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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

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.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bimboeruption; drivebymedia; goebbelsmann; iseman; liberal; liberalsmear; liberalvalues; mccain; mccainhassers; newyorktimes; nyslimes; nyt; nythitjob; rino; slimes; vickiiseman
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To: counterpunch

AMEN


901 posted on 02/21/2008 4:40:05 AM PST by omega4179 (Democrats would rather rule in hell than serve America!)
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To: jdm

—Obama will eat McCain up in any debate.....
With what? Substance? Ha!—

Maybe not substance, but I don’t think McNutty has much is the substance department either, so it’s a wash. Moreover, Obama will turn on that youthful charisma; and McNasty will look like the crazy old uncle in the attic.


902 posted on 02/21/2008 4:41:11 AM PST by paleorite
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To: restornu

She has more mileage than the space shuttle.


903 posted on 02/21/2008 4:41:43 AM PST by paleorite
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To: Perdogg

I’d say all 50 — which means Utah too.


904 posted on 02/21/2008 4:43:53 AM PST by Tribune7 (How is inflicting pain and death on an innocent, helpless human being for profit, moral?)
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To: rbmillerjr

If the NYT hates him, he can’t be all bad.


905 posted on 02/21/2008 4:46:55 AM PST by Tribune7 (How is inflicting pain and death on an innocent, helpless human being for profit, moral?)
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To: Mr. Brightside

You know, I remember when the Clinton campaign had a story of a young Michelle and a pimp... somehow, that didn’t make it to the NYTs. They did a good job trying to scrub it from the web too.


906 posted on 02/21/2008 4:47:20 AM PST by AliVeritas ( To err is human, to screw up takes Berkeley 's City Council) Hope in God, not man.)
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To: jwalsh07
This is why I supported McCain sooner rather than later.

Translation: "I booked my ticket on the Titanic before anyone else."

907 posted on 02/21/2008 4:53:24 AM PST by A2J (Love Jesus...hate "church.")
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To: Robbin
What on earth makes you think a 72 year old white man who has spent his whole life since the Vietnam war as a Politician and is now for having a short fuse, is going to win the election in 2008? He makes Dole look like a power house nominee!

You are out of your little tree, there is nothing wrong with that statement.

908 posted on 02/21/2008 4:54:18 AM PST by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
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To: Mr. Brightside
“So this must mean that the NYT is close to breaking the Obama homo-limosine story?”

Actually, you may be on to something. However, I suggest a slightly different take. Perhaps the NYT is, by floating this McCain story, is attempting to inoculate the public for upcoming stories about Obama’s boyfriends, and Hillary’s girlfriends. We still have a loooong way to go till the conventions and no telling what’s gonna come out of the weeds between now and then. Heck, we conservatives just may have to suit up and run ole Newt before it’s all said and done....

909 posted on 02/21/2008 4:59:35 AM PST by snoringbear (')
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To: Tribune7
If the NYT hates him, he can’t be all bad.

If you recall, the NYT endorsed him on January 25, 2008.

Still, there is a choice to be made, and it is an easy one. Senator John McCain of Arizona is the only Republican who promises to end the George Bush style of governing from and on behalf of a small, angry fringe. With a record of working across the aisle to develop sound bipartisan legislation, he would offer a choice to a broader range of Americans than the rest of the Republican field...In 2006, however, Mr. McCain stood up for the humane treatment of prisoners and for a ban on torture. We said then that he was being conned by Mr. Bush, who had no intention of following the rules. But Mr. McCain took a stand, just as he did in recognizing the threat of global warming early. He has been a staunch advocate of campaign finance reform, working with Senator Russ Feingold, among the most liberal of Democrats, on groundbreaking legislation, just as he worked with Senator Edward Kennedy on immigration reform.

"That doesn’t make him a moderate, but it makes him the best choice for the party’s presidential nomination."

