Transcript: Charlie Black (02/22/2008)

Q&A: CHARLIE BLACK
Transcript: Charlie Black On The New York Times' Allegations Against John McCain

National Journal's Linda Douglass sat down with Charlie Black for the Feb. 22 edition of "National Journal On Air." This is a transcript of their conversation.

Q: I want to welcome Charlie Black. He is a senior strategist and adviser for Senator John McCain. Welcome, Charlie.

Black: Thank you, Linda.

Q: So let's get right to the issue of the New York Times story about John McCain alleging that he had an improper relationship with a lobbyist -- a couple of questions that you can certainly settle for us, perhaps. Did anyone on John McCain's staff or anyone in the campaign warn him, back eight years ago, that he was spending too much time with this lobbyist? Because that certainly is one of the central allegations in the New York Times story.

Black: Well, no one warned him. In fact, the senator has said that Mark Salter, his chief of staff during that time who was at his side constantly, says it didn't happen. Rick Davis, the campaign manager who was around at the time, says it did not happen. So, no, it did not happen. You have some anonymous sources saying that, but we believe it did not happen.

Q: Well, the other question is, was anyone in the staff or on the campaign aware that your former campaign adviser John Weaver had met with this woman to warn her to stay away from John McCain?

Black: You know, the first time that we learned that was, John Weaver, when he answered the question to the New York Times, did us the courtesy of giving us a copy. That was the first we ever heard of it.

Q: So the two main charges in this story -- that he had an inappropriate relationship with this woman and that that inappropriate relationship allowed her clients to get special access to McCain -- those are both untrue?

Black: They are both untrue. They are completely phony charges. As he said yesterday, he knows her as he knows many lobbyists and representatives of different organizations in Washington. He considers her a friend. Nobody ever suggested anything inappropriate until the New York Times did. And most importantly, John McCain does favors for no one. He's got a lot of friends that he has known for many, many years who lobby. And I guarantee you, nobody gets special treatment or favors. On these kind of issues, John McCain listens to both sides, he'll meet with people on both sides and then he'll make a decision on the merits -- what he sees as best for the country. There are numerous examples of when he has made decisions that went against the interests of his home state or of his own political career. So both are false and certainly nobody has come forward yet and demonstrated where he did a favor for anyone.

Q: And you make an important point here that was elaborated upon in the Washington Post this morning, and that is that John McCain does surround himself with many lobbyists in his campaign, and certainly people who are predominating the ranks of his fundraisers. Is that consistent with his image as somebody who wants to reduce the influence of lobbyists?

Black: Well, he has reduced the influence of lobbyists. He led the investigation into Jack Abramoff and other people who were doing illegal and unethical things in the lobbying field and exposed that. It led to Abramoff's being in federal prison now. McCain led the effort, obviously, for campaign finance reform, which was designed to keep lobbyists and special interests from being able to give large, soft money contributions at the request of congressmen and senators. He was one of the leaders in the efforts of the new congressional ethics law which took effect last year, which again limited the ability of lobbyists to travel with senators and congressmen, and to set up speeches for them through nonprofits. He has been successful in limiting what he saw as the undue influence of lobbyists. That doesn't mean that there aren't many, many lobbyists who are honorable and ethical people who also participate in the political process and who volunteer in campaigns -- Republican or Democratic. And of course, he'll accept help from people who are doing it in an honorable way.

Q: And I'm sure this is a frustrating discussion for you because you are a lobbyist and no doubt consider your own work to be absolutely ethical and aboveboard. But, in terms of your own role, just as an example of somebody in the McCain campaign -- you do represent private clients who want action from the government, while at the same time are advising John McCain's presidential campaign. Is that appropriate, do you think?

Black: Well, it's perfectly fine as long as I am able to make the distinction between giving advice to McCain and representing clients. It's the same principle as when you have multiple clients and you handle them all differently. You don't talk to one client about what you do for the other. In my volunteer role with McCain, I consider him a client. As I mentioned to a reporter that appeared in the Washington Post today, I never discuss with John McCain my clients' views or interests. And, in fact, if a subject comes up in the middle of a campaign meeting on which I might have a client or a client has an interest, I either walk out or I don't engage in the discussion. I've done that for many years going back to the days when I did volunteer political work for President Reagan, and it's worked out pretty well because I stick to it. Most people in town, Democrat or Republican, know that I act honorably in these things.

Q:Well, that is a very illuminating way of looking at the John McCain campaign from one of his top advisers and strategists. Thanks so much, Charlie Black, for being with us.

Black: My pleasure, Linda. Thank you.