January 17, 2008

The South Caroliana John McCain smears — Take Two

For those who were following the 2000 presidential race, the efforts to smear John McCain in South Carolina’s Republican presidential primary is the stuff of legend. McCain, fresh off his big win in New Hampshire, ran into some scurrilous and nasty attacks in the Palmetto State, where Bush supporters accused McCain of having gone crazy during his imprisonment in Vietnam, McCain’s wife of being a drug addict, and McCain’s adopted daughter from Bangladesh of being a black child McCain had fathered out of wedlock.

It was all terribly ugly, but it was also largely successful. McCain lost in South Carolina, and his campaign never quite found its footing again.

Now, of course, we’re approaching this year’s Republican presidential primary in the state, and if media reports in today’s dailies are any indication, a valiant John McCain is heroically standing up against a new round of outrageous attacks. The NYT reports, “McCain Parries a Reprise of ’00 Smear Tactics.” The WaPo notes, “McCain Takes the Fight To Negative Opponents.” The LAT reports, “McCain camp goes on offense in S.C.

There are, however, a couple of problems with all of this. Most notably, Paul Kiel explains, “[S]o far, the campaign’s response to the attacks has been far more notable than the attacks themselves.”

[T]here’s Vietnam Veterans against John McCain. Recently, the group sent a mailer to approximately 80 newspaper editors in South Carolina accusing McCain of selling out his fellow POWs in Vietnam. On Tuesday, the McCain campaign (which is working hard to appeal to vet voters) made one of McCain’s former POWs available to the media to respond to the smear. The story, picked up by the AP and Wall Street Journal among others, got national play — undoubtedly more play than the group would have been able to get on its own.

I spoke to the founder of Vietnam Veterans against John McCain, Jerry Kiley, yesterday. He told me that the group hasn’t “actively sought donations at this point,” and that the next step for the group will be mailings “going out to our network,” with the intention that the mailing would then be forwarded on to local media there. The group just doesn’t have the funds to send mailings directly to voters — nor, as they declared they would in their statement of purpose, to run radio and TV ads. Things “could change,” he told me, “if we received a sizable donation,” but he wasn’t holding out much hope.

To be sure, the materials Vietnam Veterans against John McCain came up with are undoubtedly offensive, but by all indications, the McCain campaign has done far more to get the group’s message out than the group itself. As Josh Marshall put it, “[A]s near as we can tell the flyer or mailer actually isn’t a flyer or mailer because it was never fly’d or mailed to anyone.”

The NYT adds that this isn’t the only line of attack against McCain.

Volunteers making telephone calls for Senator John McCain in South Carolina last weekend noticed something odd: Four people contacted said in remarkably similar language that they opposed Mr. McCain for president because of his 1980 divorce from his first wife, Carol, who raised the couple’s three children while Mr. McCain was a prisoner of war in Vietnam. […]

[O]n Saturday night, within hours after Mr. McCain’s advisers learned of the people who objected to Mr. McCain’s divorce, his campaign sent out an e-mail alert to thousands of South Carolina supporters warning them of a potential dirty tricks campaign and advising them to call a McCain Truth Hot Line if they learned anything more.

Now, I don’t like ugly smear-jobs against any candidate, regardless of party or ideology, but this one stood out for me — because it’s not really a smear-job at all. The NYT article included this among a litany of attacks, the rest of which were false.

But here’s the key point the NYT article didn’t mention: the charge about McCain’s personal life happens to be accurate. Indeed, he’s admitted it publicly.

McCain was still married and living with his wife in 1979 while, according to The New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof, “aggressively courting a 25-year-old woman who was as beautiful as she was rich.” McCain divorced his wife, who had raised their three children while he was imprisoned in Vietnam, then launched his political career with his new wife’s family money. In 2000, McCain managed to deflect media questioning about his first marriage with a deft admission of responsibility for its failure.

I hate to break it to the McCain campaign, but pointing out the truth about the senator’s messy private life — he is the first admitted adulterer to ever seek the Republican presidential nomination — is not a “dirty trick.”

 
Discussion

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35 Comments
1.
On January 17th, 2008 at 12:54 pm, JRS Jr said:

…but pointing out the truth about the senator’s messy private life — he is the first admitted adulterer to ever seek the Republican presidential nomination — is not a “dirty trick

But it is quite irrelevant, esepcially since it happened almost 30 years ago!

