Cindy McCain Responds To Vicki Iseman Allegations: "I Knew The Truth"

NBC entertainment show "Access Hollywood" sent out the below press release late Thursday, after conducting an interview with Senator John McCain's wife Cindy that will air Friday and Monday. In February the New York Times implied an romantic relationship had taken place between the senator and lobbyist named Vicki Iseman, to a point where his aides had to step in.

In the interview, Mrs. McCain says, "I was angry at the newspaper of course, but I knew the truth. I didn't have to ask anything or talk to anybody about it. I knew the truth and I know my husband."

She went on to say when the article came out, the first thing she said to her husband of nearly 28-years was, "I love you. I know this isn't true." According to Cindy McCain, he said the "same thing" in response.

Full press release:

In an exclusive interview with "Access Hollywood's" Nancy O'Dell, Cindy McCain opens up about dealing with the rumored romance between her husband Sen. John McCain and lobbyist Vicki Iseman, her previous addiction to painkillers and which first lady is an inspiration to her. The interview airs on "Access Hollywood," Friday, April 11th and Monday, April 14th. Log on to AccessHollywood.com for the video highlights from the interview.

A February story in the New York Times put rumors of a romance between John McCain and Iseman into the national spotlight, a romance that allegedly began during his first run for the White House eight years ago. In response to the article, Cindy McCain told O'Dell, "I was angry at the newspaper of course, but I knew the truth. I didn't have to ask anything or talk to anybody about it. I knew the truth and I know my husband."

Cindy McCain told O'Dell that when the article came out, the first thing she said to her husband of nearly 28-years was, "I love you. I know this isn't true," and according to Cindy McCain, he said the "same thing" in response.

Cindy McCain added, "I think that is the unfortunate side of politics and I think that is also the unfortunate side sometimes of this 24-hour news cycle that we are in now, but it's over with, we have moved on and I am not concerned about it."

Cindy McCain battled an addiction to painkillers in the late 1980s to early 1990s following back surgery. She told O'Dell what she gained from the experience and why she has made the battle public and particularly wants to reach out to women about it. "I think it made me a better person, as well as a better parent, so I think it would be very important to talk about it and be very upfront about it." Cindy McCain added, "I think women are juggling so much...I think women have a greater difficulty sometimes and I would like to make sure that we can talk openly with women and make sure there is an awareness."

Cindy McCain also revealed she has been personally inspired by Laura Bush, Nancy Reagan and particularly Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, telling O'Dell, "She was probably to me, the most representative of what any First Lady would like to emulate in my opinion." In particular, she added, "I think certainly her style, her elegance...not only how she handled her role in the White House, but how she handled herself abroad and I think it is important and it is a fine line that I believe a First Lady or a spouse walks."

Cindy McCain is a member of the Board of Trustees for the HALO Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to landmine removal and weapons destruction in war-torn countries and also serves on the Board of Directors for Operation Smile, a non-profit organization whose mission is to repair cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities for children around the world.

President Bush's cousin Billy Bush is O'Dell's cohost on the program

Comments

[JJI]

When this originally came out I was in the "who cares" mode. Now I'm praying it's true.

[PhDiva]

Cindy McCain was not just a drug addict, she was a thief who stole from her own charity. Every time the media trashes Michelle Obama, we should be hearing about Cindy McCain stealing!!!

Also, check out the spoof of the Yes, we can video; the No, You Can't John McCain Video on youtube. In part of it the creators ask, "Can we get some of the drugs that Cindy McCain stole from that charity?" McCain's answer: "No, You Can't." It's hilarious: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUKINg8DCUo

[SonnyBono]

"Cindy McCain battled an addiction to painkillers in the late 1980s to early 1990s following back surgery."

Sounds really brave but the truth is she was a drug addict and got in trouble for stealing drugs from the charity that she ran and for writing phony prescriptions to get additional drugs and putting the names of innocent third parties on them.

