One day after The New York Times published an article raising ethical questions about Sen. John McCain's dealings with lobbyist Vicki Iseman, the Arizona senator pushed back today at a press conference in Cleveland, telling reporters, "Vicki Iseman did not force me into any positions."
Calling suggestions that Ms. Iseman could make him assume a different position "ridiculous," Sen. McCain said, "At my age, I'm not about to try out new positions that I'm uncomfortable with."
While Mr. McCain was vague about his official dealings with Ms. Iseman, he told reporters, "I would not allow a lobbyist to perform any favor for me unless it felt really, really good."
The Republican frontrunner said that neither he nor Ms. Iseman had been aware that The New York Times was conducting an investigation into their relationship, adding, "Vicki and I have been in the dark together for a long time."
But he vehemently defended the lobbyist's professionalism, telling reporters, "Vicki Iseman is an energetic and passionate woman who has bent over backwards to please me."
Early reaction to Sen. McCain's comments was mixed, with some Republicans wondering whether he had done himself more harm than good.
But Mr. McCain did receive high marks from at least one Senate colleague, Sen. Larry Craig (R-Id.).
"I called John today to offer him my encouragement," Sen. Craig said. "I said, 'It's hard, and it's going to get harder, but stick it out.'"
Andy Borowitz is a comedian and writer whose work appears in The New Yorker and The New York Times, and at his award-winning humor site, BorowitzReport.com. He is the host of "Countdown to '08" at the 92nd Street Y on Tuesday, May 13 at 8 PM with his special guests Susie Essman (HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Jeffrey Toobin (CNN, bestselling author of The Nine. For tickets, go to 92y.org.
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I didn't even realize it - I thought he was writing seriously.
"I would not allow a lobbyist to perform any favor for me unless it felt really, really good."
"At my age, I'm not about to try out new positions that I'm uncomfortable with."
"Vicki Iseman is an energetic and passionate woman who has bent over backwards to please me."
AMERICAN business, thanks to the TREASONOUS supreme court has BENT OVER ALL of us and the citizens have had the unpleasantness of getting it in the backside for a long time.
Otherwise Barack Obama will be forced to cut him up like fish bait.
Senator Larry Craig has said "I would BEND OVER to please John anytime he'd like, so he could DRIVE HOME his support for the conservative cause".