No one goes to the media and intentionally smears the VP candidate, and gets away with it, unless the big boss put them up to it. John knew he was going to lose, so he used it as an opportunity to destroy an up-and-coming conservative.
McCain had just as much problems with the Romney-bots and Paul-bots over there, as we have with them on Free Republic, here.
They're all idiots and we've still got them around here, too... leaving their slime trails all over FRee Republic.
It's not always easy to get rid of vermin from amongst your people, when they're mixed in.
He could have fired the woman who was spreading the smears. That he did not speaks volumes IMHO.