Sunday Snaphot -- Put It In Reverse

The Sunday shows concentrated on Barack Obama changing his position on taking public financing and John McCain changing his position on offshore drilling.

CBS' Schieffer: "Well, summer is here. This is the season of flip-flops, but suddenly we're not talking about footwear, we're talking about politics" ("Face the Nation," 6/22).

BROKEN PROMISE OR BROKEN SYSTEM?

Reaction to Obama's decision to opt out of public financing:

Joe Biden and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) squared off on the issue on "Meet the Press."

Biden: "I've been a strong supporter of public financing my whole career. I'm the first guy to introduce a public financing bill to the United States Senate in 1973. And the purpose was to get big money out of the politics. The irony is, although [Obama] has changed his position -- I'm not going to color that, he's changed his position -- the fact of the matter is he has 1,400,000 contributors, the vast majority of whom contribute less than a hundred bucks a piece. So the effect of campaign financing is in place, but it's not campaign financing."

More after the jump, including Veepstakes and "Meet"'s interim replacement

(KATHERINE LEHR)

Graham, on Obama: "His word's broken forever on this issue. I think that's what it means more than anything else. ... Senator McCain supported campaign finance reform at his detriment with Senator Feingold on our side. It did not go over well, but John did it anyway. He took a beating to try to change the campaign finance system. Senator Obama looked in cameras all over the country, literally signed his name, 'I will accept public financing,' and now, for whatever reason, he has broken his word. And is it 1.4 million donors that allows you to break your word? This is reinforcing everything that's wrong with politics. This is a game changer in terms of the general election. This will not go unnoticed by the American people ... and it will not be soon forgotten."

Biden, on Hillary Clinton saying in Feb. '08 that Obama's reversal "raises some serious questions about what it is he stands for": "She was competing against him. Were I still in the race, I'd probably be raising it. But the essence, the honest to God truth is, he's kept his commitment of keeping big money, individual influence, out of his campaign" (NBC, 6/222).

As did ex-Senate Maj. Leader Tom Daschle (D) and ex-PA Gov. Tom Ridge (R) on "Fox News Sunday."

Daschle: "It's really important to emphasize he didn't break his word on this. And there is that assertion on the part of the campaign and some in the media. That is not right. What Barack has done is created a new system of public financing. ... The whole idea behind public finance and this idea is to reduce the role of special interests and lobbyists. He's done exactly that."

Daschle, on 527s: "They can't control them, but they can be discouraged. And a couple of 527s who have supported Barack have actually closed down as a result of his requests. But as long as that's a factor, what good does it do to limit yourself on one side and be totally outspent, as John Kerry was, on the other four years ago? That is the problem."

Ridge: "2006, he says very, very clearly, 'I support public financing.' 2007, he actually signs a pledge. On a national news television broadcast, he says, 'I will work with John McCain so we can have a public financing arrangement that serves us both very, very well.' And then in June of '08, he decides to take his own path. He's not only broken a fundamental reform of the political system, but he's also broken his word" (6/22).

Reps. Robert Wexler (D-FL) and Eric Cantor (R-VA) were on "Late Edition."

Wexler: "Senator Obama is not making a mistake. His campaign is the most publicly financed campaign in the history of America. ... Barack Obama did something no candidate has done. ... He's told those 527s ... don't you dare spend your money on our campaigns, on our behalf. And they've listened to him. Senator McCain hasn't dared say that to the other side. And one other thing -- Senator McCain's not in the position to speak about this. He used his public financing as collateral to get a loan, and then, low and behold, he didn't use it, and he broke the law."

Cantor: "The bottom line is Barack Obama has backtracked and now is engaging in double-speak, in terms of his position on public financing. If Barack Obama is so willing to be transparent, why is it that he refuses to respond to John McCain's request that they have regular town hall meetings so the American people can see the candidates for what they are and talk to them and see the give and take? Why is it that Barack Obama refuses to even respond to the offer by John McCain camp to do that?"

Cantor, asked if McCain is willing to do the same to GOP 527s: "There are no 527s. ... Show me where the Republican 527s are. The complete monopoly on the 527s is on the Democratic side of the aisle and on the far left" (CNN, 6/22).

And McCain Victory chair Carly Fiorina and Bill Richardson appeared together on "Face the Nation."

Fiorina: "I think the record is pretty clear that Barack Obama has in fact said all along that he would accept public financing. And now he's changed his mind. He certainly has the right to do that. But just speaking for myself, what I find a little disingenuous, I must say, is to blame that on the fact that, for example, there are 527s gearing up to attack him. The truth is, there are more 527s gearing up and currently attacking John McCain than exist to attack Barack Obama."

