Transcript: John McCain on Campaign Finance Reform - Part 2

NewsTalk 550 AM KFYI ^ | February 22, 2002 | dittomom

[dittomom]

SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN ON THE BARRY YOUNG SHOW
550 AM KFYI - NEWS TALK RADIO - PHOENIX, ARIZONA
THIS IS A TRANSCRIPT OF THE THIRD HOUR of the Barry Young Show, Thursday, February 21, 2002

CLICK HERE FOR PART 1

BARRY: - Senator John McCain is with us in the studios. It's KFYI and we will take phone calls in just a few seconds here. 258-5394 is the access number. Campaign finance reform [cackling starts up again] as I said a year ago, you know, nobody cares. And now everybody's on it - now its the hottest issue. People are polarized on this. People who supported you in the past are angry at you about this.

SEN. MCCAIN: - I know, I know. Listen all I can say is I respect your views. And uh, we have gone through the process of House and Senate. And I believe that it's a good thing for America, but I do respect their views.

I would like to make one additional point. Two years ago there was a Colorado case that had to do with contributions from a state party to a candidate. And I'll be glad to send any of our listeners a copy of their opinion. They said, quote, money is not free speech, money is property. And they went on to say, too much money in American politics either creates the reality or the appearance of corruption. They upheld the ban on this unlimited contributions from a state party to a candidate. So, my friends you can claim that money is free speech, and you have every right to believe that, but the United States Supreme Court has stated unequivocably that money is property. And that's logical Barry, because if it's only money that gives you speech, then there's millions and millions of Americans that can't speak.

BARRY: - I think alot of people ... are afraid that our presidential elections, our senatorial and congressional elections... are going to become so policed that for example, you will have X number of millions of dollars which you will draw from a federal treasury account somewhere. And that's where this is headed. To put everybody on a so-called equal footing.

SEN. MCCAIN: - Oh, that would mean public financing. I have never supported such a thing. I do believe that it is the right, and a form of participation in the political process, for someone to contribute. And I think that's a fundamental right.

BARRY:OK - To the news update, and then we'll take your phone calls...stay right where you are, it's 10:31

+++++++SHOW RESUMES++++++++

BARRY:It's KFYI. 10:39 is the time. It's Thursday morning. Senator John McCain is here. We're gonna take some phone calls. I'm gonna warn ya. Some of these people are locked and loaded.

SEN. MCCAIN:[Cackling]That's good, that's a good description.

BARRY:I just want you to be aware of this. Alright, let's begin with John in Glendale and John McCain. John, welcome to the show.

CALLER: Good morning Barry, Good morning Senator.

SEN. MCCAIN:Hey, John!

CALLER:Uh, question. Why do you hate the United States and the Constitution of the United States? [BARRY AND SEN MCCAIN ARE BOTH LAUGHING]

BARRY:This is what I was talking about. This is exactly what I was talking about...

SEN. MCCAIN:That's good, John. That's good. You know, there's alot of questions that I dignify with an answer. I'll compare my record to yours and anybody elses. Thanks for the call John.

BARRY:Here's Marcia in Phoenix and KFYI, Marcia...

CALLER:Morning, Senator.

SEN. MCCAIN:Hey, how are ya'?

CALLER:I'm great, but I'm so confused. 'Cause I'm looking through H.R. 2356, Shays-Meehan

SEN. MCCAIN:Good.

CALLER:And there's this part here about Electioneering Communication...

SEN. MCCAIN:uh-hmmm

CALLER:And the part about the 60 days before a general, and 30 days before a primary. What exactly is being limited and who are the people that are limited? For example, ... let's say I got a website on the internet and I want to say that ... Senator Who-ever has voted against such and such. Can I still do that?

SEN. MCCAIN:Sure..

CALLER:Before an election? Because it sounds here like, like electioneering communication is covered because it says, "anything broadcast." What does that mean?

SEN. MCCAIN:That means anything that is broadcast over the public airways, like radio or television. You don't have to worry, my dear. But keep looking, I'm sure you'll find something else that concerns you...

BARRY:But, but does it limit... One of the things I'm hearing from callers, the period of time immediately before an election...

SEN. MCCAIN:This is the so-called Snowe-Jeffords amendment by the way...

BARRY:This is the time we gotta pull the information out from everybody. No matter what it is. We gotta get as much information as we can. The worry is that this flow of information is going to be impeded in some way.

