Bush Has Praise, Advice For McCain

Washington Post: President Says Former Rival Is A "True Conservative," Also Talks About Huckabee, Clinton And Obama

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Peter Baker.

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President Bush waded directly into the presidential campaign in an interview broadcast yesterday, defending Sen. John McCain as a "true conservative" but warning that his onetime rival needs to shore up relations with the Republican Party's base to take the fight into the general election this fall.

"If John is the nominee, he has got some convincing to do to convince people that he is a solid conservative, and I'll be glad to help him if he is the nominee," Bush said on "Fox News Sunday." "But he is a conservative. Look, he is very strong on national defense. He is tough fiscally. He believes the tax cuts ought to be permanent. He is pro-life. His principles are sound and solid, as far as I'm concerned."

In his first expansive public discussion of the 2008 election, the president also depicted Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) as a political mystery whose muddled foreign policy would have the United States attack an ally and coddle an enemy. But Bush came to the defense of his Democratic predecessor, rejecting charges that former president Bill Clinton's campaign comments on behalf of his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), have been racially tinged.

The president's comments came as McCain (Ariz.) labored to wrap up the Republican nomination, which seems within reach despite stubborn opposition. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee took two of three contests Saturday and barely lost the third; he beat McCain handily in Kansas, edged him out in Louisiana and fell just short in Washington state. Although Huckabee remains far behind the senator in the overall delegate count, he vowed again yesterday to remain in the race.

"The Democrats haven't settled their nominee, either, so for us to suddenly act like we have to all step aside and have a coronation instead of an election, that's the antithesis of everything Republicans are supposed to believe," Huckabee said on NBC's "Meet the Press," one of three morning shows he appeared on before heading to Lynchburg, Va., to visit the late Jerry Falwell's church. "We believe competition breeds excellence and the lack of it breeds mediocrity."

At Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Huckabee was called a "dear friend" by Falwell's son Jonathan. Huckabee spoke briefly and largely steered away from politics in front of a packed crowd of more than 6,000.

Also yesterday, Huckabee's campaign filed a complaint disputing the results of the election in Washington state, where McCain was declared the winner Saturday night. McCain won 25.5 percent of the vote to Huckabee's 23.7 percent. But only 87 percent of precincts had been counted as of Saturday night -- the rest were to be tallied today -- and Huckabee officials argued that the former governor could still win.

McCain stayed off the trail yesterday but aims to regain momentum in primaries tomorrow in Virginia, Maryland and the District.

Another remaining opponent, Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.), said that he is staying in the race to keep his ideas on the table but that he will make his campaign "leaner and tighter." He ruled out an independent run.

Bush's foray into the campaign debate yesterday broke a silence that, with a few exceptions, he maintained as the race has played out over the past year. He eased into the campaign with a couple of lines at the Conservative Political Action Conference here on Friday, when he tried to reassure the GOP's leading activists that the nominee would "carry a conservative banner" -- a line interpreted as an attempt to begin rallying the base for McCain.

He largely dispensed with the coded language in the Fox interview, which was taped at Camp David. Although he declined to formally endorse McCain and offered praise for Huckabee as well, the president left little doubt that he sees McCain, his 2000 campaign rival, as his would-be heir. "I know him well," Bush said. "I know his convictions. I know the principles that drive him, and no doubt in my mind, he is a true conservative."

Bush brushed off their high-profile disagreements over the years on issues such as taxes and interrogation policies, depicting them as natural for any senator. "The question I asked myself, and I hope voters ask, [is] what are the principles by which this person will be making decisions?" As for conservatives who doubt McCain, he said: "If you're seeking, looking for perfection, you'll never find that person. I certainly wasn't a perfect candidate for a lot of folks."

Bush declined to repeat his prediction that Clinton will win the Democratic nomination but raised questions about Obama's readiness for the Oval Office. "I certainly don't know what he believes in," Bush said. "The only foreign policy thing I remember he said was he's going to attack Pakistan and embrace Ahmadinejad."

In fact, what Obama said during primary debates is that he would be willing to authorize military strikes inside Pakistan -- even without permission from the Pakistani government -- if as president he knew where "high-value terrorist targets" were. Obama said he would be willing to meet with rogue leaders such as Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to talk through differences, but he did not embrace him.

"Of course President Bush would attack the one candidate in this race who opposed his disastrous war in Iraq from the start," Obama spokesman Bill Burton retorted in a statement. "But Barack Obama doesn't need any foreign policy advice from the architect of the worst foreign policy decision in a generation."

Bush offered no criticism of Clinton and defended her husband for being aggressive in promoting her. "I can understand why President Clinton wants to campaign hard for his wife," he said. "And, yeah, these accusations that Bill Clinton's a racist, I think, has been wrong. I just don't agree with it."

