John McCain

Why Arnold Is In Ohio

Joe Mathews — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:32:00 -0400

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Ohio today, campaigning for and with John McCain. People have been asking me: why? It's a good question. The governor has nice things to say about Obama (even suggesting he might work for a President Obama someday), disagrees with McCain and the national Republican party on issues, and likes to associate himself with winners, not losers.

The answer boils down to two words: habit and loyalty. The governor of California is a creature of habit. In 1988 and 2004, Schwarzenegger campaigned in Columbus, Ohio -- where he has business interests, including a share in a suburban shopping mall and an annual fitness convention and bodybuilding tournament known as The Arnold -- on the Friday before election day. This year, he goes again to central Ohio the Friday before election.

But the other motivating factor is loyalty. Schwarzenegger doesn't get much credit for being loyal; he's generally thought of by people in the political sphere as more than a little disloyal. But in his personal relationships, he's remarkably loyal. His friends today were his friends 20 years ago. And McCain has been very loyal to him. The weekend before the special election in 2005 ,when it was clear to everyone (except perhaps the hyper-optimistic Schwarzenegger) that his initiatives were going to lose, McCain flew to California and rode on Schwarzenegger's campaign bus through the Inland Empire. McCain backed Schwarzenegger when the governor was in political trouble. Today, Arnold returns the favor.

US Weekly -- United States Weekly?

Jenna Cittadino — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:52:00 -0400

Never in a million years did I think I would be writing my blog about Paris Hilton. Not because I don't like pop culture-I love it, and am not ashamed to admit I own a Britney Spears cd (or four). But after McCain's attacks against Obama, calling him a "celebrity" and flashing pictures of Paris and Britney, Paris was savvy enough to shoot a message back to McCain. What was really interesting to me is that in her message, which can be watched here, she delivered her own energy plan.

Yes, that's right, even Paris Hilton realizes that our planet is in trouble, and that if we don't do something today, her popular catchphrase, "That's hot," will not be used to describe a fantastic new handbag but our planet in general.

Part of me is ecstatic because energy and environmental issues are finally becoming a major issue for this year's election, but the other part is disappointed that what is making the headlines is the drama: the attacks the two candidates are expending on each other rather than the details of their energy plans. In fact, when reading the news, I find myself confused -am I reading a story reporting about our presidential election, or am I reading a story in Us Weekly?

Focus on celebrities is at an all time high: actresses are getting run off the road from salivating paparazzi, famous babies are smiling back at us from magazine covers when we stand in line at the grocery store, and grown men can be seen reading an Us Weekly word for word in their business suits on a plane ride home. There's a time and place for an Us Weekly, but our news is not one of them. After all, this is a Presidential election, not another fight between Paris and Nicole (I know, that's so two years ago-ok, another fight between Heidi and Lauren).

I really get frustrated when the attacks don't even make sense and just end up confusing the general public. For example, the Republican National Committee had a field day when Senator Obama suggested that if all Americans inflated their tires properly and took their cars for regular tune-ups, we could save as much oil as new offshore drilling would produce. In response, on Obama's birthday last week the RNC sent tire gauges to reporters labeled "Barack Obama's Energy Plan," mocking his suggestion. But Obama's suggestion is a great one: it is something we can do immediately to reduce our oil consumption and it's simple and easy-- we can use less energy without significantly changing our lifestyle. And by the way, Republican Governors Schwarzenegger and Crist also suggest keeping your tires properly inflated and going for regular tune-ups amongst other things as a way to lower your energy bills today. Time Magazine says, "It's sad to see [McCain's] campaign...promoting the fallacy that Americans are powerless to address their own energy problems" (http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1829354,00.html).

In conclusion, what Paris's ad did for me was poke fun at the ridiculous attacks that are being made, and I commend her for responding with her own energy plan. However, I disagree with some of her suggestions. Even "limited offshore drilling with strict environmental oversights" will not solve our problems, but will fuel our ongoing addiction to oil. What will solve our energy problems is breaking our addiction, conserving energy, and becoming more efficient, which is something we can all do.

That's hot.

McCain Reverses Position, Backs Ward Connerly Initiative In Arizona

Joe Mathews — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:32:00 -0400

McCain tells ABC he backs the initiative to end affirmative action programs in Arizona; in the past, he has opposed such initiatives while saying he opposes quotas. This was one of the day's stories in the presidential race, in part because Obama accused McCain of flip-flopping.

