McCain Campaign Rewrites Keating Scandal

In a conference call with reporters today, John McCain's lawyer John Dowd claimed that the Keating Five ethics investigation into McCain and four other senators was a "political smear job."

That seems to put him at odds with what McCain has claimed over the years. In fact, in 1999, McCain told a hometown reporter, "The appearance of it was wrong. It's a wrong appearance when a group of senators appear in a meeting with a group of regulators, because it conveys the impression of undue and improper influence. And it was the wrong thing to do."

McCain has often referred to the Keating Five scandal as the defining moment of his career - a moment in which he became a reformer. But the recent twist of historical fact by his lawyer undercuts what McCain has insisted for years - that he learned a lesson from the Keating Five scandal.

If that lesson was to fight for reforming the campaign finance system, it's a lesson he left behind years ago. McCain used to be the lead author of a bill to fix the presidential public financing system back in 2003, but he's refused to cosponsor it since then. He used to call the Arizona Clean Elections public financing law a national model, but now he says he opposed reform for federal offices.

If that lesson was that appearances matter, then he ought to have a look around his campaign office. His campaign is run, staffed, advised, and funded with the help of some of Washington's most successful - and infamous - lobbyists. From lobbyist Rick Davis, his campaign manager, who lobbied for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and received secret payments from Freddie for a no-show job, to lobbyist Charlie Black, his senior advisor, who has received payments from some of the most vile dictators in the past several decades, McCain's campaign has some of the worst "optics" of any presidential campaign in recent memory.

The Keating Five connections are very troubling for what they mean today - both on economic philosophy and on McCain's willingness to get cozy with special interests. Here's Campaign Money Watch's ad making that case:

Comments

[somefool]

McCain's "I'm a maverick" act is just hype. Good PR and a lot of spin can you get you close to the White House. Rolling Stone pokes some holes in this myth. If you want to see the "real" McCain read this.

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain

[NotMcCain]

That's an outstanding piece. I've read many of these facts about McCain elsewhere, but never put so neatly together in chronological order--with the clear theme for anyone to see (He's a "maverick" if "maverick" means "opportunist").

[lafemme]

If even partially true, this article is a truly frightening portrait of a man who puts power and career far above anything truly related to country for all. It should be required reading for anyone unsure about who to vote for.

[ELABORATE]

....contin­ued...OBAM­A TRIES TO REWRITE HIS HSTORY...

6. Jim Johnson-ex CEO Fannie, Chair of Obama VP search team, walked away $20M
7.Mayor Dailey-Chicago Mayor convicted of ties to Chicago Mob, political mentor for Obama
8.Ahmadine­jab-USA hating Iran's President soon to be friend of Obama
9.Louis Farrakhan-bigot and anti-semitic,Obama worked with on Million-Man-March. Obama has praised Farrakhan in his books, and given speech's with him.
10.Saul Alinky- Auth/Mentor for Obama, wrote 'Rules for Radicals', Obama followed radical doctrine while community organizer
11.Father PFleger-Radical Chicago Priest, kicked out of diocese, who gave speech on hating whites, and calling Hillary Clinton a 'white entitlist', while giving speech at Obama and Rev. Wright's church
12.Rashid Khalidi-The co-founder of the Arab group, Columbia Univ. prof, is a harsh critic of Israel, worked on behalf of the PLO a terror group.Khal­idi held a fundraiser in 2000 for Obama’s run for U.S. Hs. of Represt.

Hmmm, I see a diffinite pattern of poor judgement and associations.

[Danigirl65]

Wow - you seem to think, somehow, that you are informed.