2.
On January 17th, 2008 at 1:06 pm, Anne said:

What’s the cutoff date? Far enough back that all the Republican serial adulterers get a pass? And how far forward? If the goal is to exempt Giuliani, that means that Clinton gets a pass for “standing by her man.”

Maybe McCain can use it to his advantage – leaders have to be able to identify opportunities and act on them?

3.
On January 17th, 2008 at 1:06 pm, TR said:

he is the first admitted adulterer to ever seek the Republican presidential nomination

Too bad he stole Guiliani’s thunder on that one.

4.
On January 17th, 2008 at 1:08 pm, OkieFromMuskogee said:

“…he (McCain) is the first admitted adulterer to ever seek the Republican presidential nomination…”

Let’s not forget about Rudy Giuliani. The Republicans have a twofer this year.

When the Democratic candidates have turned negative against each other this year, it’s been remarkably tame. Compare that to what Republicans do to each other. Who says there’s not a nickel’s worth of difference between the two parties?

5.
On January 17th, 2008 at 1:10 pm, JRS Jr said:

Clinton should get a pass for standing by her man, as embarrassing as that must have been for her.

6.
On January 17th, 2008 at 1:16 pm, citizen_pain said:

So he’s trying to pre-empt the attacks, big deal. Anyway, It’s Sounth Carolina we’re talking about here, just a bunch of bible thumping rednecks, McCain or Huckleberry will get the nod, and I think it’ll be close. Their not going to vote for Romny the Mormon/Satanist (in their minds), Jewliani, he’s a yankee.
God, guns, and guts people, that’s what SC is all about.

7.
On January 17th, 2008 at 1:21 pm, Tom Cleaver said:

Unsurprising that this happens in South Carolina, which is, after all, the birthplace of all that is bad about “Southernism,” going back to the arrival of the Barbadian Pirates in Charleson in 1712.

I do think that McCain’s version of adultery – financing his career hopes with the bank account of a rich young woman – is indeed one of those “character definers” and it is one that (unfortunately) is of a piece with the rest of his character flaws, the flaws that would have had him out of the Navy as a personal failure by 1969, but for his being in POW camp at that time, which gave him automatic promotions as the appropriate times throughout his imprisonment – promotions he would have nver gotten on his own.

8.
On January 17th, 2008 at 1:44 pm, toowearyforoutrage said:

CB,
Typo.
South Caroliana

9.
On January 17th, 2008 at 1:45 pm, Curmudgeon said:

McCain is in a tough spot on this one. John Kerry got blasted for not responding toughly *enough* to the swiftboat liars who scuttled his campaign, and McCain surely doesn’t want to risk repeating Kerry’s mistake.

The perps this time around may even be counting on a robust response from McCain’s camp to spread their message with minimal expense to themselves, which is exactly what’s happening.

Sort of “damned if you do and damned if you don’t”, isn’t it? He’s still a total loser but I can sympathize with him as far as the tactical situation goes, as with anyone else in similar circumstances.

10.
On January 17th, 2008 at 1:52 pm, JRS Jr said:

do think that McCain’s version of adultery – financing his career hopes with the bank account of a rich young woman – is indeed one of those “character definers

As opposed to bringing the babes right into the White House like JFK and Bubba, hey Tommy?

11.
On January 17th, 2008 at 2:00 pm, Rambuncle said:

As opposed to bringing the babes right into the White House like JFK and Bubba

I’m a moderate, and I don’t see how JFK is relevant to the discussion. Also, Bill Clinton did not bring Monica into the White House, she was already working there.

12.
On January 17th, 2008 at 2:02 pm, Dennis - SGMM said:

As opposed to bringing the babes right into the White House like JFK and Bubba, hey Tommy?

McCain only did it for the money, which makes it okay – right? Can we call that the Mark Siljander Defense?

13.
On January 17th, 2008 at 2:22 pm, JRS Jr said:

How the hell do we know that McCain’s adultry “was driven by finances” and not just plain old love? Because the NYT said so??????

14.
On January 17th, 2008 at 2:44 pm, Shawn said:

And I’ve been under the impression that anyone who could sit with Russ Feingold and come up with the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform bill (a most anti-American sort of bill as seen in some circles due to the restrictions on certain types of political advertising, etc.) had to have been brainwashed in ‘Nam during the time he was a POW. If he could do that to us, imagine what McCain would do to us as President…. That’s why I could NEVER support him for President– he has allowed the Constitution to be subverted (and the Supreme Court was STUPID enough to agree with this law)….