John McCain on Education at NAACP Conference

Sara Mead — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:25:00 -0400

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain used his speech today at the NAACP annual convention to flesh out an education policy agenda that has, to this point, been pretty amorphous. Early Ed Watch is disappointed, but not particularly surprised, to see no mention of early childhood education in McCain's speech. But the McCain campaign could easily integrate early education proposals into some of the ideas McCain laid out today. For example, McCain supports alternative certification--a good idea. Why not include investment in developing research-based alternate routes to early childhood educator certification? That would help states meet the growing demand for skilled pre-k teachers, and it would also provide more cost-effective ways to help people that currently lack a bachelor's degree to acquire the skills and knowledge to be effective pre-k teachers. And it would advance the cause of alternative certification. Similarly, McCain's speech expressed support for charter schools--why not propose new policies to increase the number of charter schools delivering high-quality early education programs?

The agenda McCain laid out today emphasizes school choice, alternative teacher certification, teacher performance pay, bonuses for teachers who work in high-need schools, and greater school-level decision making authority. McCain's agenda includes some good ideas, but is lacking in details on how his policies will accomplish his goals. For example, the school choice proposals McCain unveiled today to expand school choice--expanding the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Voucher program and investing $750 million in virtual schooling--won't come near fulfilling his promise of "school choice for all who want it." McCain sings the praises of charter schools in his speech--so where are the agressive proposals to expand the number of charter schools, or to eliminate the substantial barriers charters face in many states?

McCain offers more details on how he'll address teacher quality issues, though: He'd redirect 65 percent of the $2.9 billion currently allocated to the TItle II Teacher Quality State Grants program for new strategies to recruit high-performing teachers and reward teachers who work in high-poverty schools or raise student achievement. Five percent of the funds would go to recruit recent college grads who were in the top 25 percent of their class or who participated in high-quality alternative certification programs such as Teach for America or who obtain certification from the America Board for the Certification of Teacher Excellence. Sixty percent would be devoted to to providing performance bonuses and bonuses for effective teachers who agree to work in high-need, low-performing schools. In contrast to Barack Obama, who's proposed spending an additional $18 billion annually on his education agenda, McCain proposes no new education spending, but would instead redirect existing funds to cover the costs of his programs. McCain does deserve some points for redirecting funds from programs that are currently ineffective or poorly targeted to national priorities for education (such as state grants for education technology), but his unwillingness to provide additional funding definitely limits his ability to make aggressive proposals.

Perhaps most strikingly, the education section of McCain's speech did not include a single mention of NCLB, which will almost certainly be the most pressing issue on the next president's education agenda. That's particularly surprising since McCain was speaking to the NAACP and polling data suggests that NCLB is popular among African American parents. McCain's plan released today does mention NCLB, but is extremely vague about whether McCain would maintain the current administration's committment to the law's existing accountability model, or accept proposals to water accountability down. When it comes to NCLB, we wish McCain had offered a bit more of his fabled straight talk.

We're hoping the Mccain will provide more details about his education agenda--particularly on NCLB--as the campaign progresses. As he does so, we strongly encourage McCain and his staff to consider integrating early education into some of their proposals.

Here are McCain's education remarks in full:

Nowhere are the limitations of conventional thinking any more apparent than in education policy. Education reform has long been a priority of the NAACP, and for good reason. For all the best efforts of teachers and administrators, the worst problems of our public school system are often found in black communities. Black and Latino students are among the most likely to drop out of high school. African Americans are also among the least likely to go on to college.

After decades of hearing the same big promises from the public education establishment, and seeing the same poor results, it is surely time to shake off old ways and to demand new reforms. That isn't just my opinion; it is the conviction of parents in poor neighborhoods across this nation who want better lives for their children. In Washington, D.C., the Opportunity Scholarship program serves more than 1,900 boys and girls from families with an average income of 23,000 dollars a year. And more than 7,000 more families have applied for that program. What they all have in common is the desire to get their kids into a better school.

Democrats in Congress, including my opponent, oppose the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program. In remarks to the American Federation of Teachers last weekend, Senator Obama dismissed public support for private school vouchers for low-income Americans as, "tired rhetoric about vouchers and school choice." All of that went over well with the teachers union, but where does it leave families and their children who are stuck in failing schools?