When one of those individuals went to the authorities, he was fired and then the Cindy McCain media machine went after him - claiming that he had attempted to blackmail her - when he had contacted the authorities before he spoke to her.

She went into drug rehab to avoid jail and made drug rehab popular in Arizona society - the family runs one of the largest beer distributors in the country and has one of the largest trucking companies in America - she is worth well over 100 million dollars - the money is in her name so McCain can claim that he is just a broken down ex-pilot living on his Senate salary and navy retirement while courting every lobbyist in sight - no not that way - for campaign contributions.

As far as the circunstances of her run in with the law - Mrs John Q. Average would have been in prison doing a hefty stretch - Mrs. John McCain, one of the richist people in Arizona and the wife of a US Senator walked without so much as a slap on the wrist.

[PhDiva]

She wasn't just a drug addict. She STOLE DRUGS from her own charity. Then she lied about being in rehab. I can't believe the press never covers this!

[jsinclair]

OF COURSE she knows he cheated. Iseman's a younger, less drugged, clone of herself. SHE knows how that goes--the girlfriend gets to be the fun, ego-boost to the important man who's dragged down by the pressures and expectations of his wife at home.

She knows how it works because "The Girlfriend" is the part Cindy played for McCain in his first marriage. She can see the pattern repeating with Iseman.

I really don't think America needs to see a marriage self-destruct in front of our eyes, with a wife abusing drugs and saying nasty things (and looking daggers at the president, as Cindy is in this photo). Or have children hear that their president (what a role model!) calls his wife a b*tch and a c***.

Whatever their marriage is like, we really don't need to know or see it.

[stupidme]

Has anyone seen or spoken with Vicki lately? Where's the Press on this one? Come on, somebody has to be working this story?

[JulieSA]

The Iseman story dates back to 1999. In all these years, nobody has produced any evidence that there actually was an affair, so there's nothing new to report.

[Independent voter]

Why are women who knowingly have affairs with married men always surprised when those same men go around having affairs?

Does the word DUH mean anything Cindy?

[mrdontplay]

My appologies but wouldn't it be hillarious to see a MTV celeb death match clamation between Cindy Mccain and Michelle Obama.


I'm sorry folks please forgive me...lol

[YellowPanties]

Of course Cindy knows all about how John McCain conducts his extra-marital affairs: she was there with firsthand knowledge when McCain ditched his first wife for Cindy.

Hey Cindy, maybe you should just shut up about it, because you are only reminding everyone how you were the "other woman" that busted up McCain's first marriage.

[Peddler]

It is amazing how the truth disappears with the telling of it.

[stepintothelight]

Can anyone post any information about McCains first wife. I find it strange that the net is almost purged of any real information. ...... hmmmm?

[Ides]

John would never cheat on me. The last time he ever committed adultery was with me, and I wasn't in an accident, so why would he do it again?

[kellygrrrl]

Cindy McCheney is allowed to speak? Who knew!

[batgirlevi]

Poor stepford wife. She should have run in the opposite direction from this self serving abusive POS the minute she set eyes on him.

[kellygrrrl]

I don't feel sorry for her at all. She had all the resources in the world and she chose this.

[austinobserver]

In the modern era, with the corporate media on the same team as the Republican politicians, i.e. the Wall Street-Business Roundtable-Chamber of Commerce team, even the wives of Republican politicians know that it is not wrong if a Republican politician does it. I think Vitter's wife has forgiven him just as McCain's wife has managed to block all his indiscretions out of her mind. Except for the one Times piece, the corporate media has ignored this story as it is too busy figuring out ways to turn certain "shortcomings" of Democrats into glaring weaknesses, e.g. ineptitude at that all-important sport of bowling or loyalty to preachers who let their passion get the best of them on occasion.

[JulieSA]

The corporate media has NOT ignored this story. NYT and WaPO covered the Iseman story back in 1999, when it actually occurred. The recent NYT story was a rehash of old news. This is an election year, and the NYT has an agenda.