Lieberman, Graham Leave Anti-Obama Group Vets For Freedom

The Huffington Post broke the news last week that two of Sen. John McCain's top campaign chairmen were serving on the board of an independent organization behind a set of attack ads against Sen. Barack Obama, an apparent violation of the Arizona Republican's new conflict of interest policy.

The New York Times reports this morning that Lieberman and Graham have both stepped down from their positions the group:

Senators Joseph I. Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, prominent surrogates for Senator John McCain's presidential campaign, stepped down Wednesday from their positions with an independent group that released a pair of Internet advertisements attacking Senator Barack Obama on Iraq.

Mr. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, and Mr. Graham, Republican of South Carolina, were both on the policy advisory board to the organization, Vets for Freedom, which on Wednesday released its second Web advertisement in less than a week attacking Mr. Obama.

The senators' positions with the group, which describes itself as a grass-roots advocacy organization pushing for victory in Iraq and Afghanistan, seemed to place them in contravention of new conflict-of-interest rules released by Mr. McCain's campaign that specifically prohibit anyone "with a McCain campaign title or position" from participating in a "527 or other independent entity that makes public communications that support or oppose any presidential candidate."

After inquiries from reporters, the senators released a joint letter to Vets for Freedom on Wednesday saying they had requested a leave from their positions to come into compliance with the new policy.

"This is obviously something we're working through," said Brian Rogers, a spokesman for the McCain campaign. "This is the kind of thing that happens when you have the strictest possible policy on these issues."

The new policy was meant to head off embarrassing questions about connections of members of the McCain campaign to special interests that run counter to Mr. McCain's reformist reputation. But adhering to that standard has proved complicated.

Comments

[mergina]

Is Lieberman really converting to Islam?

[rjcrane]

The sad reality is that the Dems allowed Lieberman to become a part of this 527 working to attack Obama because they think they need Lieberman to keep their majority. If we haven't demanded that the Dems renounce Lieberman for not only his support of McCain and attacks on Obama but also his support of Susan Collins and his alliance with Pastor Hagee and warmongering Republican neocons, what's wrong with us?

RJ Crane, topplebush.com

[huzzah]

Well, we shouldn't have to keep him...

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/05/poll_gop_senate_incumbent_trai.php

[Economike]

Every time I see Leiberman speaking on television it's like I'm listening to the worst Chickenhawk Republican ever. The fact that he tries to pass himself off as an Independant or Democrat or whatever just shows what a jerk he is.

[CarmenCameron]

Graham and Lieberman "request a leave" from a 527.

Is that like Penn's "resignation" from the Clinton campaign?

IOW, a tissue-thin covering of real intent making it all a non-event...

[LawSource]

THESE 2 SLIME BALLS!!

McCain lost the election when he crawled into bed with Bush. The John McCain of 2000 could have won this November. Unfortunately, he let the current John McCain kill him. All that's left is a pandering old fool who can't see the facts in front of his nose. Is there one principle the old McCain had that he hasn't cheerfully thrown away? Tax cuts for the wealthy? Check. Embracing the very people he called "agents of intolerance"...Robertson, Hagee and his ilk? Check. Caving into Bush on TORTURE! for crying out loud? Check. I could go on, but his actions speak for themselves.

I say all this as an Arizona Democrat who twice voted for him in the past, not because I agreed with all his positions but because I thought he had integrity. And I think he did, once. He *chose* to throw it away. What kind of a leader would this sad, patheteic flip flopper be?
— Mary Bricker, Tucson, Az

[Klip]

Well, I feel better about this group now that this trash has quit...
(They still seem slimey to me, tho.)

[LawSource]

I AGREE!!

GREAT POINT!!

[NatteringNabob]

Unfortunately, something just as slimy will bubble up out of the sewer to replace them.