On other subjects, Bush said he plans to sign a $152 billion economic stimulus package on Wednesday, and he left open the possibility that he will take more action if the nation slips further toward recession.

He left open the idea that he would freeze U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq after the forces that were sent last year come home this summer, if Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander there, determines he needs certain troop levels to preserve security gains. "My message to the general was: Success is paramount," he said.

Asked about a recent debate over an interrogation technique known as waterboarding, Bush maintained that any actions his administration has taken were legal and that he will take only legal actions in the future.

"The American people have got to know that what we did in the past gained information that prevented an attack," he said. "And for those who criticize what we did in the past, I ask them, which attack would they rather have not . . . stopped?"

[speakinup]

"There is a clear difference here. Vote with these facts in mind. Posted by Jack3213 at 09:30 AM : Feb 12, 2008

"People and families continue to vote Repug because of followers that eat up the Repug propaganda like Jack there.............like a herd of sheep marching off a cliff!Posted by simonsez40


Now, there''s a good far left example of logic. He can''t argue the points, so he makes assinine remarks.

Yeah - he got his pen name right.

[liberalme]

McCain/Huckabee positions:
1. Force the terrorists in Iraq to surrender,

Posted by Jack3213

Hahahahaha sob sob I''m laughing so hard at that one--hold on a minute------ok whew----SURRENDER???? terrorists?

Do these two idiots think we really have them that scared and on the "run" that they''ll surrender?

I bet they also still believe in the Easter Bunny, Santa Clause and the Tooth fairy and that God told GI George to be president!!

[tucano2]

It''s the "Kiss of Death" to McCain.

[glossypan]

Why they don''t like him. Typical McCain outburst - many of them on the Senate floor:
"F**k you! I know more about this than anyone in the room." - John McCain to fellow GOP Senator John Cornyn on the Senate floor on May 18 2007 when Cornyn had the audacity to oppose McCain''s bill granting amnesty to illegal immigrants.

[abbe91]

"Bush is truly amazing! It has only been a few years since his campaign was swift boating the ***** out of McCain. If McCain and any cojones he would tell Bush to ferk off but how things do change. The unfortunate thing is that in all probility McCain will be the next to move into the White House. I say this because the American voters will vote their Bibles instead of the issues and the republican swift boaters will turn the democratic candidate into Freddy Kruger by November. Sad but quite probably true.

Posted by Element51 at 02:50 PM : Feb 11, 2008"

Yes, funny that Bush doesn''t remember the "Keating 5" anymore. It served him so well 8 years ago.

[abbe91]

"McCain/Huckabee positions:
1. Force the terrorists in Iraq to surrender,
2. Lower taxes,
3. Protect Americans by securing the border,
(...)
Posted by Jack3213 at 09:30 AM : Feb 12, 2008"

McCain voted against an amendment (Senate Amendment 1184) introduced by Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican, that would have permanently barred gang members, terrorists, *** offenders, alien absconders, aliens convicted of domestic violence and aliens convicted of at least three DUIs from the United States. The Cornyn Amendment was rejected on a 51-46 vote.

[simonsez40]

Lame Duck President giving McCain advice......go on Old Man With CANE - listen to the great uniter so you can lose the election to the next Democrat! Thank God!

[simonsez40]

There is a clear difference here. Vote with these facts in mind.

Posted by Jack3213 at 09:30 AM : Feb 12, 2008

People and families continue to vote Repug because of followers that eat up the Repug propaganda like Jack there.............like a herd of sheep marching off a cliff!

[jack3213]

Hillary/Obama positions:
1. Surrender Iraq to the terrorists,
2. Raise taxes,
3. Keep the borders open to illegal immigrants (including possible terrorists),
4. Force people to use government-run healthcare, and
5. Prevent people under 35 from ever getting Social Security benefits (even though they pay for it)

McCain/Huckabee positions:
1. Force the terrorists in Iraq to surrender,
2. Lower taxes,
3. Protect Americans by securing the border,
4. Allow people to choose their healthcare provider,
5. Guarantee that people who pay into Social Security will one day benefit from it

There is a clear difference here. Vote with these facts in mind.

[taotxzen1]

Also, it is my understanding that Bush and McCain are in locked step regarding taxes.

[taotxzen1]

I am constantly amazed at why working families continue to line up to vote Republican:


Bush''s Budget Takes Aim at Working Families

By Joel Wendland


Last week, George W. Bush delivered his final budget proposal to Congress. As expected it contained severe cuts to domestic programs, especially for working families, and massive new spending for the military along with huge tax breaks for the very rich. It puts into sharp relief the ideologically driven economic policies of the Republican Party versus the needs of the people.

