Posted on 02/21/2008 6:31:35 AM PST by teddyballgame
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) -- John McCain denied a romantic relationship with a female telecommunications lobbyist on Thursday and said a report by The New York Times suggesting favoritism for her clients is "not true."
"I'm very disappointed in the article. It's not true," the likely Republican presidential nominee said as his wife, Cindy, stood alongside him during a news conference called to address the matter.
McCain described the woman in question, lobbyist Vicki Iseman, as a friend.
The newspaper quoted anonymous aides as saying they had urged McCain and Iseman to stay away from each other prior to his failed presidential campaign in 2000. In its own follow-up story, The Washington Post quoted longtime aide John Weaver, who split with McCain last year, as saying he met with lobbyist Iseman and urged her to steer clear of McCain.
(Excerpt) Read more at breakingnews.nypost.com ...
I’m waiting for Rupert Murdoch to turn the WSJ into a serious competitor to this so-called “newspaper of record”.
More.................
NYT Reader:
Quote:
The NYT should be ashamed! This has to be the lowest form of “reporting” I’ve ever read. Talk about innuendo. rumors, and vindictiveness.
What’s your next smear? Hillary Clinton and a rehash of her husband’s faults? How about going after Obama..?
Seems to me the NYT should spend time examining its own ethics.
— Ginnie Wood, New York City
Where is it said that McCain thought he had “made friends with the media”? C’mon, a politician, above all, knows who his “friends” are. Laura, like the other radio pundits, are ad-paid entertainers.
Geez, where have you been?
I have ranked the WSJ higher than the Times since at least 9/11.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1973955/posts
You may be interested in this thread.
You reference John Weaver, one on McCain’s aids, as evidence of something going on.
The story says... “But Weaver insists he never talked to or asked Iseman about any romantic relationship with McCain because “there was no reason to.”
I agree. I bet right now John McCain’s staff is working hard to put a spin on the wishy-washy response. They might lurk here to read the reactions, then devise excuses.
So have I, but so many (including freepers) are stuck on their 20th century thinking re: the NYT.
I am proud of the NYT readers!
Case Study:
Quote:
First of all I am an Obama supporter.
Having said that, this article about McCain reeks of partisan politics. Bolster the article with REAL, VERIFIABLE facts or retract it!
— Bob, Illinois
But I agree with everything you said.
sw
EXCELLENT!
fROM YOUR lINK:
CNN) — Former McCain political adviser John Weaver confirms to CNN that he did approach lobbyist Vicki Iseman about eight years ago, during McCain’s first presidential run, and told her she was threatening to undermine the heart of McCain’s campaign – that he is a reformer.
Weaver says he arranged the meeting with Iseman — first reported by the New York Times — out of concern that she was “telling people around town” she was getting access to, and had influence with, McCain that Weaver says she did not have.
But Weaver insists he never talked to or asked Iseman about any romantic relationship with McCain because “there was no reason to.”
(Excerpt) Read more at politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com ...
He started out well and with the right idea.
Focus on the heartland, their concerns, opinions, way-of-life, patriotism, individualism, struggles and accomplishments.
He has now gone the way of the rest; East-coast centric.
You have been proven wrong, and now you need a new hobby!
I’m sure the NYT will be reporting on Hillary’s lesbian relationships next week.
‘teddyballgame’ is deeply saddened!
I realize that having been on the receiving end of many of those letters. But these were not routine letters if you believe the NYT report and the fact that McCain was the chairman of the Commerce Committee made this noteworthy. From the NYT article:
"In late 1999, Ms. Iseman asked Mr. McCain’s staff to send a letter to the commission to help Paxson, now Ion Media Networks, on another matter. Mr. Paxson was impatient for F.C.C. approval of a television deal, and Ms. Iseman acknowledged in an e-mail message to The Times that she had sent to Mr. McCain’s staff information for drafting a letter urging a swift decision."
"Mr. McCain complied. He sent two letters to the commission, drawing a rare rebuke for interference from its chairman. In an embarrassing turn for the campaign, news reports invoked the Keating scandal, once again raising questions about intervening for a patron."
"Mr. McCain’s aides released all of his letters to the F.C.C. to dispel accusations of favoritism, and aides said the campaign had properly accounted for four trips on the Paxson plane. But the campaign did not report the flight with Ms. Iseman. Mr. McCain’s advisers say he was not required to disclose the flight, but ethics lawyers dispute that.
If this were a crime, every Congresscritter in Washington, DC would be guilty of it several thousand times over.
Agreed. But this is "even the appearance of an impropriety" from the Senate's leading crusader on ethics and eliminating the influence of special interests in politics.
I don’t think Murdoch has “succombed” at all. He is a quiet conservative, moving slowly and gaining momentum. Fox became the leading news source, did it not? These things take time and Murdoch drive his businesses that way: slow and steady. (IMO :)
Make that “succumbed”.
Your quote: “If he is going to call a press conference to deny a newspaper article, he shouldn’t look like he is walking the gang plank of guilt!”
I actually liked his performance, because a recent allegation is that he’s a HOT HEAD!
I liked how he laughed and said, “Folks, we’re dealing with the NY Times.....”
Of course, any one savvy in Wash DC KNOWS the NY Slimes.
He also has to respect the Freedom of the Press. (Hat Tip)
Yep, even here on FR, there is about 20% of the people that hate McCain so much that they will believe this trash from the NY Times over his word without any question.
Bush Derangement Syndrome: the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal people in reaction to the policies, the presidency — nay — the very existence of George W. Bush.
McCain Derangement Syndrome: the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal people in reaction to the words, the actions— nay — the very existence of John McCain.
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