McCain on the Defensive
EmailSalacious New York Times story drops, rife with insinuation and blind quotes, driving Romney staffers mad and offering a less heaven-sent explanation for Mike Huckabee’s continued presence in the GOP race.
Expect to see tomorrow in Toledo:
McCain denying any inappropriate relationship with the female lobbyist, Vicki Iseman;
McCain denying that any staffer ever told him to stay away from the lobbyist… and for staffers to argue that there are very few people (Mark Salter, and maybe Rick Davis) who could ever have such "a talk" with the man;
McCain trying not to lose his cool;
The McCain camp attacking the NYT, asserting the story is "National Enquirer" journalism;
The McCain camp arguing that the story had been spiked twice before and was only published because the New Republic was writing a piece about why the story hadn’t been published and dissent within the NYT;
The McCain camp challenging the NYT to ask the unnamed sources when they warned McCain — dates, times, places — and to assert that absence of evidence is evidence of absence;
The McCain camp producing names of staffers who told the NYT they don’t know Iseman and don’t recognize her…and who weren’t quoted in the piece;
The McCain camp asserting, maybe with documentation, that Iseman was hardly a frequent presence and only came by the office two to three times a year, always with clients;
The McCain camp differentiating between Iseman going to the Commerce Committee and her visiting McCain’s Senate office;
The McCain camp pointing out that the NYT went after him in 2000 for the letter he wrote on behalf of Paxson Communications — only then the NYT was alleging he did it for a contributor.
Cindy McCain.
There will be blood.
- jpt
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
The Associated Press gives a much different account of this story than ABC News:
“Published reports said McCain and Iseman each denied having a romantic relationship. Neither story asserted that there was a romantic relationship and offered no evidence that there was, reporting only that aides worried about the appearance of McCain having close ties to a lobbyist with business before the Senate Commerce Committee on which McCain served.”
The following is exactly what the McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker 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.
Americans are sick and tired of this kind of gutter politics, and there is nothing in this story to suggest that John McCain has ever violated the principles that have guided his career.”
The timing of the attack suggests an attempt to divert attention from Michelle Obama’s recent remarks.
Is anyone surprised?
Posted by: Ken | February 21, 2008, 8:30 am 8:30 am
Larry Sinclair has offered to take a lie detector, and yet, is that all over the news? I thought maybe the eclipse last night was a sign that the aliens were coming to take Obama back to planet LALA! This election has become nothing more than a glimpse at how powerful the media has become.
Posted by: NotABlindFollower | February 21, 2008, 8:31 am 8:31 am
Why doesn’t the media houses just tell us who they would love as POTUS and then we can all run out and vote for that person. It seem very clear to me that the media houses all seem to be on one course in selecting who the next president will be, and am really wondering why that is.
Posted by: SJ | February 21, 2008, 8:31 am 8:31 am
A “bimbo eruption” involving John McCain–who’d a thunk it? This is, for lack of a better term, karma in action for the Republicans’ thirst for Bill Clinton’s blood in the late ’90′s. They should have remembered that “what goes around, comes around.”
Posted by: chuck | February 21, 2008, 8:59 am 8:59 am
I find it interesting that, according to reports, the NY Times was actually sitting on this story WHEN they came out and endorsed Sen. McCain for the Republican Party’s nomination. Was this a premeditated hatchet job by the NY Times? Could it be that they were going to try to sit on this story until just before the general election?
Another interesting aspect in all of this is the fact that with just inuendo and rumors and BOTH Sen. McCain and Ms. Iseman denying any impropriety, the mainstream media jumped all over this. While on the other hand, there is a specific allegation about Sen. Obama being made by an individual and the mainstream media won’t touch that story with a ten-foot pole.
Posted by: James Danley | February 21, 2008, 9:14 am 9:14 am
This is just one more instance in which the news media are making up lies about a candidate. Unless the writer has actually seen some activity going regarding Senator McCain, I for one believe this is another smear campaign against a good man. Maybe there should be an investigation of the so called news reporters lives and see what is “uncovered.” This “trash writing” is not worth the paper it is written. I hope Senator McCain lets this fly off him. I think he is a good man and for someone to try and ruin his repuation is dispicable. In my opion, the writer of this article obviously has no ability to report an honest event. He/she has no ability to discern right from wrong. There is a quote that says, “show me the money.” Until irrefutable evidence is established regarding Senator McCain, I for one do not believe a negative word that is said.
