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Saturday, February 11, 2012

Newt Gingrich’s lambasting of John King follows a popular line among Republicans

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Newt Gingrich’s lambasting of John King follows a popular line among Republicans

View Photo Gallery — ?The CNN correspondent hosts his own political program and has moderated numerous debates.

Text SizePrintE-mailReprints By Paul Farhi,

Did John King blow it?

The CNN host stepped on a land mine named Newt Gingrich when he opened Thursday night’s Republican presidential debate by asking him about his second ex-wife’s allegation that he suggested she accept his affair as part of their marriage.

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Gingrich’s now-famous response practically blew back King’s hair. “I think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to run for public office,” he said to thunderous applause during the forum in Charleston, S.C. “And I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that.”

To even more enthusiastic applause, the former House speaker added, “I am tired of the elite media protecting Barack Obama by attacking Republicans.”

Gingrich’s shoot-the-messenger answer may be one of the most memorable moments of the campaign and a potential boost for his candidacy against front-runner Mitt Romney.

Question is: Did King — an experienced and able journalist — do Gingrich a favor by starting the debate with such an indelicately posed question on such a delicate issue? And was he prepared with a follow up once Gingrich got rolling?

In the face of Gingrich’s initial blast, King could only offer that the allegations about Gingrich “did not come from our network.” (The Washington Post and ABC News were the initial sources of the report.) That allowed Gingrich to up the ante and scold King further: ”Don’t try to blame somebody else.”

In post-debate comments, King seemed to have few regrets. “I understood that if I asked the question, he was not going to be happy with it, and he was going to turn on me. Knew that coming in,” he said during an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper immediately afterward. (King was unavailable for an interview Friday.) “This is one of those damned if you do, damned if you don’t. It was my judgment, my decision and mine alone. If we’re going to deal with it, let’s deal with it upfront, let’s not try to sneak it into the middle of the debate somewhere.”

King didn’t back down Friday night in a segment of “John King, USA,” the daily CNN show he began hosting in 2009, a dozen years after arriving at the network and quickly rising to senior White House correspondent.

“I was doing my job as I see it, and [Gingrich] was doing his,” said King, 48. “I take no offense in him turning on me.” He also ran a series of clips of Gingrich attacking the media, adding, “Let’s not ignore the obvious and time-tested calculation in the Speaker’s response.”

But maybe it wasn’t that simple. Some observers found flaws in King’s approach.

“Gingrich was clearly waiting for the question, clearly was prepared to pounce,” said W. Joseph Campbell, a communications professor and media historian at American University. “King seemed taken off guard. He looked a little sickened. And he did himself no favors by lamely pointing out that it wasn’t CNN but another network that dug out the Gingrich-infidelity story. That allowed Gingrich to pounce again.”

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Saturday, January 21, 2012

George W. Bush, tonic or toxic for Republicans in 2012?

Republican candidates looking for any conceivable advantage in their party’s nominating contest may welcome an endorsement from former president George W. Bush, but may be better off avoiding a nod from former rivals such as including Michele Bachmann and Herman Cain.

In a new Washington Post-Pew Research Center poll, most voters deny that endorsements from various politicians, newspapers or their religious leaders make much difference in their voting decisions, but some candidate testimonials are more valuable than others.

By a better than 2 to 1 margin, potential Republican primary voters say a Bush endorsement would make them more rather than less likely to vote for a presidential candidate. In all, 28 percent of registered Republicans and GOP-leaning independents say a candidate’s getting Bush’s support would make them more likely to vote for that person and 11 percent say less likely.

A Bush endorsement stands out as the most clearly positive from various Republican political figures. The only other GOP figure tested in the poll who offers a positive lift is the party’s 2008 vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Some 23 percent say her endorsement is a positive, 15 percent say it would be a negative.

An endorsement from John McCain is viewed more neutrally. The Arizona senator endorsed Mitt Romney last week. Herman Cain, the Georgia businessman who suspended his campaign for the presidency, also divides opinion down the middle. Cain has said he’ll announce his pick Jan. 19, just before the South Carolina primary. Seventeen percent say they’d be positively swayed to a candidate based on Cain’s recommendation; 15 percent say they’d be repelled by it.

