Posted on 02/20/2008 4:49:57 PM PST by Wallaby
Edited on 02/20/2008 5:05:45 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
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.
Lousy reporting. Probably a mistake in attribution. More likey his first wife said it.
From that Link:
The McCain campaign tonight accused the New York Times of lowering its standards and engaging in a “hit and run smear” campaign.
McCain campaign advisor Charles Black accused the New York Times of shoddy journalism, telling ABCNews, “The New York Times is playing the National Enquirer. They chased around this gossip story, chasing rumors which are false for the past three-and-a-half months.”
Black says the Times only chose to publish the story when it learned another news organization, The New Republic magazine, was preparing a story about the Times’ decision to hold back publication. “The New Republic stampeded them into running this story, which is shoddy journalism, which is a smear of John McCain,” Black said.
Here is the full statement from McCain Communications Director Jill Hazelbaker:
“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.”
February 20, 2008 in McCain, John | Permalink | User Comments (70)
The truth is that the TImes is sliming McCain for political purposes. That's the only truth here today.
Yes McCain treated his first wife very badly and yes McCain has some really nasty warts.
But none of that gives the left in this country license to influence primary and general elections by smearing their political opponents.
And this is a classic smear my friend. Very Goebellsian.
Anyone with any common knowledge of typical dem tactics and the MSM could have predicted this one coming.
Just a hunch.., This will be the first of many “smears” for our “Imperfect servant”.
Put your seat belts on. We are just beginning to know the real Maverick, and that is no accident.
Do Mavericks ride bimbos? Do bears crap in the woods?
Baby Obama?
Trouble is McCain came to Florida and lied about Mitt Romney. I will greet any denials the way I watched Bubba wagging his finger. If true, we should impeach Juan McCain BEFORE the convention and give the other guys a do over. Two former McCain people turned on McCain. Birds of a feather...
Did you catch the comment section? READ BELOW
“I worked for John’s campaign in 2000, his temperament has not improved in eight years. I’m voting for somebody else this fall and I pray that you will too. This is absolutely nothing, you should see him at his best. He takes everything personal. Conviction is one thing; But he sees everything as a moral crusade. (Ironically, not unlike his most ardent opposition back in 2000) I simply can’t see him functioning in the White House with his “my way or the highway, us against the world, I’m right your wrong” mentality. It simply won’t go down after George Bush. This attitude is apparent in his campaign and it’s direction is not immune to those he despises. Just ask Dan Schnur. John is unstable, and most likely to react emotionally, and not rationally to those who disagree with him. His innability to remove himself from the siuation or circumstance has done him in numberous times and is bound to show itself in the general election. I hope that people will step back and evaluate wether or not this character flaw is grave enough to warrant a second thought about his canidacy. I just hope those who support him as of now, truely think about wether or not this man is Presidential with these concerns in mind. Please do not take this lightly. This is stark and a VERY real concern that should give pause to anyone.”
Obama’s a modern day rasputin.
I guess it could be worse....it could have been a man.
Wasn’t it TNR that had the phony soldier problem?
And betrayers believe they have a right to betray, that they are so important and valued that their victims should be lucky to have even known them. Those they betray are inconsequential to them, at best.
Lack of sourcing, unless this story has legs?
This smear and lies will not stand.
Probably a Huck worker now.
Well if that is their standard - where is the front page story that Bill Clinton raped Juanita Broderick?
Surviving those camps with those commies and those injuries was heroic.
His heroism doesn't excuse his stupid policy positions and likewise his stupid policy positions should not blind us to the fact that surviving those camps and coming out whole on the other side was a heroic act. By all.
Here is the full statement from McCain Communications Director Jill Hazelbaker:
"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."
Where is the part about how he never had an affair or broke his marriage vows? He never violated the public trust, etc...what about the trust of his wife? Yes there is no proof. But that statement is not helpful.
Two former McCain operatives spilled the beans. (maybe they got mad about the shamnesty, mccain-feingold and the mccain-? gas tax bill, Mel Martinez and much more.)
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