Hotline After Dark -- It's A Wild World

The $700B bailout plan continues to be the talk of the TV.

FNC's Barnes: "We would be in a better situation, or at least the Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson would, if this were known as a 'rescue' rather than a 'bailout.' 'Bailout' sounds terrible. Who is for a bailout? A lot of people are for a rescue. But, look, speed is very important here" ("Special Report," 9/22).

Mitt Romney, asked what is John McCain's problem with the bailout plan: "Well, he has a couple points that he thinks need to be kept in mind. One is, he doesn't want the Treasury secretary alone to be responsible for acquiring these troubled assets from all these financial institutions. He would like there to be an independent oversight board making sure that politics is not part of the process, and that the values and the direction of Congress is followed. ... The second thing he wants to make sure happens is that managers of these enterprises that are saved on behalf of the taxpayers of America, the citizens of America, that these managers don't pay themselves big bonuses and get a lot of cash" ("Race for the WH," MSNBC, 9/22).

Obama economic advisor Austan Goolsbee, asked if Barack Obama is 100% happy with the bailout plan: "No, certainly not. And you've seen him specifying his concerns. ... Once you're in the crisis and your house is on fire, you have got to put the fire out. So he's not trying to play politics. What he is insisting on is that we have several basic things that must be included. A, we can't give a blank check to this administration. ... Two, there has to be concern about the core economic issues that got us into this crisis and that continue to face us" ("Race for the WH," MSNBC, 9/22).

Wall Street Journal's Fund: "We are six weeks away from an election in which almost every member of Congress is on the ballot. They are panicking like wildebeests confronted by lions across the plain. And I think the American people are going to be the worse off for this, because the taxpayer is caught holding the bag. If this were after the election, I think we could have a more rational, more reasonable, more prudent approach. Now we're panicking. And I think we're going to make some very ill-advised moves if we add all of these Christmas tree amendments to the bill" ("AC 360," CNN, 9/22).

After the jump, CBS catches up with Biden, the McCains on their favorite TV shows, Bill Clinton on the VP spot and is Al Franken writing for "SNL" again?

(KATHERINE LEHR)

TIME IS ON OUR SIDE

CBS' Couric gave a behind-the-scenes look at Joe Biden's camp.

Biden, asked about polls showing McCain and Sarah Palin are making some inroads among white female voters who are less educated: "I don't believe that. Every election, they're making their minds up later and later, because there's more and more at stake. And, you know, I think everybody should be a little patient here. Eventually, Sarah Palin is going to have to let people know what she thinks, what her record is."

Biden, on preparing for the VP debate: "It's kind of hard to prepare because I don't know what she thinks. ... I just don't know a lot about her. So therefore I'm assuming -- I have to assume, for purpose of debate, she agrees with John on everything."

Couric: "Are you worried you're going to have to pull your punches a bit because of her gender, and you don't want to seem like you're bullying her? It's a different dynamic when it's a male/female thing, isn't it?"

Biden: "I don't know, is it? We're sitting here doing it, aren't we? Look, all kidding aside, maybe it's the generational thing. I don't start this thinking, 'Oh my God. This is a woman, I better treat her differently."

Couric: "Are you disappointed with the tone of the campaign, the lipstick on the pig stuff and some of the ads, and, you guys haven't been completely guilt-free, making fun of John McCain's inability to use a computer?"

Biden: "I thought that was terrible, by the way."

Couric: "Why'd you do it then?"

Biden: "I didn't know we did, and if I had anything to do with it, we'd have never done it, and I don't think Barack -- you know, I just think that was..."

Couric: "Did Barack Obama approve that ad? He said he did, right?"

Biden: "Yeah, the answer is, I don't anything was intentional about that. They were trying to make another point. It's very different than deliberately taking a vote Barack Obama had to teach children about how to deal with child predators and saying he was teaching them sex education in kindergarten. Very difference in degree" ("Evening News," 9/22).

CATCH THEM IF YOU CAN CAN

J. and Cindy McCain appeared on the "Rachel Ray Show."

J. McCain, on the TV shows he likes: "You know what series I really liked recently was 'The Tudors.' ... That was excellent. I like 'Lost.' My hero is Jack Bauer of '24.' ... He always escapes and I never escape. ... I like 'The Office.'"