Posted by: Evelyn Davis | February 21, 2008, 9:14 am 9:14 am
I hope this gives hope for Huck!!!
Posted by: Dr.Charles Hughes | February 21, 2008, 9:26 am 9:26 am
I’m sorry- where is the story NYT?
>Two ex-employees allege a romantic involvement.
>He wrote a letter asking the FCC for a quicker decision.
>He might have taken a plane ride he shouldn’t have.
THERE IS NO THERE THERE.
If there’s a story, I haven’t heard it.
Posted by: David Stout | February 21, 2008, 9:54 am 9:54 am
Oh how I miss the good old 90′s. America got to listen to these kinds of accusations plus some involving the Oval Office all the time.
Turns out the ones in the 90′s were all true. I doubt this one is.
Posted by: A Texan for Obama | February 21, 2008, 10:07 am 10:07 am
Oh please! “I hope this gives hope for Huck.” Once again, Oh Please! This is the miracle Huckabee’s been waiting for? (Didn’t major in math, but miracles) Spare us all.
Posted by: Tracy | February 21, 2008, 10:14 am 10:14 am
Thank you NYT. For the first time ever, I was going to skip this year’s election. You see, I don’t like McCain. Your “story” remined me that the real enemy in this country, are the dem’s, and I will be voting for McCain.
Posted by: Mike | February 21, 2008, 10:25 am 10:25 am
Isn’t one of the predictions of Nostradaumas that during the end times there will be a young and charismatic leader that many believe is the Messiah? That this person is actually the anti-Christ and will lead to the destruction of mankind? Hmmm……….I wonder who that person could be?
Posted by: Firefighter | February 21, 2008, 10:29 am 10:29 am
The NYT’s is a is like the Enquiror, I guess their love fest for McCain is over.
I hope this opens the minds of people that the press is so far left that it makes Stalin look like a moderate.
Their will be more hatchett jobs against McCain, they pulled this one out to try and stop the coming together of the Republican party, because we know the Democrats are totally fractured at this time.
When will the media start informing us of Obama? instead of not only protecting him but going out of the way and lying about true stories that come out about him.
Maybe the NYT do not have hope for our Country.
I heard a song last night from the 30 – If you don not like the USA then go back to the your land do not try to change ours.- not exactly the right title but a phrasde from the song.
Posted by: spock | February 21, 2008, 10:32 am 10:32 am
Interesting story in so many ways, and for so many reasons.
I’ve no idea if any of this is true, or if any of it will “stick” or “grow legs.”
But if it is/does, while bashing the New York Times and The Washington Post is always a reliable and well-tested means for any Repub to rally conservatives, I suspect this could also drive McCain’s independent-voter supporters away in droves.
It will be fascinating to watch this play out.
Posted by: Mark | February 21, 2008, 10:35 am 10:35 am
The media cult members in love with Obama can not even wait for the general election to start.
Posted by: geevill | February 21, 2008, 10:37 am 10:37 am
If a man is able to leave his wife(Carol McCain) after she got crippled in a car accident for a younger woman(Cindy McCain) his current wife, what does that tell you? If he’s a true conservative, he should know married couples stay together in good & bad times. He’s not a true conservative so he wouldn’t understand those values. That same woman, Cindy McCain used her position in 2004 to steal painkillers from a medical charity she ran because she was addicted to painkillers. I ask myself, if she had been prosecuted and put in jail would she be “proud of her country”. On stage with Sen. McCain she looks stoned all the time. I wish Mitt Romney hadn’t dropped out of the race. This is a sad day for the Republican Party.
Posted by: Owen Hill | February 21, 2008, 10:39 am 10:39 am
Interesting theory, rothengefd, but to be honest, though no fan of McCain’s whatsoever, I doubt he’d sink to such devious behavior.
The GOP itself, the party which first smeared and knee-capped McCain himself in South Carolina in 2000? In a heartbeat.
But McCain? I sincerely doubt it.
Posted by: Mark | February 21, 2008, 11:01 am 11:01 am
Oh my, so here we go. Clinton’s unfit because of her husband’s past indiscretions. McCain will be deemed unfit because he MAY have had a romantic relationship with this woman, a lobbyist (dreaded word) at that!
