The Coming Storm (or, why McCain as Nominee is Great for Democrats)

Several weeks ago, I was clicking through John McCain's presidential campaign website. In the "Events" section I found a listing for a June 13 Townhall Meeting in Pemberton, New Jersey; I decided to attend.

McCain did not pick me out of the crowd to ask a question on live TV, but I was able to speak with him as the event wound down.

This is how it went:

Right after the speech, I knew McCain would work the rope line. Since I was in the front row, it only took me about three steps to get there.

I spoke loudly:

"Senator McCain - I noticed you aren't wearing your flag lapel-pin. May I give you mine?"

McCain: "Yes, sir, you can" (what else was he going to say? - he really wasn't wearing a flag pin.)

now I had him front and center...

"Senator, I spent four years in the Marines"

McCain: "Thank you for your service."

"Oh, no sir, thank you for yours. I have a feeling this is as close as I will ever come to pinning a medal on you." (said as I'm fastening the lapel pin) "Senator - you know our motto is Semper Fidelis - always faithful?"

McCain: "Oh yes, I do"

"Well have you always been faithful to Cindy McCain?"

Deer-in-the-mother-fucking-headlights.

McCain: "Oh no... that's not what I'm going to talk about."

"Have you been faithful to your wife? You won't answer? C'mon - how 'bout a little of that straight talk?"

(crowd beginning to get angry - hissing)

McCain: "Young man, I will tell you that I have a son serving in Iraq in the Marines."

"Yes - I know. I know a lot about you. Have you cheated on Cindy McCain? Why won't you answer?"

McCain turned away.

(All of the aforementioned was caught on film and microphone by the networks. As far as I know, it has not been released and probably won't be. [When I asked Senator Allen - after the macaca incident - if he ever used the word "nigger" and why he kept a Confederate Flag and noose in his office, the NBC camera guy caught the whole exchange. It, to this day, has never aired in its entirety. The only reason I know it exists is that the video (without the sound) was shown to provide context to the later incident in which Allen's goons threw me to the ground.])

Of course, I could have asked any number of other questions. I had thought of a few:

"Senator: there's been a lot of media chatter about Barack Obama having difficulty wooing women voters that formerly supported Hillary Clinton. The unspoken assumption is that they will cross over and vote for you. Do believe this assumption holds water considering the fact that you left your first wife - a former swimsuit model - after she was disfigured in a car accident and put on a few pounds?"

"Senator: You've pushed back against the assertion that you want to stay in Iraq for the next hundred years. You've said that as long as we aren't taking casualties, a presence like that in Korea or Germany is fine with you. You've said the surge is working, that casualties are down, that we are winning the war in Iraq...

In the end, it sounds to me like you are saying that if we win the war in Iraq, if we aren't taking casualties... we stay... (after all, according to you, bringing the troops home isn't important...)

But...

If we get our asses handed to us in Iraq - if we suffer a lot of casualties - we must win the war, so... we stay...

You haven't shared with the American people what conditions must prevail for American troops to come home. Can you set forth the conditions you would require to pull all combat and combat support troops out of Iraq?"

I chose to forgo these questions in favor of the one I asked because once I decided to attend the event, I reached out to contacts in Washington for advice. After several conversations, a pattern emerged.

Not long ago, the New York Times reported the story of McCain's relationship with the sultry lobbyist, Vicki Iseman. McCain surrogates furiously denounced the story, but oddly, John McCain never brought it up.

As I made the rounds in Washington, several people mentioned the story. A theme developed. None would go on the record, but more than one suggested that fidelity in the McCain marriage was not a priority for either partner. I was told that reporters know a lot more than they let on, but they are reticent about bringing it up.

After chewing on the situation for a while, I decided to ask McCain a question about fidelity for two reasons.

The first has to do with raw politics. I don't believe for a second that John McCain will beat Barack Obama in November. Obama draws tens of thousands to his rallies; McCain is lucky if a thousand people show up for his. Barack has a cash machine that shames anything that came before it. McCain's campaign can barely afford the gas for his Straight Talk Express. Barack is inspiring, McCain is tiring...

But...

Down-ticket races need to be considered as well. Again, almost nobody doubts that Democrats will pick up a substantial number of seats in both houses of Congress. The pressing question is how many seats will flip. Will Democrats get to 60 seats in the Senate?

Every election has its close races. In Virginia, Webb beat Allen by fewer than 10,000 votes. Many, many House seats were determined by fewer than 5,000 votes. Every single vote counts.