1. William Ayers is now a reformed protestor who works for the University of Chicago and happened to be on a board with Obama. He was never convicted of a crime.
2. Obama purchased the piece of land at fair market value (some say he paid too much) from Rezko's wife.
3. So what - it was his PREACHER and those 20 years included his Senate career (I think they meet in Springfield) and his U.S. Senate career (last I knew that was in Washington)
4. Obama was never involved with ACORN. The group he worked with got involved with ACORN two years after Obama left.
5. Who the heck is Franklin Raines - oh, that's right, McCain tied him to Obama because he happens to be black.
6. Jim Johnson - on search team for one week.
7. Where do you get that Daley was a mentor to Obama.
8. HUH???
The rest is too ridiculous to even respond to.

[NotMcCain]

Nice job, even though I'm resigned to conceding the "stupid" vote (about 24% of voters, judging by the die-hards who still think Bush-Cheney are doing a great job).

[Ged2012]

Next thing you'd say is that Obama cannot be trusted since he works in Chicago which was known as the worst city during the Great Depression because it was ruled by the Capone and the Mafia.

LOL!

[Ged2012]

Your kind of reasoning really tempts the imagination.

I would not be surprised if the next thing you say is that Obama should not be voted for since Chicago, during the Great Depression was monopolized by Capone and the Mafia.

Honestly, that's the kind of ridiculous thinking you have.

[Pupadup4oBama]

keating five, endorsement by GDub, SEEKED endorsement of Pastor Hagee, chose SP as his running mate....

Talk about poor judgement and associations.

It's also so sad that the intelligence among Repugs is so low - they can't even spell simple words.

[justsomeguywhocameby]

We all enjoy playing the Kevin Bacon game. The people you meet in life do not define you.

[ELABORATE]

OBAMA TRIES TO REWRITE HIS HISTORY,,,
Subject: Skeleton's in the closet...
Finally, Obama's character may get vetted. Associations matter,and when there is a long consistant pattern of him associating with american hating, convicted thugs, radical terriorist,and voter fraud groups, it begs for investigation.
Who's on the list?
1.Bill Ayers-terriorits, bombed USA in the 60's;Co-executive board member w/ Obama, held 'announcement party' for Obama's senate race.
2.Tony Rezko-Convict and shaddy real estate dealer. Sold Obama land below value, in exchange for $millions of state funds
3. Rev. Jeremy Wright-Obama's Pastor for 20 years, USA white and gov't hater, teaches black liberation theology, Obama's titled boook 'Audacity of Hope' was from a Wright sermon. He married Obama & Michelle, baptized their children
4.ACORN-vo­ter reg. fraud, ex-Obama employer, relationship with Fannie/Freddie bad loans
5.Franklin Raines-ex CEO Fannie, adv. for Obama, walked away with $90M, proven to cook books at Fannie

[cnobody]

it cracks me up when mac supporters trot out the fannie/freddiie association talking point when it has been proven that mac has much closer associations with those organizations.

[Pupadup4oBama]

yeah...was­n't one of his campaign managers still WITH one of them up until a few weeks ago. By the way - how come we haven't heard much of him lately...a­lso, where did Carly disappear to?

[Publicola]

ELABORATE: "Tony Rezko... Sold Obama land below value,"

That's one of many lies you've told here, ELABORATE - Rezco did NOT sell Obama land at "below value." The opposite is in fact true - Obama bought land from Rezco at above market value.

Details at ObamaFactCheck.com:
http://www.obamafactcheck.com/facts/10/341739.shtml

[sueno]

Great article, thanks!

[jusion]

From a 1995 New York Times article:

"During the Keating Five scandal, committee Democrats resisted dropping the case against John McCain, the Arizona Republican, because that would have left only Democrats accused of improper dealings with Charles Keating, the savings and loan executive.­"

[dcree77]

What's your point. McCain admits that he did something wrong. It isn't the fact that he was investigated that made his actions wrong, it was his actions that were wrong. Regardless of the motivations of the people on the ethics committee who conducted the investigations, it was the undue influence exerted against regulators that should never have happened.

[tel8034]

McCAIN IS NOW RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND NOT THE OTHERS....­........TH­AT IS THE ISSUE

IN 2008, IT'S ONLY McCAIN (KEATING 1) THAT MATTERS.

