G. Gordon Liddy: John McCain Finds His Own Radical

John McCain has had a field day with Barack Obama's tenuous associations with Bill Ayers, a former member of the Weather Underground who is now a Chicago professor.

Obama has said repeatedly that Ayers' radical past (he was involved in a handful of bombings in the 1960s) occurred when Barack was just a child, and he repudiates those actions. Nevertheless, McCain wants more. He claimed recently:

"I think not only a repudiation but an apology for ever having anything to do with an unrepentant terrorist is due the American people."

Now, however, the Chicago Tribune is pointing out McCain's own radical associations with G. Gordon Liddy:

How close are McCain and Liddy? At least as close as Obama and Ayers appear to be. In 1998, Liddy's home was the site of a McCain fundraiser. Over the years, he has made at least four contributions totaling $5,000 to the senator's campaigns--including $1,000 this year.

Last November, McCain went on his radio show. Liddy greeted him as "an old friend," and McCain sounded like one. "I'm proud of you, I'm proud of your family," he gushed. "It's always a pleasure for me to come on your program, Gordon, and congratulations on your continued success and adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great."

For those who are unaware, Liddy helped plan the Watergate break-in that would cost Nixon his presidency and landed Liddy a four-year jail sentence.

But Liddy's career of inflammatory statements and actions exceed his Watergate actions.

Liddy, on Vitenam:

"I wanted to bomb the Red River dykes [sic]. It would have drowned half the country and starved the other half. There would have been no way the Viet Cong could have operated if we had the will-power to do that."

Liddy, advising Branch Davidians how to defend themselves from ATF agents during a radio show:

"If the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms insists upon a firefight, give them a firefight. Just remember, they're wearing flak jackets and you're better off shooting for the head."

Liddy, on the impact Adolf Hitler had on him as a child:

When he listened to Hitler on the radio, it "made me feel a strength inside I had never known before," he explains. "Hitler's sheer animal confidence and power of will [entranced me]. He sent an electric current through my body."

Comments

[elpollo]

I need a new mop. I wonder if I can use Liddy's face.

[shag11]

Does he look more like Hitler, or Mini-me?

[zippywpinhead]

he looks like a Conehead in that picture...

[zigzag1]

spewing mass quantities of bull shit

[DrDemon]

More like a cross between BOTH!

[bigogre]

And, of course, the MSM will immediately pick this up and repeat it ad infinitum, right?
I mean right after the temperature of hell reaches the absolute zero...

[OzzieSmerck]

Ollie North may may no longer be a convicted felon (through a GOP-appointed, narrowly decided ruling), but he remains a CONFESSED felon, by his own testimony. Nothing can change that, or wash his hands of the blood of tens of thousands of Central Americans in who died as a result of his crimes.

And that's leaving aside the Iran side of the equation - in which the Reagan administration's scheme armed both sides of a war in which 10 year old boys were slaughtered in waves. Pretty neat, in the words of North himself. To escape capture, they put the constitution through the shredder. "Hanging by their thumbs" outside the White House was too good for all of them.

As for Liddy? God, if you can't see on its face what a fascist sociopath that bastard is, you just know nothing of history or patriotism. That McCain shows such fealty to a man who to this day is unrepentant of basically trying to overthrow our system of government, explains a lot about why he can support so many destructive Bush policies.

[lthuedk 1]

Having worn a uniform doesn't give you a free pass to lie, subvert our nation, or steal another nation's treasure for Neo Cons and militant corporatist. Didn't you take an oath, sir?

It is you, sir, who owes the American People an apology.

I once liked you, but obviously you've been either brainwashed, your family or you have been threatened by the junta, you've been bought off, or you've decided to reveal the real McCain. You are, by all appearances, a complete Neo Con. And Neo Cons are not worthy of wearing the military uniform.

So, which is it, Senator? Your new loyalties fit very well with your close association with the Watergate criminal, Liddy. You shame our country.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/McBush.html

[realpolitic]

G.Gordon Libby describes how he once ate a rat to get over a fear of rats. I did not know rats practiced canibalism.

[Chapmanp2]

If you haven't seen the US vs. John Lennon, check it out. G. Gordon Liddy appears a few times throughout the movie (all snippetts from the same interview I believe). I almost puked when he said
"Peace is a threat to war"
How's that for mainstream???

[realpolitic]

"Peace is a threat to war," sounds somewhat Orwellian. I guess that nasty peace sometimes does intrude in that all-out, brutal warfare that conservatives seem to thrive on.

[libmatters]

He also held his hand over a flame to show how tough he is.

[realpolitic]

We should tell him to do it again. We looked away and missed it the first time.