I've seen analysis that the evangelical Christian community constitutes 30% of the Republican base. These fundamentalist voters drove the impeachment of Bill Clinton. Republicans are more than capable of reading polls; they knew that the majority of Americans just wanted to MoveOn... Republicans found themselves between a rock and a hard place. The impeachment route made them look partisan and petty to the majority of Americans, but their base wanted it more than anything else...

They decided to dance with who brung 'em. Evangelicals elected them so evangelicals would get their scalp. And Clinton was impeached. (McCain voted in favor of impeachment).

McCain is already on thin-ice with evangelicals. James Dobson won't take his calls. John Hagee's followers still smart over McCain's condemnations. He famously disparaged Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell in the 2000 campaign and he renounced mega-church Pastor Rob Parsely this cycle. McCain's support of embryonic stem-cell research, limited environmental protections and campaign finance reform have each generated withering criticism from the religious right.

The last thing the Republican paryy needs is a John McCain adultery problem.

Check that.

The second to last thing Republican party needs is a John McCain adultery problem. The last thing they need is a John McCain cuckold problem.

And the buzz in Washington is that he's got one.

The second reason I decided to ask McCain about adultery has to do with the way the press has treated the issue. That's the topic of another post, coming soon.

Comments

[Colmore]

Why does the press give repugs. a free pass on infidelity? When they were digging up the Clinton "pecadillos" they all knew that GHW Bush had a womanizing reputation. They all knew that Jennifer Fitzgerald traveled all over with him. There were others, also. Fitzgerald lasted at least 10 years, yet nobody mentioned her. The animosity between Bush the elder and his son may be the result of Georgie being sent out to reporters to deny the affair. Then he discovered the truth, his father is a cheater. The double standard is glaring, it is time to stop this. McCain may even pick up a few votes if women think he can actually attract a woman!!! The McCains look like such an odd couple. Why does she stay? She has the money, she could pack up and leave. Does being first "lady" mean that much to her?

[thepoliticalcat]

I don't think so Colmore. She has a reputation for being shy and not caring for the spotlight. However, she also has a medication problem and he may have dirt on her that she doesn't want to risk being exposed. Is Arizona a community property state? I hear her money is tied up in various ways so that he doesn't get his mitts on it, but she might have to give him a big chunk if there's a divorce.

Mike Stark, you have guts!

[dijo]

Colmore, you ask "Why does the press give repugs. a free pass on infidelity?" Because the press is owned by the republicans. (Do some research on who owns ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, etc.)
What does the song say? " When you own the information, you can bend it any way you want."

[profounddogs]

That's the liberal media for ya! Hah! Whatever.

[midwesthousewife]

At the time, regarding GHW, the press said that if the woman didn't admit to an affair, there was nothing more they could do about the issue.

[coollbreezz]

I agree with Mark 100%.. Mccain has a very serious problem with women period. As they learn about how Mccain was unfaithful to Carol at the time that she need him the most, women will abandon Mccain just like he abandon his first wife and family. I wonder what Andy and Sydney gave John McCain for father day after he abandon them?
http://joeland7.wordpress.com/2008/06/08/beware of

[queotic]

Why are you encouraging gutter politics? This is the antithesis of what Obama stands for.

[profounddogs]

It wasn't Obama who asked the question. Mike asked the question because he's got a right to know. If the other side can ask similar questions, even go so far as to impeach a president over this type of issue, then BY GOD, a simple question isn't so much!

[PatA]

I agree about the camera! Put it on YOUTUBE>CO­M>>>>>>:-) Remember how fast the "macaca" incident hit the internet? Always have a friend with a camera!!!
Hoorah for you!!!

[jkpcguru]

Love it! Guerrilla reporting. Getting the sharp edged hard lined facts!

[coba]

yeah great reporting. The republicans screwed themselves by picking the most liberal of their candidates.

http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/06/01/mccain-has-a-flip-flop-problem/

[queotic]

While I can appreciate the "let me pin this flag onto your lapel" ambush, blurting out "Are you faithful!?" is not "reporting."

[JimR]

It's not reporting at all. It's barely at the level of a sleazy Howard Stern prank.

[neoprimordial]

I had a pleasant rush reading Stark's exchange with McCain. The Straight Talk Express ran out of gas and fell silent, had to switch to another vehicle. Just a feel-good feeling from the flag lapel-pin to the turning away.

McCain and other Repulbicans [sic] want to behave as if they're champions for religious values and all that's decent and wholesome about America. The truth says otherwise. This needs to get out there. It needs to be public record that McCain & wife are behaving contrary to what their constituents hold true. It's not about getting into his personal business or trying to Swiftboat him. It's about exposing a hypocrite, first and foremost. The msm doesn't want to delve into this? No matter. The truth will out, and good riddance to McCain when it does.

