Hotline After Dark -- Myth Busters
The severe weather in the MidWest and SCOTUS' Gitmo decision dominated TV coverage last night. There was also some talk about Barack Obama launching FightTheSmears.com, a website designed to "debunk smears and false rumors."
CNBC's Harwood: "I don't think they have any choice but to respond. ... You remember John Kerry, initially in 2004, decided he wasn't going to escalate the Swift Boat thing. He was going to play it low key, hope it didn't have an impact. Not happening. That was not a good decision. And I think Barack Obama's decided to be very aggressive from the get-go. Smart thing to do" ("Race for the WH," MSNBC, 6/12).
Dem strategist Hilary Rosen: "I think it's an important part of what will clearly be the Obama strategy, which is not let any grass grow under any charge. I think the McCain campaign actually made a mistake this week, going after Jim Johnson ... because, first of all, the facts have now shown that Jim Johnson didn't get any favorable mortgage loans. ... They smeared a good guy for no reason. People in glass houses should not throw stones. ... I think we'll see rapid response and big aggression. I think John McCain will wish that they doesn't start the politics of personal destruction, because I don't think he'll win this" ("LKL," CNN, 6/12).
Laura Ingraham: "I think it's brilliant, and I think John McCain should take a lesson from this" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 6/12).
And CNN's Blitzer announced Ron Paul, who was rumored to be suspending his WH camp last night (but did not), will be in the "Situation Room" tonight.
(KATHERINE LEHR)