The Larry Kane Report

So how did it happen? How did a straightforward question and blunt answer bring anxiety to the White House? I’ll tell you the story.For over three months now, friends and others have asked me to recount the events of February 18^th of this year, when a single question from me to Congressman Joe Sestak unleashed a controversy that remains to this day. Is it a political issue? Is it illegal? I can’t answer those questions, but I can tell you how casually it all happened, and what basis I had for asking the question. Here’s the transcript:

“Larry Kane: I have a question for you. I don’t know how accurate this is but a lot of reports are that the party has tried very hard to get you out of this race.

Joe Sestak: Haha, yes.

LK: Were you ever offered a federal job to get out of this race?

JS: Yes.

LK: Was it the Navy Secretary?

JS: No comment. I – let me –

LK: Was it high-ranking?

JS: Let me just say that both here in Pennsylvania and down there, I was called quite a few times and all I’ve said is, look, I felt when a deal was made that it was hurting the democratic process, I got into this because I think that deal started getting us off the track of where the Democratic party should go. I would never get out for a deal. I’m in this for the Democratic principles and working families.

LK: Okay, but, was there a job offered to you by the White House?

JS: Ye-

LK: That’s what I want –

JS: Yes. Someone offered — yeah.

LK: It was big, right?

JS: It was — never — let me not comment on it. We had a closed comm–
LK: Yeah, but you’re going all the way.

JS: I’m in this all the way for the working family. Look, I love the Navy. It’s the best thing I ever did in my life except get married. It took me 8 years, I proposed to my wife, 8 years later she said yes. And have my beautiful daughter. But this is the next best job — to pay back this nation for having had those wonderful years in the Navy–

LK: Well, we’ve run out of time with the best question I had.”

And that was true. But why was I the first. There was buzz about this story since last summer. A few days before the February 18^th taping of Voice Of Reason for The Comcast Network, I was advised by two reliable sources that  someone in or close to the White House had dangled a high level job offer to Sestak, to give a clear path to Senator Specter for the nomination. I thought it would be a good thing to pose the question to Sestak in the upcoming interview.

The Sestak interview was the second in this contest. I interviewed Specter a week before.

I prepared for the program with an outline of questions. But on that Thursday I was having a very hectic day. I was a little overwhelmed with work. I forgot to put the question in my outline. Suddenly, with 90 seconds left, I remembered!

The news business can have moments that are so unpredictable. I knew the questionwas a good one, based on some really good sources, but I was flabbergasted when Sestak said “Yes.” There was no hesitation. No delay. He just said, “Yes.”

As the Congressman left the building, there was an obvious dilemma. The show wouldn’t air till Sunday the 21^st. The story could be big. I called Comcast executives. With their blessing, I broke the story with an audio interview on KYW Newsradio. But first there was work to do. I needed a White House response.

I called the White House Press Office. I played the interview for the individual who answered the phone. She said someone would call me back. A few minutes later, another individual called. She said the White House would call back with a reaction “shortly.” That was 3:45 in the afternoon.

The report aired all night without a White House response.

At 6:45 the next morning, 15 hours later, a Deputy Press Secretary called. She said, “You can say the White House says it’s not true.”

A similar call was placed to the Inquirer’s Tom Fitzgerald. Tom was in the studio during the show taping. He was following Sestak around, working on a feature story. He took the story to page one of the Friday Inquirer.

A few days ago, both of us were still wondering why it took the White House 15 hours to issue a simple denial.

The rest is history, peculiar history. The “job offer” story never became an issue in the campaign although some would suggest the story played well to Sestak’s argument that he was a real Democratic independent.

But on May 19^th, a day after his upset victory over Specter, the February interview became an internet hit. Republcans, arguing that it may have been a crime to offer a job in return for a withdrawal from a political contest.  Democrats, only recently, called for the truth on this story. The President, saying nothing was improper, promised a White House statement “shortly.”

The entire episode, now broadcast and printed around the nation, is also a popular item on the web.

There are several things I want you to know. I’m surprised that Washington reporters never asked the question in the first place, I’m surprised that Sestak answered so quickly when I posed the question.

But most of all, I’m stunned that a rather simple question, turned into a political firestorm. You never really know where the pursuit of news will take you.

The story may not be over. Republicans will want more than just a White House counsel’s report.

But the beginning to this saga may be more interesting than the end.

One thing I do know is that, as the question was being asked, Joe Sestak never hesitated. In a split second, he just said, “yes.”

Comments(174)

Arlen Specter has been on the scene for 45 years in Pennsylvania.. so his defeat is really the end of an amazing career. In a way he ran into the perfect political storm – an outrage against incumbents. the party switch, and of course an aggressive race run by Joe Sestak. In the end, Pa. voters decided 5 terms was enough. The challenge ahead is for the party establishment, most of which supported Specter, to rally round the winner and face off against the well financed Republican Pat Toomey. Democrats already face the possible loss of a Senate seat in Delaware. The healing process is critical because Sestak-Toomey may, with the Tea party, the social battles, and the big money make this Sestak-Specter race mellow by comparison.

