McCain probably considering one-term pledge, Sen. Sam Brownback tells National Rural Assembly

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain is probably thinking about announcing that he would serve only one term if elected, as a way to signal that he aims to resolve big issues without regard to re-election concerns, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas told the National Rural Assembly and Stand Up for Rural America yesterday. (Photo by Shawn Poynter)

"He's probably even considering announcing that he would serve only one term, as a way of pushing the agenda on a bipartisan basis," said Brownback, who appeared before the rural advocates as a representative of the McCain campaign. Afterward, Brownback told reporters that he had heard the Arizona senator mention the one-term possibility, then said he had not.

Asked what basis he had for his statement to the assembly, Brownback said, "I heard him say that months ago." Asked if McCain had mentioned the possibility only to him, or if the conversation involved more than just the two of them, Brownback said McCain had not made such a statement. "This was just something that was rumored months ago," he said.

As he headed out of the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, Brownback was asked if he thought a one-term pledge would be a good idea. He suggested that it might be, but not at this juncture: "It might be a time, but I don't know if it's the point for him to do now."

Both Brownback and former Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota, a close adviser to the presumptive Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, said their candidates could forge bipartisan consensus. Brownback suggested the dialogue between the candidates could begin the process. "We've got a presidential race where there's a chance to highlight rural issues and ... come together around some common causes and elevate them," he said, adding that McCain has a record "of getting things, big things, done in this town."

Daschle, a former Senate majority leader, said Obama "could be one of the most transformational political figures of my lifetime," like the Kennedys in the 1960s. "We've got to create more opportunities for meaningful bipartisanship so we can address the issues of the day."

Daschle was more specific on issues, contrasting the positions of Obama and McCain on congressional earmarks and health care. He said Obama wants to make health care accessible to all Americans by the end of his first term, and the familiar line that the U.S. has the world's best health-care system is a myth, since the nation ranks 29th in infant mortality, 31st in life expectancy and 35th in the world in overall health outcomes.

McCain has vowed to veto any bills with earmarks, or specific appropriations inserted by senators or House members. Daschle said the power has been abused, and "God knows there's need for reform," but he said eliminating earmarks entirely would be just as bad for rural America. He said they are "an ability for Congress to weigh in on what the priorities ought to be."

Brownback, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, did not mention the issue in his remarks but was questioned about it by an audience member who said earmarks funnel $10 billion to rural areas. "These have clearly gotten out of hand," Brownback said, undermining Americans' confidence in their government. He said the solution he prefers is requiring earmarks to be approved not just by the appropriations committees but by the authorizing committees, those that create and continue programs to which earmarks are added.