Faithfulness to ones wife/husband – very important. No argument here. But, what’s with our society’s OCD with other people’s private lives? Knowing what we know about JFK now, would it have changed your vote for him back then? Would you have said, I like his speeches. I like his look. I like his wife. I like his kids. I like his military service. I like his record. BUT, I wish you hadn’t told me about the affairs he will later have. Because I now can’t vote for him?
And then this mornings interrogation. That’s right interrogation. Beat him down, get him to say “I had sex with that woman.” I bet as McCain was listening to all of this he was taken back to Hanoi when his interrogators asked, “Are you ready to admit your war crimes? You will say you are grateful to the Vietnamese people, and that you are sorry for your crimes, or we will send you back to the camp.” McCain had a decision to make, should he take their deal of an early release and confess? His decision was to stand by his men, his fellow comrades there, POWs just like him. He endured more torture, and solitary confinement, and was held captive for five and a half years.
You know, I don’t give a rat’s ass if he did or didn’t have an improper relation with that woman. He said he didn’t and I’m good with that, BUT, even if he did – so what! American’s like to say, I’m against the war, but I’m for the troops. Ok – prove it. Think they’re not watching? Ha! Do you think about how some of them have most likely received Dear John letters while over there? Do you think about how some of them probably return to home only to find their spouse has decided to leave them? War is hard on everyone. But war will be here with all of us – isn’t that what the Bible says and isn’t that what history has proven?
John McCain’s 19 year old son just returned from a tour in Iraq with the Marines.
Some have said that good people will tire of what they must go through to be president and this seems to have some merit. Look at the current election. The one candidate who is doing the best is the youngest, with the least record to look at. It would appear that all future hopeful candidates need to enter with a relatively blank slate and an idealistic message of hope and change that of course, we all want to believe.
But what of our armed services, those young people we call on to go and do the dirty work. To go through boot camp. To go to the frontline and face death and even possible dishonor, either there, or when they return? What can you promise them that will make it all worthwhile?
Keep the faith Mr. McCain and Seimper Fi – we respect you in this Marine family and we appreciate all you have done for us.
Posted by: american2 | February 21, 2008, 11:06 am 11:06 am
This story came from the anti-McCain Republicans who want Romney back in the race. Romney only SUSPENDED his campaign and could easily get back in if the Republicans can take McCain down. REMEMBER, poppy Bush opened his Presidential Library to Romney to give his “Mormon religion” explanation to the Mormon skeptics out there in the evangelical world. Romney had Jeb Bush staffers working for his campaign AND….G. W. Bush has yet to endorse McCain. They are trying to take him down so Mitt can get back in the race. STAY TUNED!
Funny. The NYT backed McCain over Giuliani and the Republicans here are blaming this on them? How much did you like the NYT when Judith Miller was writing her WMD stories every day cheer leading Bush’s illegal war??….which ended up being completely BOGUS.
This story came from the REPUBLICANS, not the Democrats and the NYT didn’t pull it out of thin air. 2 ex McCain staffers (REPUBLICANS) are behind this story….no doubt egged on by the Republican Romney supporters.
Posted by: Tom | February 21, 2008, 11:58 am 11:58 am
The media is really disgusting now, everyday its a new issue with the candidates except Obama of course. The media is going to do the American people a great injustice by being so involved in this crap, I really wonder what these media houses feel they have to gain by pushing Obama on all of us. I have never seen anything like this in all my years this is really the most disgusting election of all time.
Posted by: SJ | February 21, 2008, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
Spock
Politcal Radar’s got Romney implicated in the pimping (sorry HRC and fans) of the McCain non-story.
What do you gotta say now?
Posted by: The Commander Guy | February 21, 2008, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
Firefighter:
You are given to much credit to that idiot Obama.
He is not the antichrist, he is not that smart.
Posted by: Pat | February 21, 2008, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm
Thank you NYT. For the first time ever, I was going to skip this year’s election. You see, I don’t like McCain. Your “story” remined me that the real enemy in this country, are the dem’s, and I will be voting for McCain.
Posted by: Mike | Feb 21, 2008 10:25:03 AM
Second that, my family and I were not going to vote this fall. Family meeting this morning, results, McCain has four additional votes as of today.
Posted by: Jimmy | February 21, 2008, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm
John looks like hell! I feel sorry for him for what he has been through under orders. His posture and his arm movement indicate he has real problems.He deserves better from us but he should stop and enjoy life for a change. He has!!!!!!!!!!!!!! done his job fairley well.
Posted by: jackmackmax | February 21, 2008, 11:34 pm 11:34 pm