[Redrover666]

He's an American, a nut and a patriot and we can be damned proud of him. Americans like him and Col North and those like them. They are genuine.

It's a hell of a lot more than can be said for the likes of Rev Wright or Ayers. Two men who in the long tradition of the far left, proclaim their contempt for America and become wealthy and prosper from the very system they claim to despise. Then move in next door to their white "oppressors" in a wealthy neighborhood.

Many of you here are fond of pointing out that most Americans are stupid. Well, they are certainly smart enough to smell a liberal con-job and aren't likely to take the bait on this story either.

Try again.

[Decipherer]

Sure, Liddy and North are genuine -- genuine Fascist clowns who wrap themselves in the American flag while doing everything they can to degrade what this great country stands for.

Lddy went to jail as he should have for the crimes to which he admitted, North should have for his Iran-Contra offenses that should have brought the Reagan administration down, just as Nixon's collapsed due to Liddy's botched Watergate break-in fiasco. The only reason North got off the hook was the fact that Congress unwisely granted him immunity for his testimony before the Senate, I believe, which was great theatre, but very bad for the U.S. Constitution.

It also sounds like you know nothing about either Wright or Ayres, you are obviously as ignorant as any of Rush "OxyContin Man" Limp-boughs "dittoheads."

As it happens, Jeremiah Wright is a decorated U.S. Marine veteran where he served before attending seminary. Where do you get the idea he's from the "far left," anyway? He has been critical of the U.S. government, but aren't you right-wingnuts doing the same thing?

As for Ayres, I know very little about him, except that he is white. You seem to think he's worried about "white oppressors" or some nonsense. And how, exactly, is he "prospering" at your expense? Isn't he an English professor or something? I'm sure he's doing at least as well as McCain, married to his filthy rich trophy wife, his second, after dumping the first.

[landoffools]

Oli Nolrth was, and is a gutless CLOWN !!!

Live with it, Buckwheat !

[rdowli]

Liddy & North should be in prison as the criminials they are, along with this entire administration..

[jsmedia]

It is in the tradition of all Americans to question the government; remember that our country's founder were showing "contempt" when they declared independence. Libby, however, is a nut who broke the law and has CONTEMPT for the Constitution. If McCain is an associate of a Hitler admirerer then he should renounce and apologize for his association with such a radical.

[MACS]

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is MORALLY TREASONABLE to the American PUBLIC."

Theodore Roosevelt (1918)

[EGNY]

Ahh, yes. The Right Wing patriotism patrol. Liddy, North and their ilk are not patriots. They don't love America -- they love THEMSELVES. I find it so abhorrently disingenuous that people who think themselves entitled to ignore whichever pesky rules and principles are inconvenient for them, seek to get away with it by wrapping themselves in a protective mantle of fake patriotism.

Republicans promote a flag-draped, “rah, rah, we’re the best,” bumper-sticker Patriotism. It’s very shallow, requiring only that the “consumer” (i.e., the citizen), regurgitate a few talking points, wave a flag and chant “USA, USA…” This simplistic idea of Patriotism does not require -- in fact discourages -- people being deeply engaged in their own Democracy.

These Republicans are anything BUT Patriots. Their allegiance to America’s core principles is a sham. They FAIL in their Patriotic duty to put the good of the country, the good of the American people, ahead of their own narrow agenda. They have shredded these principles at every opportunity. They find them bothersome -- a hindrance to achieving their objectives (Bush: “that damn piece of paper“).

True patriots believe in America. We believe in the foundational ideas of governance that make our democracy work, despite the complexities and ambiguities we face, and have always faced since our inception. True patriots don’t kick our founding ideals to the curb when they become inconvenient. True patriots’ allegiance to these principles supersedes expediency. Supersedes self interest. Supersedes partisanship. Supersedes “winning” in the short-term political context.

[Redrover666]

I love it!!

Liberals always use this line... "It is in the tradition of all Americans to question the government"

BS. All that is, is an excuse to do nothing at all and carp, while real men, whether drafted or not go out and fight your wars.

You speak of "bumper-sticker patriotism. Well tell us hero, other than having the blood-purchased right to piss and moan, just exactly what do you love about your country? What would you fight for?

Show us how much you were against this war or how this country is being governed and copy and past the letter you wrote your congressman. How many times did you picket outside his office? So just exactly what have you done for the good of your country? I mean other than sit pasty faced, pecking away at your computer.

Just asking patriot.

[Chuckwheat]

Brownshirts are the new summer casual look, may carry over to all seasons.

[MourningDude]

The ATF was completely at fault in Waco. David Koresh had invited the ATF to come in and tour the compound at their leisure, months before. They refused to accept the invitation, because they wanted to make a big score.

