Post Politics Hour

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Don't want to miss out on the latest in politics? Start each day with The Post Politics Hour. Join in each weekday morning at 11 a.m. as a member of The Washington Post's team of White House and Congressional reporters answers questions about the latest in buzz in Washington and The Post's coverage of political news.

Washington Post National political reporter Michael Fletcher was online Thursday, Jan. 25, at 11:20 a.m. ET to discuss the latest in political news.

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A transcript follows.

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washingtonpost.com: Michael Fletcher is traveling with the president in the Midwest, slightly delaying the start of Thursday's Post Politics Hour.

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Montreal, Canada: Michael, what's your reaction (and that of your White House beat colleagues) to Cheney's exchange with Wolf Blitzer? Peter Baker had a good piece on it today, but it seems an almost impossible story to report without just coming out and saying "the Vice President described his own reality today, where Iraq is a success and no mistakes have been made." How prevalent is this view inside the White House? Were you at all shocked or is this to be expected?

washingtonpost.com: Defending Iraq War, Defiant Cheney Cites 'Enormous Successes' (Post, Jan. 25)

Michael Fletcher: It's hard to say how widespread that view is in the White House, but it certainly exists. To be sure they acknowledge (now, at least) mistakes -- the president has, over time. But I think Vice President Cheney gave voice to a competing White House view that while things have been rough in Iraq, there has been progress. And the way this administration works, Cheney is the one who will offer the most direct view of that. That is no surprise.

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Virginia: Today's Post contains an article about Bush dropping the "-ic" in "Democratic." It says that the transcript released beforehand contained the -ic. But the transcript currently published at whitehouse.gov does not. Is it common to go back and change a transcript to keep in errors after a President has made a mispronunciation? Or were there two slightly different transcripts -- one for the President to give and one for the press?

washingtonpost.com: President's Sin of Omission? (Post, Jan. )

Michael Fletcher: I think the story was referring to the text released to the press before the speech.

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St. Paul, Minn.: Hi Michael -- thanks for taking my question. Just wondered if you caught Cheney's interview with CNN and if so what you thought. The White House's ability to "compartmentalize" aside (i.e., Bush taking the more subdued approach, while his VP does the attack dog bit), do you have any sense of how Republicans (privately of course), feel when they see Cheney do that? Are they glad to have him doing the roughing-up, or does he just make things worse for them, given the huge unpopularity of the war?

Michael Fletcher: Interesting question. It seems to me that Republicans, particularly those coming up for re-election soon, would not like Cheney's view, if only because it does not comport with the common understanding of what's happening on the ground in Iraq.

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Black Republican: Thank you for the interesting perspective on black voters voting for a black presidential candidate. I think for far to long blacks in America have voted for liberal or moderate presidential candidates based on some sense of loyalty. I think most of the blacks that vote, if they really think about it, are more like moderate Republicans than liberal Democrats: They want good education for their children. They want to live in a society that lets opportunity be based on ability and not entitlement. They want to see people who need help receive that help with the caveat that says we will help you get into the mainstream but we will not support you indefinitely. I think Obama embodies these principals, the liberal left thinks entitlement is the answer to all of America's problems. Barack Obama believes that with a little help and a determination to win that this country can be on our way to helping people live the American Dream. If blacks stand about and wait they miss the opportunity to let Senator Obama show that his is a presidency that would be all-inclusive.

washingtonpost.com: Obama's Appeal to Blacks Remains an Open Question (Post, Jan. 25)

Michael Fletcher: Thanks. One point I'd add is that, in my experience at least, it seems that black voters support candidates who at least speak to their interests. While poll after poll finds African-Americans to be moderate and even conservative on many social issues, they vote Democratic largely, I think, because they feel like Democrats speak to them consistently and the party has support from fewer people whose views are hostile to black interests.

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Toronto, Canada: Is using "Democrat Party" instead of "Democratic Party" dog-whistle language aimed at the Republic, I mean Republican base?

Michael Fletcher: Funny. I find that whole controversy amusing. But it really does get some people riled up.

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Staunton, Va: If Biden wants the U.S. to talk to Iran and Syria, why doesn't he lead a delegation to talk to these countries? Is it politically unacceptable, or is there a constitutional problem with doing something like that?

Michael Fletcher: I know senators have gone to Syria recently. I'm not sure about Iran. But the problem is the executive branch in effect controls U.S. foreign policy and any changes in outreach would really have to come from there.

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Washington: What you are witnessing is internal strife in the Black community in who and how our leadership is defined. Sadly this is the same B.S. that haunts black conservatives, whom I strongly oppose. Because Obama is not from the same school of civil rights era politics, NAACP toils and grassroots protest, folks question him. All these voices are the same ones that bow to Jackson and Sharpton, as they know what they will get and fear any form of change. I used to blame the national media for always showing Sharpton as thought he represented me. With the emergence of Obama I see the forces in our own community that perpetuate Sharpton. Meanwhile Obama is an intelligent and articulate voice that has appeal to a broader mass. How does the black community foster voices beyond those predefined for our community by mainstream media or the old-school power structure?

Michael Fletcher: I think you see it happening before your eyes. Many new black leaders are emerging, and Obama is just one of them. I think there is a lot of bluster around these racial questions, but in the end black voters see through all of it and vote their interests. This question of being black enough is tricky because, after all, who is the judge of that?

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Atlanta: Michael, the vice president ran on an anti-gay platform. At least, anti-gay marriage, but arguably anti-gay in general. Doesn't that make questions about his lesbian daughter -- who worked on or even ran his re-election campaign -- not only allowable but mandatory? Does he believe that he is different than everyone else in the country?

Michael Fletcher: I agree that the gay marriage issue and the Bush-Cheney campaign's opposition to it puts the question in play. I don't think the vice president thinks he is different than everyone else, but he probably calculates that everyday Americans can relate to an elected official not wanting to talk about his daughter's private life.

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washingtonpost.com: Michael Fletcher is experiencing Internet connection problems in Kansas City and has to close the chat early. His next chat will be Feb. 8. Thanks for all the questions.

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