John McCain Rips J.D. Hayworth For Connections To Group Behind Lindsey Graham Gay Smears

Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) campaign tried again Wednesday to try to paint Republican opponent, former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, as an extremist, this time pointing to his ongoing connection to a right wing immigration group that recently called on Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to admit he was gay.

"It's unfortunate that Congressman Hayworth's fetish with the extreme fringe continues," McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said in a statement. "Is Congressman Hayworth really so desperate to show any support for his candidacy that he would continue to embrace the support of a group that's been linked to white supremacists, neo-Nazis and anti-Semites -- even after his spokesman 'strongly repudiated' ALIPAC's President?"

Rogers' statement refers to the group, Americans for Legal Immigration, which is headed by William Gheen.

"From his close embrace of Mr. Gheen and ALIPAC, to peddling conspiracy theories about the President's birth certificate and man-horse marriage, Congressman Hayworth has made clear that he feels most comfortable on the extreme fringe," Rogers continued. "While Congressman Hayworth courts extreme elements, Senator McCain is proud to have the support of Arizona leaders on the front lines fighting to secure our border, including Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever and Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu."

Earlier Wednesday, Hayworth spokesman Mark Sanders responded to Gheen's accusations against Sen. Graham.

"The campaign strongly repudiates these comments," Sanders said. "We are happy to have the support of all voters in Arizona who understand the need to end this crisis of illegal immigration."

According to the Phoenix New Times, however, Sanders did not clarify whether Hayworth planned to formally disavow ALIPAC's endorsement.

In February, the McCain campaign called on Hayworth to reject the ALIPAC endorsement because the Jewish Anti-Defamation league had deemed them a group promoted by "white supremacists and anti-Semites."

"We appreciate the Hayworth campaign's small step toward sanity, but we're confused: If Congressman Hayworth so 'strongly repudiates' Mr. Gheen's comments, does that mean he'll disavow the endorsement of Mr. Gheen and ALIPAC, and return their $5,000 contribution?" McCain spokesman Brian Rogers told the New Times Wednesday.

In a similar effort to link Hayworth to the extremist fringe and downplay the seriousness of his primary challenge, the McCain campaign released an ad earlier this month painting Hayworth as a laughable candidate and mocking the former Congressman for his supposed connections to a variety of strange conspiracies.

Comments

[KristalKlofft]

12:26 AM on 05/07/2010

JD, a pathetic choice for a candidate. JD was in Washington, if you need reminders of what he accomplished, here they are...NOTHING. Ok, so he did get an award for being the dumbest member of Congress. He earned a pre-fix to his name 'blowhard' he lost his seat to a democrat because he became buddy buddy with criminal lobbyist Abramoff. There is nothing about JD that would qualify for a vote.

[Arnold Latham]

04:18 PM on 04/23/2010

Oh, man! McCain is loyal. Get him out of here! C'mon people. you know hayworth is such a sleaze that he'd sell his own grandma for a spot on the senate. McCain is just a good guy, regardless of his poltics.

[jeremyfive]

03:54 PM on 04/23/2010

John McCain defends Lindsay Graham. Those two boys are sooo cute together.

[Yikes11]

03:51 PM on 04/23/2010

Really M-C $/tain, really. You're no different than JD. You're worried because you and Lindsay are bff's. Gawd, you two were like twins, always in photos together.

[wassilij]

02:50 PM on 04/23/2010

We really need to get some new blood in the Senate .......These guys suck..

[wassilij]

02:46 PM on 04/23/2010

I've seen the way Lindsey looks at John.

[Clearing-Brush]

11:27 AM on 04/23/2010

"It's unfortunate that Congressman Hayworth's fetish with the extreme fringe continues,"

You have a fetish of your own Senator. Extreme fringe = Sarah Palin.

Didn't he just have her campaigning the extreme fringe? - "Obama the communist", other smears, etc......

Ya major league hypocrite.

[LonosCurse]

11:11 AM on 04/23/2010

On the one hand, McCain criticizes his opponent for associating with teabaggers who attack Graham and on the other he associates with teabaggers who legislate against being hispanic.

Old f@rt.

[bronceye]

10:24 AM on 04/23/2010

John and Lynnsey spent a lot of "alone time" in a war zone. Give them a break. When fearful, we all turn to the first set of open arms for solace. Don't be so afraid, John.

[bronceye]

10:13 AM on 04/23/2010

White Supremists, Neo Nazis and Anti Semites? Yep, that's the teabaggers they're talking about. All the repubes are after them(even though they are repubes, too).

[jeremyfive]

09:19 AM on 04/23/2010

Lindsay Graham's sexy allure is not lost on John McCain.

[anothervoice]

09:24 AM on 04/23/2010

Lol.

[1other1]

09:08 AM on 04/23/2010

Sad old man.....

[floridafun]

07:39 AM on 04/23/2010

stand by yer man john! ;-)

[booboopickle]

06:08 AM on 04/23/2010

I take offense at being called gay being a 'smear' . I do NOT want to be straight, or like any straight person I have ever known. I am proud to be gay, thank you very much, whether society likes it or gets it or not.

[jeremyfive]

09:22 AM on 04/23/2010

Try to remember Rule #1 from the Republican mandate:

"If you don't understand it, kill it."

Remembering their motto will help you understand where the Republicans are coming from.

John McCain has long been a disaster on issues of diversity--every back when he left his disabled first wife for the stripper.

[anothervoice]

09:31 AM on 04/23/2010

It seems to me that in the face of an effective and competent executive administration and an increasingly inept republican party, the republicans are casting about frantically for any device or meme that will give them a little traction.

In a wider view, the republicans are being seen for what they are and have been. And there's nothing like this sad economy to get America's eyes open. The republicans are all sound and fury, but that's all there is. No Ideas - no solutions. And with a rebounding economy and six months to the elections with nothing to show, the republicans are grasping at straws.

November should be interesting.

[jyokley]

02:43 PM on 04/23/2010

Fanned.... Thank you for standing up.

[DrDemon]

05:26 AM on 04/23/2010

These dolls are a MESS!