Post Politics Hour

washingtonpost.com's Daily Politics Discussion

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 D. Shear was online Tuesday, July 1 at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the latest news in politics.

The transcript follows.

Get the latest campaign news live on washingtonpost.com's The Trail, or subscribe to the daily Post Politics Podcast.

Archive: Post Politics Hour discussion transcripts

____________________

Michael D. Shear: Good morning everyone. Sen. McCain is heading to Colombia today, but I'll be here, trying to answer your questions. So let's get started.

_______________________

Falls Church, Va.: If a candidate has to give a speech to tell people that "yes, I do indeed love the United States," that traditionally would be considered a bad sign, wouldn't it? Does Obama really think his bedrock qualifications (like patriotism) are that lightly regarded among swing voters?

washingtonpost.com: Obama Fiercely Defends His Patriotism (Post, July 1)

Michael D. Shear: Good question. It was remarkable that Sen. Obama felt moved to such a passionate defense, and it does suggest at least a sense inside the campaign that the patriotism attacks have begun to settle into the consciousness. Interestingly, Sen. McCain's campaign also swung into uber-defense mode yesterday and today, responding quickly and angrily to comments by former General Wesley Clark, who had questioned McCain's qualification to be president.

Both are examples of the rapid pace of a presidential campaign that is waged in the Internet, post-Macaca era. Strategists know that they can't wait to let a charge or a problem simmer online, and thus respond quickly with a speech (in Obama's case) or a pushback with surrogates (in McCain's case).

_______________________

Waterville, Maine: Good morning, Michael. Isn't Obama risking losing the support of the netroots and liberal activists by repositioning himself in the center? I realize that every candidate pivots in the general, but the recent speeches on patriotism and faith-based programs, as well as his knee-jerk response to Clark's comments suggest that he may be playing defense. With the economy in a recession, health care in crisis and the war in Iraq spiraling on without an end date, why does he feel the need to change his message? He should be playing offense, not defense. Your thoughts?

Michael D. Shear: Sen. Obama is doing what general election candidates often do -- move to where the voters are. If you look at the past several presidential campaigns (which have been close in many places) there are good reasons a candidate might want to appeal to moderate, centrist voters. A good example of this is in Virginia, where the Democratic Party has repositioned itself as a centrist party more concerned about pocketbook issues than typical liberal, social ones.

There are, however, risks -- as you point out. President Bush proved in 2000 the power of revving up the base, and Obama's base is certainly a powerful liberal voice on issues like the war and health care -- so making sure they are "fired-up," in his parlance, has to be a key part of his strategy, I would think.

_______________________

Utica, N.Y.: What was McCain's involvement in the deadly Forrestal fire. Are the official naval records available?

washingtonpost.com: USS Forrestal Fire (Wikipedia)

Michael D. Shear: I believe Sen McCain was on the Forrestal and is credited with remarkable bravery for trying to help save his injured and dying colleagues. (For those who don't know, the Forrestal aircraft carrier was the scene of a devastating military accident involving the explosions of aircraft and munitions.) I believe McCain was offered the choice to return home after the incident, but chose to continue to stay in the military theater on another ship.

As for the records, I do believe that our paper, and others, are combing through many of the available records so that we can see for ourselves the truth of Sen. McCain's military history. Stay tuned.

_______________________

Seattle: Thanks for having these chats. Yesterday in Independence, Mo., Barack Obama made a very good speech on what patriotism means to him. Or at least it looked good on washingtonpost.com's transcript -- TV didn't seem to cover it. What's the deal?

Michael D. Shear: I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure I heard CNN covering it live yesterday. Anyone else watch it?

_______________________

Indianapolis: This argument over who has the experience to be president is just so silly. No one has that experience until they take office. It's not like you can be president of another country and then be president of the United States.

Michael D. Shear: That's an interesting way to frame the issue. It's certainly true that "experience" means a lot of different things for different people.

The McCain camp believes that people will settle on a definition of experience that looks a lot like their candidate's legislative and military background. Obama's strategists hope that voters will care more about a background that suggests a new way of approaching problems.

Which one prevails in the majority of the population may determine who becomes president.

