Slime-Time Begins Against McCain
EmailEight years ago, then-Gov. George W. Bush and his allies dragged Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his family through the mud as their competed in the South Carolina GOP primary.
It’s starting again…
An anti-McCain flier has been mailed to the voters of this state, seeking to undercut his military record. From a mysterious group called "Vietnam Veterans Against McCain."
On side one (see it HERE), an unflattering cartoon of the senator as a Vietnam War POW. The sign to his cell reads: "McCain Headquarters," with political signs tossed on the floor reading: "McCain: I’m a Hero" and "McCain: Elect Me" Graffiti on the cell walls read: "Hanoi Hilton," "Songbird" and "An Enormous Crime, the POWs I Helped Leave Behind," "Elect Me, elect me, elect me, "POW for President," "The Rabbit Hurt Me, the Cat Broke Me, But Bui Tin Loved Me."
Pretty nasty stuff.
The other side of the flier (read it HERE) assails McCain’s record as a pilot, and says "For years McCain has been an unchecked master at manipulating an overly friendly and biased news media. The former POW turned Congressman, turned US Senator has managed to gloss over his failures as a pilot and his collaborations with the enemy to become America’s POW hero presidential candidate."
McCain ally and former POW Orson Swindle slammed the allegations, saying that while "the group claims that John McCain turned his back on his fellow POWs in order to save his own skin…Nothing could be further from the truth. I know because I was there.
"The truth is, the North Vietnamese offered John McCain early release, and he refused. He stuck to the time honored military code of first-in, first-out, and stood by his fellow POWs until the end — even at the risk of his own life as he was severely injured…"
It goes on from there.
Things get nasty in South Carolina.
- jpt
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Is there something basically, deeply wrong with the South? The ease that that region lies and accepts lies is amazing. Predictable as flies on a Moon Pie…the South will get dirty and malicious without batting an eye.
Posted by: Lee_USA | January 15, 2008, 8:25 pm 8:25 pm
I want to hear the other side as well,
let them have their say; if the allegations are lies they should be easy to shoot down.Any proof? Deceit seeks the darkness in which to hide,the thruth loves the light of day(something like that).
Posted by: johnny | January 15, 2008, 8:28 pm 8:28 pm
Slime-time against McCain. My god! I’m not even a McCain supporter but I am a true blue American and a democrat (small ‘d’) and this sort of crap appalls me as it should every other true blue American. The folks who do this, ‘power at any cost’, right-wingers, corporate entitlement types, scared to death that their pawns in DC might lose the stranglehold they currently have on the executive branch as well as the Congress, never mind the Supreme Court, are those whose citizenship should be terminated. That South Carolina hootch must be pretty vile stuff, crippling as it clearly does, fairness, decency, honesty and all other virtues as well as brain cells.
Posted by: ken t | January 15, 2008, 8:35 pm 8:35 pm
Wow, that is so dispicable. If opposition wants to attack Senator McCain then they should attack him on his veiws or record in Washington. Personally, those comments are proof of what I do not like about politics today.
Posted by: Megan | January 15, 2008, 8:48 pm 8:48 pm
Registered independent…We need real change in DC. Very few of the candidates offer that. McCain is an old “inside the belt-way” pro-politician who claims he wants to bring jobs back to Michigan/USA. Let’s examine some facts: He voted for NAFTA, for GATT, for CAFTA and recently voted against the repeal of subsidies which reward US companies to move across our borders. These are facts! He lies, he talks out of both sides of his mouth. But sadly, most of our politicians do the same. He’s got nothing new, if he wants to make a change why doesn’t he start the repeal process of the agreements? Just Facts that people refuse to open their eyes and minds to. Think about it!
Posted by: Bucknut5 | January 15, 2008, 8:55 pm 8:55 pm
Some want to blame fellow Republicans for this smear, but I think we should wait to see who really did it. You know dirty politics have been a way of life in this country ever since the founding of the country. It is always hard to challenge these kinds of dirty tricks this close to an election and if one tries then your time to get out your message is compromised. I will say that I have never heard of any of his fellow inmates make any of these charges, so I think they are lies and don’t give them a second thought. The swift boat charges against Kerry had some legs as a lot of those guys were serving at the same time.