Richardson, on 527s: "Senator McCain is still taking that money. He's still taking lobbyists' money. He's taking PAC money. The Republican National Committee is flush in that kind of resources. But also, he's encouraging these 527s groups to go after Senator Obama and basically wink at them and say, look, go after his record. I am not going to do it, I'm going to be the good guy. That's not reform."

Fiorina, in response: "It's not the case. The facts are completely different than Governor Richardson is describing them. In fact, John McCain is on the record as having asked a couple of 527s to stand down. And it's been well documented just in the last week that there are far more 527s gearing up ... to attack John McCain" (CBS, 6/22).

Politico's Harris, asked if Obama flip-flopped on campaign finance: "He tried to dress it up and spray it with perfume. It was a flip-flop. He decided ... he needed the money rather than the points with editorial writers. Does it hurt him with voters? Probably not. Does it hurt him with editorial writers, good-government types? Yes, it does. Did he tell us something about himself? I think he did" ("Face the Nation," CBS, 6/22).

YOU KNOW THE DRILL

Reaction to McCain's support of offshore drilling:

McCain sr. economic adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin, on offshore drilling: "It would take about five years to get the oil onshore and begin getting the real impacts in supply and demand. But we'll send a signal to the world markets and we'll send a signal, in particular, to futures markets that the United States is going to take control of its energy destiny. ... And the truth is, Barack Obama has no plan in energy" ("Late Edition," CNN, 6/22).

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX): "What I think we ought to do to get the speculators to stop thinking that the prices are going to go up is for Congress to show that we are going to take action with a balanced plan, with renewables, with nuclear power, with expanded refineries, with drilling and exploration of our own natural resources. If we did that, yes, it would take five to 10 years to get those things in line, but the speculators would be out of the market" ("This Week," ABC, 6/22).

Fiorina, on McCain's reversal: "I think a good leader is influenced by the facts on the ground, whether those facts are in Iraq or whether those facts are right here in the United States. And the reality is we have never before faced a situation where a gallon of gas is over $4 and is likely to remain over $4."

Richardson: "I was energy secretary, and I can tell you that every bipartisan administration has opposed offshore drilling for pristine reasons, the ecosystem, but also the fact that you're not going to get any of this oil out offshore for the next 10 years, and prices won't go down until the year 2030. ... What we have here is Senator McCain is basically following the policies of George Bush -- drill, drill, drill. ... We need to shift away from this drill, drill, drill philosophy into new sources of energy, conservation, fuel efficiency. ... Not just drill into pristine areas like ANWR in Alaska, like offshore in California and Texas. Ask the people in those states if they're for that. They're not."

Fiorina, in response: "Well, first of all, John McCain believes it is the state's decision. Secondly, the 2005 energy bill which gave oil companies lots of breaks -- Barack Obama voted for it. John McCain vote against it.
And finally, I completely agree. We need short-term, medium-term and long-term solutions. John McCain has been an ardent advocate of nuclear power, green technology. He has a bipartisan bill on cap-and-trade. Because, for five long years, he has said global warming is a threat to the planet and America needs to take a leadership role. But we also have to be realistic. We cannot take control of our own energy future by only relying on these new technologies. ... We also must rely on nuclear. We must rely on clean coal. We must rely on natural gas. And, yes, we must rely on our own reserves of oil as well" ("Face the Nation," CBS, 6/22).

Harris: "I think he says, 'Look, the gas issue is going to be a huge factor. I'm willing to make that risk.' By doing so, it puts Florida in possible risk for him, which should be a strong McCain state" ("Face the Nation," CBS, 6/22).

Ridge: "John understands that you can't pay for heating bills at this level or sustain these gas prices for the ordinary family. We need a long-term solution. We have to start now. And conservation and windmills and ignoring the reality is not going to do it."

Ridge, on why McCain is for offshore drilling, but not ANWR: "I'm not sure his feet are in cement on this if prices go to $10 a gallon and whatever. But right now, he would prefer to see what these other measures that we would take -- drilling, nuclear, alternatives, conservation, clean coal technology -- before we really go into the pristine environment up in Alaska" ("Fox News Sunday," 6/22).

