For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk [McCain had an affair?]

New York Times ^ | February 21, 2008 | JIM RUTENBERG, MARILYN W. THOMPSON, DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK and STEPHEN LABATON

[Wallaby]

Early in Senator John McCain’s first run for the White House eight years ago, waves of anxiety swept through his small circle of advisers.

A female lobbyist had been turning up with him at fund-raisers, in his offices and aboard a client’s corporate jet. Convinced the relationship had become romantic, some of his top advisers intervened to protect the candidate from himself — instructing staff members to block the woman’s access, privately warning her away and repeatedly confronting him, several people involved in the campaign said on the condition of anonymity.

When news organizations reported that Mr. McCain had written letters to government regulators on behalf of the lobbyist’s clients, the former campaign associates said, some aides feared for a time that attention would fall on her involvement.

Mr. McCain, 71, and the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, 40, both say they never had a romantic relationship.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

["McCain has personally pleaded with NY TIMES editor Bill Keller not to publish the high-impact report involving key telecom legislation before the Senate Commerce Committee, newsroom insiders tell the DRUDGE REPORT."]

Musical accompaniment (credit to The Rolling Stones):

"Well they used to love him...
But, it's all over now..."

[SharpTalons]

Of course, they were fattening him up for the dinner table.

[Godwin1]

If the New York Times had any credibility, this might hurt McCain. But their agenda-driven dishonesty is so OBVIOUS that no one who would have voted for McCain change their vote. The Times is the arm of Al Jazeera and the DNC.They are just making it up.

[tobyhill]

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/02/20/nyt-mccain-may-have-behaved-unethically-and-also-cheated-on-his-wife-but-were-not-sure/

Apparently the Slimes were going to scrap the story because they probably didn’t have enough liars to quote but were presured by The New Republic.

[levotb]

oldbill

Because they wanted to see McCain and Suckabee knock out Romney and knowing that Suckabee would never be the nominee, assure their bud McLame (who is a Democrat, not a Republican) of the nomination...which would greatly increase the chances of their man the Obamanation from winning! Too extrapolated?

[jveritas]

Zero effect. McCain is the Republican nominee and the next President. Liberals, their media, and the angry fringe on the conservative side can delude themselves from now until elections day that this is going to end him but at the end John McCain will be President.

[mewzilla]

He is.

Got a link? :)

[dforest]

That was a non denial denial. He said “the public trust”, he didn’t say “pubic trust”.

Hmmn? I bet Mark Foley never violated the “public trust” either.

[levotb]

...AND her father was a mob guy. True story! McAmnesty got elected Senator with mob support!

[mewzilla]

That's not from McQueeg himself I see.

And it's a non-denial denial.

[levotb]

Bingo, counterpunch! Perfectly said!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Very shrewd on the NY Times part but equally disturbing after they endorsed him.

They had the "story" in December and endorsed him in January. So, this must mean that connections with lobbyists and inferred potential extramarital affairs are OK with them. Not at all surprising, unless I'm not reading this right. :O)

[Dante3]

I see nothing to admire about McCain. He betrayed his first wife, he pushed CFR, Keating 5, and other liberal agenda. He is a fanatic on amnesty and he even voted against the Cornyn amendment. That is insane. His position on immigration shows he is willing and eager to sell-out this country. There is a creepy factor to him, something is not right with him.

[willk]

I was going to hold my nose and vote for him. Now I am also going to send money. I loath the MSM!

[RDTF]

exactly! I’ve been practicing holding my nose super tight.

[Wallaby]

Thanks for the link. I love this characterization of the "story":

A sex scandal that may not be a scandal tucked inside an ethics scandal that may not be an ethics scandal tucked inside an ethics scandal that was a genuine scandal 20 years ago, and for which McCain has begged forgiveness ever since. The Paper of Record.

[John Robie]

The McCain bashers are principled conservatives though. That is why they believe what they read in the NYTs when it suits their world view. I think they are all really Obama supporters who love communism.

[Just mythoughts]

“It is a shame that the New York Times has lowered its standards to engage in a hit and run smear campaign. John McCain has a 24-year record of serving our country with honor and integrity. He has never violated the public trust, never done favors for special interests or lobbyists, and he will not allow a smear campaign to distract from the issues at stake in this election. “Americans are sick and tired of this kind of gutter politics, and there is nothing in this story to suggest that John McCain has ever violated the principles that have guided his career.”

lord McCain... Calm down... put some ice on it... Remember how you treated RUMMY???

[mewzilla]

If that's the best you can do, Johnny, you are so screwed....

[Matchett-PI]

Someone on Fox (Hannity?) said that Drudge had something posted about this months ago.