For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk

[Kefka]

WASHINGTON — 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, visiting his offices and accompanying him on 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 client, the former campaign associates said, some aides feared for a time that attention would fall on her involvement.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/us/politics/21mccain.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

[Back]

John McCain forced to deny romantic link with lobbyist (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3407188.ece)


John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, was last night romantically linked to a 40-year-old female political lobbyist and accused of granting her clients political favours.

Mr McCain, 71, fiercely denied a report in the New York Times which stated that eight years ago, during his first run for the White House, his aides were so concerned about his relationship with Vicki Iseman that they blocked her access to him to "protect the candidate from himself".

--------------------------------------------

Johnny you old dog you...

[Parkbandit]

I don't think it's a big deal about the so called romantic relationship.. as that has never been proven. I think it's the impression people get when a lobbyist gets this close to someone who built his campaigns around being anti-special interest groups that is a problem for McCain.

:rofl: @ the NYT for digging up an 8 year old story though. That rag makes me laugh on a daily basis.

[Clove]

The last thing I want is men in power who aren't getting any :D

[ClydeR]

McCain's campaign issued a denial after the story broke. The Times added the denial at the very end of their article. You have to read through four pages to get to it.

The McCain campaign said,


"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."

I think it was a denial.

[TheEschaton]

This story is as equally ludicrous as the Michelle Obama story.

[Warriorbird]

Yes.

[Parkbandit]

I hope this story turns more from McCain to the NYTimes once again throwing up shitty journalism and "unnamed sources" and calling it news.

[Warriorbird]

It's sort of interesting given their endorsement. A few people have suggested that it got leaked to give McCain "a more youthful character." and a straw man scandal to knock down. Sounds ludicrous... but stranger things have happened.

[Stanley Burrell]

I hope

I do not believe it to be a matter of hope, Councilor. It is simply merely a matter of time.

I hope McCain chokes on wienerschnitzel. That'd be darn spiffy.

[Parkbandit]

It's sort of interesting given their endorsement. A few people have suggested that it got leaked to give McCain "a more youthful character." and a straw man scandal to knock down. Sounds ludicrous... but stranger things have happened.

I have a hard time believing that the NYTimes would do anything to help a Republican candidate. They have to 'endorse' one of the Republicans.. doesn't mean they will ever vote for him/her in the general election though.

It'll be interesting to see how they eventually endorse Obama.. after their candidate Clinton loses and their other candidate is still in the race.

[Back]

I’m curious what people think is the NYT’s agenda other than a commitment to journalism?

[Apathy]

Vicki Isemen:
http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/POLITICS/02/21/mccain.story.irpt/art.iseman.2004.gi.jpg

Cindy McCain (2nd from left if you're retarded):
http://www.polichicksonline.com/Meghan%20McCain.jpg

I don't know, she certainly looks like his type.

Either way, John McCain does well.

[Parkbandit]

I’m curious what people think is the NYT’s agenda other than a commitment to journalism?

So I'm sure you have the same opinion of Fox News... or is it only liberal rags have no real agenda?

It's good to have you back though.. I missed your stupidity.

[Stanley Burrell]

Vicki Isemen:
http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/POLITICS/02/21/mccain.story.irpt/art.iseman.2004.gi.jpg

Cindy McCain (2nd from left if you're retarded):
http://www.polichicksonline.com/Meghan%20McCain.jpg

I don't know, she certainly looks like his type.

Either way, John McCain does well.

What's with that cockblocking bitch wearing the crutches?

[Back]

So I'm sure you have the same opinion of Fox News... or is it only liberal rags have no real agenda?

It's good to have you back though.. I missed your stupidity.

We can trade insults all day and avoid the issues. But seriously, what agenda do you think the NYT has?

I’ll be happy to address your comment about FOX when you answer the question.

[Warriorbird]

I find it interesting how conservative talk radio and blogs are treating McCain much better after this "attack."

It's like it made him much more appealing to the fiscal conservatives (which he isn't...at all.)

[Back]

I find it interesting how conservative talk radio and blogs are treating McCain much better after this "attack."

It's like it made him much more appealing to the fiscal conservatives (which he isn't...at all.)

That is an odd occurrence of all this. One would think it would fuel the talk rhetoric but instead its had the opposite effect. Perhaps that is because right now he is the best chance at the nomination whereas a few months ago he was thought of as dead in the water.

[Gan]

Transcript of the McCain response. (Dont feel like posting the whole thing due to length).

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/02/mccain_speaks_to_press_regardi.html

[Gan]

Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign claimed vindication Thursday night after a sophisticated 24-hour counterattack turned a potentially lethal story in The New York Times into a conservative call to arms.

The piece about McCain’s friendly relations with a telecommunications lobbyist — long-discussed in political circles and planned for weeks by McCain operatives — was the first test of his ability to confront a public-relations crisis since becoming the GOP’s presumptive nominee.

But the reaction may have said as much about the mindset of the conservative movement on the brink of the general election as it did about McCain and his team.

more...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8629.html

[Warriorbird]

And a "Hmmm...." once again...

[Gan]

Hmmm? or Mm-hmm?

There's a difference.