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The Story Of His Life

NEWSWEEK

From the Editors (2)
Is Pandering the Key to Election Success?
The Noble History of Flip-Flopping

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Starting with "Faith of My Fathers" in 1999, Salter set about unpacking the life of a man who was the son of admirals and a Vietnam POW. From that success, they moved on to books about courage, leadership and decision-making. "Salter took the raw talent that was John McCain and deepened and molded it," says Clarke. "He allowed McCain to find his own voice." That skill is central to Salter's influence, but not the sum of it. His precise role now isn't easily definable, but no major move is made without his input. "I guess I'm 'of counsel'," Salter says with a shrug.

Salter's entire life itself is McCaincentric. He is married to a former McCain secretary (they have two children) and their vacation home on the coast of Maine was purchased with book royalties (he and McCain split proceeds 50-50, a rarity in the world of political biography). "Mark is the one guy on the inside who has no agenda other than McCain," says Rudman. "Mark is totally devoted." That life-defining zeal can get a little out of hand when Salter perceives that his friend has been slighted somehow. Editors and reporters, including some at NEWSWEEK, have been on the receiving end of Salter's Ciceronian derision, e-mails sometimes referred to as "Saltergrams."

Salter's task now is to sell his action-figure hero. Voters have grown wary of warrior presidents in the wake of George W. Bush's handling of the Iraq War. And they are more and more focused on domestic issues, such as the economy, which they say Obama would handle better. Salter's writing style can seem orotund and antique to younger ears. For all the elegance of the books, McCain's speeches are delivered stiffly at best. When Salter is not at his elbow, and sometimes even if he is, McCain is apt to mention, say, a country (Czechoslovakia) that ceased to exist 15 years ago. The campaign's seeming inability to stage a riveting visual event led "The Colbert Report" to invite viewers to submit mash-up videos that make McCain look "lively."

There was a time, in 2000, when John McCain was the cutting-edge, character-based "narrative" candidate. But now that may well be Obama, who has gone McCain one better in the autobiography department by writing his memoir himself. Obama has the looks, the physical grace and charisma that communicate a sense of change at a time when voters seem to be yearning for it. And Obama has a feel for new media that remains an excruciating mystery to the 71-year-old McCain.

Such obstacles seem to inspire McCain and Salter. "They both have some Black Irish in them," says Jonathan Karp, their editor. Salter seems ready for the battle ahead. "All I can do is put my guy out there," he says. "Look, Obama is on this grand arc, but there is an air of hubris about it. If he falls, he will fall hard. Yes, he's good onstage. Well, my guy can't even lift his arms because of his war injuries! McCain has a core of authenticity the other guy lacks. McCain always has chosen to devote his life to his country, not himself. My job is to help voters see that." Whatever happens, expect McCain and Salter to write about it in their next book. There's no title yet.

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Member Comments

Posted By: Driver of wagons @ 08/08/2008 9:45:17 PM

This is interesting: A good government group is set to ask the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation into the two big McCain stories of recent days -- the bundled contributions from Hess executives, and the bundling by Harry Sargeant, the guy who raised cash for McCain from a host of unlikely donors.

The request, which will be made on Monday by Campaign Money Watch, which first flagged the Hess story to us, raises at least the possibility that such a probe could be initiated during the campaign. Barring that, it could keep the stories going in the press a bit.

David Donnelly of Campaign Money Watch confirms to me that they'll make the formal request on Monday, and also is request for a Federal probe in an email that just went out to supporters. Donnelly says that his group's request is being triggered by McCain's letter to the donors whose contributions had been bundled by Sargeant.

Donnelly said that the letter, which advised the donors of the legal ins-and-outs of such contributions, didn't go far enough in trying to determine what had happened.

"What he didn't say was, 'Tell us who was responsible for giving you money to give to me, and we'll urge the authorities to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law," " Donnelly said. "The letter raises the question, 'Is the McCain campaign covering for his bundlers?"
Asked why Sargeant, whose company holds a huge contract to deliver fuel to military bases in Iraq, merited an investigation, Donnelly said: "An executive from a company that has a billion dollar contract to deliver oil to U.S. bases in Iraq possibly violated election law to funnel contributions to McCain. We think that warrants an investigation."

And on the Hess matter, Donnelly said: "An office manager for an oil company that stands to gain millions in profits from offshore drilling makes donations for the first time this cycle to McCain, and did it at the same time nine other Hess donors do. That's worth an investigation."

"Drill here drill there drill everywhere" McCain said:

Extend your oil boring PAIN with your vote for McCain
Posted By: Davole @ 08/01/2008 12:04:19 PM

Obama ???Biggest Celebrity in the World,??? but ...
New McCain television ad questions whether Obama is ready to lead

Tribune???s Washington Bureau - The Swamp Jul. 30. 2008
by Jill Zuckman

Sen. John McCain's campaign is offering voters a new way of looking at the Democratic nominee, calling Sen. Barack Obama "the biggest celebrity in the world" in a television ad being released later today on national cable networks and local television markets in key states.

The ad pivots quickly, however, from its not-so-complimentary compliment to question what policies Obama has to offer and whether he is prepared to be commander-in-chief.

"But, is he ready to lead?

With gas prices soaring, Barack Obama says no to offshore drilling.
And, says he'll raise taxes on electricity.
Higher taxes, more foreign oil, that's the real Obama."

As Obama seems to be preparing to become president following his whirlwind trip to the Middle East and Europe, the McCain campaign is stepping up its criticisms with an aggressive new communications strategy.

McCain, himself, has suggested that Obama would prefer to lose the Iraq war in order to win the election.

He has run a television ad blaming Obama for high gas prices, and has criticized him for skipping a meeting with injured U.S. troops in Germany because he couldn't bring television cameras along. All are charges that the Obama campaign vehemently disputes and are disputable.

But McCain advisers say that Obama's hyper-charged celebrity is one thing not open for debate, noting that no one else could just show up in Berlin to find 200,000 Germans screaming his name.

"There are some things about this race that cannot be changed. The fact that Barack Obama is the biggest celebrity in the world is a fundamental truth in the eyes of most Americans and people around the world," said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds. "We cannot argue against what is true. What we can make a case for is that despite his enormous celebrity status, his policies and his positions are not what the American people want in a president because he's inexperienced and his policies underscore a lack of judgment that Americans will not vote for in November."
Posted By: Davole @ 08/01/2008 11:54:31 AM

Pia1981 -

Maybe you have convinced them with the logic of your arguments. (LOTFL).