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McCain Scandal Brewing?
The New York Times has posted an article, being hotly reported on MSNBC, that might have Republican presidential candidate John McCain in hot water: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.The article goes on to say that both McCain and lobbyist Vicki Iseman deny any romantic relationship, and describes McCain's fall and redemption from the S&L scandal. One on-the-record source, John Weaver, acknowledges attempts to separate the two, but attributes it to concerns over the appearance of unethical political conduct, not a romantic relationship.
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.
Update: Drudge had this in December:
Just weeks away from a possible surprise victory in the primaries, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz has been waging a ferocious behind the scenes battle with the NEW YORK TIMES, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned, and has hired DC power lawyer Bob Bennett to mount a bold defense against charges of giving special treatment to a lobbyist!
But the anonymous sources tell a different story, later in the article:
In interviews, the two former associates said they joined in a series of confrontations with Mr. McCain, warning him that he was risking his campaign and career. 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.A story like this requires a lot of reading between the lines, which puts it, in my view, in dicey journalistic territory. To level devastating, yet ambiguous, allegations at a Presidential candidate using anonymous sources doesn't pass the journalistic test. If these two sources observed specific behavior that led them to conclude that a romantic relationship existed, the reporters should have either made them describe it, or leave it out of the story.
The only other explanation is that The Times has more, but is holding it back, perhaps to protect the famously well-liked-by-the-press McCain. Either way, shame on them. If you have a story, report the story. If not, dig a little deeper.
What if these two anonymous insiders had a "feeling" that McCain had murdered someone? Would The Times have printed that with no corroboration, and nothing to corroborate? I "have a feeling" the Jets are going to win the Super Bowl, should I call the New York Times sports desk?
This story is already exploding all over the internet, and will no doubt be flogged to death, at least for a few days. Hopefully, the story of the story will get some attention, too.
Update: Also from Drudge's Dec. 20 report:
The drama involves a woman lobbyist who may have helped to write key telecom legislation. The woman in question has retained counsel and strongly denies receiving any special treatment from McCain.Now, Drudge's story is even more thinly sourced than The Times', except, A. He's Matt Drudge, not the New York Times, and B. the Times story now partially corroborates Drudge. If what Drudge says is true, then double the shame on the Times for holding the story.
Recent Comments
(Page 2 of 10)Jim Taylor10:33PMFeb 20th 2008
Hey folks! SO WHAT?
Jim Taylor10:34PMFeb 20th 2008
HEY FOLKS!!! SO WHAT?
JZ10:34PMFeb 20th 2008
Please people! Haven't we learned enough from the past to reject sexual "swift boating" tactics. McCain could be a total sleeze - which I do not believe for one second - and Obama could be a saint - and Michelle is intimidating enough that I'd be scared to cross her - but all I care about is who has the experience and strength to protect the good old USA in very dangerous times. Who will keep the maniacs in Iran from getting the bomb? Who will pull the rug out from under Al Quida and Hezbollah? Who will bring Venezuela and Saudi Arabia in line? Sweet talking Obama or a man of proven strength, McCain? The answer is sinple. VOTE MCCAIN!!!
Donna10:35PMFeb 20th 2008
I thought you had to be born in the United States to be the President, John McCain was born in Panama a territory not one of the 50 states.
Mona10:38PMFeb 20th 2008
Dig deeper? Well, here we go again! I wondered how long it would take someone like this site to start the ball rolling. "Dig and Destroy?" Yep..the usual.
I am a Democrat and think McCain is a great man. Probably will vote for him. Probably...
mark Tewson10:39PMFeb 20th 2008
"To level devastating, yet ambiguous, allegations at a Presidential candidate using anonymous sources doesn't pass the journalistic test."
I think anonymous sources, quite rightly, have played quite a positive role in previous American politics.
Anyone say, "Deepthroat."
sossity10:40PMFeb 20th 2008
I think what Pat means is that when Obama gets elected we will HAVE more to worry about than stories like this, but Pat is an idiot. get accustomed to the guy with the unusual name being our next president, folks, because he's the real deal. NO MORE BUSHES OR CLINTONS!
rnk194610:41PMFeb 20th 2008
Obama will beat McCain any day of the week.The S & L mess will catch up with
McCain and conservative Republicans will not get out the vote. Obama has the
charisma and attention of the people. he will be a breath of fresh air after the last 20 years of the Bush/Clinton/Bush troika. There are thousands of regular ordinary people like me who can't wait to campaign for Obama. Just tell me where and when in Ct. and I'll be there.