Over the years, Americans have heard a lot of "tired rhetoric" about education. We've heard it in the endless excuses of people who seem more concerned about their own position than about our children. We've heard it from politicians who accept the status quo rather than stand up for real change in our public schools. Parents ask only for schools that are safe, teachers who are competent, and diplomas that open doors of opportunity. When a public system fails, repeatedly, to meet these minimal objectives, parents ask only for a choice in the education of their children. Some parents may choose a better public school. Some may choose a private school. Many will choose a charter school. No entrenched bureaucracy or union should deny parents that choice and children that opportunity.

We should also offer more choices to those who wish to become teachers. Many thousands of highly qualified men and women have great knowledge, wisdom, and experience to offer public school students. But a monopoly on teacher certification prevents them from getting that chance. You can be a Nobel Laureate and not qualify to teach in most public schools today. They don't have all the proper credits in educational "theory" or "methodology" -- all they have is learning and the desire and ability to share it. If we're putting the interests of students first, then those qualifications should be enough.

If I am elected president, school choice for all who want it, an expansion of Opportunity Scholarships, and alternative certification for teachers will all be part of a serious agenda of education reform. I will target funding to recruit teachers who graduate in the top 25 percent of their class, or who participate in an alternative teacher recruitment program such as Teach for America, the American Board for Teacher Excellence, and the New Teacher Project.

We will pay bonuses to teachers who take on the challenge of working in our most troubled schools -- because we need their fine minds and good hearts to help turn those schools around. We will award bonuses as well to our highest-achieving teachers. And no longer will we measure teacher achievement by conformity to process. We will measure it by the success of their students.

Moreover, the funds for these bonuses will not be controlled by faraway officials -- in Washington, in a state capital, or even in a district office. Under my reforms, we will entrust both the funds and the responsibilities where they belong in the office of the school principal. One reason that charter schools are so successful, and so sought-after by parents, is that principals have spending discretion. And I intend to give that same discretion to public school principals. No longer will money be spent in service to rigid and often meaningless formulas. Relying on the good judgment and first-hand knowledge of school principals, education money will be spent in service to public school students.

We can also help more children and young adults to study outside of school by expanding support for virtual learning. So I propose to direct 500 million dollars in current federal funds to build new virtual schools, and to support the development of online courses for students. Through competitive grants, we will allocate another 250 million dollars to support state programs expanding online education opportunities, including the creation of new public virtual charter schools. States can use these funds to build virtual math and science academies to help expand the availability of Advanced Placement math, science, and computer science courses, online tutoring, and foreign language courses.

Under my reforms, moreover, parents will exercise freedom of choice in obtaining extra help for children who are falling behind. As it is, federal aid to parents for tutoring for their children has to go through another bureaucracy. They can't purchase the tutoring directly, without having to deal with the same education establishment that failed their children in the first place. These needless restrictions will be removed, under my reforms. If a student needs extra help, parents will be able to sign them up to get it, with direct public support.

Sunday Column: Paging Gov. Garamendi, Or Arnold's Severe Case Of Potomac Fever

Joe Mathews — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:15:00 -0400

Gov. Schwarzenegger used an appearance on ABC's "This Week" Sunday morning to hint that he has interest in leaving his current job to serve in Barack Obama's cabinet as some sort of energy-environment czar. The McCain-endorsing governor also talked about an Obama presidency as a fait accompli--he referred to "when," not "if," the Illinois senator is president. I suspect you'll see an effort in the hours and days ahead by the governor and his aides to try to back away from what he told interviewer George Stephanopoulous and talk about his commitment to Californians. They'll note that he called the discussion "hypothetical" and was merely explaining his desire to serve American governments of either party. But I defy anyone to watch the show or read the transcript and tell me with any confidence that this governor intends to serve out the rest of his term, which runs through the end of 2010.

Here's the exchange. Stephanopoulous showed a clip of Obama praising the governor's environmental "leadership."

STEPH: "Newsweek" reported he might want you to be his energy czar. Would you be interested?

SCHWARZ:: I don't think about taking on a national role. There's so many challenges we have in California.

STEPH: If he were president and he called?

SCHWARZ: It's hypothetical. I'm always ready to help in any way I can the United States. I've committed myself to be a public servant. I said to myself, this country has given me everything. It's my time now, I'm through with the acting and all of those things that I've done, body building, even though I love all of those things still. For me, it's important to give something back, do my work without getting paid, and give something back. No matter what i do. If i have this position or not, I will be traveling around the world and I will be promoting to be energy dependent, renewables, solar, windmills, all of those things, protecting the environment, protecting the oceans."

