McCain: Straighttalk express… into lobbyist pants?
McCain: Reports on lobbyist a ‘smear’
TOLEDO, Ohio – Sen. John McCain, responding to published reports about his relationship with a lobbyist, says he “will not allow a smear campaign” to distract from his presidential campaign.
The New York Times quoted anonymous aides as saying they had urged McCain and lobbyist Vicki Iseman to stay away from each other prior to his failed presidential campaign in 2000. In its own follow-up story, The Washington Post quoted longtime aide John Weaver, who split with McCain last year, as saying he met with lobbyist Iseman and urged her to stay away from McCain.
McCain defended his integrity last December, after he was questioned about reports that the Times was investigating allegations of legislative favoritism by the Arizona Republican and that his aides had been trying to dissuade the newspaper from publishing a story.
“I’ve never done any favors for anybody – lobbyist or special-interest group. That’s a clear, 24-year record,” he told reporters.
In late 1999, McCain twice wrote letters to the Federal Communications Commission on behalf of Florida-based Paxson Communications – which had paid Iseman as its lobbyist – urging quick consideration of a proposal to buy a television station license in Pittsburgh. At the time, Paxson’s chief executive, Lowell W. “Bud” Paxson, also was a major contributor to McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign.</em>
Did he diddle her? Did he influence peddle? Either way, yet another fine example of GOP integrity and ethics on display. And as an aside, is this why Huckanut keeps lingering around, hoping that this story will derail the Straighttalk Express and its ancient, spineless driver from the nomination?