Posted by: Jim from KC | January 15, 2008, 9:32 pm 9:32 pm
The only lies I remember coming out of the south with any regularity were from Little Rock, Arkansas. Saying the north is full of liars goes without saying.
Posted by: Mark Parsons | January 15, 2008, 9:43 pm 9:43 pm
McCain should use this smear as an opportunity to call out GW and Karl Rove for what they did to him. The only way a republican will win in ’08 is by completely snubbing and publicly ridiculing GW’s failures. Otherwise GW will be their albatross in the general election.
Posted by: Mike | January 15, 2008, 9:44 pm 9:44 pm
most likely someone from Dailykos or huffinton.. they fear Mccain, so does ABC, CBS, and NBC
Posted by: Steve | January 15, 2008, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
john mccain was a war hero. to doubt that or impune that is despicable. however, that doesnt qualify him to be president. what also doesnt qualify him, is his beliefs. mccain/finegold was an attack on free speech. hes wrong about the bush tax cuts. and, his stance on illegal immigrants borders on treason. the “straight talk express”, is a ploy. mccain isnt capable of straight talk.
Posted by: bill chartier | January 15, 2008, 11:23 pm 11:23 pm
I supported McCain before, but I thought all this stuff would go away since he came out and sucked up to Bush. Seeing that his selling out has resulted in the same silly attacks from the people in South Carolina, all I can say is they voted for Strom Thurmond, enuff said. However, all I think you have to do to sink McCain is remember, he voted to give social security and amnesty to illegal immigrants. Supports a national ID card for Americans and NOT illegials! Supports the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the coming one in IRAN. The man is obsessed with pleasing the hawks like Kissinger and will not rest until your sons and daughters have propped up EVERY corrupt regime in the world. The neocons and the neolibs (Hilliary, Edwards, Obama) want end our soverignity and let the UN control our fate as a nation. This is an act of treason. But who cares it’s not like people actually know their rights or will fight to keep ‘em. 20 years of a Bush and a Clinton I guess deserves another one to finish the US off, once and for all. And the best part is your apathy let it happen. WAKE UP AMERICA… Your republic has crumbled around you, and all you are left with is tyranny by the elite minority. The great experiment that once was this wonderful nation is finally over.
Posted by: rw3 | January 15, 2008, 11:53 pm 11:53 pm
Mccan/Finegold limited the free speech of ordinary citizens but allowed rich radical left wing anti Americans along with the liberal media to spin the issues. McCain also seemed to support the radical illegal immagrants over loyal US citizens. But he did support the war that want to kill us infidels.
Posted by: Larry | January 15, 2008, 11:59 pm 11:59 pm
First I question McCain’s ability to run for US President since he was not born in the United States.
Second, I question his loyalty, because of his treatment of the Survivors of the USS Liberty in favor of a foreign government! He prefers AIPAC fundraising over the benefit of helping slain sailors as shown by his action on the USS Liberty betraying US Sailors.
Third, his policy on immigration, is close to treason, he acknowledges that illegal (criminals) are working on Arizona construction sites (??jobs that US Citizens won’t do??). If he was a patriot he would demand that the INS round up the people who are taking jobs that US Citizens would do if offered. In my opinion he is not a patriot as shown by his actions.
Crooked Keating Five. The other 4 left office but McCain stayed on showing he like Clinton had NO SHAME.
Like me, he suffers from Melanoma, which would also disqualify him from running for president as if it returns he could dead within 6 months
Posted by: CO | January 16, 2008, 2:18 am 2:18 am
what a bunch of conspiracy nuts feeding on lies, but that’s how G.W. did it and got elected. disgusting!
Posted by: michmac | January 16, 2008, 7:38 am 7:38 am
We’ve got Karl Rove in the house!!!
Posted by: DKNY | January 16, 2008, 8:34 am 8:34 am
Given the previous Swift Boat attacks it’s difficult to understand how this new attack could help the Republicans against McCain. My instinct tells me this attack is having an effect opposite that which was “intended” so… This is either being produced by some very dumb anti-McCain folks or…
It’s just too vitriolic and too over the top to be considered a real threat.
Posted by: Davis Bradley | January 16, 2008, 8:41 am 8:41 am
I guess this means TeamRove is backing Romney.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | January 16, 2008, 9:02 am 9:02 am
As a Naval officer that is being deployed to Afghanistan I find the attacks against John McCain’s service to our country appalling. You may not agree with his politics but you are defaming a man that volunteered to defend our country and despite his short comings did so with honor.
