McCain's Cronies: Gambling Man McCain Or Self-Dealing Cronyman Rick Davis?

Cashing In via lopolis.

John McCain and campaign manager Rick Davis appear to be two peas in a corrupt pod.

Reading the NYTimes piece on McCain's high stakes craps lifestyle raises significant questions. Not just about McCain's reckless lack of judgment by gambling at a casino that fell under his oversight purview, but also his lax follow-through on Indian Affairs and Commerce for "friends." Recall McCain didn't bother to subpoena Ralph Reed in the Abramoff investigation and all those as-yet-unreleased e-mails?

The NYTimes reports:

Mr. McCain's inner circle played a behind-the-scenes role in bringing Mr. Abramoff's misdeeds to Mr. McCain's attention -- and then cashed in on the resulting investigation. The senator's longtime chief political strategist, for example, was paid $100,000 over four months as a consultant to one tribe caught up in the inquiry, records show.

Just how did MCain decide who to haul before the committee. Or not? And it triggered a flashback.

Remember back in 2007, when Rick Davis was first brought on board to shore up McCain's imploding campaign -- the media staff had quit en masse that summer -- with an infusion of cash from Davis' lobbying connections?

I remembered this in particular (subs. req.):

In particular, last year Mr. Davis and lobbying partner Paul Manafort had started and co-owned an Internet services firm, 3eDC, which billed the campaign more than $1 million. Mr. Davis also arranged for the campaign to give its property-management business to a second new company started by a lobbyist-friend's client, Indian-casino developer Richard Fields. That move came despite the fact that Mr. McCain had become known as the Senate's biggest critic of scandals involving Indian casinos. The campaign has ended both companies' deals, though it still owes them money.

Davis also owned an interest in 3eDC -- cozy of him to give himself the McCain campaign internet contract as he began his stint at the helm of McCain's campaign, isn't it? But it's this constant intersection of Davis, questionable ethics, and McCain's fiduciary oversight obligations to the public that interests me. From the WaPo in June:

But in the eight years since Davis first managed a McCain campaign, his relationship with the senator has been a lucrative commodity. He and his lobbying firm, Davis Manafort, have earned handsome fees representing clients who need McCain's help in the Senate. He also has made money from a panoply of McCain-related entities, some of which have operated from the upscale riverfront office space that houses his lobbying shop.

In all, Davis, his firm and a company he helped start have earned at least $2.2 million in part through their close association with McCain, his campaign and his causes, according to a review of federal campaign, tax and lobbyist disclosure records.

And Davis isn't the only McCain associate to do so. Not even close.

But the gambling questions raise a host of issues which call McCain's PR "maverick" image into sharp question. Anyone think you are gambling in the high roller room of a casino with that casino's chief lobbyist, Scott Reed, and that you walk away with a pile of $100 chips just because you are an awesome shooter of craps?Absolutely no thumb on the scale so the powerful Senator walks away with his happy pile o' cash and good feelings about your business? How can you prove it?

And isn't that exactly what caught Rep. Bob Ney in his "get enough gambling winnings to cover credit bills" smarmy scheme? Why, yes, it is. Say hello to corrupt payoff from Jack Abramoff 101.

Which is why careful, ethical lawmakers avoid such improprieties and questionable actions in the first place. Not McCain. Reckless and doesn't give a crap about the usual rules McCain.

But back to that sweetheart deal for Davis' casino mogul pal turned shell-corporation contractor.

Richard Fields is probably most well-known for a significant spat with former business partner Donald Trump. Fields happens to be an Indian casino developer, among other business ventures, with the Seminole tribe in Florida -- having put together deals for two Hard Rock casinos on Seminole land which would have been overseen by McCain's tenure helming Senate Indian Affairs. He's also done other gambling ventures with Steve Wynn, among any number of other gaming moguls. How exactly did he get that shell company deal -- and why?

