Page 29 - ARUBA TODAY

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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 11 March 2020
McCaskill makes transition from Senate to television

By DAVID BAUDER hilarating." "The biggest House communications di- ing comment from the AP Democrat to sound like a
AP Media Writer transition was getting com- rector in George W. Bush's about McCaskill. The AP Democrat," said Tim Gra-
NEW YORK (AP) — NBC fortable with the fact that I administration, said she reached out to the White ham, director of media
News analyst Claire Mc- can say what I really think enjoys talking to someone House for comment about analysis at the conservative
Caskill is talking about some about Donald Trump," she who understands politics McCaskill's criticism. Media Research Center.
of the shows where she said. and government from be- Commentator McCaskill Being from a state like Mis-
appears — "Morning Joe," And what would that be? ing a participant. She was hasn't yet come under sus- souri taught McCaskill that
Rachel Maddow or Nicolle "Donald Trump is a disaster giddy on the air watching tained attack from Repub- no matter what she did,
Wallace's hours— when roughly half of her constitu-
a questioner slips in a little ents would be happy with
test. What's your favorite? the other half mad — and
She bats it away like an an- not hesitant to tell her.
noying fly. "Some people who have
"I'm candid," she said. "I'm not been through the po-
not stupid." litical wars that I have been
Clearly, the former U.S. would be worried about
senator's political instincts that level of negativity," she
haven't dulled since her said. "I get it. All in a day's
defeat in 2018. That's also work. My back is already so
apparent on the air, where thick that it's not like some-
she has emerged as a body calling me fat is going
colorful and blunt analyst to make me cry."
through President Donald Few people back home
Trump's impeachment trial are surprised to see what
and the presidential prima- she's doing at NBC News,
ries. said Steve Kraske, a radio
McCaskill said Trump's im- host at KCUR and a former
peachment lawyers had newspaper columnist in
learned "the Trump ethos, Kansas City.
which is if you're cornered, As a senator, McCaskill
just lie" and sharply rebuked would hold town hall meet-
Tennessee Sen. Marsha ings in the most conserva-
Blackburn on the air. When tive areas of the state, invit-
there was a question about ing audience members to
how the Senate was going write down questions that
to proceed on a vote to would randomly be drawn
call witnesses during the im- out of a hat so she couldn't
peachment trial, McCaskill be accused of stage-man-
took out her phone and aging the event, he said.
texted several former col- "She's got a lot of Harry Tru-
leagues for the lowdown. man in her," Kraske said,
She's been having a blast. referencing another plain-
"I have been shocked at spoken Missouri politician.
how happy I am," McCaskill Her new perch has given
said in an interview steps McCaskill the ability to give
away from an MSNBC set In this Nov. 6, 2018 file photo, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., steps on stage to deliver a concession viewers an insider's knowl-
recently. "I assumed it was speech in St. Louis. Associated Press edge about what it's like to
going to be more painful be in the Senate, such as
than it has been, to not be a piece she did about the
in the fray but rather com- for our country," she said. McCaskill text colleagues licans. The last time Trump work of the Senate parlia-
menting on the fray." A little more diplomacy for inside info. tweeted about her was mentarian.
After taking some time to toward the president was Wagging a finger and look- to urge a vote for Hawley. She's not happy about how
unwind after losing her required when she was ac- ing into the camera, Mc- After a McCaskill tweet the Senate has become
bid for a third term to Josh tive in Missouri politics, since Caskill bluntly went after suggested Secretary of more sharply partisan and
Hawley, the 66-year-old the Republican carried the Blackburn during the im- Housing and Urban Devel- noted that there's no en-
Missouri Democrat found state in the 2016 election. It peachment hearings when opment Ben Carson was couragement to build re-
that news organizations has also enabled McCaskill the Republican tweeted featured prominently in a lationships with colleagues
looking for analysts were to see what supporters ad- criticism of Lt. Col. Alexan- picture of administration of- across the aisle.
calling her, instead of the mire in him. "Let's be honest, der Vindman. The White ficials because he was one Even while watching the
other way around. She had he hit some heartstrings," House national security of the few black people impeachment trial, Mc-
always tried to be forthright she said when analyzing aide was a key witness in there, Trump aide Katrina Caskill said she wasn't wish-
when talking to reporters — Trump's State of the Union the impeachment inquiry. Pierson called her a "closet ing she was on the Senate
as much as any politician speech. "Don't you lecture anybody racist." floor.
can be — and her willing- "What people see when about how patriotic a vet- "How's unemployment?" "Chuck (Schumer) has said
ness to answer questions they see her on the air isn't eran like Vindman is when Donald Trump Jr. said in a to me several times since
was noticed. She was com- somebody who read a poll you are going to the mat tweet. I made the transition that
fortable with MSNBC after or is making her best guess," for a man who stood next McCaskill called the re- 'you look so damn happy.
making frequent appear- Wallace said. "She lived it. to Putin and trashed the sponse "manufactured out- Stay away from the mem-
ances there. She arrives at her position United States of America," rage." bers because I don't want
Since crossing over to the thoughtfully, not reflexive- she said. Otherwise, she hasn't got- them getting the idea that
media, McCaskill said she's ly." Blackburn didn't immedi- ten much critical attention there is life after the Sen-
found "the freedom is ex- Wallace, former White ately return an email seek- because "you expect a ate,'" she said.q