Posted by: mhusband | January 16, 2008, 9:25 am 9:25 am
We have multiple issues it is not black and white!
As I respect McCains service very much and he is a War hero, and those type of attacks against him need to stop.
BUT McCain is going around saying Vote for me I was a POW and that would be open attack.
Yes we should honor him, but no we do not need him as President, he is not a conservative, and better yet it is difficult to see him as a Republican. Because if you look at his record and Liebermans they are almost identical, so that would make him an old time Democrat not to be mixed up with the new Democrat Socialaist Party!
He did not lose because of these attacks in 2000, and he will not lose because of them in 2008, he will lose because of his Amnesty Bill and voting against Tax cuts.
By the way I really think it is the Liberal Left that is doing this! It is fact they think this will fracture the Republicans, but it will make them stronger!!
The Left Wing Conspiracy!!
Posted by: spocks | January 16, 2008, 10:29 am 10:29 am
“really think it is the Liberal Left that is doing this!”
Moron alert!
Posted by: El | January 16, 2008, 10:48 am 10:48 am
Nothing succeeds like success, as was proven in 2000 in the Republican primary in SC and in 2004 nationally in the presidential election. So why not spread vicious lies if it helps your candidate? Just look where it got the current occupant of the White House!
Posted by: chuck | January 16, 2008, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
Two men that are resonsible for this fiction are Jerry “Gerard” Kiley and Ted Sampley. They were both a part of the “swiftboating” activities against John Kerry in 2000 under the name of Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry.
Ted Sampley resides in Kinston, NC and has an odd history and presence in this town including tax liabilities with the state.
Posted by: Skyhawk | January 16, 2008, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
For the initiated Google the following phrase:
“Who is Ted Sampley and Why do I Care?”
You should come up with three interesting stories on the likes of Ted Sampley.
Posted by: Skyhawk | January 16, 2008, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
Now I know for certain that the Republican Party devours its own. And I thought Hillary was taking a page out of the SwiftBoat playbook, but the Swiftboat Veterans For Truth decided to show us that they are still the Undisputed Champs of misinformation, inuendo, and sleeze. The thing about Clinton’s gaffe turned attack was that their was enough criticism from bloggers everywhere that both the Obama and Clinton camps agreed to a truce. The last time McCain was attacked in South Carolina (something about his daughter), he blew a gasket at the Religious Right, and lost to Bush. But that was before the Bloggosphere. But I have the feeling that the Republicans will let this slide on by. So, whoever the Democratic Nominee is (And I Like Obama), look out. Even the Clinton’s can’t top these guys. What a bunch of creeps.
Posted by: ji_john | January 17, 2008, 12:41 am 12:41 am
El – First thats a line from Hilary!
And yes they are doing a lot of it, look at the left wing blogs and you wil see what I mean!
Also Libs get over the Swift Boats, I know you cant handle the truth, but everything they said was backed up and proven! By the way how come Kerry has not won that bet, he said would take for 1 million dollars to show that the swift boats were lying!!
Any how, McCain is not a Conservative on Domestic issues, he is a Democrat on most of his issues!! And so is Huckabee!
So PLEASE South Carolina vote Fred !!
First and fore most if a candidate can not take any type of political attack then why should we vote for them and if people can not see past a lie why should they be able to vote!! Usually people get upset when the truth comes out not when lies, perfect example look at the libs, they get very upset if facts are given that disprove them!!
Please note the news media should not be playing politics as it does in its attacks against Republicans, they are suppose to stay neutral and open support for Libs!
Posted by: spock | January 17, 2008, 9:47 am 9:47 am
By the way the attacks against his military record is coming from the Libs (that also includes Huckabee, who is not considered a Conservative)
Posted by: spock | January 17, 2008, 9:49 am 9:49 am
Thank god for JOHN MCCAIN!Its men like him who help Mexicans like us to have a better chance to live in the U.S. He understands that all we want to do is work hard and have a better live, And he respects that we can speak spanish and not forced to speak english first!You got our vote Mr.Mccain,VIVA Mccain!!!!
Posted by: Jose | January 23, 2008, 8:58 pm 8:58 pm