They only had one job, which was to serve the search warrant. But they were looking for some positive PR out of the encounter, since there was a budget appropriations meeting the following week that involved the ATF. In fact, they had a PR person on staff who notified all the news stations that 'something big' was going to happen in Waco that weekend.

During the ensuing raid, ATF helicopters were gunning down unarmed people. ATF agents were breaking in windows and firing into bedrooms. During the conflict, the ATF fired every round of ammunition they had. The Branch Dividians still had plenty of ammo, and if they were out to kill ATF agents, they could have slaughtered most if not all of them once they were out of ammo. Instead, they let the ATF pull back and leave without attempting to engage them again.

After the shooting, a puzzled David Koresh talked to the ATF on the phone and said "It would've been better if you just called me up or talked to me. Then you all could have come in and done your work."

The government had other ideas in mind, and wouldn't take yes for an answer.

[kdubbg]

So your agreeing thet they should shoot ATF agents in the head on the one side of your mouth while at the same time liddy apologists are touting his patriotism and pro-American stance. Which is it?

[zigzag1]

Yup, try shooting at any law enforcement serving a legal search warrant and see what happens. Your family will be mourning. Then have your survivors tell the nut case right wing press that you had invited them in a week before. Koresh and his cult were as crazy as the Texas FLDS child molesters and when they started shooting, they got what their twisted minds sought.

[desthmoneses]

I suspected it and now its been confirmed, John Mccain is supported by terrorists.

[LeBelAge]

John McCain needs to repudiate the radical G. Gordon Liddy, by also offer the American people an apology for associating with a known felon and terrorist promoter.

[randyjet]

The FACT is Obama's connection with Ayers is NOT tenuous since he was on an eight man board with him for YEARS. The problem is Obama's tolerance of a terrorist who is just as proud as Libby is of his past, and who stated on 9/11 that he regretted not doing MORE bombings.If McCain had served on a board with Libby and had years long association with him, THEN it would be equivalent.

The fact that McCain is so tolerant of Libby should indeed be a matter of extreme interest. THAT too is bad. He should denounce him and his support. By the way, ALL US citizens saluted the flag with the out stretched right arm in pre-WWII days. It was only after the start of WWII that it was changed. I was not planning of voting for McCain in any case, but I hope that some of the Obama people will not if Clinton wins. There are too many who say that and it reflects only their ignorance and immaturity.

[LaurieLee]

I am on boards with people who have political views or have done things I do not agree with. My loyalty as a board member is to the organization, . When I believe in something I find it acceptable to deal with people with views or pasts I do not like because I want to strengthen the organization to the best of my abilities. Also, boards are often in flux, and board members come and go, and have staggered terms. I would look more at what the corporations or charities did and how well they functioned while he was a board member. Often on boards you have little or no relationship with the other board members outside of the board meetings.

I'm surprised he hasn't been attacked simply for being on boards. It's elite, you know. Even when the board is as downscale as Walmart.

[globality]

John McCain has had a field day with Barack Obama's tenuous associations

What about Mc Cains association and cover up of the Charles keating

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keating_Five

Gray testified that several U.S. senators had approached him and requested that he ease off on the Lincoln investigation. It came out that these senators had been beneficiaries of $300,000 (collective total) in campaign contributions from Keating. McCain received $112,000 by 1987 from Keating and Keating's relatives and employees to McCain's Senate campaign, more than any of the other Senators. [1] In September 1987 National Thrift News was the first media outlet to break the story.[2] In October 1989 The Arizona Republic reported that in addition to campaign contributions, McCain's wife and her father had invested $359,100 in a Keating shopping center in April 1986, a year before McCain met with the regulators. The paper also reported that the McCains, sometimes accompanied by their daughter and baby-sitter, had made at least nine trips at Keating's expense, sometimes aboard the American Continental Corporation (parent of Lincoln) jet. Three of the trips were made during vacations to Keating's opulent Bahamas retreat at Cat Cay. McCain also did not pay Keating for some of the trips until years after they were taken, after he learned that Keating was in trouble over Lincoln. [3] Lincoln Savings and Loan's collapse is said to have cost taxpayers $3.4 billion [4].

[scarab23]

Didn't he eat a rat's head once? Musta got the brain. He's been coughing up hairballs ever since.

[merle7]

When he listened to Hitler on the radio, it "made me feel a strength inside I had never known before," he explains. "Hitler's sheer animal confidence and power of will [entranced me]. He sent an electric current through my body."
Hitler annihilated 6 million jews,(are does this matter)since this nut job admired a monster like that tells me a lot about his character, or lack there of which stll puts in to question why a straight talking maverick like McCain would want to associate with him.