In 1998, this was the public version of McCain:

Because I'm chairman of the Commerce Committee, I see the CEOs of major corporations. Which has nothing to do with campaign donations -- I have oversight of their businesses and I'll see the CEOs. I don't see the lobbyists, OK? If somebody calls -- say if the CEO of PrimeStar wants to see me -- I say, "Fine, tell him to come in." But if a lobbyist with PrimeStar calls and says he wants to come in, I say, "No, talk to my staff." But when Gene Kimmelman of the Consumers Union or Joan Claybrook of Public Citizen wants to talk to me, I say, "Come on in." What I try to do is listen to a balanced set of viewpoints, not dictated by campaign contributions or anything else, whether they're Republicans or Democrats or Libertarians or vegetarians. But there's nothing wrong with talking to people who are the experts on the issues.

Today, McCain's campaign is infested with lobbyists from top to bottom, all of whom have used their connection to McCain to form a nexus of client relationships at McCain's intersection of power and influence inside the Beltway. Either the prior McCain image was false, or he's thrown it aside for campaign payola and all the corrupt backroom promises it brings with it.

Back when it seemed like every Republican party official in America had stepped into a sex scandal of their own making, Scott Reed said this:

Republicans think the governing class in Washington are a bunch of buffoons who have total disregard for the principles of the party, the law of the land and the future of the country.

Well, if the shoe fits...

Comments

[PumaAnn]

I must say, the talks among people this week has been pretty much predictable. We don't think there's a lot of difference between the parties.

They both are so deep into cronyism that it's choking us all.

There was no rancour in my discussions, whether you were Dem or Rep. We're pretty equally fed up.

[vegas9999]

Well said. Now we know why the House has a 10% rating

[JamesInDenver]

McCain learned nothing from Keating 5, except maybe how to better cover his tracks.

[fuzzywuzzy6]

I live in the central San Joaquin of California where there are several Native American casinos. Not all the casinos are well run; there is some evidence of skimming. It is rumored hereabouts that the Las Vegas gambling industry manages some of the casinos in this state. If it does in California, where else in the U.S.? Who else does McCain owe favors to?

[Indie2008]

Lots of new questions for McCain.after this week... I have a feeling we'll be seeing fewer town hall meetings now!

[BethStuart]

Where is Rick Davis? He seems to have disappeared since the $15,000 a month Freddie Mac payments came to light a week ago. Has anyone asked McCain about him?

[musselmanm]

Thank you, VERMIN is the perfect name for the whole bunch!
Time for jail!

[arthur2008]

It is a mistake to let the current chaos take the question of where Rick Davis' and John McCain's loyalties lie--and whether crimes were committed in what looks very much like a shakedown of Fannie Mae by Davis.

[MsEngineer]

Two words: Keating Five

McCain and his family take multiple trips to the Caribbean with Charles Keating and family on Keating's dime. For some reason Keating thought this meant he had bought himself a Senator. However, when the time came for Keating to call in the chips, McCain all of a sudden got a conscious and didn't want to speak up for Keating in front of the regulators. He is not only crooked but he is not even a good crook.

But what can you expect from someone who cheats on his crippled wife and dumps her for a new, younger, wealthier model that can buy him a seat in the Senate. Why doesn't anyone want to make an issue out of this? It certainly shows his character - or lack their of.

[vernbvb]

Christy, you are being so nice about his so- called "gambling" problem. What i gleened from the article was that Senator McCain has to be one of the most currupt politicians in history. I cannot believe that he uses people in such a self serving way. He abused the power of his office to revenge an old score and to make money for himself and his friends. Holding a hearing for a fraudulent purpose ought to be serious enough for investigation. Anytime you help someone scheme in order to get a hearing, then give them a plan to follow, and then affect the outcome in your friends favor, it simply cannot be called anything other than criminal fraud. Is anyone angry? Should we continue to let our politicians operate in this way? Come on America, let's overhaul and get all the corrupt, money grubbing, incompetent politicians out while we have the opportunity. Then let's start a grass movement for public oversight and accountability of all politicians with strong enforcement measures. In addition, let's get a website just to list all of the known corrupt politicians and give them a chance to explain their behaviors proving their innocence or giving credence to their guilt.

[vegas9999]

Why not start here? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs

[PioneerKing]

McCain is documented to have won lots of money gambling. Why didn't the earnings get filed on McCain's tax returns? McCain has been a big gambler for years. Losses and/or earnings of the magnitude that McCain flaunts are all to be reported on taxes.