[xxxDjoolsxxx]

Watch Cindy McCain bringing the new swiftboat ads:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wKGb2c9u4U

[DiogenesII]

This resignation is "ONLY" on "PAPER"....They will remain "linked", unofficially
to any outside group/activity, intent on disparaging the person and campaign
of Obama.

There can be no better example than McCain's "so called rejection" of
pastors Hagee and Parsley, while Lieberman functions as an ardent
acolyte of the acerbic "liturgy" of these miscreant ministers.

Can We Get An Amen????

[Nutcase]

The article states that they requested a leave from their positions with the organization. It also said that they were doing this in compliance with the policy of McCain's campaign. My understanding is that the law bans any connection between campaigns and 527s. It is a matter of law, not a matter of McCain's policy. To ask for leave means that there is an extant position that will be waiting for them. That cannot be if there is to be no tie between the campaign and the 527. Either they do not understand the law or are going to openly flout it.

[JulieSA]

it's not a 527; it's a 501(c)4. I don't know if that makes a difference or not. They're almost the same thing.

[JoeBlough]

Probably both.

[Lerk4]

No, this is something that happens when your Rock Star opponent raises the bar on how this campaign is going to play out... with dignity and focus on the issues.

GAME IS ON!

[Exit]

McCain thinks he is a Democrat.

[Podewumun]

Connecticutt erroneously thought Lieberman was, too.

[TRichards]

So does Lieberman. Goes to show just how delusional these guys can get.

[FlowerGirl]

They aren't THAT stupid. They know very well whaat they are. Thjjey just don't want people to know it.

S o what are they?
H aven't you guessed?
I t's not hard.
T hey're Neocons.

[Johnz52]

McCain has lost all credibility with Vets with his steadfast refusal to champion a full Senate Investigation into Israel's terrorist attack upon the USS Liberty that resulted in the deaths of 33 service men, one civilian and the wounding of over 120 other U.S. service men. His father whitewashed the Navy's initial investigation clsoing it down in record time and threatening all involved with courtmartials and severe prison sentences if they dared to talk. John McCain only exacerbates his father's truly dishonorable treatment of Vets wiht his refusal to even meet with the survivors of the Liberty. McCain isn't a war hero he was merely a bad pilot who got shot down.

[LuckyDay]

I'm inclined to agree with you - a bad pilot who got shot down. It would be interesting to see what track McCain followed to to become a fighter pilot, since they are the best and brightest of the crop. McCain graduated at the bottom his Naval Academy class. Something to think about.

[JulieSA]

One third of his squadron was killed or captured the year he was shot down. All crummy pilots? Or maybe what they were doing was kinda dangerous? Hanoi had the best surface-to-air defenses of any city in history at the time.

[omahkohkiaayo]

Colonel David Hackworth, before his death, on John McCain

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/cin_hacker_2.htm

[JulieSA]

Colonel Bud Day disagrees with Colonel Hackworth, and Colonel Day was there.

[PandaBear]

Wow, this is a very telling article. Why isn't it 'out there'? I would think the media would have a field day with this!

[PandaBear]

Here is an interesting web site: www. vietnamveteransagainstmccain.com
It seems to have a large following of Vietnam vets who don't agree with his war hero status. It would be interesting to see some follow-up on this

[JulieSA]

Here's your followup. The people behind this group were exposed long ago as far-right nuts and con-men. These are the same folks who say Obama is a Muslim, and they faked a photo of John Kerry shooting an American in Vietnam. But if you're comfortable getting your information from weirdos like these, then go ahead.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ted_Sampley

http://www.miafacts.org/mccain.htm

[DasBoot]

People who drop bombs and then fly away without seeing the consequences are hardly heroes to begin with.

[AnnArky]

Lieberman and McCain are not the problem. The problem is those angry, ignorant, white, Americans (including the White Media) who support them. Lieberman&McCain would be selling used cars somewhere in North Dakota if their loyalists actually stopped and considered who these guys really are. These are NOT nice guys; they're dirty and they play dirty for one purpose only, to continue the failed/awful agenda of the NeoCon Republicans.