[midwesthousewife]

After Obama's speech yesterday about fatherhood, I think the Dems may be owning the family values corner soon.

[Dutchy]

We are democrats. We are better than this. Answer spurious allegations if you must, but do not sully yourself by responding in kind. Whether he was loyal to his wife should be the last issue that the electorate should decide this election upon. Surely his homocidal foreign policy and disasterous domestic policies should be the focus of our attacks.

[buckbuck11]

Your comments reflect an attitude which explains why the Republicans have been winning (and looting, raping and pillaging) since 1980.

Nice work, Mike. We must all work to expose the breathtaking hypocrisy of the self-righteous right wing thugs. They have no problem standing in judgment of the women who end unwanted pregnancies or raise their children as single parents and vociferously insist that heterosexual marriage is sacrosanct. For a journalist to point out contradiction is not only justified, it's obligatory.

[thepoliticalcat]

Agreed. Unfortunate, but its true.

The hypocrisy of voting to impeach Clinton considering his own adultery and the cruel abandonment of the injured and crippled ex-wife. Yowza.

[Kahni]

No one said anything about deciding the election on this question alone. It's just one aspect of a candidate's personality. But the response to the question can say a lot about how someone stands up to pressure. You are certainly aware that all those people in world politics aren't always nice...

[SanityClaus]

You sound like John Kerry.

[brighterside]

I don't know why people here are a bit upset on what Starks did? I honestly think that he did us a favor and was true to the cause of civil rights. If we know that something is true and unjust, we have every rights and means to rise up and speak out against injustice. For if we do not, we are guilty for allowing that which is unjust to exist and perpetuate.

So what if Starks has caused some ripples. He did the right thing. I would to if I had the means to do it. For if we ignore something that we know is wrong, then we are part of a system that which is wrong.

The radical right has enslaved us through the use of the media. They have a monopoly on how we should think, act, and decide on what is right or wrong. The media will lynch you if you subscribe to hope, opportunity and stand up for what is right. They will use smears against you if you stand in opposition with what they say.

Lets not succumb to the fear of speaking out with the truth. For if we don't then these evil forces which govern our nation will truly win a victory we can't afford to lose. Our future depends on it and we all need to do what's right for our country and not be in stalemate discussion on what is right or wrong.

[Johnnn]

He did the right thing by trying to embarass McCain?

[Kahni]

Whether McCain was embarrassed or not is up to McCain. The question is no tougher than thousands a President has to deal with. If he can't handle this, how is he going to deal with the world's really nasty folk?

[brighterside]

I don't think that he was trying to embarrass McCain. What he wanted to uncover is that if McCain was in some kind of shady deal with a lobbyist that involved some kind of adulterous love affair.

I'd like to know what transpired and what the lobbyist and her company or organization was able to accomplished? Was it more weapons sent to their country in return for payment? How bout some exemptions from taxes from a corporation? Or could it be some kind of secret information for countries like Russia or China? Who knows but I sure do and its not just a marriage problem that were talking here.

Yes I might gone a little overboard. But who knows what some horny old man might do for a little action when his president right? He won't care so long he gets the time of his life.

[SanityClaus]

Being confronted with the truth is only embarrassing to a liar.

[rmreddicks]

Actually, if the allegations behind Stark's questions are true then McCain embarrasses (and shames) himself. It's the hypocrisy that is exposed.

[JimR]

With this stunt, Mike shows everyone that when you get right down to it, Democrats are no better or any less scummy than Republicans. Thanks, Mike. Nice work.

[brighterside]

If todays reporters and news analyst would report stories like these in a truthful and honest manner than we won't have to learn it from an outside source. Mike did some of you a favor in uncovering something that we needed to know.

Some will still think (McCain) is an honest man and that his a good husband to his wife. And that he deserves votes because his honest. If he is an honest man thats fine.....I can admit to that. But if his not man enough to say that he is, and that his hiding something, well I as an American I want to know.

Americans don't know it but they live under the hypnotic vice of the media. Whatever the media portrays a certain person, they will most likely believe. Thats how gullible we are these days.

If no one steps up and tells the truth about these corrupt politicians who will? All that the media will do is paint a picture perfect image of that politician and will win him votes because of it.

We need to get away from this type of oppression. If we know that something is not true, than its up to us to tell it as it is. We need to speak up because if we don't, than it will be considered a great injustice to the American people.