For Toomey, the task is huge: He must convince a state with a one million Democrat voter advantage that he can get Democratic and Independent voters. Otherwise, he may be doomed to defeat. How he handles the next several months will determine his fate.

Final note for now: Bob Brady and Ed Rendell stood by Specter to the end. Not so for the White House, which abandoned Specter in the final days. The same thing happened with Jon Corzine in New Jersey. The White House needs to reaffirm it’s commitment to endorsed candidates. Otherwise, there may remain a lack of trust from within the President’s own party.

Comments(118)

No joke. The Flyers could defeat either Joe Sestak or Arlen Specter, leaders of the nastiest Democratic Senate primary in recent history. The Flyer’s game against Montreal begins at 7 P.M. Tuesday. one hour before the polls close. Specter needs a big city vote. Sestak needs to score in the suburbs. The truth is that the Flyer’s game may keep many voters away from the polls, especially in that crucial final hour of voting.

It is tough enough to get people to come out for primary elections. Now there’s another excuse. In a close race, the Flyer’s may win.

Now that I’ve offered a bizarre twist to campaign 2010, here are some observations on this weird election.

First: Arlen Specter did change parties so could have a better shot at winning reelection. The spot highlighting his remarks on this, the spot that may have changed the race and given Sestak a dramatic comeback, is hardly fresh news. But it reinforces a stereotype that all politicians will do anything to win.  The spot also reinforces the simple fact that most voters don’t bother to have a clue about what’s really going on.  So, obviously, it took a clever commercial to convince voters that Specter made the switch to help his reelection chances. Do you get my drift?

Second: the spot about Sestak’s military career highlights the facts that his views were not appreciated by the Bushies who took over the Pentagon. Truth or fiction? Neither. Probably a bit more tabloid than truth, since it is common knowledge that Sestak, a favorite of the Clintons, was not loved by the Bush Republicans.

It’s been a rugged race, and the big winner, for now, is Republican Senatorial hopeful Pat Toomey. While the Democrats cannibalize each other, Toomey can save his cash and Tea Party support for the fall. And what a feast he inherits – sound bites from both Sestak and Specter verbally savaging each other.

Comments(15)

Many days after it happened, the Taser knockdown of a trespassing Phillie’s fan is still the rage of the world. What the world-famous photo doesn’t tell you is the real story of the fear and anxiety of those who protect us. Obviously the officer involved didn’t intend his Taser attack to hurt the kid, or embarrass Philadelphia. Who knew what would happen next? Just ask tennis star Monica Seles how frightening it was to be stabbed by a crazy fan years ago. Fortunately, in this case, the fan was not dangerous. But it’s easy to second-guess cops who have to make split second decisions.

What would you do? The answer is anything to stop what could have been a very dangerous situation. The officer did what he thought was correct. You would do the same thing.

The sad part of this story is the world’s reaction to a controversial photo, and the eventual impact on the fan, who probably regrets his action.

All this may be a warning to the flash mobs that caused havoc in Center City a few months ago. The message is that there will be consequences for unruly action, whether it be jumping the field at the park, or breaking the law in Center City.

SPECTER AND  SESTAK COULD LEARN FROM GOVERNOR CANDIDATES

Unless I’m missing something, something is missing from the Sestak-Specter battle for the Democratic Senate nomination: issues. The two are sending Taser-like verbal take downs on the air and in their statements. They could learn, and learn a lot, from the Democratic candidates for Governor. That race with Dan Onorato, Joe Hoeffel, Jack Wagner and Tony Williams has featured lively debate about fiscal issues, social policy and the size of government. Specter-Sestak,  however, featured a repertoire of nasty accusations. Should we expect more? Yes!

Comments(61)

One thing can be said about the Sestak-Specter debate -they both agreed so much on most issues that the only thing left was character attack. And there was plenty of that. Specter demanded that Sestak release his military records. Sestak said nothing but accused Specter of distorting his record in the Navy. Sestak insinuated he fought for reforms in the Navy, a  suggestion that his courage irritated his bosses. Sestak shredded Specter’s voting record, as a Republican. and Specter tried to out-Democrat Sestak. The charges flew like verbal bricks., Punch. Counterpunch. Specter started slow,  ended up strong, regained his sense of humor. Sestak seemed comfortable on live tv. The big winner of the night? The  moderator,  John Baer of the Daily News, who was strong and dynamic. Of course no one was asking HIM questions.

The most dramatic charge of the night? Sestak brought up Rick Santorum’s accusation that Specter got Santorum’s support in 2004 by agreeing to support right wing Supreme Court nominees. Specter said no way. Specter rarely looked at Sestak, until he would ask him to release his military records.

Both men were intelligent and eloquent – rare for a “live” political debate.

Will it make a difference. In a really close race, the answer is “yes.”

One interesting thought. It’s unusual that the Pa. Association of BROADASTERS picked a print guy to moderate. But it was a very good choice.

Comments(61)