C. McCain: "I'm so glad Sarah Palin is on the ticket for this reason: I'm a huge 'Deadliest Catch' fan, and they know them! I can't wait! I want to meet the 'Deadliest Catch' guys" (Fox, 9/22).

Ex-WH press sec. Ari Fleischer, on whether McCain's appearance on "Rachael Ray" was smart: "What's happening is candidates increasingly look to lots of different outlets to get the word out. We still have to depend on the mainstream for the most part, because they still reach the most people, but candidates are wise, and Barack Obama does it too, to find as many different outlets as they can to get across directly to voters" ("LKL," CNN, 9/22).

A WINNING ARGUMENT

Bill Clinton made the TV rounds, where he discussed WH '08 and the VP spot.

ABC's Barbara Walters: "Did Senator [Hillary] Clinton really want to be vice president, and did you want her to be vice president?"

B. Clinton: "Not really, no. ... She didn't, and I had no real opinion. ... I like Senator Biden a lot. I think he was a good choice. She would have been the best politically, at least in the short run, because of her enormous support."

Walters: "And she didn't want it?"

B. Clinton: "Not particularly."

Walters: "Some people feel that Senator Obama did not choose Senator Clinton because he didn't want you in the bargain. So, I'm sure have you heard that."

B. CLinton: "First of all, I don't know the answer to that. I think that he felt more comfortable with another choice. You have to respect that."

B. Clinton, on who will win in Nov.: "I believe Obama will win."

Walters: "Would you have said McCain will win?"

B. Clinton: "No, because I'm a loyal Democrat. But I wouldn't fabricate the Obama case either. ... I genuinely like both of them. ... I think Obama will win for the following reasons: Two-thirds of the American people are having trouble paying their bills. These are difficult times. That makes them more likely to change. The financial crisis meltdown only makes that more likely, number one. Number two, America is growing more diverse, racially, religiously, culturally, demographically. The country is moving toward Democratic voters in general. Number three, registration is up for the Democrats and flat for the Republicans in 20 of the most important states" ("The View," ABC, 9/22).

CBS' David Letterman, on Biden: "I don't know if he was quoted out of context, but referred to our senator here in New York, your wife, you've met her, as maybe potentially a better choice for vice president than he was. How did that come about? What was he talking about?"

B. Clinton: "Well, I don't know. But you know, Hillary and Joe Biden and I, we're friends. Joe Biden was a great supporter of mine when I was president. ... He is a very fine man and a great public servant. And they just like each other. And he knows that, you know, Hillary ran, got 18 million votes. I think he was telling what he honestly believed. Basically, he thought she'd be great. He was selected. Let's make the best of this and win this election. That is what I think he was saying. ... He's a brutally frank guy, but I don't think he meant it in any kind of cute way" ("Late Show," CBS, 9/22).

NOT QUITTING HIS DAY JOB

And FNC reported last night that comedian/MN SEN candidate Al Franken (D), an ex-"SNL" writer, is "being credited in part with masterminding" this past weekend's opening skit that parodies McCain.

FNC's Hannity: "Al Franken's campaign confirmed to the AP that he was the accidental inspiration for the skit, but they say that, well, he didn't help write it."

Mike Huckabee: "'Saturday Night Live' does not need Al Franken. That's one of the most talented group of writers and performers that I've ever been around. And I was on the show in February. And they are an incredibly dedicated, hard-working group of people, and they just don't need Al Franken. ... But the second thing that I would observe is that Al Franken needs something to do, because he's not doing very well in his Senate race against Norm Coleman, who has opened the lead, clearly has the advantage. And I think maybe Al's wondering, 'What am I going to do after this election when I lose? Maybe they'll hire me back at 'Saturday Night Live'?"

FNC's Colmes: "By the way, Lorne Michaels, the producer of that show, has given the maximum to the McCain campaign, $2,300. So you know, I'm sure that the perception is they're in the tank for Obama, but that's not really true" ("Hannity & Colmes,"9/22).

MSNBC's Olbermann, on FNC reporting the "Internet rumor": "Franken, in fact, only suggested to executive producer Lorne Michaels that the tag line, I'm John McCain and I approve this message, might be the basis of a good bit. ... You bozos have Karl Rove working for you and the McCain campaign simultaneously. And you had your boss, Roger Ailes, writing to-do list for President Bush and you're throwing stones on this?" ("Countdown," 9/22).