Daschle: "We're surprised at yet another flip-flop on the part of John McCain here. ... We aren't going to produce a barrel of oil until 2030. We're not going to have the ability, first of all. Secondly, we can't drill our way out of the problem What we have to do is to provide the kind of commitment to conservation, the commitment to efficiency, the commitment to alternative fuels, the commitment to the ways that we know can be. ... This another gas tax gimmick. This has nothing to do with meaningful production or meaningful supply. This has everything to do with another gimmick" ("Fox News Sunday," 6/22).

Graham: "Everybody I meet says, 'Why don't we find out own oil?' This is an effort by Senator McCain to allow that to be done in an environmentally sensitive way given the fact that gas is $4 a gallon. It makes sense to put American resources on the table to blunt the blow of what's happening overseas."

Biden: "This is a gift, a gift to the oil companies by John McCain" ("Meet the Press," NBC, 6/22).

Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA): "It's kind of a sad day in American history. We were given one week's notice to go over to Saudi Arabia today to beg the Saudi Arabians and OPEC to please produce more oil we can purchase" ("This Week," ABC, 6/22).

Pols were also asked if their respective states would support offshore drilling:

Cantor, asked if he supports offshore drilling off the coast of VA: "Absolutely. And our legislature has taken the stance to say that they support it as well. We are the one state on the East Coast who believes that we can do it in an environmentally sensitive way. In fact, I am an advocate of doing that and using some of those revenues to help support the clean up" ("Late Edition," CNN, 6/22).

Wexler, on offshore drilling in FL: "It will be disastrous. ... The Bush administration itself, the Bush Energy Department said if we open up these lands, there won't be a drop of oil that will come from these new leases until 2017. That's not going to provide relief at the pump. But what it will do is will jeopardize our tourism in Florida, it will jeopardize all the shipping lanes, it will create all kinds of havoc" ("Late Edition," CNN, 6/22).

Graham, asked if his position includs exploration off SC's shore: "If the state of South Carolina consented. ... We're talking about 50 miles off the coast of South Carolina with the consent of the legislature where the state gets half the revenue. I think in an environmentally sound way we can extract deep sea exploration oil and gas off our coast that will allow us to be more energy independent. John is for that. I am for that. And I believe the state of South Carolina will be for that."

Graham, on changing his position: "Yes, $4 a gallon has changed my view of this; $135 dollars a barrel has changed my view of this. I think the economic impact of not adjusting now is going to be devastating ... to the country short and long-term, and therefore I have changed my position" ("Meet the Press," NBC, 6/22).

"I GOT TO SAY YES"

Meanwhile, pols from both sides of the aisle continued to field questions about the VP spot.

First, the GOPers:

Ridge: "If he asks me, we'll have a private conversation and we'll decide whether or not we ought to tell you what we said."

Fox's Wallace: "If McCain were to say to you, 'I'd like you on the ticket,' would you be willing to say on that issue of abortion, 'I will follow the dictate of Senator McCain, the nominee of my party?'"

Ridge: "Well, I believe what I believe. ... We're not a one-issue party. Never have, never will be, although it's very important to our base. And it's very, very important to Senator McCain. He feels very, very strongly about that issue, and that's why any conversation we have relative to that issue or the vice presidency is something that he and I have to discuss before I ever go down that path publicly."

Wallace: "Are you saying you would not be willing to make the pledge of support?"

Ridge: "Well, I couldn't possibly -- I believe what I believe. ... Obviously, the vice president's job is to support once a decision is made, whether it's on social issues, economic issues or diplomatic issues, the position of the president of the United States. But that doesn't mean that you don't share a belief that you've had your entire life. But again, those are really difficult and challenging questions when the vice president and the president disagree on a wide range of issues, but the vice president's job is to support the administration" ("Fox News Sunday," 6/22).

Fiorina, asked if she is being considered for VP: "Anyone would be honored to serve John McCain, and I would as well. But he will have a long list of highly qualified people to choose from" ("Face the Nation," CBS, 6/22).

Harris, on Fiorina: "We're seeing a lot more of her in the political context the last couple of weeks. She's really become one of the top Republican proxies. She'd be a very interesting choice if John McCain is looking to think outside the box. The one shadow on that is, of course, her record at H-P was shadowed by controversy, and some people said a very mixed performance. But if John McCain is looking to not follow the conventional course, I'd say she would be on that list" ("Face the Nation," CBS, 6/22).

Pawlenty, asked if the VP spot was discussed while campaigning with McCain: "It did not. We talked about family and sports and politics and the like, but we did not discuss any talk about the vice presidential pick or vetting process or anything like that."

CNN's Blitzer: "So nobody's been in touch with you and asked to see your IRS returns or anything like that?"