Endorsements from Michele Bachmann and Donald Trump might actually hurt the intended beneficiary.

More fertile ground for Republicans would be endorsements of local worship leaders and governors. By a 22 to 6 percent margin, Republicans say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate endorsed by their priest or minister. Governors don’t wield quite the same power; 20 percent more likely and 14 percent less likely.

Local newspapers appear to be the least persuasive for Republicans. Only 13 percent say an endorsement from the local paper would make them more likely to vote for them and 13 percent say less likely.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Holder faces House Republicans over health-care law, ‘Fast and Furious’

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Holder faces House Republicans over health-care law, ‘Fast and Furious’

Text SizePrintE-mailReprints By Jerry Markon,

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. clashed with congressional Republicans on Thursday, defending the Justice Department in the face of criticism of its “Fast and Furious” gun-trafficking sting and its refusal to turn over documents on the health-care law adopted last year.

Under exhaustive questioning from the House Judiciary Committee, Holder reiterated that his department would not provide Congress with more information about Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan’s health-care-related role when she was President Obama’s solicitor general. Republicans are seeking internal e-mails and other documents, arguing that Kagan might have to recuse herself from the court’s decision on the health-care law if she was involved in the legislation.

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Attorney General Eric Holder says it's inexcusable for the bureau to use a controversial tactic known as "gun-walking" in its effort to identify and prosecute major arms trafficking networks along the Southwest border. (Dec. 8)

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Holder also was grilled over the Phoenix-based Fast and Furious operation, in which federal agents targeting drug cartels allowed guns to flow illegally onto U.S. streets and into Mexico. The operation led to a storm of criticism from Republicans, many of whom have urged Holder to resign.

The attorney general, who has resisted calls to step down, said the controversial Fast and Furious tactic known as “gun walking,’’ was “wholly unacceptable” and “must never happen again.” But he also condemned his accusers, saying the congressional investigation of the gun sting has been political and calling for cooperation in fighting firearms trafficking along the southwest border.

“Each of us have a duty to act, and to rise above partisan divisions and politically motivated ‘gotcha’ games,’’ Holder said. “The American people deserve better.’’

Holder began his remarks by asserting that his department has made “historic progress” in fighting terrorism and violent crime and protecting civil rights. But he immediately faced criticism from the committee chairman, Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), over his handling of requests for information about Kagan. Republicans have been stepping up the pressure on Kagan to take herself out of the health-care case. The high court recently announced it would review the law’s constitutionality.

Liberal groups have called on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from the health-care case, citing his wife Virginia’s involvement in conservative causes. But neither Kagan nor Thomas appears to be considering sitting out the term’s biggest decision.

As solicitor general, Kagan was the government’s top appellate lawyer. At her confirmation hearings, she said she played no role in preparing for the inevitable legal challenges to the health-care law.

But Republicans have said e-mails released to conservative groups under public records requests raise questions about the White House’s contention that Kagan had been “walled off” from discussions about the health-care act. In July, Smith began requesting internal Justice Department documents to determine Kagan’s involvement.

In an Oct. 27 reply, Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich rejected the request, calling it “an unseemly encroachment on the judicial branch of government” and saying officials know of no information that contradicts Kagan’s statements in her confirmation hearings.

Holder reiterated that position Thursday, saying that giving Congress internal materials about someone who is now a Supreme Court justice would raise “separation of powers” questions. He said he does not recall Kagan being present for discussions about the health-care bill. “Each justice has to make these decisions,’’ he said.

Smith insisted that Congress is entitled to the documents. “The NFL would not allow a team to officiate its own game,’’ he said. “If Justice Kagan was part of the administration’s team that put the health-care mandate into play, she should not officiate when it comes before the Supreme Court.’’

Todd D. Peterson, a former high-level Justice Department official who is now a law professor at George Washington University, said the dispute is common in Washington and that the department typically refuses to provide sensitive internal material to congressional committees.

“Usually, this is resolved through some sort of compromise,’’ he said. “It’s in public this time because of the importance of the health-care litigation and the involvement of a Supreme Court justice.’’

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