NY Times, Washington Post Confirm Arianna's Story That McCain Did Not Vote For Bush

On Monday, Arianna reported that John McCain told her he had not voted for George W. Bush in 2000. Today, both The New York Times AND The Washington Post published articles with sources confirming John McCain had indeed told Arianna and other members of the group she was with, that he did not vote for the President in 2000.

From The New York Times:

Did Senator John McCain not vote for George W. Bush in 2000?

That question has kicked up a minor ruckus in political circles this week as Arianna Huffington and the McCain campaign have traded he-said, she-said barbs...

Now two other guests at the same dinner, given by the actress Candice Bergen, at her home in Beverly Hills, say they heard much the same thing as Ms. Huffington. Both of them, the former "West Wing" actors Bradley Whitford and Richard Schiff, were asked by Ms. Huffington to speak to The New York Times. Mr. Whitford said he would be supporting the Democratic nominee and had donated to Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama; Mr. Schiff is supporting Mr. Obama.

From The Washington Post:

Two Hollywood actors who dined with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in early 2001 at actress Candice Bergen's home confirmed Thursday that he told the assembled group he did not vote for George W. Bush in the 2000 election.

In separate phone interviews, Bradley Whitford and Richard Schiff -- both of whom starred in the television political drama "The West Wing" -- said the senator made the remarks after he spoke at length about his reservations about Bush becoming president. Liberal blogger Arianna Huffington first wrote about the incident Monday, asserting neither McCain nor his wife Cindy backed Bush in his first presidential bid, and the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that a woman who was also at the dinner confirmed Huffington's account, though she declined to give her name.

Comments

[raw915]

The fact that McShrub didn't vote for Shrub is the only respect I have left for him.

[HumeSkeptic]

How about the fact that he's lying about it? Is that worthy of respect?

[BadCompany]

Or, how about the distinct possibility that he was lying about it when he said it?

[geobushono]

first: it's notable that mcnut would be at a 'hollywood liberal' hosted dinner.
second: a good ol' law n' order polygraph would settle this......how 'bought it john?

[Trilby]

And this is a controversy WHY? Really, I don't get it. It was his right to not vote for Bush and then later to hug him, if he so chose.

[HumeSkeptic]

Then just say so. Why lie?

[qdog112]

It highlights the duality of his very being. He seems to run on a dual track not unlike Hillary transformed into who she needed to be at a given time. Check his record - FLIP FLOPPER SUPREME.

[likeicare]

And to think I used to admire this man for his truthfulness!

Just like I used to admire the Clintons -- before they went off the rails with the race-baiting bullshit.

I'm glad this is coming out, tho. It proves what a total asshole Dubya is, how well-known this is (and was) to Republicans, and yet, how thoroughly unprincipled these people are to have voted for -- and supported -- him for prez.

And they want to be given another shot at running the country???!!! I don't think soooooo!

[DLSprague]

I love it: The picture of the warm embrace between Bush II and Bush III (McCain), alongside text where McCain denies having denied Bush his vote. Such a Maverick, grrrr kitty kitty.

[poco767]

All this does is help McCain distance himself from Bush.

[JUSTME]

No, it doesn't. The beauty of this particular pickle for McCain is that at one and the same time he will (1) be exposed as a lying traitor to the neocon "base" of the Republican Party, who have never trusted him anyway, and (2) he will have to do everything publicly possible to embrace George Bush from now until the election just to prove to the neocon base that he's not the lying traitor they thought he anyway--aligning himself even more with George Bush's policies and 29% approval rating.

This is beautiful.

[waltontynerross]

Hello??? Why on earth would Adrianna et al allow this to grow and grow into a big deal, mushroom into NY Times fodder? Do we really want voters to think that McCain does NOT like Bush?

The point about his hypocrisy and constant political expedience was made with the original story--now it's getting overblown and will do nothing but rally swing voters to his column.

[HumeSkeptic]

It just shows that the man has no principles and no convictions.

[johntal]

I"ve just finished watching Ms. H on "The Colbert Report" and the part when she says the election is like Viagra to McCain. Colbert suggests that they should put a warning ; saying that "if an erection lasts longer than 100 yrs, pull out", good stuff

[mamacat]

Verrrrry interesting.

[AlgerHiss]

“She’s a flake and a poser and an attention-seeking diva,” Mark Salter, one of Mr. McCain’s closest aides, told The Washington Post.

Ouch.

So I guess this means John is a maverick. What's new?

And four years of McCain isn't really four more years of Bush.

Or that pols don't vote for the presidential candidate who beat them.

Arianna, sharing private casual dinner conversation in public isn't classy. But good luck with the book anyway. At least you're not admitting to an affair with a 83-year-old man like Barbara.

[cityprof]

Ariana,

When I was accused of fabricating a story, I took a lie detector test and passed with flying colors. I published the result and totally embarrassed my accuser. You might want to think the same thing. Sharing private casual dinner conversation with others may not be classy but is essential when what is overheard connects to whomever the most powerful man in the world may be.

[raw915]

I don't recall Arianna mentioning anything about Obama.

[Fireback]

Why has this man resorted to this .... There used to be a time I actually respected this man....

So sad .....

[PrdAmerican]

Why deny it..I wouldn't vote for the bastard either, especially after that nasty attack on his daughter. This will only hurt him with the 29 percent who think Bush is doing an outstanding job...or the 60 percent of Republicans who thing Bush is doing an okay job. He doesn't need the repug vote...does he?

[TheRealMacDaddy]

That 29% is the CORE of the Pube Party. Losing that cuts McCains throat.

I think this is the stuff that needs to be focused on in September not now...by Sept. It will be all forgotten.

[JadedAggie]

This would have been a much more useful story during the Republican Primary. Now that it's basically the General Election this story may actually help McCain, unfortunately.

[YogiBarrister]

On Thursday, Mr. Salter denied the accounts of the two actors, saying, “He voted for George Bush; I know it for dead certitude.”
>
Oh really? It's hard to believe, but the Republicans are putting up a candidate who is even more dishonest, dumber, and ill-tempered than Bush. He also has less integrity. Yes, I honestly believe that. At least Bush knows he is Satan's bitch and never wavers in his loyalty to his master.
If Mr. Salter is any indication, he would staff his administration with more of the same.

[PrdAmerican]

...LOL...was he in the polling booth attached at the hip with McCain?? Was this another instance of a Republican with an extra wide stance in the booth?

[Irons]

McCain is a Bush third term.

Exactly, Barack.

I can't wait for Barack to debate McCain. I bet McCain tries to discourage debates, call them meaningless, maybe even unpatriotic - lol.

America, let's get to know JOhn McCain. Let him talk talk talk.