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 others at an event that he did not vote for Bush 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:

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. ...

"He was going on and on about how horribly unqualified and untested Bush was, how the campaign had attacked his family," said Whitford, a registered Democrat. "Someone said, 'If he's so terrible, why did you support him?'"

McCain replied that as a member of the GOP, Whitford added, he always intended to back the party's nominee. Then, the actor said, someone asked McCain whether he had cast a vote in favor of Bush.

"He put his finger up to his lips, shook his head and mouthed, 'No way,'" Whitford said.

The Los Angeles Times talked to another source from the party on Wednesday that also corroborated Arianna's account:

Another woman who attended the 2001 dinner said Tuesday that Cindy McCain had told her she could not bring herself to vote for Bush. The source said she did not want to be identified, so as not to alienate the McCains.

Comments

[ElliotNC]

Who did Arianna vote for and how does she propose to prove it?

[robbor]

inane question

[JTyroler]

I think I'd probably have more respect for McCain if he would admit to not voting for Bush - he seems to have been pretty willing to tell people that he didn't vote for Bush in 2000. I didn't vote for Bush either...

I'd probably have more respect for McCain if he wasn't pandering to those former "agents of intolerance". Or if he could keep his stories straight...

[coolrepublica]

OK you know the Democrats is in trouble when they can't make up their mind whether McCain is like Bush or McCain is anti-bush and believes Bush is dumb as a post and never voted for him. He can't be both

Arianna better knows what she is doing because putting this stupid story out is only helping McCain not hurting him.

[eXcommunicate]

The point IS, McCain USED to be principled. That was THEN. This is NOW - McCain has moulded himself into BUSH LITE.

[FADUTA]

Sad. Do not even begin to think you can pass judgement on a man such as Senator McCain. His courage and character far exceed anything you, or I, could imagine.

[drzoon]

i have a difficult time being too hard on old men. they start saying things and acting weird... and they just get lost in their own ego and embarrassment. i bet he even farts when he walks. its kind of charming past a certain point. lets take it easy on the old guy... okay?

[coolrepublica]

You my friend is how Obama loses the White House. He doesn't need Hillary to burn his bridges, he only needs supporters like yourself.

I think the Huffington post should be required reading for seniors trying to make a choice this November. If I was McCain I would just put out a campaign email or flyer asking older voters to just see of what young people think of them when they think they can't read.

Yes, yes, Obama supporters can be real jackasses. Here is to you my friend. Keep it up!

[kdubbg]

Is there some special demtia that makes sufferers say "My friend" compulsivley and somehow it's contagious?

[knighthowl]

My friend, you are engaged in what is known as projection. It is supporters like yourself who will help sink McCain. He clearly is fully capable of sinking his own boat, but you will be there to the end dutifully adding ballast to an already sinking ship. Thanks!

[littlepuffycloud]

After all the slime His Chimpiness flung on Grampa McCant in 2000, wouldn't it have helped Gramps so-called maverick status now had he NOT voted for The Smirking Chimp back then? Too bad his old pickled brain doesn't have the capacity to think through these things. He's been programmed to simply mention J. Wright no matter how irrelevant. He goes into a trance and brings up Wright. Does Grampa like to play solitaire?! It would be funny if someone flicked the Queen of Diamonds card on stage at one of his functions, just to see if he reacted.

[shadow322]

What has happened to the Republican party is a shame! I used to be a loyal member (14 years) and quit when I saw good members (like Arianna, others and myself) being told by the neocons to get in-line with their new adgendas or get out. This was during the Reagan years. When deamonizing your oponent was the new style. Reagan started that you know. I (like Arianna and others) got out when it was obvious we were just becoming enablers. McCain stayed and it has turned him into "Flipper" the candidate who'll do and say anything to get elected. This man who once stood for truth and justice now changes his reality from one county to the next - depending on which direction the wind is blowing. Ask General Colin Powell if he wishes he had gotten away from this group sooner......... Sen. McCain has made a terrible error in judgement and no doubt will one day soon wish he had done otherwise. "Flipper"

[littlepuffycloud]

They call him Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning,
No one you see, is smarter than he,
And we know Flipper, lives in a world full of wonder,
Flying there under, under the sea!

[unscum]

This is snowballing into a really serious story. A major Flip flop for John McCain, not his first. This could really hurt McCain with his conservative base.

[starfire426]

"Houston...we have a problem!!!" Already, McBush is showing signs of his advancing years that could prove devastating for this country, if he was elected in the GE!!!

First...he's not even aware of the different sects of Muslims that we are engaged with...(he doesnt know a Shitte from a Sunni) and now...he can't REMEMBER whether or not he voted for the shrub in the 2000 election???!!! You Re-PUG-licans sure can pick'em!!!

[bb1234]

Two actors are your source! Is that a joke? Let's see if Alec Baldwin or George Clooney can also back up your liberal goddess.

[paganmist]

The party was given at an actress' house? Of course there'd be actors there? I don't understand what you're saying - actors who are out-of-role at a dinner party can't be trusted to tell the truth?

You're reaching a bit, aren't you?

So far, there are four people to John McCain saying that there were there, and he said that he didn't vote for Bush.

Why believe him over four people who have no reason to lie!?

[jhamm1]

Don't get me wrong. I'm completely in Arianna's corner here, but the fact remains that until one is required to sign their own ballots, we can't prove one way or the other what did in fact happen, and the testimony of a few actors is hardly inclined to sway the idiots at Fox News, who will simply decry "Liberal-Hollywood" as a co-conspiratory in Huffington's assessment and thus continue on believing what they want to believe.