Falke10:44PMFeb 20th 2008
Old story - no base - Democ lawer that investigated McCain for 1 1/2 years said Mc Cain is clean.
Falke10:46PMFeb 20th 2008
Obamas show the real side they are on faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrr left
judy10:46PMFeb 20th 2008
the heck with Obama and McCain why are we not looking at Ron PAUL? COULD IT BE HE WOULD RUN OVER BOTH OF THEM?MS.Michelle's comment was not misunderstood!!!!! she ran her mouth before she thought about what the voters would think of them. I for one don't think she should say anything else about this country as she has ticked me off so much,that her spouse will NOT GET MY VOTE NOW!
Falke10:48PMFeb 20th 2008
Obama would be like Carter -- interest rates at 12 %, unemployment at 10 and tax rates double
Falke10:50PMFeb 20th 2008
oh I forgot -- and we would tell teh world that we are sorry to be Americans. Well screw Obama and the rest of those idiots.
Falke10:53PMFeb 20th 2008
Msg to McCain _ quit being so nice. If you see an idiot : tell them that he is one
Kyle10:54PMFeb 20th 2008
Let's talk seriously about McCain. I too was in the military during the Viet Nam era. I was just plain lucky, never captured or in live combat or shoot at. So I do not know how I would behave if captured and tortured. I would probably cave pretty quickly as I am not that brave. However, once I caved in I would never consider myself a hero, only a survivor. So what are the undisputed facts about Mr. McCain's capture and his actions. First off the Viet Cong knew he was an admirals son, what part that plays in all of this is just not that clear, but could have been a factor. The fact that we were trying our best to find hero's to help justify the war is a fact. So here is the main point of all this background. We were taught and warned and told that if captured we must never give anything to the enemy except name, rank and serial number, to do otherwise is treason and a courts marshall offense. We were taught that it was your duty to try to escape and to help other escape. It is widely reported that Mr. McCain not only gave lots of information to the enemy he actually signed a document saying he was a spy and war criminal. But, then once released he was and is treated as a war "hero". The Uniform Code of Military Justice, states that his actions can be considered treason. Again under torture, I am sure I would have done that and worse, but would I have been hailed as somekind of hero or would I have been courts marshalled? So, if the reports are true then Mr. McCain is a survivor and a veteran just like many others, but a hero?
darlene10:55PMFeb 20th 2008
Your biased twisting is getting tiring, AOL. I'm going to get another server. The current administration shoving all of the @#$% down our throats for so long is enough. I don't need this garbage on my home page. It is as if a subscription of a supermarket rag is living inside my screen. Why don't you stop it? Everyone knows you are in the "Cahoots To Screw the American Middle Class" gang. Is that why you are in my face?
MARK11:02PMFeb 20th 2008
WHAT THE FFF IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE WHY IS THIS COMING OUT NOW IF IT WAS REALLY A BIG DEAL WHY DIDNT THE SCUMDIGGING MEDIA COME OUT WITH IT BEFORE AND DOES IT HAVE ANY BEARING AT ALL ON THE ELECTION? I MEAN COME ON LETS STICK TO WHATS IMPORTANT AND SAVE OUR COUNTRY AND HOPEFULLY THE WORLD!!!! WE NEED TO REALLY SAVE THIS WORLD SOON AND NOT WORRY ABOUT SILLY STUPID CRAP JUST GET MORE LOVING AND HELP OTHERS IN NEED BECAUSE REALISTICLY SPEAKING GOD IS IN CHARGE AND IF WE SCREWUP HE WILL DECIDE NOT ANY OF US!!! ALSO NO IM NOT A RELIGIOUS FANATIC IM JUST A REALIST CHRISTIAN THAT SEES WHAT IS GOING ON!!!! I DO BACK JOHN MCCAIN THOUGH VERY SERIOUSLY! HE IS WHAT OUR COUNTRY NEEDS NOW NOT HILLARY AND I DONT THINK BARACK IS READY YET! MAYBE IN A FEW YEARS! GOD BLESS ALL
Shep11:05PMFeb 20th 2008
Hey Peters, see how amoral are you. Sit in a body cast and tortured in a POW camp for 5 years and then start passing opinions on others. You are pathetic!
Linda Majors11:08PMFeb 20th 2008
Quit knit picking and back biting and get down to business and set a platform America can believe in and count on! This goes to the press and to the candidates.
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sherriff5710:27PMFeb 20th 2008
A woman on the side i really dont care about, but a lobbyist is something that needs to be looked into.Lobbyist want a congressman to vote their way.Who did she work for and how did he vote?