..So if that non-denial denial didn't make his intentions clear, there was then this:

STEPHANOPOULOS: If he were president and he called, you would at least take that call?

SCHWARZENEGGER: I would take his call now, I will take his call when he's president. Any time. Remember, no matter who is president, I don't see this as a political thing, I see this as we always have to help no matter what the administration is."

The background: There's a long history of California governors getting "Potomac fever," and becoming interested in running for the White House. George Shultz, the former Secretary of State who serves as a crucial behind-the-scenes advisor to Schwarzengger, has long talked up the fact that Schwarzenegger was immune to the disease since, as an immigrant, he can't serve as president. But Schwarzenegger is showing signs of Potomac fever nonetheless. In fact, his interest in leaving for the cabinet makes some sense in light of his recent behavior as governor.

Even with the state budget in crisis, Schwarzenegger has seemed curiously disengaged, volunteering in public at one point that he didn't know the state of the legislature's deliberations on the budget. He made a rookie mistake by flashing his money clip in response to a question about whether the state was running out of money. The governor, as a political and policy matter, seems stuck in California. He's still offering interesting, moderate solutions to the state's problems, but no one appears to be buying. It's easy to see the last two years of his second and final term (he's required to leave office after his second term is up in 2010) producing more of the same.

What's the attraction of a cabinet post? Going to Washington and leading a national -- he would quickly make it international -- crusade against climate change and for energy reform must seem so much bigger and more important to Schwarzenegger than refighting the same old battles in California. In the ABC interview, he even outlined how he'd like to structure the position: as someone who would advocate for various energy reforms and would "stay the course" through different administrations. Schwarzenegger seems to be suggesting that a czar post should be created that is akin to FBI or CIA director, or president of the Federal Reserve -- with terms that run far beyond the four-year run of a particular administration. Not a bad idea. And it's nice work if you can get it.

Why would Obama appoint him? Well, with one move, a President Obama would get a high-profile spokesman on an important but controversial issue. If Arnold goes too far, Obama would have some distance and deniability. After all, this is not the pastor of his church--this is Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, whom no one would expect the president to control. And politically, Obama, by appointing Schwarzenegger, could deliver the governorship of California to the Democrats. John Garamendi, the lieutenant governor, would serve out the remainder of Schwarzenegger's term. Obama also would remove Schwarzenegger as a potential 2010 senate challenger to Barbara Boxer, who seems paranoid about the governor challenging her.

If I were Garamendi, I'd start putting my transition team together now.

ASP In the News | June 23-25

Ian McAllister — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:55:00 -0400

Politico (06/24) features William Hartung arguing for a crackdown on military spending waste.
New York Times (06/24) posts an analysis by Michael Cohen of Obama's perceived inexperience.
Foreign Policy (06/23) features Parag Khanna, Michael Cohen, and Maria Küpçü discussing the evolving challenges posed by failed states.
The Space Review (06/23) cites Jeffrey Lewis on China's modernizing military technology.
Kansas City Star (06/22) quotes William Hartung on Obama and McCain's negotiation policies.

Campaign Watch: And Then There Were Two

Sara Mead — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:23:00 -0400

Last night, Senator Barack Obama earned a majority of Democratic delegates, clinching the Democratic presidential nomination for 2008. Last night’s end of the primary season also marked the start of the 2008 general election. Obama’s Republican opponent, Senator John McCain, kicked off his general election bid with a speech last night.

As we move into the general election campaign, expect to hear more from the candidates on education issues, including early education. During the Republican primary, McCain paid little attention to education issues, and he still hasn’t released any education proposals. But as he moves to appeal to independent and Democratic voters in the general election, he’s going to need to speak more to voters’ concerns about education—because Obama will be.

Obama already spelled out a detailed education policy agenda during the primary, but signs from the campaign suggest he’s going to be focusing a lot more on education as he shifts to the general, playing up areas where his views on education break with some traditional Democratic positions. The Washington Post reports:

Heather Higginbottom, who runs Obama's policy office at the campaign's Chicago headquarters, cited education as one area in which Obama offers ideas that are not traditionally Democratic, arguing that the problem is not all about schools or funding, but about parents who let their children watch too much television. She said his proposal to give teachers bonus pay if they receive special training or if their students score high on standardized tests is an idea that some liberal-leaning teachers unions oppose.

