By: Suzanne Rosenberg In Tuesday's edition of Trail Mix: McCain cancels on CNN, Palin's Car Wash, and The Washington Post Twitters the Republican Convention. Note: Visit the brand new 'E&P Pub' bog at:
The E&P PubJohn McCain knows from experience that children of political candidates are "off limits"The Swamp
Chicago Tribune
By Jim Tankersley
There's a good and fair debate to be had about whether the children of political candidates are "off limits," as both John McCain's campaign and Barack Obama insisted this week in the wake of Gov. Sarah Palin's press release announcing her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. To that debate, Jim Tankersley adds: For a brief moment in 1998, McCain did not consider First Daughter Chelsea Clinton off-limits. Speaking to a Republican fundraiser, McCain reportedly told a joke that went something like this: Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because Janet Reno is her father. McCain immediately apologized to the Clintons, who accepted his apology.
The Fix Twitters the Republican National ConventionThe Fix
The Washington Post
By Chris Cillizza
After trying out Twitter last week in Denver during the Democratic National Convention, The Fix is back at it for tonight's festivities. Tweets, or Twitter messages, are used by those connected via mobile, IM, and on multiple hand-held devices. Perhaps the increasing use of these devices by the under-40 crowd is the reason both television is losing its ratings and newspapers are losing readers at such a rapid rate. It?s interesting to learn that the Post is experimenting with the medium.
McCain Consistently Opposed to Federal Assistance for Teen Pregnancy ProgramsPolitics West
Denver Post
AP Sharon Theimer
The Denver Post?s Politics West carried an article by AP reporter Sharon Theimer pointing out that "Republican John McCain, whose running mate disclosed that her unmarried daughter is pregnant, has opposed proposals to spend federal money on teen pregnancy prevention programs and voted to require poor mothers to stay in school or lose their benefits. McCain's position on contraceptives and teen pregnancy issues has been difficult to judge on the campaign trail, as he appears uncomfortable discussing such topics. Reporters asked the presumptive GOP presidential nominee in November 2007 whether he supported grants for sex education in the United States, whether such programs should include directions for using contraceptives and whether he supports President Bush's policy of promoting abstinence. ?Ahhh, I think I support the president's policy,? McCain said.
When reporters pressed McCain whether the government should provide contraceptives or counseling on contraceptives, he replied, "You've stumped me." McCain said later that he was sure he opposed government spending on contraceptives. Theimer points out that in Senate votes, McCain has opposed some proposals to pay for teen-pregnancy prevention programs. In 2006, McCain joined fellow Republicans in voting against a Senate Democratic proposal to send $100 million to communities for teen-pregnancy prevention programs that would have included sex education about contraceptives and in 2005, McCain opposed a Senate Democratic proposal that would have spent tens of millions of dollars to pay for pregnancy prevention programs other than abstinence-only education, including education on emergency contraception such as the morning-after pill. The bill also would have required insurance companies that cover Viagra to also pay for prescription contraception.
Palin Scrubbing Turns up an Undeclared Car WashThe Trail
The Washington Post
By Mathew Mosk
In addition to being a mayor and raising four children, Sarah Palin found time for another venture in her Wasilla years -- she was part-owner of an Anchorage car wash, Mathew Mosk reports in the Trail today. Palin and husband Todd each held a 20% stake in Anchorage Car Wash LLC, according to state corporation records filed in 2004. A review of Palin's gubernatorial disclosure filings indicate that she failed to report her stake in the company on the form that requires candidates for governor to disclose any interest in a non-publicly traded company. The car wash venture was not entirely smooth sailing. State records show the business ran into trouble with Alaska's division of corporations business and professional licensing after Palin became governor of the state in 2006, and a Feb. 11, 2007 letter to the governor's business partner advised that the car wash had "not filed its biennial report and/or paid its biennial fees," which were more than a year overdue. Ironically, according to Mosk, the warning letter was written on state letterhead, which carried Palin's name at the top, next to the state seal.
CNN, John McCain's Camp at Odds Following Campbell Brown InterviewTop of the Ticket
Los Angeles Times
By Kate Linthicum
In one of those moments a network executive would excitingly term "great TV," CNN's Campbell Brown and John McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds clashed on air Monday over vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's foreign policy credentials. Tensions -- and voices -- rose after the anchorwoman told Bounds that she was just "trying to get someone from the campaign to explain what foreign policy experience [Palin] has." Bounds repeatedly skirted the question, choosing instead to criticize Barack Obama's lack of executive experience." All right, Tucker," Brown said as she ended the segment with a broad, sarcastic smile. "I'm just going to give it to ya, baby." The clip was much in demand today -- and, CNN revealed, the McCain camp made clear it was not pleased. This afternoon, anchorman Wolf Blitzer announced on air that McCain's planned interview with Larry King tonight had been canceled by the campaign. Blitzer said McCain aides complained that Brown had gone "over the line" in her grilling of Bounds. McCain campaign spokeswoman Maria Comella later explained the cancellation with this sharply worded statement:" After a relentless refusal by certain on-air reporters to come to terms with John McCain?s selection of Alaska?s sitting governor as our party?s nominee for vice president, we decided John McCain?s time would be better served elsewhere."
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Trail Mix's Featured Blogs:Chicago Tribune:
The SwampLos Angeles Times:
Top of the TicketThe Boston Globe:
Political IntelligenceThe Denver Post:
Politics WestThe New York Times:
The CaucusThe Wall Street Journal:
The Washington WireThe Washington Post:
The Trail and
The FixUSA Today:
On Politics
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