McCain Defends His Own Association With Unrepentant Criminal: It's Ok, He Went To Jail

After weeks of hammering Barack Obama for having an association with a former Weather Undergound member, John McCain was asked Thursday afternoon about his own connections to a past felon: G. Gordon Liddy.

The question came, of all places, from late night comedian David Letterman, who pressed the Senator to explain why he was friendly with the man who was convicted in the Watergate scandal of conspiracy, burglary, and illegal wiretapping. McCain - according to an advanced report of the show - initially said that he "met" Liddy before adding, "He paid his debt, he went to prison, he paid his debt." Here is another segment of the interview:

Dave: Did you not have a relationship with Gordon Liddy? McCain: Uh, I met him. I -- Dave: Did you attend a fundraiser at his house? McCain: Gordon Liddy's? Paul: I object, your honor. Dave: We will be right back here... (laughter)

And yet, important to note in all of this, is that Liddy has been publicly unrepentant for his actions, much like Ayers. In an interview with the UK Independent Liddy said he didn't regret burglarizing the offices of the Democratic National Committee.

In addition to the burglary - for which he served a four-and-a-half year sentence - Liddy broke into the office of Daniel Ellsberg, the military analyst who leaked the Pentagon Papers. He also admitted to plotting both the murder of journalist Jack Anderson - a harsh Nixon critic - and the firebombing of the Brookings Institute.

The parallels between Ayers in Liddy are stretched in the regard that Ayers was part of a group that did undertake bombings (though all of them were designed to avoid casualties). But McCain seems to be suggesting that an association is legitimate if the individual served a jail sentence, something Ayers, too, would have done had the FBI not mangled its investigation.

Liddy's relationship to McCain has ventured somewhere between the personal and political. Liddy donated $1,000 to the Senator's presidential campaign and has hosted him on his radio program. Media Matters for America reports that Liddy once described McCain as an "old friend."

In addition to addressing Liddy - for what seems the first time in this campaign - McCain was asked by Letterman if his running mate had really said that Barack Obama "pals around with terrorists." McCain, according to a write up of the appearance, "started to say he didn't know, then said 'Yes. And he did.'"

That line has been the subject of much debate over the past week, with Palin actually removing it from her stump speech after Republicans and Democrats alike criticized her for inciting already rabid crowds. McCain, during the debate on Wednesday night, also sought to downplay that angle, saying the issue with Ayers was not one of terrorism, but rather whether Obama was being fully truthful with voters.

Comments

[teacheng]

Keep up the work, people. We have two weeks to go and we need to fight right until the end. We absolutely cannot let these liars and thieves into the White House.

[TaylorRae]

Classic: Do as I say, not as I do.

Did John McCain miss that whole silly Watergate thing? Maybe he only saw the movie "Dick" with Kirsten Dunst and thinks it was just a teen comedy!

Gordon Liddy is a scourge on this nation's history and the integrity of the Presidency, made worse by his belief that what he did was right.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

[RFBorjal]

In the eyes of the law, Liddy is a criminal while Ayers is not. Liddy was convicted, Ayers was not. Liddy was found guilty, Ayers is presumed innocent until proven otherwise. That's the rule of law. The law may be harsh, but it's the law (Dura lex sed lex).

[Grunty1]

Not only that, but Obama has had no real contact with Ayers beyond the Annenburg ecudation forum.

On the other hand, McCain has accepted large sums of money for Liddy and has been on his radio program THIS YEAR.

[Whinger]

Yeah, he's an imperfect servant, but he doesn't repent his wrongdoing!

Say it aint so John, say it aint so!

[Lagrangian]

The difference between Liddy's and Ayers' supposed lack of contrition is that whereas Ayers has explained his comment that he wished he had done more referred to the people as a whole doing more to end the Vietnam war, Libby has not, to my knowledge, offered any such explanation for inciting his radio listeners to kill AFT agents and the like.

[BarackMarley]

Watch the video here
http://newsone.blackplanet.com/elections/letterman-questions-mccain-on-gordon-liddy/

Here's what McCain said on Liddy's show a year ago
“I’m proud of you, I’m proud of your family… 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.”

[mervr1]

Bravo Dave, you're the onl yperson in the media who has had the guts to bring up Gordon Liddy and call McCain on it. It seems like the Letterman and the ladies of The View are the only ones with enough character to ask and call McCain on his shady connections.