[bbbear]

True. Holy Joe and Mythic Hero are little more than rotting facades built upon innocent blood.

[sierrarisings1]

agree

[rjcrane]

I absolutely agree with this post. Thank you for boldly stating the truth. Both Lieberman, McCain and their ilk are nothing but political whores who need to be in front of a camera fawning for an audience to validate themselves and their manhood. And the sad truth is the media allows themselves to be used this way. The ignorant white and bitter voters who see these politicians appear on talk shows and other media, think it's because they have earned respect when nothing could be further from the truth.

Rj Crane, topplebush.com

[jimchap]

Joe used to market himself as the 'integrity' candidate.
Now, he can open his mouth without a bucketful of lies coming out.
He's a horrible little man. Bad Joe! No biscuits!

[ddeuts1]

"Bad Joe! No Biscuits!"

Holy smokes, that has to be the funniest thing I've read in a LONG time.

[Independent007]

Funny thing, but I forgot about what Lieberman said regarding the military vote counts in Florida in 2000, until I saw the movie Recount.
Horrible choice Gore made to pick Lieberman as a running mate.

[Lindamae]

Why would you believe a movie? Stone has rewritten several wars. Moore makes up facts to support his agenda. Gore used movie clips to support his global warming is caused by man scam. The web is loaded with mis-information. Movies use events to build dramatic appeal. Question the obvious.

[Gary47]

"Strict policy" alright albeit with totally lax enforcement. Unless someone else happens to notice. Like speeding is bad but I get to do it all the time because nobody notices. Straight from the "family values" set.

[GrandpaMcCain]

Yeah, the "Addam's Family Values."

[Podewumun]

More like "The Manson Family".

[4wehttam]

"This is obviously something we're working through," said Brian Rogers, a spokesman for the McCain campaign. "This is the kind of thing that happens when you have the strictest possible policy on these issues."

Oh please! This is the kind of thing that happens when your DEEPLY embedded in lobbyist, corruption and smear campaigns. McBush knows he will NEVER win the election unless he gets down and dirty, that is the only way republicans have any chance of winning anything.

I'm hoping THIS YEAR that WE will not let them dictate what's right or wrong. WE will not allow them to use their fear-mongering to hijack the debate.

[bbbear]

I'm with you and pledge to give until it hurts. I'm an ardent Obama supporter.. But if McHillary manages to steal the nomination I'll vote for her because, even though she meshes with McSame, she's not exactly McSame.

[GrandpaMcCain]

WGAF? Lieberman and Graham are both miserable f-ing disgraces. I have no respect for either of them, not even as human beings.

[Economike]

McCain's constant impulse to be fair is going to make it impossible for him to be an effective GOP candidate.

[Gary47]

"Impulse to be fair"? Where in McCain's life history did you pull that idea?

[GrandpaMcCain]

~snicker~ Under the chapter, "Repugnantcan Talking Points."

[lizinatl]

he did say "impulse"

[bbbear]

HaHaHaHa! Great tongue in cheek!

Old McSame reminds me of Mr. Burns of the Simpsons, sitting in his rotting nuclear power plant, willing to tell any lie to keep it open. The aide who loves him represents the press and their need to saddle ever closer to him and perpetuate his mythic herioc abilities that enabled him to last 4 days before spilling his guts to his capture, and admiting to being a war criminal.
Oh yes, the ethical McSame who, when he got the chance to return home, remained, ostensibly because he didn't want to leave his fellow POW's... But more likely because he was afraid when he got home he'd be ostrasized for giving it up to his captors, or worse..

[Nutcase]

Ask his first wife about fair.

[Podewumun]

What you call "McCain's constant impulse to be fair", others would call, "McCain's mastery of political traingulation".

As far as I'm concerned, "McCain's covering his wrinkled old @arse".

[Independent007]

Economike,

You must be kidding.