Mydd via The Hill: McCain Approached Dems in 2001 About Leaving GOP Caucus

[flpoljunkie]

The Hill: McCain Approached Dems in 2001 About Leaving GOP Caucus
by Jonathan Singer, Wed Mar 28, 2007 at 08:42:41 PM EST

As if people still actually wondered if John McCain stood for anything besides his own ego and ambition, a new report from The Hill's managing editor Bob Cusack indicates that not only was John McCain interested in leaving the Senate Republican caucus in early 2001, a move that would have handed the chamber to the Democrats, but moreover his staff made the first move to the Democrats in a conversation that only ended when Vermont's Jim Jeffords eventually became an independent caucusing with the Democrats, which put the GOP in the minority in the chamber.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001, weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independent, according to former Democratic lawmakers who say they were involved in the discussions.

In interviews with The Hill this month, former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and ex-Rep. Tom Downey (D-N.Y.) said there were nearly two months of talks with the maverick lawmaker following an approach by John Weaver, McCain's chief political strategist.

Democrats had contacted Jeffords and then-Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.) in the early months of 2001 about switching parties, but in McCain's case, they said, it was McCain's top strategist who came to them.

At the end of their March 31, 2001 lunch at a Chinese restaurant in Bethesda, Md., Downey said Weaver asked why Democrats hadn't asked McCain to switch parties.

Downey, a well-connected lobbyist, said he was stunned.

"You're really wondering?" Downey said he told Weaver. "What do you mean you're wondering?"

"Well, if the right people asked him," Weaver said, according to Downey, adding that he responded, "The calls will be made. Who do you want?" Weaver this week said he did have lunch with Downey that spring, pointing out that he and Downey "are very good friends."

McCain's press team is pushing back against this story -- and hard -- which is not in the least surprising because of McCain's already tenuous position among the GOP faithful in the race for the party's 2008 presidential nomination. Yet as Cusack notes, "McCain consistently shot down the rumors, though Weaver acknowledged this week that the senator did talk to Democrats about leaving the GOP" .

more...

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/3/28/204241/448

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Hahahahahahahaha HAAAAAAAAAAAA

Oh

My

Gawd

Thhis guy's a *real* piece of work.

[booley]

2. Maybe it's for the best

that he didn' t switch.

[Nickster]

3. I don't buy this story. Sounds too much like the Kerry asking him to be the VP story.

It sure helps to push the idea that he's a "bi-partisan" kinda guy without him actually doing anything.

[Scout1071]

5. Maybe they are both true.

Maybe Kerry's people approached him because they knew of the previous discussions.

[flpoljunkie]

7. What's interesting, too, is that the Dems kept this quiet until now.

[Nickster]

8. What exactly does McCain have in his political history that would make anyone think he was

anything other than a Republican? The only thing that would make me believe he'd have come up with a party switching talk is because he was using it to put a gun to the GOP leadership for something he wanted. No way I believe he wanted to switch and this story just helps to push the idea that he can be "sane".

[Scout1071]

15. Either that, or he used it to leverage BushCo.

Made a deal that he would back off and support the President if they gave him support for 2008. They certainly haven't responded to any of his occassional criticism.

[flpoljunkie]

16. McCain never considered becoming a Democrat, but was close to becoming an Independent, like Jeffords

He said McCain was invited to a meeting in Kennedy’s office with several other Democratic senators but “didn’t know what the meeting was for” and left soon thereafter. Weaver added that Edwards approached McCain on the Senate floor to discuss the matter.

Daschle, however, said the talks went much further, claiming that there were times that he and Democratic leaders thought McCain “might be our best opportunity.” Daschle stressed that McCain never considered becoming a Democrat, but was close to becoming an Independent.

Downey said, “I actually thought during the initial stages of this that was almost a certain deal.”
Weaver, who changed his party affiliation to “Democrat” several years ago, said he respects Daschle and Downey, but added, “They’re partisan Democrats and we’re in the political season.”

Told of Weaver’s version of what happened, Daschle said, “Obviously, our recollection of what transpired is somewhat different.”

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/democrats-say-mccain-nearly-abandoned-gop-2007-03-28.html

[flpoljunkie]

20. "Daschle noted that McCain at the time was frustrated with Bush administration as a result of his

loss to George W. Bush in the 2000 Republican primary."

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/democrats-say-mccain-nearly-abandoned-gop-2007-03-28.html

Perhaps, more than frustrated...

[flpoljunkie]

6. This will not help McCain win the Republican nomination. He has pushed back hard on this.

[karynnj]

12. I bet this story is simply gossip and that it could hurt McCain if it

got a lot of play - like if a Democrat, known to have been his friend, played with the story - like McCain did with the VP story. It won't be Kerry, who is far too honest and a gentleman.

[flpoljunkie]

17. Interesting tidbit in The Hill article about this not breaking until now...

This information apparently came out in the interviews author Bob Cusak had with former Senator Daschle and Ex-Rep Tom Downey (D-NY) earlier thids month. Apparently, Tom Daschle referred to some of these meeting with McCain in his recent book, and Cusak follow up on it.

