
that most American voters will be looking at Mitt Romney from that
viewpoint. They've watched this, really, rather disastrous campaign,
which has really raised the unfavorables of all of our Republican
candidates rather dramatically, so- but they'll be looking at him and
give him, I think, another opportunity.
I also hope that Rick Santorum would understand that it's time for a
graceful exit. But I think that the American people will be looking at
him- and speaking of out of touch, I can't imagine the President
belaboring Mitt Romney for supporting a budget- at least we voted on.
There has been no budget in the United States Senate in well over 1,000
days, which is required by law- remarkable.
[CBS News Graphic: "Delegates To Date, CBS News Estimate: 1144 Needed
To Nominate: Romney, 630; Santorum, 246; Gingrich, 126; Paul 45"]
ROSE: Let me go to- your description of 'disastrous' raises an
interesting question- whether some conservatives are right in fearing
that the nominee will not be as conservative as they would like for him
to be, and that he will, quote- in a sense, 'Etch-A-Sketch' his own
campaign.
MCCAIN: Well, that was said by an aide. It was an unfortunate comment
and, obviously, it was pounced upon. That's the world we live in. I'm
far more concerned about the president of the United States telling a
corrupt dictator- who was just elected in a terribly corrupt election in
a corrupt country that is not our friend- that he's going to be, quote,
'flexible' on one of the fundamentals of our national security since
Ronald Reagan, and that's missile defense. The President owes the
American people an explanation as to- what does he mean by 'flexible'?
[CBS News Graphic: "Conservatives: Wisconsin Voters: Romney, 48%; Santorum, 40%; Margin of Error: 3 pts."]
ROSE: Yeah. This is a conversation he had that was overheard by an open mike with [Russian President Dmitry] Medvedev. Erica?
ERICA HILL: There-
MCCAIN: He [Medvedev] said he would pass it on to Vladimir [Putin].
ROSE: Yes-
HILL: There's been some talk about the choice of a vice president for
the eventual nominee and what that choice should entail. Sarah Palin has
said that she thinks the nominee, if it is, in fact, Mitt Romney,
should- quote, 'go rogue'. What's your advice?
[CBS News Graphic: "Palin And Politics: McCain On Former And Future V.P. Candidates"]
MCCAIN: I think it should be Sarah Palin. (McCain and Hill laugh)
ROSE: (laughs) Do you really? Are you endorsing Sarah Palin to be the nominee?
HILL: Have you talked to her about that?
MCCAIN: No, I haven't-
ROSE: And would you characterize her as a 'rogue'?
MCCAIN: (laughs) I think that we have some very qualified candidates.
Obviously, Marco Rubio is in the top tier- Chris Christie. There are a
number of candidates we have out there- Bobby Jindal, Mitch Daniels- we
have a wealth of talent out there, and I'm sure that Mitt will make the
right choice. Obviously, it's a tough decision. (laughs)
ROSE: Your former running mate is on the 'Today' show this week, and
you said that if you live long enough, anything can happen. Does that
mean that if you live long enough, we might find you here one morning as
a co-host, getting up at 4:30, to work with us here?
HILL: Are you offering him your chair, Charlie?
ROSE: Senator?
MCCAIN: Well, I got up at 2:45 this morning Arizona time to be with you-
ROSE: To do the show- (laughs)
HILL: That's when I get up every day-
MCCAIN: I'd love to be on-
HILL: It's perfect-
MCCAIN: It's wonderful. It certainly cuts down on expenses in the evening, doesn't it? (laughs)
HILL: (laughs) Yes, it does-
ROSE: (laughs) Senator John McCain from his home state of Arizona- thank you so much. It's good to see you.
MCCAIN: Thanks for having me on.