Pawlenty: "They have not. ... This is not something that I have designs on. I'm very happy with being governor of the state of Minnesota" ("Late Edition," CNN, 6/22).

And the Dems:

Daschle: "I'm not seeking the vice presidency. I've not talked to Barack about it. I don't expect to be asked. And I have no interest."

Fox's Wallace: "For someone like Obama, who keeps talking about changing the way business is done in Washington, would it be a problem to pick you or any other, quote, Washington insider?"

Daschle: "It might. It might, and that's certainly going to be a factor that he'll be looking at" ("Fox News Sunday," 6/22).

Biden, asked if he's interested in being VP: "I am not interested in the vice presidency."

NBC's Williams: "'Meet the Press,' April 29th, 2007, Tim Russert asks Joe Biden, 'You interested in being vice president?' 'No, I will not be vice president under any circumstances.' But in a different answer, you answered you'd have to say yes."

Biden: "When I was asked that question, I thought I was still going to be president. Number one, I am not interested in being vice president. I've let the candidate know. If the candidate asks me to be vice president, the answer is I got to say yes. But he's not going to ask me. ... Unlike most other people, I'm being straight with you. If asked, I will do it. I've made it clear I do not want to be asked" ("Meet the Press," NBC, 6/22).

BATON HANDED TO BROKAW

NBC's "Meet The Press" aired its first show since Tim Russert's death with NBC's Brian Williams hosting. It was announced that ex-"Nightly News" anchor Tom Brokaw will host the show through the Nov. elections.

Williams, opening the show: "Our intention is to do the very same broadcast that we had planned before Tim Russert passed away. Tim was excited about doing this broadcast. As usual, he had done all the preparation. So we chose to go ahead with the format and the guests we had scheduled. We've had new issues, of course, that we've been handed in the interim."

Joe Biden: "It's kind of strange being here. ... Can I just say one thing quickly? ... After all the programs that I'd be on with him, we'd sit here and talk about his sons and my sons. ... I'd never met Luke, but he met every expectation his father ever had of him; an incredible kid, and he should know that. His father talked about him all the time after the show."

Williams, concluding the program: "That's all for today. It goes without saying, this was an honor to moderate this morning's broadcast, and I'll be back here from time to time on Sunday mornings. But we have an announcement this morning we think will please loyal viewers of this great broadcast. Beginning next week, my friend Tom Brokaw has agreed to step in as moderator of 'Meet the Press,' to get us through this election season. We're fortunate to have Tom not only, of course, as part of our NBC News political all-star team, certainly a big part of our 'NBC Nightly News' family. And allow me to add, during these past difficult days, Tom's been an enormous comfort here in this Washington bureau; for that matter, throughout this news division" (NBC, 6/22).

ROUNDTABLE ROUNDUP

The "This Week" roundtable discussed WH '08.

Dem strategist Donna Brazile, on Obama's decision to opt out of public financing: "It's a risky move and a smart thing to do. He's trying to compete in places Democrats had nobody compete before. He understands the challenges but it's a smart move" (ABC, 6/22).

The "Fox News Sunday" roundtable discussed WH '08 and Iran.

Fox's Hume, on Obama's decision to opt out of public financing: "It's a flip-flop. It's worth it. And I say, by and large, good for him, for a couple of reasons. One is that Obama really has proved that the limits necessary because of public financing, if you take it, do not merely screen out the evil influence of all the rich people in America, but they also make it impossible for a great many individual donors to make their voices heard through their contributions. And Obama really has created a different form of financing, and it shows how unnecessary this whole public financing idea is. ... There is an element of hypocrisy in it, and people can judge that as they want. But if this contributes to the further erosion of confidence in this system, I say great."

NPR's Liasson: "The interesting thing is how little flack he's getting from the left or from the kind of people who cared about reforming the system in this way. I mean, winning is more important than principles in this case. I think it would have been a lot less disingenuous of him to have said why he was doing it" (6/22).

The "Late Edition" roundtable discussed WH '08.

CNN's Borger, on Obama's decision to opt out of public financing: "Here's the bottom line. Barack Obama made a political decision, he made a tactical decision, that is, that he wants to win. ... That's what this is really about. No matter what he says" (6/22).

The "Meet the Press" roundtable discussed WH '08.

CNBC's Harwood, on Obama's decision to opt out of public financing: "The public does not care, by the way, about the details of how you finance your campaign. The only question is can McCain make him pay a price in credibility and trustworthiness on that?" (NBC, 6/23).