[JulieSA]

"Mike did some of you a favor in uncovering something that we needed to know. "

Really? What exactly did he uncover? I didn't see anything here that was sourced credibly.

[queotic]

Exactly. All he did was ask an uncouth question which has NO place in politics and he received no response. He uncovered nothing and is distracting from all the other problems McCain has (like wanting to overturn Roe V Wade or staying in Iraq for 100 years).

[aspertame2]

However entertaining a inpromtu debate with Michael (Stark, or maybe Moore) might be, it doesn't mean crap in the great scheme. The truly instructive candidate moments like that "Macaca" vid tend to just happen as opposed to being instigated by an ambush journalist wannabe, which is why I'm actually pretty creeped out by a lot of Moore's stuff, as much as I agree with him. In terms of means-vs-ends, Moore isn't much different from Bill O'Reilly's producer-hit-squad. Evert bit of gonzo "have you stopped beating your wife" journalism is an opportunity for McCain to get a little sympathy vote. May not be fair, considering all the double standards, but fair has nothing to do with it. Anyway, if Obama does his homework and properly goes debate-cou­nter-aggre­ssive vs. debate-coy, I'm sure he'll have no problem getting McCain to foam at the mouth, head spinning 360, even while meticulously avoiding any engagement in the personal stuff. In fact, even though the GOP primary is over, I'd love to see Obama debate RomneyTheMuppet and ....oh, I dunno, maybe Ron Paul. Just for fun.

[SharonWantsToTalk]

Agreed. As much as it may help dampen the Evangelical vote, or as unfair it may seem that the press has given him a pass on this issue, it still doesn't make it right. It had no place in the politics that got Clinton impeached and it has no place today. Unless your personal sexual exploits are illegal or in direct contradiction to something you have professed to stand for, then they remain behind the closed doors it was committed behind.

[mairs]

I agree Sharon. And how many of us gave Bill Clinton a pass when he was running for office and it became known he was a serial cheater?

[SanityClaus]

I'm a gay Californian who is getting married tomorrow morning. McCan't wants to deny me that right and force me to live in an "immoral" unmarried status.

Dismissed.

[wmbear]

MCCAIN HAS GOTTEN A TOTAL PASS IN THE MEDIA...

On the whole Vicki Iseman issue. In fact, she seems to have dropped completely out of public view since the whole issue was raised. I can guarantee you that if McCain were a Democrat, the media sh!t storm would still be raining down on him. No media bias there, n-o-o-o-o-­o-o-o-o-o. I especially loved the fact that McCain had an affair with a LOBBYIST. And the media passed that one up? Oh, please....

[PuppaX]

The Iseman was pretty widely discredited.

[Gma11]

Evidence?

I haven't seen/heard any.

[pcplz]

That doesn't mean anything.....look what they are still saying about Obama!

[GLaB]

Ever heard of Alexandra Polier?

If you look into it, you might learn why the press has stepped back from the Iseman rumors.

[PatrickforO]

Well, k is not running, o is. And, i am not surprised that c m may not have that fidelity. m doesn't seem too athletic.

[Johnnn]

People will always be found who believe the negative stuff hook, line and sinker. Like McCain crashing 5 planes, or Obama being a drug pusher. My advice: ignore all the negative stuff.

[SanityClaus]

You repeat the truth about McCain and a lie about Obama and pretend that they are equivalent?

You, sir, are morally and ethically bankrupt and should not throw stones.

[bbbear]

Exactly! It refreshing to learn that at least some democrats bite back!

[PuritanDescendant]

If spousal fidelity is relevant to serving as president, then Stark must agree with the impeachment of Bill Clinton.

I'm a strong Obama supporter. I must have wasted 10s of thousands of dollars worth of billable time vigorously defending Obama on blogs from here to kingdom come. But it's people like you Stark that give a bad name to people trying to oppose the neocon fascist traitors. You justify their demonization of "the other side".

In all honesty, do you believe that kind of public behavior does more good than harm?

You asked "Have you been faithful to your wife?". "wife" is used in the present tense, so the question refers to Cindy McCain, not his previous wife. What proof is there of infedility to Cindy McCain? Without something strong, this is no better than the Michelle Obama "whitey" rumor...

We need an election about issues that actually affect people's lives. Your approach is at best a distraction.

[booksnmore4you]

On the other hand, an unequivocal statement, "Yes, son, I have always been faithful to Cindy because I love her and value our marriage more than anything I've ever done in the senate" would have killed the question dead.

What was so hard about saying that? Could it be that it is not true?

[PuritanDescendant]

You don't address my criticisms, but I'll answer yours.