Despite Bush''s claim to be cutting the deficit, his budget adds hundreds of billions to the debt, creates new roadblocks for seniors and working families to access health care and other programs, shifts enormous costs of programs funded by federal block grants to states that are currently facing harsh budget crises and shrinking revenues, according to analysis provided by the Center for Budget Policy Priorities (CBPP).

(cont)

[taotxzen1]

(cont)

Among the programs Bush proposes cutting or eliminating are Medicaid, the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LI-HEAP), community block grants, child care assistance, Head Start, the food stamp program, and section eight housing vouchers. Additionally, said Martha Coven of the CBPP, Bush''s proposal underfunds S-CHIP at $2 billion below what states need to avoid cutting coverage.

According to Coven, "If the feds are pulling money out of Medicaid and other programs, states will have tough decisions to make."

Coven also asserts that Bush is implementing new regulations in federal health care programs like Medicaid and Medicare as well as in the food stamps program that will effectively block working families and seniors from gaining access to them. On the other hand, Bush''s proposals actually subsidize for-profit managed care programs that have failed to reduce medical care or prescription drug costs.

Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fl.) sharply criticized Bush''s failure to prioritize real health care solutions for working families and for putting the Medicare and Medicaid programs into jeopardy. "The Bush administration%u2019s continued overpayments to private, for profit Medicare Advantage HMOs destabilizes the future of Medicare and the Medicare trust fund,%u201D Castor stated.

(cont)

[taotxzen1]

(cont)

Describing Bush''s budget "misguided" and "backward," Castor added, %u201Cthe President should join with the Congress to make affordable health care for all our number one priority.%u201D

Deborah Weinstein of the Coalition on Human Needs (CHN) stated that when comparing Bush''s program cuts to the tax cuts he wants to be made permanent, it is clear that his priorities favor the wealthy. The cost of tax cuts for the richest 1 percent of households totals more than the federal government''s entire spending on K-12 education or for veterans'' care or for the Environmental Protection Agency. In fact, the Bush tax cuts for millionaires alone could fund K-12 education programs by itself, said Weinstein.

CHN has followed the Bush administration''s program cuts since 2005. Of 100 federally funded programs that aid working families that organization selected for its study only 11 have been funded higher than the rate of inflation, and only an additional three have kept pace with inflation. In total, 86 have either been eliminated or cut since 2005.

(cont)

[taotxzen1]

(cont)

Weinstein called on Congress to use its statutory powers to block new Bush-mandated federal regulations that prevent working families from gaining access to needed programs. She further argued for Congress to fully fund S-CHIP and child care programs. "All of these things are more important than tax cuts for millionaires," she said.

"Are we going to fund families with children or are we going to shift that money to people who already have plenty," she wondered.

In the midst of growing unemployment and economic recession, Bush''s budget would also cut or eliminate job training programs for unemployed or displaced workers. The contradiction prompted Michigan Sen. Carl Levin (D) to charge, %u201CThis budget pursues the same failed priorities and policies of the administration that have proven so woefully wrong for Michigan and for our nation."

Bush appears not to understand how recession is impacting working families, Levin suggested. "This budget offers more of the same: cuts to critical health care funding, including Medicare and Medicaid, that Michigan citizens depend on; cuts to investments in education that are critical for our state%u2019s economic future; and mountains of debt that our children and grandchildren will have to pay off."

[jimfinster]

Bush Support: The Kiss of Death

[tibu987]

DUH! Sure Bush supports McCain who has said that it is okay if we are in Iraq for another 100 years or even 10,000 years.
DUH!
''Nuff said.

[kansas1946]

Yeah, McCain, that is who I would take advice from. This loser Bush. I do guess that it paid off to have your nose up Bush''s rear end for the last four years, after he let his people call you a traitor to your country, mentally unstable, call your wife a nut, and that you had a black child out of wedlock. Sometime when you sell your soul, it pays off, huh.

[taddles-2009]

Here''s some advice McCain, don''t be a lying scumbag like Bush.

[antoniof123]

Posted by Element51 at 02:50 PM : Feb 11, 2008

I don''t think we will listen to the swift boaters this year. We have had enough of the lies of the siwft boaters and how they are rewarded.

Remember the midnight appointment not again and not this time.

[element51]

Bush is truly amazing! It has only been a few years since his campaign was swift boating the ***** out of McCain. If McCain and any cojones he would tell Bush to ferk off but how things do change. The unfortunate thing is that in all probility McCain will be the next to move into the White House. I say this because the American voters will vote their Bibles instead of the issues and the republican swift boaters will turn the democratic candidate into Freddy Kruger by November. Sad but quite probably true.