910 posted on 02/21/2008 5:00:22 AM PST by kabar
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To: Mr. Brightside

They will hide Obuma’s downlow story and attempt to tarnish Senator McCain.

I hope the (Mac) sues the NYT-Commie Pravo for defamation of character, slander and or libel.

The commie press needs to be shut down for the good of America and a example made of them.

I do hope Obuma’s accuser will take a polygraph and start hitting the news spots.

I wonder if this is why Huckabee has not dropped out of the race?

Oh well, “Let the chips fall where they may.”

Respectfully,
NSNR


911 posted on 02/21/2008 5:06:16 AM PST by No Surrender No Retreat (Xin Loi My Boy!!!!)
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To: TommyDale

He had lots of bad luck that is for sure. Murphys law was following him around


912 posted on 02/21/2008 5:10:35 AM PST by TinaJeannes
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To: Timeout

re: Edwards comment... someone else said exactly the same:

As the folks at BSB put it: “Since Vicki Iseman, John McCain’s alleged special interest, profile may be deleted from Alcade & Fay, BSB’s more than happy to host it. You know, googlecache only last so long, but BSB is forever.”

The New York Timess story, in which it hints at a romantic relationship between Iseman and McCain, has no proof.

Indeed, there is nothing in the story but some “imprudent” appearances.

It’s not like the Senator hired Iseman to do work for his campaign—say a campaign video.

Or that she is now pregnant.

Or that she is living in a McCain supporter’s house.

Or that Iseman is driving around in a BMW owned by a former, high-ranking McCain campaign official.

Those are the details in the John Edwards-Rielle Hunter affair, which the Times hasn’t covered at all.

http://deathby1000papercuts.blogspot.com/2008/02/vicki-iseman-times-storys-timing.html

(But Edwards is water under the bridge, the NYTs should be called on it though... in the interest of fairness...bah)

No identified sources? No on-the-record sources? All we get is “according to two former McCain associates,” presumably that reference to one Senate, one campaign. Are these sources some folks he fired who might have an axe to grind? Or are these people who have no reason to lie, or to paint a more salacious picture than warranted?

We get one named source.

Both said Mr. McCain acknowledged behaving inappropriately and pledged to keep his distance from Ms. Iseman. The two associates, who said they had become disillusioned with the senator, spoke independently of each other and provided details that were corroborated by others.

Separately, a top McCain aide met with Ms. Iseman at Union Station in Washington to ask her to stay away from the senator. John Weaver, a former top strategist and now an informal campaign adviser, said in an e-mail message that he arranged the meeting after “a discussion among the campaign leadership” about her.

“Our political messaging during that time period centered around taking on the special interests and placing the nation’s interests before either personal or special interest,” Mr. Weaver continued. “Ms. Iseman’s involvement in the campaign, it was felt by us, could undermine that effort.”

Mr. Weaver added that the brief conversation was only about “her conduct and what she allegedly had told people, which made its way back to us.” He declined to elaborate.

We also get staff saying there’s nothing to it:

Mr. Davis and Mark Salter, Mr. McCain’s top strategists in both of his presidential campaigns, disputed accounts from the former associates and aides and said they did not discuss Ms. Iseman with the senator or colleagues.

“I never had any good reason to think that the relationship was anything other than professional, a friendly professional relationship,” Mr. Salter said in an interview.


913 posted on 02/21/2008 5:11:45 AM PST by AliVeritas ( To err is human, to screw up takes Berkeley 's City Council) Hope in God, not man.)
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To: glock rocks
Hell no, this country is headed for a Muslim president that they deserve. At least he ain't a Mormon!

Bears repeating!
Hell no, this country is headed for a Muslim president that they deserve. At least he ain't a Mormon!

