Arianna Huffington: The Latest Victim Of John McCain's Surge In Lies And Smears

As many of you have no doubt seen, the straight-talking reformer had the following to say about Arianna, after she exposed yet another bit of hypocrisy about a man who at this point might join Karl Rove in smearing hiw own daughter if he thought it would win him an extra vote somewhere:

Asked why Huffington would make up her story about McCain not voting for Bush, longtime McCain aide Mark Salter -- who has previously tangled with the Huffington Post -- ripped into her. "Why would she make something up? Because she's a flake, and a poser, and an attention seeking diva. And that's on the record."

Arianna wrote about how McCain told her in 2000 he didn't vote for President Bush. If you have researched the man as exhaustively as I have, you can be quite sure that this is not only entirely plausible, but likely. But what seals it for me is that Arianna said it, McCain denied it, and then he attacked her. Because that is his modus operandi when he is lying, which these days he does about as often as he blurts out "my friends."

Like Arianna, I once believed in McCain. In 2000 I gave him a campaign contribution and really thought he was a leader. Then I saw him embrace President Bush. Quite literally. And I saw him start to pander to the worst elements in his party and our country, and switch positions more times than if he had been reading the Kama Sutra (I know, kinda gross).

When my book The Real McCain came out, the McCain people labeled it "trash journalism," because it told a few stories about the man he would prefer stayed hidden in reporters' notebooks. Then he got a story killed in a large newspaper in Great Britain about my book. Here is an email from the reporter providing me with the details of their attack on my character:

from XXXXX Apr 11
to Clifford Schecter
date Apr 11, 2008 6:02 PM
subject RE: book

Hi Cliff,

As far as I know it is dead here, so feel free to talk to your people. I would prefer if you didn't reveal my name or publication, but you should know what happened. The reason for being this is that my editor would not be pleased.

I called McCain's people for comment. The told me that first that this was all off the record, that you were a super liberal with a hate streak, that you were known to make outlandish comments like this and that you were not a reliable source. Then they said that they would prefer that we didn't go with anything, just to protect the Senator's image from false information. Because this was just a crazy, gossipy piece of journalism anyway.

I then asked for a quote for the article, as my editor needed something from them. They said, "Well, I know you aren't going to like this" and with a little almost smirk from them:

"This book is just tabloid trash," said Crystal Benton, a spokeswoman for the McCain campaign. "The fact that it is even being reported speaks to the sad state of journalism today."

I further asked if the Senator was going to pursue legal action for libel, and she said no, and would not cite a reason why.

Well constructed comment from them if I ever heard one. Would make a lot of news editors reconsider.

Let me know if you need anything,

XXXXX

Well, of course they are not going to pursue legal action. Because everything in the book is true. This might also be why when asked if he used the "c-word" in a tirade against his wife he refused to answer the question (in Iowa at a town hall meeting the other day) and he and his underpaid bevy of sycophantic hacks contradicted each other on whether another story happened that I broke in the book (a fight with Rick Renzi--McCain told Fox it hadn't happened, then his people told The Washington Post it did).

This, folks, is The Real McCain. Like me, Arianna had the audacity to criticize McCain. For that she was smeared. Does anyone really think a President McCain will be any different than the current White House occupant?

Cliff Schecter is the author of The Real McCain: Why Conservatives Don't Trust Him And Why Independents Shouldn't. Buy a copy (for only $10!) and keep both his 18-month old son and John McCain in diapers.

Comments

[Bobrobert]

The end of McCain is near.

He forgets what he has said.

He forgets where he is.

Poor guy is gonna need depends to keep from soiling himself since he has no idea where the bathroom is.

Oh well.

Have fun everyone and be sure to vote.

[fishretired]

He lost me when he initially stood up strongly against torture and then flipped as a nominee for president and condoned torture.

End of story. Maverick ?? Hardly. Can you imagine him for 4 years? Ouch

[hopeless277]

McCain/Clinton 08-The Sociapaths Dreamteam.

[ScroogeandMarleyLLC]

Sorry, but McCain defends himself spiritedly against what he (and many others) perceive as hacks, flakes and other miscreants in their attempt to malign him. Just what the hell is wrong with that?

[arglebargle]

You assume the stories aren't true. McCain's been confronted, and he's weaselled out of answering rather than "defending himself spiritedly­."

If they're true, he isn't being maligned, but rather exposed. As he should be. If half of Schecter's book is true, McCain is a coarse, abusive, distinctly non-Presidential man.

[blueraven]

Hello, and welcome to reality. I see you're a tourist around these parts. I'm sure your time here will be a pleasure and comfort, provided you follow a few basic rules.

1) The truth hurts. It's supposed to. The reason Lao-Tzu smiles at the taste of the vinegar is it's sour, just the way it's meant to be.

2) If someone refuses to sue but calls you a liar, it's because they don't want the truth to be given the imprimatur of a court decision and a long, deep public display during the trial while the facts are established.

3) John McCain has a long history of being rude, crass, hateful and mean. This has been documented time and again. See #2 for his response.

4) In these parts, we who live in reality have to call people out for the sort of behavior displayed in #3. The best response is to let go of your fantasies and embrace the facts. It will both support your ability to make sensible decisions and improve your life as well as the lives of others.

Thank you again for visiting reality. I hope you decide to settle down to stay. The more people we have around these parts, the better.

[mediamarv]

Nicely done!

Good writing does show up here at HuffPo now and again. Thanks for the latest episode.

[Liberoservative]

and all the more reason to vote for Senator Obama... he tells us the truth.. and, even though his pastor was inflammato­ry... he spoke to truth, as well.. (though you are going to have to go a long long way to convince me that the US govt invented HIV to kill black peoples)..­. We hate to hear truth... we hate to think of ourselves as less than perfect. That is EXACTLY why we have done NOTHING to help our nation in the past 30 years... Please peoples.. realize that we need to fundamentally change how we govern.. What we are doing now is not working...­.

[Mack20]

See Scrooge, you are allowed to stay provided you follow the sad blackbird’s rules. Say what??? I'm sure Ms. Huffington loves your typical elitist nonsense, but I'll bet she's smirking at your "few basic rules" assertion. Your comments do raise an important question, miss bossy; does one put the vinegar on the salad before the oil or visa versa?

[zippywpinhead]

"defends himself spiritedly" by muzzling anyone with the temerity to broach the issue and using security to forcibly escort them from the room, rather than just answer the question..­.