Hotline After Dark -- Flattery Will Get You Everywhere

A lot of last night's TV coverage focused on John McCain's 7/16 appearance before the NAACP nat'l convo in Cincinnati, OH.

Ex-NAACP official/RNC's Shannon Reeves: "The goal not necessarily was in one speech to change someone's vote, but first to say that I'm a leader, and that I'm worthy of being president of the United States, and I'm seeking your consideration" ("NewsHour," PBS, 7/16).

FNC's Cameron: "He showed he doesn't have horns on his head, and he got a standing ovation at the end of it" ("Special Report," 7/16).

DNCer Robert Zimmerman: "I don't want to be cynical about it. Obviously, it was very important that John McCain went to the NAACP and showed respect for them. But it also was a very strategic move, because that appearance there was a message that showed how he was separate from George Bush. And it was the beginning of trying to regain a maverick image, trying to show that he was independent from traditional Republican dogma, from the Bush administration ... despite the fact that, ultimately, he's backing George Bush on all the critical issues" ("AC 360," CNN, 7/16).

Chicago Tribune's Page: "The audience was very cordial. Black folks are delighted if you show up, number one. They will treat you like nice and neighborly. But his biggest applause line was when he complimented his opponent. You know that this is not a crowd you have much chance of winning. But, it was important for John McCain to speak past the camera, past this crowd to the folks watching at home, especially in Ohio, which is where the NAACP was having their convention, a very important swing state ... for both these candidates" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 7/16).

After the jump, more McCain and the return of the Jesse Jackson controversy.

(KATHERINE LEHR)

GOP strategist Ed Rollins, on whether the appearance was worthwhile: "Absolutely worthwhile. ... Every Republican presidential candidate needs to go to a group like this and talk about their views of America. And I think, to a certain extent, saying nice things about [Barack] Obama, as he did, laying out exactly who he is, not pandering in any way, shape or forge to the crowd basically helps him long term show that he's running for president of all Americans, and I think was very beneficial. I don't think he gets any votes out of it, but that's not the reason you go there" ("Election Center," CNN, 7/16).

Salon.com's Walsh: "I think that a lot of Republicans were really irritated by the failure the Bush administration to go to the NAACP regularly to meet with black leaders because it plays well with whites, to be honest, independents who want to believe we're a society with a lot more racial harmony than we have. So I think he did a great job. It was probably Machiavellian. He is running for president. He is a politician. But it was a nice moment. It was a nice thing to see" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 7/16).

POP GOES THE WEASEL

FNC's Bill O'Reilly appeared on "On the Record" last night to discuss new reports regarding Rev. Jesse Jackson's controversial remarks.

FNC's Van Susteren: "Did Reverend Jackson something worse on that tape? Well, it's the talk of the town today. Rumors are flying. Did Reverend Jackson call Senator Obama the 'N' word? Now, contrary to some Internet rumors, the answer is no. Did Reverend Jackson use the 'N' word? The answer is yes. Reverend Jackson referred to the African-American community in general terms using the derogatory word."

O'Reilly: "The Reverend said some things that were picked up. They were important to the country, one Civil Rights leader denigrating another over policy. We used all of the germane things that defined Jackson's disenchantment with Barack Obama over the policy, and we left out a couple of trash-talk sentences. And now some weasel leaked those sentences to the Internet. So, you know, our conscience is clean. We did our job. I'd do it again. We're not in the business to hurt Reverend Jackson. We reported the important part of the story.

More O'Reilly: "If that was vital to the story, the trash talk, I would have run it, but it wasn't. And it wasn't directed at Barack Obama. It was just an off-hand comment that Jackson shouldn't have made."

O'Reilly, on how the information got out: "Some weasel, I guess, within the FOX News organization got a hold of the transcript and just called up some Web sites. And you know how it goes" (FNC, 7/16).

O'Reilly also addressed it on his show: "We tried to spare Jesse Jackson further embarrassment, but somebody obviously wants to hurt him" ("O'Reilly Factor," 7/16).