"Maverick Media", Indeed: Mark McKinnon, A Discussion (Vanity)

Various (ABC News) ^ | 3/5/2004 | Self

[LincolnLover]

I noticed that Mark McKinnon is heavily involved in the 2004 effort, what with his production of the television spots now airing across the nation.

Naturally, I wondered what happened to the infamous "Bush debate prep tape/Gap pants" debacle (at least as far as the FBI probe was concerned).

I know that the probe led to the indictment of McKinnon's aide (and Austin Dem. Party activist) Juanita Lozano http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/lozano010306.html), with McKinnnon being "exonerated", but there's something about that whole Gap pants story that just stinks.

Here's an old FR thread (dated 10/2000) on the subject:

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a39d726226a2e.htm

Finally, a 2002 piece about McKinnon's continued support of Dems, particullarly in races of interest to the administratrion "http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2002-05-17/pols_feature8.html"

Excerpt:

"...On May 8, the Austin American-Statesman reported that he (McKinnon) and his wife had given campaign contributions totaling $14,000 dollars to the Democratic candidates for Senate, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. (Ron Kirk got $4,000, and John Sharp and Kirk Watson got $5,000 each.)

In its wide-eyed infancy, McKinnon's Maverick Media agency had done political work only for Democrats, but when Bush the Younger came along, McKinnon told friends he "looked into [Bush's] eyes" and decided that here was a Republican candidate he could support. (The switch presumably had nothing to do with the stiff GOP wind then blowing in Texas.) Apparently McKinnon, now part of the mega-consulting firm Public Strategies Inc., still finds plenty of romance in the peepers of Kirk, Sharp, and Watson.

McKinnon told the Statesman he wasn't working for the Dem hopefuls, and that he had cleared the contributions with Bush adviser Karl Rove. 'If there's one thing this administration would understand, it's personal friendship and loyalty,' McKinnon said. 'This isn't about politics; it's about blood.'

McKinnon found out how right he was the next day, when even closer Bush confidant Rove heard about the contributions. The Washington Post reported that Rove was outraged by the news, particularly in a Senate race the White House wants very badly for the GOP. (According to Post sources, Rove had thought McKinnon was donating only for the Democratic primaries.)

McKinnon told the Post, 'I realize I've created some heartburn for the administration and for Karl. My support for these friends was not intended to send any kind of a signal. To the extent it has, I've apologized. As a representative of the president, I have to be more careful about my actions.'..."

One would think that using the return via mail of a $22 pair of khaki pants at a cost of $13 in shipping when a Gap location was less than 5 miles from Maverick Media's headquarters as an alibi that was ultimately dismissed by the FBI and a federal grand jury(obviously, since Lozano was indicted) would have been cause enough for Mr. McKinnon to be, "more careful about my actions."

What to make of this, if anything? Let's discuss.

[Redbob]

"McKinnon and his wife had given campaign contributions totaling $14,000 dollars to the Democratic candidates for Senate, lieutenant governor, and attorney general."

For all the good it did him!
LOL!