_______________________

Philadelphia: If Obama wants to keep his outsider change message yet pick someone who understands economics, why doesn't he consider Warren Buffet as his running mate?

Michael D. Shear: I believe Buffett will be 79 next year. I'm guessing that's probably considered too old to be vice president, even if he is worth billions.

_______________________

New York: Michael, is there any explanation for the timing of the D.C. Gun Law lawsuit? Who was behind it, and why now? Seems like a Rovian attempt to remind NRA-types of the "importance" of electing Republican presidents who appoint conservative judges. Any truth to my conspiracy theory?

Michael D. Shear: I'm not a big conspiracy-theory guy, so I'm inclined to believe that the case was joined as most are -- without much thought to the timing of the political implications of the eventual Supreme Court decision.

Having said that, there is no doubt that the definition of the Second Amendment always was going to be a political hot button, and it's likely that along the way the people on both sides realized that.

My guess is that the outcome of the case makes it less explosive in the campaign than it would have been had it gone the other way. If the court had decided there was not an individual right to gun ownership, you can bet Republicans would have sought to make that a central issue in the campaign.

_______________________

Westcliffe, Colo.: How many American flags will Obama, McCain, Bush and Cheney wrap themselves in this calendar week? What's the over/under, do you suppose? 100? Is flag-wrapping the new substitute for real, quiet, hard-working, local citizen patriotism? If so, may Thomas Jefferson and the gang forgive us.

Michael D. Shear: Oh, the cynicism. This is a week of patriotic celebration, not a time to think such sarcastic thoughts about Vegas betting on things like the flags and our candidates.

(I'll take the over, at 75.)

_______________________

What's the big whoop?: It's not like McCain rose to the level of general or something. He's a vet -- we get it. But simply being a vet, as laudable as it is, doesn't really tell you much about someone's qualifications for being commander in chief. If McCain is going to play the "I was tortured" card every five minutes as a justification for electing him president, then he shouldn't throw a hissy fit anytime anyone asks to know more about his military experience.

Michael D. Shear: I'm not sure that's quite fair. It's true that he was not a general, but McCain rarely talks about his time as a POW (though others sometimes do on his behalf). And his campaign would argue that his experience in the military prepared him for a career in the Senate that was often at the center of the debates about military policy.

But his military record is certainly a fair target of scrutiny and as a reporter, I'd certainly like to make sure that all of the records are open to the public.

_______________________

Shrewsbury, Mass.: Quick -- when was the last time you saw a presidential contender publicly televised giving blood? Can't remember, can you? Real patriotism isn't about flags, buttons, drums and rah-rahs. Good session this morning.

Michael D. Shear: Interesting point. I vaguely remember one of the Virginia governors I covered for years giving blood, but I don't think he was a candidate at the time.

_______________________

Reading, Pa.: If it came out that McCain sought help for psychological issues relating to his time in captivity -- which actually would be an understandable thing -- would that doom his candidacy ?

Michael D. Shear: I doubt it. The country seems much more willing to accept psychological help and counseling than in the past. Of course, if the help he sought was for a serious condition there would be understandable questions about it, especially as it relates to the present.

And it almost certainly would generate new interest in questions about his temper, which already has been much talked about.

_______________________

Iowa: Obama's patriotism and McCain's military service are certainly not at the forefront of the average voter's concerns -- gas prices are.

Michael D. Shear: Having recently filled up my Toyota Camry for more than $60, I hear you Iowa.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: There is absolutely no way the Democratic base will not support Obama in November -- they certainly won't vote for McCain, and they won't stay home. Obama's move to the middle is a much safer play for him than for McCain, who will get whipsawed by the Republican base every time he tries to move to the middle.

Michael D. Shear: This is what Obama's strategists are counting on. But politicians who take their base for granted (they won't vote for McCain and they won't stay home) often find themselves nursing a drink at a confetti-strewn hotel ballroom long after his (or her) opponent is announced as the winner.