SEN. MCCAIN:Well, I don't see how it is. Because the Pew Research Institute did a study a couple of weeks ago in the so-called soft money expenditures. 38% of the money was spent on broadcasts, 8% on party building and the rest of it on administrative and fund-raising costs. 90% of the broadcasting was, guess what, negative attack ads. I've talked to congressmen who were in close races who went home to watch the evening news to see what the attack ad that was runnin' against them or their opponent. They lost control What we're saying is, if you want to run an ad to attack John McCain, fine, but use a limit of $2000 contributions. But if you want to advocate your position, for people to vote for the 2nd amendment or right-to-life or whatever it is, then you can spend all the money that you want to. And again, that's the way it was all during from '75 up until '88. There was no such thing as soft money. There was no such thing as these quote organizations such as the Club for Growth that pours hundreds of thousands of dollars into a primary campaign. We don't even know who it is that gave the money. I would ask some of these callers, don't you think we ought to at least know who's money it is? [crosstalk]

BARRY:Let me go back to the negative attack ads. Certainly this is something relatively new on the landscape. I've been in broadcasting for 30 years and we never had those. ON the other hand though, a candidate who is running for public office,... When you folks do your ads, there is no editorial control that the radio stations have over what you say.

SEN. MCCAIN:And we are limited under this law to $2000 contributions when we buy those ads. The people that they wanted, any other organization or outfit, that wanted to run those same ads and they would have no restriction or editorial would be also restricted to $2000 contributions...

BARRY:So this puts everybody on a level playing field...

SEN. MCCAIN:Yeah, it puts on a level playing field, in my view. Look - my personal expreience. You may remember. In the primary that I was in, all of a sudden some attack ads appeared against John McCain because he was anti-environment. An interesting argument. And they were paid for by some billionaires out of Texas. They spent millions of dollars running some attack ads. It took us weeks to find out who they were! They were named Wiley. They were the Wiley brothers out of Texas [cackles]. I mean, is that really how campaigns should be run?

BARRY:Well, no, obviously not. And you know, except for those ads, all this stuff had to be made public in the past, you had to say, who was on the committee...

SEN. MCCAIN:And shouldn't they be subject to the same limitation on contributions to that cause that politicians, that the candidates are. That's basicly what this is all about.

BARRY:Here is Steve in Mesa, Senator John McCain, Steve...

CALLER:Yes, two short questions, Senator. First Question - Is the system corrupt or is it the people in the system that are corrupt and Question #2 is - why are you so inaccessible to the rank and file Republicans in the state of Arizona?

SEN. MCCAIN:Well, my first question is that the system makes good people do bad things. Uh, and that's what happens when you have the great influence of money. As I mentioned to you, the Supreme Court said, too much money in politics creates corruption or the appearance of corruption. Ah, I'm very accessible, in fact I was at the state convention a couple weeks ago, were you there?

BARRY:Were you at the state convention, Steve?

CALLER:No, I couldn't make it.

SEN. MCCAIN:I'm sorry you missed it Steve. I was there and had a good chance to be with alot of Republicans. Maybe I can see you there next year. I'm very accessible at at all times. And I look forward to hearing from ya'.

BARRY:Those are always interesting questions to ask. You come on this show...

SEN. MCCAIN:I come on all the talk shows. I do townhall meetings. I was over at a school this morning. I, I, I am, I'm very visible in this state. Because, one it's my job and two I really enjoy it. I enjoy this program...it's fun...

BARRY:Let me balance that question out. I had an e-mail when I announced you were going to be on the air that said, "Why do you have him on so much?"

SEN.MCCAIN:[cackles]Oh, How dare you...[cackles]

BARRY:Here's Richard in Sun Lakes

CALLER:Yeah, just a couple quick comments. One thing other than the campaign finance reform bill that you've got there. I think another solution is term limits. And if you have term limits, like the senators two terms and that's it, and respresentatives have three terms and that's it, you don't have time enough to be corrupted by the money that comes in. As far as the special interests goes, I am a special interest. So why can't I, if I want to, take an ad out in the Arizona Republic for example, and I say - hey I don't agree with John McCain and I think you should vote for so and so. You're gonna limit me on doing that which I absolutely totally disagree with.

SEN. MCCAIN:I'm not limiting you on it, my friend. Actually it doesn't apply to print ads to start with. But second of all, if you wanted to buy a television commercial, you could spend $2000, get your other friends who have $2000, and all of you get together as a special interest, which all of us are special interests in America. Just like I AM and my opponent is restricted to $2000 under the new law, $2000 contributions to be involved. It's not fair for you to spend, as the Wiley Brothers did, millions of dollars of your own money attacking John McCain, it seems to me, when for me to respond ...

TAPE RAN OUT HERE, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE INTERRUPTION, but I think you're getting the idea by now...

RESUME WITH NEW TAPE....

BARRY:We are down to just a few minutes with Senator John McCain, Back to the phones. - snip -

CALLER:-snip-How is this going to give them, uh, something to ... how's this gonna level the playing field?