914 posted on 02/21/2008 5:12:34 AM PST by nfldgirl
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To: hole_n_one
SNBC reports that the NY Times is reporting that top advisers to McCain have intervened to protect McCain from himself. Both McCain and Iseman deny a romantic relationship. 33 posted on 02/20/2008 4:59:12 PM PST by hole_n_one

WHO are the TOP ADVISORS that RATTED McCAIN OUT??? SOMEONE LEAKED!!!

915 posted on 02/21/2008 5:16:19 AM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion.....The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: yield 2 the right

Do you really believe what a commie newspaper would print?
Senator McCain is innocent till proven guilty.

If there was substance to this story, it would have been out long ago.

We have the commie liberals trying to destroy our country and I ask, don’t jump on the stalinist band-wagon.

As POTUS, either klintoon or osama obuma will destroy our great country and result in a marxist state.

I suggest you get all the facts first, before you take anything the NY Times defacates as the truth.

P.S. “Lies have short legs and are caught easily.”

Respectfully,
NSNR


916 posted on 02/21/2008 5:16:40 AM PST by No Surrender No Retreat (Xin Loi My Boy!!!!)
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To: AliVeritas

John Weaver is the RAT!! WHO IS JOHN WEAVER and why did he think he had to go to the NYT to RAT out McCAin??? If that’s what happened.


917 posted on 02/21/2008 5:20:43 AM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion.....The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Binghamton_native
I guess I didn’t see it that way. McCain was not my choice, but, we do ourselves no favors when we are ready to accept a poorly sourced (or unsourced) NYT story simply because we don’t like McCain.

I have not said I accept anything, story included. Bennett confirmed this 'story' had been squelched for some time now, he mentioned a couple of times like South Carolina. I do not trust the NYTimes any more than I trust lord McCain.

918 posted on 02/21/2008 5:25:32 AM PST by Just mythoughts (Isa.3:4 And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.)
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To: Wallaby
Vicki Iseman Articles:

McCain Aides Confronted Him Over Ties to Lobbyist, New York Times Reports (Bloomberg) 2/21/2008 6:34:20 AM
TIMES HINTS OF MCCAIN '00 'AFFAIR' (New York Post) 2/21/2008 4:05:02 AM
McCain unfazed by own ethics controversies He at times seems blind to... (San Francisco Chronicle) 2/21/2008 3:16:45 AM
Vicki Iseman And Cindy McCain: Twins? Separated At Birth? (Huffington Post) 2/21/2008 12:07:09 AM
Washington lobbying firm pulls bio of lobbyist accused in McCain scandal, then readds it (The Raw Story) 2/20/2008 11:22:48 PM
Vicki Iseman's Bio Pulled From Web (Huffington Post) 2/20/2008 10:33:12 PM
NY Times report links McCain to lobbyist (ABC 7 Bay Area, CA - KGO) 2/20/2008 10:12:25 PM
Vicki Iseman: Who Is McCain's Girl? (Huffington Post) 2/20/2008 9:55:39 PM
EXPLOSIVE NYT REPORT: MCCAIN AIDES CONVINCED HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH LOBBYIST WAS 'ROMANTIC' (The Raw Story) 2/20/2008 9:03:07 PM
NYT breaks long-rumored story on possible relationship between McCain, lobbyist (Salon.com) 2/20/2008 8:50:30 PM
Blogs:

The McCain Counter-Offensive (The Corner) 2/21/2008 7:51:37 AM
MSNBC: 45 Minutes on McCain, 'Eerily Similar' to Clinton-Lewinsky (NewsBusters) 2/21/2008 3:16:11 AM
Broadcast Lobbyist at Heart of McCain Controversy (IP Democracy) 2/21/2008 1:21:45 AM
McCain: Experienced in the ways of Washington lobbyists (Daily Kos)

919 posted on 02/21/2008 5:31:11 AM PST by XR7
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Now that the Republican candidate is a “lock,”
he is a target to focus on - a sitting duck.
The MSM hit-squads are being unleashed.


920 posted on 02/21/2008 5:34:13 AM PST by XR7
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