Pundit Central

Rudy’s Prostate as Political Oracle

Issue 1 is the prospect of Elián hearings on Capitol Hill. Issue 2 is the political fallout of Rudy Giuliani’s prostate cancer.

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., promises Fox News Sunday   that there will be hearings on the Elián González raid. But Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, tells NBC’s Meet the Press   that the Senate will hold hearings only if documents provided by the Clinton administration smell fishy. Most pundits (including all panelists on The McLaughlin Group) think that the GOP will backpedal hearings, which don’t poll well. Many pundits–such as Juan Williams (FNS), Margaret Carlson (CNN’s Capital Gang), and George Stephanopoulos (ABC’s This Week)–say the hearings are unnecessary; the use of automatic weapons was justified, they say, because an anti-Castro paramilitary group was stationed around the Miami house. Others, such as Kate O’Beirne (CG), think that hearings would only play to President Clinton’s strength (that is, obfuscating). And Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., argues that any hearings should only examine policy toward Cuba, not the raid. Dissenters include Bob Novak (CG) and Mara Liasson (FNS), who think hearings would help resolve the issue.

How does all of this affect the presidential race? The commentariat concludes that the issue has hurt Al Gore–because he took a controversial position and is part of the administration–and helped George W. Bush–because he didn’t and isn’t. Eleanor Clift (TMG) says that a bumbling congressoinal GOP could still rescue Gore by holding hearings.

Acting as a surrogate for New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, John McCain appears on TW, CBS’s Face the Nation, and CNN’s Late Edition   (McCain also provides Vietnam War commentary). McCain says that Giuliani is in good spirits and almost certainly will run for the Senate. However, Giuliani adviser Bruce Teitelbaum (FNS) is careful to leave the door open in case the mayor decides to drop out. Pundits split on Giuliani’s future. There are four camps: 1) The cancer will not deter Rudy from running. This group includes prostate cancer survivors Sam Donaldson (TW) and Bob Novak (CG). 2) The cancer will give Rudy a midlife crisis, and he will drop out–George Stephanopoulos (TW), Eleanor Clift (TMG), Steve Roberts (LE), and Margaret Carlson (CG). 3) The cancer will help Giuliani’s campaign, because it humanizes his authoritarian image–Susan Page (LE)–and makes it impolitic for Hillary to attack him–Lawrence O’Donnell (TMG). 4) Cancer will help the GOP, because Giuliani’s potential replacements don’t have his baggage and can focus instead on Hillary’s baggage–George F. Will (TW), Mark Shields (CG), and Kate O’Beirne (CG).

Miscellany

Colin Powell (MTP) and John McCain (TW, LE, FTN) once again profess no interest in the vice presidency. However, both leave the door open to appointed positions in a Bush administration. Pressed on this issue by LE’s Wolf Blitzer, Gore says that he, too, “might well” ask Powell to join his Cabinet. Meanwhile, Trent Lott (FNS) touts Gov. Tom Ridge, R-Pa., and retiring Sen. Connie Mack, R-Fla., as potential Bush running mates. Conservative smackdown: George F. Will and Judge Robert Bork (now a Netscape lawyer) spar over the merits of a Microsoft breakup. Pundit Central rates the face-off a draw. (To read a duel between Bork and Slate editor Michael Kinsley, click here; to read an “Explainer” on whether MS could have settled, click here.) On LE, House Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas, defends his controversial MTP remarks from last weekend (when he argued that the government’s Elián raid was illegal). DeLay says he never denied that the INS had a warrant. But first it had tried and failed to get a court order to conduct the raid. When that failed, it obtained a warrant, albeit fraudulently. (To read Slate’s “Chatterbox” on the Elián warrant, click here.)



McCain Suckup Watch, Part MXLVIII

You were a prisoner of war for 5 1/2 years. You were offered early release and refused it. Yet you say you’re not a hero. Senator, most Americans would say you’re a hero. … Thank you, Sen. McCain. I’m sorry to dispute your view, but you’re a hero.
–Sam Donaldson (TW)
Last Word
I went through a change in my way of communicating with the American people last fall, when I made the decision that running for president and trying to communicate from the heart to the American people is more important than trying to be the best vice president you can be to the nth degree.
–Al Gore (LE)