SEN. MCCAIN:Well, thanks Chris, thanks for the question. Basicly, what it'll do is that ... all statistics show that the overwhelming majority of this so-called soft money flows to incumbents. That's why out of 435 house seats this year you maybe have 10 or 15 that are really competitive. Out of 34 senate seats, there's maybe 3 or 4, the rest of 'em are all incumbents that are solidified. I believe by reducing this flow of soft money which goes primarily to incumbents, you'll see much more competitive races. As we did frankly in the 1980's when I first was a candidate for Congress. Thanks for the call, Chris.

BARRY:Carol in Phoenix, KFYI, Hello Carol.. p>CALLER:Yes, Good Morning. We all know that campaign contributions from foreign nationals are illegal. And I can't understand and I think alot of the damage that's being done to this country is caused by the fact that campaign contributions from multi-nationals, who aren't necessarily all that American, are not disallowed.

SEN. MCCAIN:Well, I, I thank you but campaign contributions from ANY corporation is not allowed in this legislation. Corporate contributions are not allowed. Individual contributions are, to $2000. So you don't have that problem anymore, Carol. Thank you.

BARRY:So these, these corporations...(sigh)...again...I don't wanna...

SEN. MCCAIN:They can form a PAC...

BARRY:That's, that's what I'm asking. They can get together and they can form like the National Committee in Favor of Soap.

SEN. MCCAIN:Exactly.

BARRY:And they can say,... but each one then can contribute what, $2000?

SEN. MCCAIN:$5000. We didn't change. That's existing law. $5000 they can contribute to a candidate.

BARRY:Well aren't, aren't we...That's gonna be a window of opportunity there. Aren't we just putting off the inevitable? Isn't this just going to grow into another monster, again?

SEN. MCCAIN:Well, I, I don't think so. In this respect... If they're limited to $5000 contributions to a candidate then I don't think that... and even if there's alot of 'em, I think that it uh, is not, too serious a problem. Again we're trying to strike a balance between allowing people to contribute and not making it uh, too corrupting or as the Supreme Court said. So, we're trying to make that, that balance. But I think the important thing here is that for a number... many of these so called PACS, the federal official himself will not be able to solicit the money and that changes some of the dynamics as well.

Look, I respect the views of those who oppose this system...I would just ask you if you are satisfied with the present system. And if you are satisfied, then fine. But if you think we ought to change it, I think we ought to try to work together and make it a better system than the one today, because I'm worried ---

BARRY:We, we are out of time. Come back in and wade back into this firestorm again when you come back.

SEN. MCCAIN:[Cackling again] It's a pleasure...

BARRY:Thanks. John McCain...Rush Limbaugh's next...See ya' tomorrow folks!

END OF TRANSCRIPT............

[dittomom]

For anyone who doesn't know, the caller, Marcia, is me, the humble dittomom. I was seeking clarification on the language of the bill because I, and others on this forum, have found it to be pretty vague. Anyway, his response to me was, well, "snippy" but then I suspect he also figured out that I am also the same "Marcia in Phoenix" who put a group together and tried to recall him...

Well, those were the words of Senator Campaign Finance Reform, himself. (I apologize for any typos.) I think it's pretty clear that his "crusade" for CFR is rooted in some bitterness over criticism that has been directed at him personally in the form of what he calls, "negative attack ads."

I'm just glad he "respects the views of those who oppose who oppose this system." Aren't you?

[dittomom]

Here's part two!!!

[dittomom]

This PING's for you...

Don't miss Part 2!

[Free the USA]

Bump List

[GOPJ]

The only "free speech" democrats protect is for porn peddlers.

[Molly Pitcher]

Thank you dittomom!!

[backhoe]

All- feel free to copy, re-send, use in part or use in full, any or all of the following:

---

Silence, America!:

Silence, America!: for Silence, America!. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

---

A further Mini-Editorial!

Folks, these clowns, corrupters, and frauds in Congress are trying to silence YOU!

Wake up, doggone it!

Rush and Hannity and all the hosts in the world can inveigh against this garbage day and night, but unless you actually do something about it, it will not matter one tiny iota!

Now is the time! If not now, when? When they arrest your wife or kids for "improper speech?"

Get off your rear ends and send some emails and faxes. Write letters, especially letters to editors.

Call talk shows- the local ones are easy to get on and reach a lot more people than you may realize.

This- right here, this "issue"- is where the rubber meets the road...

There are over 70,000 members here, and I know each of you knows at least two or three more people you can tell about this-- so do it! Now!

And tell them to tell 2 more people, and tell them to "pass this on to 2 more..."

The right to speak freely is as fundamental to a free society as the right to defend yourself against unprovoked attack. This is a frontal assault on your liberty and the freedom of your children and spouse.

It's time to move out, folks- march, or die....

---

Here's a Note to Activists:

Want to do something? Go here:

Ignorance Making You Ill? Cure It!

for links, tools, & instructions about how to contact a pile of different people, and how to send a link to this story right here ( or anywhere else ) to a "mass email" using Outlook Express.