[rleslie]

I have new for all of you political neophytes. McCain lies. Clinton lies. Obama lies. But since it looks like Obama is going to be our next president, I am willing to bet that Obama's lies turn out to be the biggest ones. The promise of good national health care...a big fat lie. The promise of higher capital gains taxes....another big fat lie. The promise of changing Nafta....one more big lie. And on and on they will go. Mark down ofn all your calendars to check back on this post in 4 and 1/2 years to see how truthful I am. The sooner all you people learn that nothing is what it appears to be in this world of ours, the sooner you'll stop experiencing depression when you discover that the promise of paradise is never going to happen. And remember this....the only reason why drug prices are so low in canada and the UK for their national health care programs is because prices here are so high. In other words, Americans subsidize those countries that have national healthcare. As soon as prices drug drop here to support our own national health care, the failures of other healthcare systems around the world will become apparent. Amen

[unscum]

Polls and the electoral college vote favor McCain to win.

[kdubbg]

Unscum...

What polls? I have Obama up by %6 with an overall democrat advantage of +14% Identifying as Democrat over Repug...

Unfortunately only the vote in November in the actual election mean diddley. The so-called "primary electoral college was made up out of whole cloth by Mark Penn or some other talentless hack over at douche central

[drzoon]

"mandated" is what Hilary failed at last time. She says she learned a lot since then. I wish i could tell what it is that she learned since 92/93.

at the time i was producing a documentary on healthcare. and all i could ever find out was that she was going to shove it down everyone's throat .. like it or not.

at the time... there was a congressman ... congressman Cooper.... who had a bill much like barack's plan now... and he had the votes to get it passed. he had the senate votes.... and he finally had a president that had run on national healthcare.

but hilary had him come up to her office in the west wing. and she read him the riot act: "what the hell do you think you are doing? if you utter one more word about your bill... i will crush you!"

well.... she failed. and we have gone sixteen years without ANYTHING at all being done with healthcare.

and now she wants to run that garbage again.

sidebar: there is a great story of when little george steph... called rob nelson in .... and told him to hand over his student organization. rob said no.... and you know what he said to rob? "if you don't, we will crush you"

so there is your Hilary. and all the Clinton baggage that goes with it.

if she had made it, she would have burned the place down this time.

[realtalk]

I HAVE TO STRONGLY CAUTION ALL OBAMA SUPPORTERS WHOSE STATES HAVE NOT YET VOTED, PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE WHEN YOUR VOTING DATE ARRIVES. THE RACE IS NOT OVER, SO DO NOT BUY INTO WHAT THE MEDIA IS SAYING. THEY ARE GIVING OFF A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.

IF THE MEDIA ARE ABLE TO GET OBAMA'S VOTERS TO STAY AT HOME, WITH THE FALSE SENSE THAT OBAMA HAS ALREADY WON, HILLARY WILL WALK OFF WITH THE NOMINATION, BECAUSE YOU BETTER BELIEVE THAT HILLARY IS TELLING HER SUPPORTERS TO GO OUT AND VOTE.

OBAMA SUPPORTERS, THIS RACE IS NOT DONE UNTIL ALL THE VOTING IN EVERY STATE IS DONE.
SO OBAMA VOTERS GET OUT AND VOTE, NO MATTER WHAT THE MEDIA SAYS, OBAMA NEEDS ALL YOUR VOTES, THIS RACE IS NOT OVER UNTIL ALL THE STATES HAVE VOTED!!!

[higbee]

I think Hillary is goint to take it in 08.

[psnyder]

Take what where? Certainly not the Democratic nomination for president.

[girard1991]

Hey I have read reports about people like McCain. They are often found roaming around their neighborhood naked or half dressed not knowing how they got there.

[hydenorhare]

Sounds like Teddy's bio.

[girard1991]

See there you go misdiagnosing stuff. I am a medical doctor (LOL!) and you must make correct diagnosis. McCain suffers from memory lost due to ageing. It is commoningly known as alzheimer's disease. Teddy K suffer from memory lost due to consuming too much fermented wheats and grains. Those wonderful spirits. This generally results in passing out where one sits or lay down. This is known as alcoholism.

[Roxanna]

Too Bad the rest of the country didn't know what McCain knew at the time...

Look how Money and Commercial Television billed/portrayed George Bush to the public as the moderated college educated (masters degree), reasonable, compassionate conservative.

He is "Anything" but that.!!!.. There is "No Sense" in anything George Bush does except that he would like to be a "King". You know a totally... "Let them eat cake" kind of guy.

[realtalk]

McCain turns out to be a liar, and unfortunetly for us, he is doing it over, and over and over again, and with a straight face. McCain really is George W Bush continued, and that is very scary, since he is even more of a warmonger than Bush ever was!!

[mspiglet]

McThusela was remembering something else... the year 2000 "BC"... and the burning "Bush". He voted against waiting for Moses... and helped build the golden calf.

[hydenorhare]

We're getting into political philosophical territory here.

If you lie to a bunch of elite cocktail party Hollywood Liberals who believe lying is an acceptable part of a political strategy that is the core of the Democrat Party, can those Liberals turn around and complain that you lied to them?

It's a conundrum for Liberals. At least it should be.

[mddragon]

Funny, all the lying seems to be comming from the cesspool you call the Rebulican party.

[NewOrleans4Obama]

Nice. When in doubt, call on the tired "hollywood elite" cliche.

[nsc]

The illusion is that McCain is the "maverick" that some people once considered him to be. He left that guy behind (maybe at the elite cocktail party) and is now a specter of his former self.