_______________________

Vernon, B.C.: Good morning, and thanks for the chat. With sky-high energy, housing crisis, Iraq, Iran, etc., isn't the big stink about Gen. Clark's comments ridiculous and fed by the media's need for controversy? The general was asked a question and answered. He did not disparage or slam McCain, he simply stated that "being in a war and being shot down doesn't automatically give you great skills at being president." It does give one the experience of combat, and that is important so you know what it's like to send soldiers into battle, (Bush 43 had no clue).

What Clark said wasn't a slam, and the media is pushing it to be that way. This is the kind of negative crap that both candidates have tried to steer away from, but the national media isn't helping by making it a big deal instead of focusing on real matters like gas, food, health care, etc. Is this election going to be run by the media or by the parties?

Michael D. Shear: My guess is the parties are more responsible for the tone of the campaign so far than we in the media are. And perhaps I'd add the independent bloggers, whose desire to pump up their points of view -- on the left or the right -- often hype their headlines much more than ours.

Do the mainstream media hype things? Sure. Is television driven by ratings? Of course. But so far it's the parties and the candidates that have chosen to chatter on about each other in ways that ensures this kind of back-and-forth, charge-and-countercharge campaign. I would point you to a great piece on this issue by my colleague, Dan Balz, on this very issue.

As for Clark's comments, as a former presidential candidate, I'm quite certain that he was aware how inflammatory they would be in the context of the current campaign.

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: McCain-Obama So Far: Positively Negative (Post, June 26)

_______________________

Front of the Plane?: Who is on the "good reporter" list maintained by the McCain campaign? According to Juliet Eilperin this is the list that allows reporters to sit with the candidate on the new "Straight Talk Express" ("improved, now with Wingz") and maybe get a page one story. Have you been taken off the beat? Having been on both sides of most issues (immigration, Bush tax cuts, the environment, campaign finance reform) a McCain position is always ready to pander to an interest group. At what point does this become newsworthy enough to appear in a story's lead? And if a story were written that noticed the pandering, how long would that reporter be riding on the "STE"?

washingtonpost.com: The Trail: Straight Talk Express Gets an Upgrade (washingtonpost.com, June 30)

Michael D. Shear: My reading of Juliet's feed from the plane was that the "good reporters" comment from McCain aide Mark Salter was a joke, not a serious threat.

As for me, I've not been taken off the beat, nor off the Straight Talk despite several stories that have not been welcomed by the McCain camp.

We'll see whether that continues as the campaign moves forward.

_______________________

Rockville, Md.: Okay, I see Obama as a patriot, but what should I make of his refusal to reconsider Iraq? So far, anyway. Should I expect a change? "What I really said was..."

Michael D. Shear: I wouldn't expect a big reconsideration of the war from Obama, but as the situation in Iraq improves, you've already seen some shift in the language from Democrats on the Hill and from Obama. I suspect the kind of language both candidates use in the next six months will depend on the situation on the ground over there -- even if their basic positions don't change.

_______________________

Crozet, Va.: Thank you for taking my question. Has anyone asked John McCain how the oil obtained in the offshore drilling he proposes will be limited to domestic sale, rather than going to the highest international bidder (China)? The oil companies certainly would profit, but our gas prices would not decrease.

Michael D. Shear: This is a very interesting question, and one that I've not heard asked. I plan to ask McCain the next chance I get.

I suspect that the answer has something to do with the market price for oil, and that there isn't the kind of country-to-country bidding war that you suggest could happen. But frankly, I'm a little ol' political reporter, not a financial whiz. So keep watching this space, and maybe I'll be able to get an answer for you.

_______________________

Seattle: Re: The "good reporter" list, hasn't the mainstream media taken a lot of hits recently because reporters don't take these jokes to have meaning? I don't mean to take all jokes seriously, but after seeing Clark's comment analyzed seven different ways to Sunday, can't you look at the idea of a "list" to mean that the McCain campaign knows who to grant "real" access to in times of trouble, or who to call on at press conferences?

Michael D. Shear: Again, I wasn't there, but my sense is that reporters will judge the campaign's access based on what actually happens. If those of us who write critical stories about McCain get kicked off the Straight Talk, believe me, you will all hear about it.

_______________________

Michael D. Shear: That's all the time I've got everyone. Thanks for a very lively session today. Talk with you all soon.

_______________________

Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.