Asked why this news hasn’t come out before, Downey said, “It’s a mystery to me. And in fact, the last time Weaver and I had dinner together , we laughed about this … It’s never been written about, never got in the paper.”

He denied any political motivation, saying he is still friends with Weaver and “deeply respects” McCain. “I would have been happy to come forward last year or the year before if someone had asked … There were meetings in offices. You can’t deny . They occurred.”

[karynnj]

18. I saw your other longer post after I read that

It will be interesting to see if this story surfaces beyond the Hill. If it does, it will be interesting to see what Edwards, Kennedy and Daschle say.

Politically, it makes no sense. McCain, on must issues is far too conservative to be a leader of the Democratic party, even at this time before Iraq. (and 911?) I know the Democratic party moved to the right with Bill Clinton and that Gore (as seen in 2001) was also from the more conservative wing of the party, but McCain is far too conservative. Had Kerry become President, the party would have moved to the left - even though some Deaniacs couldn't see that. Now, the direction of the party will be determined by 2008.

[flpoljunkie]

19. McCain was talking to the Dems about leaving GOP and becoming an Independent, not a Dem

ABC's The Note, does write about this Hill article about McCain today:

The Hill: "Democrats say McCain nearly abandoned GOP"

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TheNote/story?id=156238

And, from the article in The Hill...

Daschle said that throughout April and May of 2001, he and McCain “had meetings and conversations on the floor and in his office, I think in mine as well, about how we would do it, what the conditions would be. We talked about committees and his seniority … A lot of issues were on the table.”

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/democrats-say-mccain-nearly-abandoned-gop-2007-03-28.html

[karynnj]

21. I missed that - wouldn't becoming an independent

signal that he had no further hope of being President.

If you think about it, this could make a fascinating story in biographies written decades by now no matter what happens. If he becomes President, this was a decision that made it possible.

If he doesn't get the nomination, this was a point that would have preserved his reputation as a straight talking principled leader. Imagine, McCain in 2004 following up on his one condemnation of the SBVT with a serious repeated effort to both defend Kerry's war record and character (as Kerry did quickly and well for him in 2000 and at other times), making the connection between Bush and these attacks - against himself and Kerry. If any of this stuck to Bush, SBVT would have backfired on Bush - especially because the media might followed.

McCain would then have been a well respected senior Senator, with a long term friendhip with a President, who he had worked with on the environment and veteran's issues.

[flpoljunkie]

22. McCain was perhaps still really pissed at the Bushies and how they treated him in 2000

And, perhaps, at the time he figured he would be too old to run in 2008 or that he could run as an independent with his, then, cross over appeal to Independents and some Democrats.

[Scout1071]

4. Very interesting. This might be an anvil in a already leaky boat.

If true, this pretty much confirms everything they've said about his constantly changing positions.

But, why drop this so early in the race? Did the GOP leak this? Wouldn't surprise me. With the "evangelical" vote decidely against Guiliani, who do they have left?

Surely they aren't serious about Fred Thompson. And Brownback couldn't win in a million years. Dear Gawd, please don't tell me they are going to spring Newt or Jeb on us.

[TwilightGardener]

9. Daschle! Why couldn't you wait until closer to the primaries?

[windbreeze]

10. I guess he can kiss that nomination good-bye...couldn't you see him

get elected to Prez..then switch? (could he?) LOL...boy talk about a burn...
wb

[flpoljunkie]

11. Much more juicy detail from the actual article in The Hill...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/democrats-say-mccain-nearly-abandoned-gop-2007-03-28.html

“I did take the call from Tom ,” Daschle said in an interview. “It was Weaver’s comment” to Downey that started the McCain talks, he added.

Daschle noted that McCain at that time was frustrated with the Bush administration as a result of his loss to George W. Bush in the 2000 Republican primary.

Daschle said that throughout April and May of 2001, he and McCain “had meetings and conversations on the floor and in his office, I think in mine as well, about how we would do it, what the conditions would be. We talked about committees and his seniority … A lot of issues were on the table.”

Absolutely not so, according to McCain. In a statement released by his campaign, McCain said, “As I said in 2001, I never considered leaving the Republican Party, period.”

Some of the meetings Daschle referred to are detailed in the former senator’s 2003 book.

Other senators who played major roles in the intense recruiting effort, according to Democrats, were then-Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) as well as Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

“John Edwards at that time was working with McCain on a couple things and there was a sense that because of his relationship that he might be a good person to talk to him,” Daschle said. “He was clearly one of those that we thought could be helpful.”

A source close to Edwards said Daschle’s comments are accurate.

Daschle also said, “Both Sen. Reid and I talked to McCain both individually and together.” Several former McCain aides who worked for the senator in 2001 and are now in the private sector did not return phone calls seeking comment.

much more...

[ncteechur]

13. He could be running for VP re-election right about now. eom

[bklyncowgirl]

14. If this is true Straight Talk Johnny might as well hang it up.

It's sad to see how ambition can destroy a man. It seems like he's just driven the straight talk express right into a ditch.

[flpoljunkie]

23. Anyone hear this story mentioned on the cable news shows today, or, are they covering for McCain?