McCain has learnt NOTHING in 25 years ..........­..........­...Former CONVICTED FELON Keating was McCain's economic advisor 25 years ago and that led to a $3.4 BILLION bailout of Lincoln Savings and Loan (PAID FOR BY THE TAXPAYERS ..........­.... YOU KNOW THE JOE 6 PACKS AND THE HOCKEY MOMS).

Phil (THE DEREGULATOR) Gramm is McCain'sCURRENT economic advisor, and once again MR. JOE 6 PACK AND THE HOCKEY MOM are now saddled with a $700 BILLION BILL THAT HASN'T EVEN CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

AGAIN IT'S JOHN (KEATING 1) McCAIN WHO WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT ..........­...... The other KEATING 4 are NOT RELEVANT TODAY.

McCain as President (WHO KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THE ECONOMY...­......... ALONG WITH GOVERNOR AVON LADY) ) will be free to go after the cash I now have stashed in my mattress..­..........­........ THAT'S SCARY.

[Schaef]

Typing in caps does not change the fact that he was completely cleared of any wrongdoing and the Democratic counsel said he never should have been investigated in the first place.

Go on if you want about the fact that McCain's running for president. The fact that he was exonerated makes the entire issue irrelevant.

[Magic32]

The guys has so much dirty on him that it exceeds the limits of the blog! :)

13. Rick Davis, his campaign manager, who lobbied for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and received secret payments from Freddie for a no-show job
14. Charlie Black, his senior advisor, who has received payments from some of the most vile dictators in the past several decades, McCain's campaign has some of the worst "optics" of any presidential campaign in recent memory.

[Magic32]

McCain is trying to re-write a lot of history. if they want to sling mud, let's:

1. Troopergate - Palin
2. Keating 5 - McSame
3. Palin - Participated in a sermon to block “witchcraft’
4. Her husband belonged to a group that wanted to break from the US – some dude
5. Rick Davis firm send $1.3 million to a convicted con made to try and but Christian votes – McSame’s campaign manager
6. Alaska - charging rape victim for the test kits??
7. McCain Voted To Protect Domestic Terrorists Who Carry Out Violence At Abortion Clinics – I guess this ok if you are against abortions
8. McSame wants to slash Medicare and Medicaid
9. Was Sarah Palin using Ebonics during the VP debate? I couldn’t understand her.
10. What about McSame association with G. Gordon Liddy? http://mediamatters.org/items/200810040004

11. The Anti-Defamation League - It was affiliated with the World Anti-Communist League – the parent organization – which ADL said “has increasingly become a gathering place, a forum, a point of contact for extremists, racists and anti-Semit­es.” McSame was a Board Member
12. U.S. Council for World Freedom – McCain - Board Member - it was chaired by a guy named John Singlaub, who wound up involved in the Iran contra scandal. It was an ultra conservative, right-wing group.

[Schaef]

2 - exonerated
3 - so what
4 - not running for office
6 - false
7 - false
8 - false
9 - very mature of you
10 - so what

[boophus]

2.So what he admitted to too close of ties. You want to do association games
3. You want to tar Obama with a minister. Palins minister went on witch hunt and bragged of it to his congregation
4 This is the closest of associations. Husband & wife in evangelical marriage. Oh yeah she gave speech at secessionist meeting.
5. Oh yeah, you can't say false to this one
6. McCain is again associated by his choice to a woman who would do this. One who had the nerve to change a quote from help (in relation to rape) to support. Guess who would occupy that place in hell.
8. He just saif this today
9. Well I don't think it was ebonics, I think it was a dialect that is very parochial
10. Unbelievable the lengths you have to go in your mind to tar someone with thier association on a committee with someone but choose to overlook a close friendship with a felon.
11. Nothing on 11 , does this mean you think that rascism is a good thing
12. Law breaking in the name of right wing zealotry is just ok with you .

[Pupadup4oBama]

HA HA HA!!!!!