McKinnon To Step Aside From McCain Effort

The Washington Post ^ | 5/21/08 | Chris Cillizza

[Dawnsblood]

Mark McKinnon, the lead media consultant for Sen. John McCain's (Ariz.) presidential bid, is stepping down from that role -- making good on a pledge he made last year not to work against Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) in the fall campaign.

McKinnon confirmed his decision to The Fix this afternoon. "I'll be transitioning, shifting position from linebacker to head cheerleader," said the always-colorful McKinnon. He added that he would continued to be a "friend and fan" to the campaign.

McKinnon, a former Democrat, played a central role in Gov. George W. Bush's 2000 campaign and the Bush-Cheney reelection four years later. He was part of a large contingent of Bush operatives to make the transition to McCain in late 2006 and early 2007, but was one of only a handful who stuck with the Arizona senator after his campaign's implosion last summer.

That same summer, McKinnon told Cox Newspapers that if Obama was the Democratic nominee, he would not play an active role in McCain's effort to defeat the Illinois senator.

"I just don't want to work against an Obama candidacy," McKinnon told Cox Washington bureau chief Ken Herman; electing Obama, he added, "would send a great message to the country and the world." McKinnon said at the time he would vote for McCain.

[MBB1984]

Democrats working for democrats.

[Red_Devil 232]

When you reach across the aisle you burn your bridges at both ends!

[TADSLOS]

McKinnon confirmed his decision to The Fix this afternoon.

The Fix? That's an understatement. LOL!

[Mobile Vulgus]

Good. The man is an idiot.

But it won’t help. McLame couldn’t beat a wet noodle if the Dems put one up against him.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Send a set of gonads to McCain and the leadership of the GOP.

[Redbob]

""I just don't want to work against an Obama candidacy," McKinnon told Cox Washington bureau chief Ken Herman..."

Neither, apparently, does anyone else in the McLame Campaign...

[Shermy]

This sounds completely phony.

But then, that’s a perfect quality for someone connected to the Doubletalk Express.

[altura]

McKinnon is a gun for hire. He may be good at his job, but I haven’t trusted him since the incident with the pants.

[mimaw]

Is this guy a fairy?

[altura]

I don’t mean to be critical but you McCain haters who feel morally compelled to express your virtue on every thread are really bringing Free Republic down.

You’ve lost all perspective and don’t seem to understand the horror and danger of an Obama presidency, or you don’t care.

[Reagan Man]

Mark McKinnon is an idiot!

[DManA]

Why didn’t McCain fire the guy when he told McCain he’d do anything except criticize McCain’s opponent? He as much as said you are paying me to help you lose.

[ncalburt]

Mckinnon has a very suspicious past. IN 2000, his staffer was caught by the FBI leaking the Bush debate tapes to the Gore team.

[ncalburt]

I have come to determine its a 50/50 mix of Obama operatives and people who need to blame someone for the mess the Bush WH and Repub in Congress have made. These posts are mild to the crazy ranting about Cindy Mccain being a Iraqi was profiteer or McCain has secret alliance with Soros. Not many are that happy about McCain being the candidate . But,the left wing radicalization of the Dem party and the massive damage that OBama could do to our , anti-abortion movement , talk radio, new media, military, fighting terrorism , Israel, great health care , and to Wall Street are ignored by the Non Dem operative portion of the McCain bashers crowd.

[cyberella]

Awesome video:

The same kind of terrorists who support Obama did this:
http://www.frugalsites.net/911/attack/
Never apologize for them.
Never appease them.
Never forget.