If there is not fact behind it, then why ask the question? Why not ask any random question like "Senator McCain, do you bet on illegal dogfights?" You just don't go asking people insulting questions, whether they're running for office or not (though I understand why Stark picked this particular question ... given McCain's former infidelity, the question seems highly calculated for effect).

If I hear a rumor about a co-worker and there is no reason to believe it is true, I won't embarass that person by asking them about it. It's called human decency. Apparently the right has no monopoly on indecency.

booksnmore4you, not every question deserves an answer, and ignoring a question does not imply an answer. So I ask you, do you actually condone what Stark did?

I cannot. I don't agree with John McCain's politics at all, but I consider him a human being deserving of courtesy and respect. If someone asked Michelle Obama if she railed in church against "whitey" it might lead some people to believe there must be something truthful behind the question.

Stark is falling into Rovian mindset that the political opponent is literally an enemy. That's not good.

[bbbear]

Exactly.

[JimR]

Maybe he didn't expect to be asked such a sleazy question, and considers what happens in his marriage personal. Is that so hard to understand?

[wmbear]

I AGREE IN PRINCIPLE...

That this kind of thing is a total non-issue. Or ought to be, at any rate, for both Democrats and Republicans. However, the fact is, that with the impeachment of Bill Clinton, the Republicans MADE IT AN ISSUE. Therefore, frankly, I believe that they deserve to have it thrown back in their faces. Moreover, when it comes to defeating a third term and possibly fourth term of George Bush with John McCain as Bush's surrogate, I hate to say this but WHATEVER IT TAKES....

[PuritanDescendant]

WHATEVER IT TAKES?

Please help me understand what you mean. Assassination? Fabrication (faked video or pictures). False witness (multiple people saying something they know is not true). Exactly where do you draw the line?

Personally, I draw the line at asking insulting questions that have no basis in fact.

[bbbear]

Exactly.

[JimR]

So Democrats are no better than Republicans, when you get right down to it.

[queotic]

"However, the fact is, that with the impeachment of Bill Clinton, the Republicans MADE IT AN ISSUE. Therefore, frankly, I believe that they deserve to have it thrown back in their faces."

The problem with mudslinging is you have to get dirty too. I didn't care about Bill Clinton's infidelities and I damn sure don't care about McCain's. McCain has PLENTY of issues to choose from - all one has to do is search YouTube and a plethora of problems will pop up. Let's focus on that and not stoop to the Republicans level because it demeans us.

[NHGranite]

DUDE! Where is your video? Come on. Do you think for a second that most of us want an issues-based election process? We certainly don't seem to, but MAN do we love misleading snippets repeated and looped endlessly, so let's give it to them. HA - the only difference I can see between Bill Clinton and John McCain is apparently McCain openly wrote about his adultery in a book - he admitted it. Clinton lied.

If we can't get Bush and Cheney impeached for the lies that took us into a false and phenomenally expensive war, do you think we can't get a Bush 3rd term squelched without playing the "truth" in the way the Republicans have taught us?

[iswideopen]

So, the repugs want to attack Michelle........... the above makes sense now; lately, while channel surfing, everyone on Fox News keeps asking, well what about Cindy? Should we continue to attack Michelle? Will it backfire? Well, now repugs, let's see what we can find. I'm sure if the main steam media won't pick it up, we can all head over to thos religious blogs. Turn-about is fair play, as you have no real platform to discuss on the real issues. America is going to hell in a handbasket and you fools are smearing a woman to win the election. You are all a bunch of cowards; you have no idea what it is to be real men. You loose. CINDY MCCAIN HAS HAD AN AFFAIR, OR TWO, OR THREE. SO HAS MCBUSH. Wow, who would have thought it???????????

[BlueOnBlue]

The thing about McCain's fidelity is he doesn't seem have any to anything or anyone, other than to John McCain. His history of infidelity with the women in his life is not the deal breaker. It is his infidelity to principles.

At the heart of the McCain "maverick" image is a guy who will change horses anytime he thinks it will do him some good. He's getting off light when people call his frequent inconsistencies "gaffes" or "flip-flops." They are actually reflect his complete infidelity to truth and principles.

Ross Perot, who helped pay for the medical expenses of McCain's first wife and who knows McCain well, has said...

"‘McCain is the classic opportunist. He’s always reaching for attention and glory,"

[Liberoservative]

"None would go on the record, but more than one suggested that fidelity in the McCain marriage was not a priority for either partner."

LOL! Well, it's time to see if we can find the poolboy... :)

[bbbear]

Geeez, (shudder ) can you blame her?