mentor: blog 
mentor's blog
a reformed reformer?
Published Oct. 6, 2008
What made John McCain embrace the title of reformer? What (according to him) is the single most important influence in shaping his policy views? In 2002, in his autobiography, "Worth Fighting For", McCain states that his involvement in the Charles Keating meetings on behalf of the (now) failed Lincoln Savings and Loan was the "worst mistake of his life.":
(regarding Charles Keating)
"He was quite obviously an important supporter of my ambitions," writes McCain. McCain admits in his book that he made "the worst mistake of my life by attending two meetings," which were subsequently construed as lobbying meetings on behalf of his friend, whose company was being investigated by bank examiners in San Francisco.
McCain accepted around $120,000 in donations from Keating as well as family vacations to the Bahamas on board Keating's private jet. Near the conclusion of the probe he returned the ill-gotten contributions. McCain credited his experience as one which put him on the path to becoming a "reformer" with a burning desire to root out and end such corruption in the future.
Why then, today... in 2008, McCain is now pretending he did nothing wrong whatsoever?
From Politico.com:
"So when his campaign puts his lawyer on the line with reporters to contest the details of a congressional inquiry that, largely, let McCain off the hook, doesn't that cloud the sin-confession-atonement dynamic a bit?
In Halperin's account, McCain lawyer John Dowd described McCain's "former relationship with Charles Keating as 'social friends,'" and called the situation a "classic political smear job on John."
Dowd also "thinks that the committee went too far in suggesting that McCain’s intervention with regulators was poor judgment," Halperin writes.
But if so, what's this giant mistake that transformed McCain into a reformer?"
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/Engaging_on_Keating.html
So - The 2002 McCain (selling books) is repentant about being involved in Keating's scandalous attempts to purchase influence on capitol hill. He was aware he had accepted improper cash and gifts - when he had to return them. Now in the heat of the campaign, after a fusillade of new allegations against his opponent, he is facing return fire on the Keating question once more - only now he attempts to don the teflon vest, and claim the whole big mess was a political smear against him.
Which is it; did he make an error in judgment (as he states in 2002) as a Keating 5 participant? The lastest spin from his campaign would indicate he was a faultless victim, who in a historical revision is not even guilty of poor judgment! What do you think?
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Sheep? - When a man writes something about himself in an autobiography, I tend to believe his intention is to tell the truth about himself. McCain himself is the source of the disparity.
Not that that the facts seem to matter in McCain's campaign. He has proven he will do (and say) whatever it takes to win. In truth, it will ultimately be the facts about the economy, not the facts about McCain's past, that will sink his chances for victory.
GOLO member since March 18, 2008
October 6, 2008 5:27 p.m.
;)
GOLO member since December 4, 2007
October 6, 2008 4:51 p.m.
At least McCain acknowledged a long time ago he made that mistake and took immediate steps to correct it all.
Obama lets Ayers continue to raise funds for him and only tried to shy away from Rev Wright when the media heat was on for what little time it was. The media hype behind Obama is hilarious as they help lead the sheep down the slope to chaos!!!
GOLO member since July 3, 2007
October 6, 2008 4:35 p.m.
GOLO member since September 29, 2008
October 6, 2008 3:52 p.m.
The Senate Ethics Committee voted unanimously to reprimand Cranston. They also ruled that Riegle and DeConcini had acted improperly by interfering with the investigation by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board.
The Senate Ethics Committee ruled that the involvement of Glenn and McCain in the scheme was minimal and the charges against them were dropped. They were only criticized by the Committee for "poor judgment.
I guess they made a "bonehead" mistake.
GOLO member since March 10, 2008
October 6, 2008 3:37 p.m.
"You don't get introduced by John Glenn every day," Bruce Springsteen said yesterday at an Obama get-out-the-vote rally at Ohio State University, as reported by the Columbus Dispatch.
Former Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, was -- along with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. -- one of the Keating Five, the handful of senators who met with federal regulators to urge them to ease up on the savings and loan owned by contributor Charles Keating.
Hours after Glenn introduced the Boss at the Obama rally, the Obama campaign launched a campaign attacking McCain for his Keating Five activities. They made no mention of Mr. Glenn.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/10/a-different-mem.html
GOLO member since March 10, 2008
October 6, 2008 3:23 p.m.
GOLO member since August 22, 2008
October 6, 2008 3:21 p.m.
GOLO member since March 31, 2008
October 6, 2008 3:20 p.m.
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