Hotline After Dark -- Middle Man

Talk continued last night about Barack Obama's shift toward the center.

Ex-WH adviser David Gergen, on Obama reacting to attacks that he has moved to the center: "I happen to think this brouhaha will blow over, and he's better served by being what he truly believes in. And, on Iraq, if anything, the Maliki statements and the Iraqi position statements over the last couple of days ... saying we need to have some deadlines here on U.S. troop presence play into his hands and strengthen his position. So, I think that we're into a lot of static at this time of the season. I don't think this is going to be very determinative over time. But it's interesting how sensitive he is to it" ("AC 360," CNN, 7/8).

Dem strategist Paul Begala, on advice he'd give Obama for dealing with the flip-flopping charge: "In the world of flip-flopping, he wouldn't even make the Olympic trials. I mean, this guy has been actually pretty consistent all through. What you do, Senator, is you counterattack. You never defend. You always counterattack. Oh, is the charge flip-flopping? Let's look at senator McCain. Stop me when I hit an issue he has not flip-flopped on, taxes, abortion, gay rights, the role of the religious right, immigration, offshore oil drilling, even torture. Now, so, if flip-flopping were an Olympic sport, John McCain would be the first 72-year-old to win a gold medal" ("Situation Room," CNN, 7/8).

Pundits also discussed how McCain's camp can use Obama's move to the center to their advantage.

CNN's Gloria Borger, on how McCain can use Obama's perceived flip-flopping on issues against him: "I think the issue here is, what is John McCain going to do with this? And, in the general election, John McCain is running a character-based campaign. And if he can turn all of this into some sort of proof that Barack Obama is just another politician, that he can lower his altitude a little bit and say, he's very self-serving, he's all about winning, he's not about hope, he's just about winning, which is exactly what McCain is going to do, then it hurts him" ("AC 360," 7/8).

Ex-Romney press sec. Kevin Madden, on if McCain labeling Obama as a flip-flopper will work: "I think it works because it fits. And they have an evidentiary trail of changes on positions, on core positions, where he's shown he doesn't have the principle, but instead moving to the center or attacking in a very political way because he finds it politically expedient. And I think they are going to continue to do that. And with the new message discipline of the McCain campaign, they're going to do this every single day. ... It is going to stick" ("Situation Room," CNN, 7/8).

AZ Gov. Janet Napolitano (D), on what Obama meant by calling himself "progressive": "I think it's going to mean that he's going to reject the old labels, conservative, liberal, what does it really mean in the context of the United States Supreme Court, in the context of a federal judge? Indeed our history teaches us that just appointing by label oftentimes surprises more than anything else. He's going to look for people who are intelligent, thoughtful, have life experiences that they can bring to bear to the court, will be very fair-minded and judge the dispute before them" ("Situation Room," CNN, 7/8).

Pat Buchanan, on what Obama is trying to portray: "I think the issue in this campaign is very simple: Barack Obama. The country wants to be rid of the Republicans. I don't think McCain has set the country on fire. I think it's like the election in 1980, where people wanted to be rid of [Jimmy] Carter, but they weren't sure they wanted Ronald Reagan. And that's why I think Barack Obama is making this drive straight to the center, and he's going to try to give the American people reassurance that 'I'm not the guy out there in San Francisco dumping on Pennsylvanians because of their bigotry, Bibles, and guns. I'm one of you.' That's what he's going to try to do" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 7/8).

More Buchanan: "I think he's setting himself up for a Reagan finish, which is, people are still worried and nervous about him and he's going to come in those debates and remove those doubts, the way Reagan did in that final week" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 7/8).

After the jump, reaction to the Obama family's "Access Hollywood" interview, and Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki's calls for troop withdrawls.

(RACHELLE DOUILLARD-PROULX)

ENVIABLE "ACCESS"

The Obama family interview on "Access Hollywood" has been making a big splash across TV.

"Access Hollywood's" Maria Menounos, on the reaction to the interview: "The kind of unfortunate thing is why can't 'Access Hollywood' get an exclusive like this and why can't it be held to the same standards as any other interview would be. What else could I possibly ask these girls? I mean, how hard could I get with them? Am I going to ask them something that's going to make them cry? ... There's a sense of people saying, they got a safer interview or a softer interview with us. And that's just not true."

More Menounos: "It was funny because it was a really beautiful kind of situation. It was just kind of organic. It was happening. And I kind of sat back at different points and let the girls be themselves, because we never get to see that. And we're probably never going to get to see them in a situation like this again. ... But to see them interacting with each other and to see the family dynamic I thought was beautiful. I
watched this footage of these girls and I think they were so adorable."

Independent Women's Voice pres. Michelle Bernard, on the decision to allow the Obama girls to be interview: "I think it's a good decision. I understand why they did it. The Obama campaign has been working very hard now that we're in general election mode to introduce the American public not only to Barack Obama but really to his entire family. And who could not possibly fall in love with his two daughters? They're adorable. ... And it is sentimental. How patriotic to have one of your daughters actually born on July 4th and celebrate her birthday virtually with the entire nation on July 4th with Maria Menounos on 'Access Hollywood.' They're reaching out to different voters" ("Verdict," MSNBC, 7/8).

HE SAID WHAT?!

Nouri al-Maliki's calls for troop withdrawls may have consequences for the McCain and Obama camps.

Ex-WH adviser David Gergen, on the Iraqis saying they want U.S. troops to agree to a set timetable: "It's quite inconvenient for Senator McCain, as well as for the president, for the Iraqis suddenly to say, hey, you know that long-term agreement you wanted about your presence here? We don't want that. We want a short-term agreement. We would also like to have assertions of sovereignty. And, by the way, we would like to have a deadline for withdrawal of your troops. All of that is very contrary to what John McCain has said that he wants and what the Bush administration stands for" ("AC 360," CNN, 7/8).

Dem strategist Steve McMahon: "The question is, how long will John McCain stand in the face of calls from the American voters, from Senator Obama and now from the Maliki government? ... I just don't understand the argument that the Maliki government hasn't asked for us to leave. They've clearly asked for us to leave very directly, I think" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 7/8).

Pat Buchanan, on whether advancements in Iraq will help or hurt Obama: "With things turning around dramatically, it might in a way help Obama, if Maliki and them are going to be talking about deadlines and timetables for withdrawal" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 7/8).

VoteVets.org's Jon Soltz: "It looks to me like Maliki endorsed Senator Barack Obama for president today. The bottom line is that the Iraqi position is similar to Barack Obama's position. Our Founding Fathers, George Washington, will be rolling over in his grave knowing that the American military is beholden to the domestic politics of a foreign country. Our soldiers cannot will the Iraqis to end this war. It's absolutely ridiculous at this point ... that George Bush and John McCain think that our soldiers should fight and die wanting security and prosperity in Iraq more than Iraqis want it themselves" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 7/8).