Do you hear that CNN, ABC, CBS, tell your reporters to take some pointers from these people on investigative reporting. MSNBC are the only ones calling McCain on his associations. Fox will never do it.

[dare2tryobama]

Again McCain makes the statement that 'if Senator Obama had done the town hall meetings that I asked him to do, we wouldn't be having this type of campaign". So in other words because Senator Obama didn't do what McCain wanted this is his punishment.

Who is he to tell Senator Obama what to do? WE the American people, the ones that John McCain said he stands up for didn't and don't want to hear that. For once we have a candidate running that went above the low road and it has been refreshing. I am one of those Americans that is sick and tired of hearing the same old promises and still nothing gets done. I am glad someone is running that will change how washington works and will hold them accountable.

It's people with the mentality of John McCain and Sarah Palin that makes this country worse instead of better. You can't be a light on a hill when you discriminate against ANYONE!!!

[okayigive]

Funny how some in the entertainment business are the one's doing the work of "The Fourth Estate", while some in "The Fourth Estate" are trying to be entertaining for ratings, an invite to a BBQ, or to usurp this election. Shame on some who represent the "voice of the people" to sell-out and become complicit in representing lies, hate, distortions, smears and character assassinations and call it fairness, when you are suppose to be the one source given to us by the constitution to give information that protects the masses.

[sueno]

I Love Dave!
The road to the White House DOES run past his deck!
McCain never mentions Liddy while he runs his foul ads.
McCain runs with more "crooks" than anyone in the Senate.

[Spesabsquemetu]

But here is where true difference rests between McCain and Obama:

Obama holds himself to standards of ethics, integrity and truthfulness with the American people, and his character, judgment and leadership MODEL a respect for the sanctity of the American people's trust, and a reverence for democracy in acting with integrity to that democracy - in all that Obama says and in all that he does.

Sen. McCain models a policy of cruelty, a policy of distorting the truth, a policy of erratic conduct that is repeated and modeled through erratic lopsided applications of principles and standards to Sen. Obama that McCain pompously negates holding to himself and his staff.

Sen. Obama's staff models the leadership they encounter through Sen. Obama's character.
Sen. McCain's staff models the same POLICIES of distortions of the truth, policies of FALSE accusations, policies of dishonorable conduct replicated in the promotion of FALSE information, with complete disregard for the dismantling of democracy that such malfeasance summons.

In the end, John McCain dismisses a history of painful struggle that bore the imprint of our forefathers courage, their integrity and commitment to human dignity, their belief that a perfect union was possible - that McCain dismantles each and every time he CHOOSES the politics of malfeasance and the promotion of FALSE accusations, over the AMERICAN VALUES OF OUR FOREFATHERS premised upon the belief in human dignity and the sanctity of the individual, that proclaimed inalienable rights for ALL.

[Sparty1]

Do as I say, not as I do.

[Spesabsquemetu]

How bizarre that the man who suggests that truth become the centerpiece of all discussion over issues, is the same man who sold his integrity and the public's trust for his own personal gains in his scandalous dealings with Charles Keating.

He's the man who suggests that palling around with a man who openly admits to plotting the murder of a journalist - for daring to pursue standards of ethics in journalism, is somehow an American thing to do, because Liddy sat in a jail cell.

He's the man who suggests that palling around with Liddy who engaged in the bombings of the Brookings institute is somehow appropriate as compared to Sen. Obama who does not pal around with Mr. Ayers, but who did serve with him and other Reagan supporters on the Annenburg foundation board doing charitable work.

McCain has a beam so wide through his eye, that it blinds him from the very truths he claims he is seeking.

[4real]

I guess for the MSM palling around with unrepentant felons is OK.

[blood1]

OKAY, NOW II GET IT, in McCain's rule book of judgements:

If you do something that ends up threatening to bring down the government (for those of you who don't know, G GORDON LEDDY was one person involved in the Watergate break-in that ultimately cause GOP president Richard NIXON to resign his president - in the face of impeachment)
...BUT, you go to Jail...tha­t makes you OKAY....so the only problem with Ayers is that he did not go to jail!

Now we really get an insight into McCain's mind....so I assume that he would RE-EMBRACE KEATING, because he went to jail...

The only question left...is to try and elucidate from McCain...W­hat is his time frame for re-instatement into his circle of friends after this person has completed their pentance..­.then we could all judge everyone, because we all know that McCain's evaluation is the RULE for which we should JUDGE ALL THINGS (sarcasm? YES).