---

I say again, people- it's time to speak up- or be forever silenced!

[Slip18]

I heard you while I was pulling into the driveway. I couldn't believe it! You were great, Dittomom.

You know I'm with you when and if you are ready to go at it again.

Bump!

[dittomom]

You're welcome! Lots going on on the CFR front these days!

[VinnyTex]

BARRY:But, but does it limit... One of the things I'm hearing from callers, the period of time immediately before an election...

SEN. MCCAIN:This is the so-called Snowe-Jeffords amendment by the way...

BARRY: This is the time we gotta pull the information out from everybody. No matter what it is. We gotta get as much information as we can. The worry is that this flow of information is going to be impeded in some way. SEN. MCCAIN: Well, I don't see how it is. Because the Pew Research Institute did a study a couple of weeks ago in the so-called soft money expenditures. 38% of the money was spent on broadcasts, 8% on party building and the rest of it on administrative and fund-raising costs. 90% of the broadcasting was, guess what, negative attack ads. I've talked to congressmen who were in close races who went home to watch the evening news to see what the attack ad that was runnin' against them or their opponent. They lost control What we're saying is, if you want to run an ad to attack John McCain, fine, but use a limit of $2000 contributions. But if you want to advocate your position, for people to vote for the 2nd amendment or right-to-life or whatever it is, then you can spend all the money that you want to. And again, that's the way it was all during from '75 up until '88. There was no such thing as soft money. There was no such thing as these quote organizations such as the Club for Growth that pours hundreds of thousands of dollars into a primary campaign. We don't even know who it is that gave the money. I would ask some of these callers, don't you think we ought to at least know who's money it is?

And he knows damn well that the 60 day limit prevents groups like the NRA from informing the public about a someones voting record on the 2nd amendment. The NRA would be able to run ads like, Support the Second Amendment but they wouldn't be able to say, Senator McCain wants to grab your guns.

[meandog]

Well, it sounds like he told YOU! Now, I've got a question for you: Do you let Rush Limbaugh do all your thinking for you? While I don't agree with Sen. McCain on some of his 2nd Amendment philosophy, he is a bonafide hero who didn't shirk his military duty when his nation. Rush Limbaugh, on the other hand, is no better than Bill Clinton in that regard! John McCain is trying his best to clean up our dirty electorial system; Rush Limbaugh is trying his best to cater to the special interests and politicians that keep him in speech engagement$!

[Molly Pitcher]

Puh-lease!! Someone is brainwashed here, and it isn't Marcia!

[E.G.C.]

I think by now we pretty much know how Sen. McCain feels about average joes like you and I participating in the process of political discourse.

Thanks Dittomon for the transcript and thanks Molly very much for the bump and the transcript.

[JessicaDragonet]

The Wiley Brothers....now we know what's stuck in McManiac's craw! He just can't get past it! He will never get over being bested by George W. Bush.

[dittomom]

Meandog. I could be like Senator McCain and just not dignify your question. But, I won't...

Look, I think I asked a legitimate question of the Senator about the language in the bill. I was respectful of him and was not accusatory. He answered my question about the internet and that could have been it. But no, he made it sound like someone who is actually reading the bill and trying to understand it, is somehow only searching for a way to discredit him. Heck, I didn't even refer to McCain-Feingold. I quoted from Shays-Meehan.

As for Rush Limbaugh, no, I don't let him do all my thinking for me and I truly don't see where Limbaugh's or McCain's military record has a thing to do with this issue. I have been against this legislation for a long time - mostly because of the things I've learned about the bill. I'd like to see more respect for the Constitution from my elected officials, wouldn't you??????

[bybybill]

When was the last time Rush got paid for a speech? I`d be worried qbout the last time Mccain got paid for a vote [$30,000 from Global Crossing?]

[Cyber Liberty]

Barry sure seemed to be protecting his pal from the callers, dittomom. How many got follow-up questions? McPain snowed over just about every one.

"Keep trying, dear." That effing some-bitch.

[RAT Patrol]

And that's logical Barry, because if it's only money that gives you speech, then there's millions and millions of Americans that can't speak. Oh really? Well, Sen. Dumb Butt, the only way poor americans get to speak is by pooling resources, and yes, each gives as they are able, to keep stinkin' politicians and their media liberals in check!

As far as level playing field, factor in the "we make the news" benefit of an incumbent and it is THEY who need limited in order to level the playing field. All they do is call a news conference and if the liberal media wants to help, poof, free publicity.

Also, I told everyone it was about revenge. He admits it in this interview.

[RAT Patrol]

I'm just glad he "respects the views of those who oppose who oppose this system." Aren't you?

If he respected the views of all who oppose him he wouldn't be trying to gag us.

This "level the playing field" is a farce.

[RAT Patrol]

Go crawl back under your rock!