Just last week, Obama gave a major education speech at a Colorado high school, in which he argued for both significant reforms to No Child Left Behind, and new, aggressive education reforms—particularly in the areas of teacher training, induction, and compensation, as well as college outreach and preparation—to improve our educational performance and close the achievement gap. Moreover, Obama argued that real education reform will require policymakers to “move beyond the stale debates that have paralyzed Washington for decades: Democrat versus Republican; vouchers versus the status quo; more money versus more accountability.”

While Obama didn’t address early education in that speech, his early education proposals are a clear complement to that message. Early education is one area where education reformers and more established education interests, who are often at odds over policy questions, actually tend to agree. Further, Obama’s early education proposals offer a good example of the shared responsibility for student outcomes—between parents, educators, policymakers, and citizens—he has called for. New investments in pre-school early education are essential because schools can’t close the achievement gap all by themselves—especially when half of the achievement gap already exists before children even begin school. Yet early education investments are no silver bullet—they have to be accompanied by reforms in the early elementary years and beyond that can improve student learning to sustain the gains youngsters make in quality early education programs. And programs like Nurse Home Visiting, which focus on parents as well as at-risk children, address some of the parental responsibility themes Obama’s been sounding recently.

So, expect to hear Obama talking about early education, as he did last night, in the context of his larger education agenda.

Most observers don't expect McCain's early education agenda, which advisors plan to roll out this fall, to contain a significant early education component. We think that would be a mistake. While K-12 education policy debates have become highly polarized politically, early education doesn't have to be a partisan issue. As we've noted, Republican elected officials at the state and local level--including several potential McCain running mates--have played an important role advancing quality early education at the state and local level. Early education investments poll very well, particularly among women who are likely to be the swing voters in this election, and Obama has a very ambitious early education agenda. No one's expecting McCain to propose a similarly ambitious early education program, but proposing some modest, but smart, early education reforms could be highly beneficial here.

And there are plenty of smart early education ideas that would compliment McCain's broader reform message. Last night, in one of only two references to education, McCain said that the nation needs to “rethink, reform, and reinvent the way we educate our children,” in the context of a broader call for reforming American institutions. In fact, early education might actually be an easier area than K-12 education for McCain to propose bold, innovative reforms in right now, given the strong opposition to federal involvement in education among some conservatives. And our patchwork system of early childhood care and education, not to mention the lack of linkages between that system and our K-12 schools, is certainly in need of some rethinking.

Both presidential nominees have an opportunity to use early education to reinforce their broader messages, and to advance smart early education ideas, in this election season. Senator Obama has already put forward and ambitious agenda, but Senator McCain has yet to seize this opportunity. Expect to hear more from the candidates on education in the coming months--and to see plenty of coverage of early education in the campaign here.

McCain Wades Into California Gay Marriage Pool

Joe Mathews — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:38:00 -0400

Republican presidential nominee John McCain said Tuesday that California voters, not judges, should decide who gets married in the state. Perhaps this simply states the obvious--the initiative to ban same-sex marriage will be on the November ballot. But it feels like a political mistake. In the recent past, McCain's advisors have suggested they see California as in play with a Schwarzenegger-style campaign -- that is, an approach that avoids talk of social issues and instead emphasizes fiscal issues and the importance of bipartisanship. By wading into this initiative, McCain, who never had much of a chance anyway in California (where polls show Obama would have won a California primary held on June 3, the originally scheduled date), is eschewing the Schwarzenegger approach. In fact, attempting to use the same-sex marriage issue in any way feels positively Rovian. In the process, McCain shows he's not serious about winning the state.

ASP in the News | May 26-28

Ian McAllister — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:39:00 -0400

The New Republic (05/28) features Peter Bergen analyzing the jihadist revolt against Osama Bin Laden.
Afrik.com (05/27) cites Steve Clemons on purges occurring in the Obama and McCain campaigns.
NewsHour (05/27) interviews Flynt Leveret on U.S. engagement with Iran.
Tehran Times (05/25) mentions Steve Clemons on negotiations with Hamas.
The Globalist (05/23) features Parag Khanna discussing the growing international influence of the E.U.

Will Obama-McCain Choice Affect Michigan Marijuana Initiative?

Joe Mathews — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:52:00 -0400

That's the argument of this piece in the Michigan Messenger. An initiative to legalize marijuana for medical purposes should be on the November ballot.