For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk
WASHINGTON (The New York Times) — 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.
Mr. McCain, 71, and the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, 40, both say they never had a romantic relationship. But to his advisers, even the appearance of a close bond with a lobbyist whose clients often had business before the Senate committee Mr. McCain led threatened the story of redemption and rectitude that defined his political identity.
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.
Mr. McCain, 71, and the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, 40, both say they never had a romantic relationship. But to his advisers, even the appearance of a close bond with a lobbyist whose clients often had business before the Senate committee Mr. McCain led threatened the story of redemption and rectitude that defined his political identity.
posted by BP News Bureau | 10:26 PM
4 Comments:
In other news, Keith Richards uses drugs and has sex with groupies. Duh.
Surely average Americans aren't so naive that they don't realize how attractive young women hang around Washington, most often as Iseman does: as glorified PR reps of some sort, wooing their targets with more than free dinners.
In this case, Iseman's client, Bud Paxson of PAX TV — ironically, the 'family friendly' network — has this attractive Washington lobbyist flying in private jets to parties and dinners with McCain — a mere mortal, aging male and, adding to his inherent weakness for getting it good and easy, a politician. To put it bluntly, sh!t is designed to go down. That's the point of Paxson paying Iseman.
Now, exactly who cares that McCain is screwing the PR girls? That's up to the American voters. But, to be fair (and balanced?), good, moral people don't quit the company when they find out that the boss screwed Pam from reception or the hot sales rep from Office Depot. Just as it is here, it's a personal matter — let’s let Ms. McCain handle this one. Just remember who you’re dealing with.
But if it bothers you so much, you'll have to keep in mind that American politics, as it is now, is nothing but plain 'ol business, and the sleaziest kind at that: Celebrity Business. That's why 'voting for morality' is a worthless, unattainable goal.
I wonder what Dr. Paul would have to say about this?
Let's not accuse McCain of "screwing the PR girls." There's no evidence that happened.
There's no evidence that happened.
Not that we no of ... yet.
But don't miss my point, which is, 'who cares?' Too bad for McCain, it's probably the majority of his most apprehensive supporters holding Republican voting cards.
Let's not accuse McCain of "screwing the PR girls." There's no evidence that happened.
Why not? Do you think McCain will read this blog and blow a gasket?
Post a Comment
<< Home