Sunday Talk Videos: Game Change, Newt Gingrich & More
John McCain disses Game Change without seeing it, Harry Reid says the Senate is safe, and a heated debate on the media’s treatment of Rush Limbaugh. That and more in our roundup.
McCain Disses Game Change
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery—could someone explain that to John McCain? The HBO movie Game Change recreated the events of his 2008 presidential campaign, and although he didn't watch the movie, he still has a bone to pick with how he was represented. “I’ve been told that I’m portrayed as using an exceeding amount of coarse language,” McCain said. “I have a larger vocabulary than that.” The Arizona senator also told Fox News Sunday that he stands behind his VP choice of Sarah Palin despite the film’s unflattering portrayal. “I admire and respect her, I’m proud of our campaign.”
Gingrich on Afghanistan: It’ll Get Worse
It’s closing time. On Face the Nation, Newt Gingrich repeatedly expressed his desire to end the war in Afghanistan. The GOP hopeful believes that the U.S is not “ruthless” enough to force the region to change, and will therefore be unsuccessful in insuring democracy. “I don’t think we have the willpower or the capacity to do the things you have to do to fundamentally change the region,” Gingrich said. The former speaker went on to say that he believes America needs to produce its own oil so that it will be less dependent on the Middle East.
Reid: The Senate’s Not Going Anywhere
The president’s seat isn’t the only thing up for grabs in November. Control of the Senate is also in the sights of Republicans. Nevertheless, Harry Reid told State of the Union that thanks to some great fortune, he feels confident that the Democrats will remain in control. “I feel very comfortable about where we’re going to wind up in November,” Reid said. Reid also shot down rumors that former senator Bob Kerrey from Nebraska is running for his old seat because of promises made by Reid. “Anyone who knows Bob Kerrey knows that you don’t have to make a deal with Bob. He’s running because he wants to run.”
Santorum: Romney and Obama Are the Same
Liar, liar, pants on fire! Rick Santorum didn’t hold back when attacking Mitt Romney’s inconsistent comments on healthcare reform. According to the ex-Pennsylvania senator, Romney’s health-care plan while governor of Massachusetts is strikingly similar to Obama’s 2010 reform. “Romneycare, Obamacare, the same, with a top-down government control of resources and mandates,“ Santorum said on Meet the Press. On Romney he added, “He’s repeatedly had big government solutions and then gone out and told the public, bald-faced, that he didn’t do the things he did.” Those are fighting words!
Gibbs on U.S Job Growth
Many Republicans have spent recent weeks largely focused on social issues. However, Robert Gibbs thinks that come election time, “the biggest issues are going to be economic issues.” On Face the Nation, the former Obama press secretary cited last month’s jobs data as proof of the Dems’ ability to add jobs, something Gibbs thinks the Republicans will not do. “We’re gonna have a choice in this election about whether we’re going to continue positive job growth or go back to the policies of cutting taxes for the wealthy,’ Gibbs said.
Why ‘Game Change’ Made Wallace Squirm
More Game Change fallout, this time from Nicolle Wallace, who was John McCain’s senior advisor in 2008 and spent countless hours on the trail with him and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. On This Week, Wallace commented on the film, which Palin has criticized. “This isn’t even really a movie about McCain and Palin. This is a movie about the vast gray area in which 99 percent of our politics actually takes place,” Wallace said. When asked if the events in the movie were true, Wallace commented, “Well, true enough to make me squirm.”
Is the Media Too Tough on Limbaugh?
Even after Rush Limbaugh issued an apology for the offensive comments he made about Sandra Fluke, he’s still in the media hot seat. In what turned into a heated debate, the panel on Reliable Sources analyzed why the press can’t seem to let the controversy die. Talk show host Stephanie Miller attributed the extended coverage to his insincere apology and the loss of several advertisers. “Advertiser boycotts hurt everybody in radio,” said Miller. “So thanks for that as well, Rush.”