15.
On January 17th, 2008 at 2:48 pm, Winghunter said:

There’s is absolutely no reason to smear McCain at all…his record is overflowing with every reason to end his run right now;

Candidate Research – Know Who You’re Voting For ( The Easy Way ) http://tinyurl.com/2sowta

16.
On January 17th, 2008 at 3:21 pm, Shalimar said:

We know McCain’s first campaign was financed by the fortune of the rich new wife. Whether there was love there too is not for me to judge, all I can tell is that his whole political career began from that initial adultery. It may be irrelevant to you, but it is one of the major reasons (along with Keating and a few other things) why I think McCain is a narcissist seriously lacking the character to lead the country.

17.
On January 17th, 2008 at 7:00 pm, libra said:

JRS jr. @5

It’s very gracious of you not to blame the victim, even if it is a Clinton.

18.
On January 17th, 2008 at 8:09 pm, BooYAH said:

It’s not love if you have to leave your wife and 3 kids

For the record…Marilyn Monroe was a babe…Monica Lewinsky…well let’s just officially qualify her as ‘less than a babe’.
McCain fans really ought to think twice about McCain’s conservative cred…why is he running as a GOP candidate? He should either be a Dem or an Independent. I could see a Bloomberg/McCain ticket…but honestly McCain isn’t republican IMO.

19.
On January 18th, 2008 at 9:16 am, merlallen said:

I guess they won’t be happy until every single combat vet is a Democrat. These smears against vets really piss me off.
Yes, I’m a vet, so was my dad.
It’s personal.

20.
On January 18th, 2008 at 5:25 pm, Vicki Hampton said:

What is it again that we labeled what Giuliani’s indiscretion? What was that I couldn’t hear you? “Oh yeah” that’s right ADULTRY wasn’t it so don’t be acting like John McCain is the only one let’s be honest now and at least the taxpayers of his state didn’t foot the bill for it.

21.
On January 18th, 2008 at 5:39 pm, Matt Fagan said:

BooYAH @ 18 –

You’re right, McCain doesn’t act like a Republican – he hasn’t had sex with little boys or voted against homosexual interests while hypocritically engaging in them.

22.
On January 18th, 2008 at 6:21 pm, Imichael said:

JRS Jr.
Hell yeah it is relevant. It speaks of the man’s character regardless if it happened 30 years ago. Politicians run on their character.

23.
On January 18th, 2008 at 6:22 pm, Skippy said:

McCain’s divorce also had other issues. When he was in the Hanoi Hilton, his then-wife suffered a serious injuries in an automobile accident that left her essentially crippled. McCain knew nothing of this until he returned home to find his wife waiting for him in a wheelchair.

24.
On January 18th, 2008 at 8:28 pm, Sisi said:

If these folks really want to make McCain look bad, why not bring up the Forrestal fire? He was transferred to cover up his responsibility for that disaster. http://snipurl.com/1xra7
I heard something about this back in the 60’s from my father, who was in the Navy.
I wondered if any of these Swift Boot guys were survivors. Certainly some of the Oriskany guys have complainend about his version of the story.
Tom DeLay called McCain “unprincipled,” which he would know all about: http://snipurl.com/1xqvu

25.
On January 18th, 2008 at 9:16 pm, walkabout said:

I did not know about this, but McCain impresses me ALWAYS as righteous, and I can’t stand this trait in any candidate.

26.
On January 18th, 2008 at 11:55 pm, Jay Severin has a small Pen1s said:

Ha. To Republicans, Hilary Clinton is a skank, a bitch, and an ugly lesbian who killed Vince Foster in a jealous rage…then wonder why Bill sleeps around on her. I’m amazed.

27.
On January 19th, 2008 at 1:40 am, Bruce said:

Do you think the entire time Mcain was a POW he hatched this plan? 1. Return to the U.S
2. Find rich young woman 3. Divorce wife 4. Run for office financed by new rich wife.

I will ask Alex Jones what he thinks.

28.
On January 19th, 2008 at 2:11 am, muldoon said:

I don’t think most of us care one whit about what Mcain did thirty years ago, other than the fact that if you’re sailing under the banner of the “family values” bunch, you ought’a have some creds. It’s the hypocricy, folks.

29.
On January 19th, 2008 at 9:18 am, Mick said:

The only relevant piece of data I would like to hear is what the first Mrs. McCain thinks of him

30.
On January 19th, 2008 at 2:17 pm, dave beemon said:

i was just starting to like him, too…the evidence is overwhelming that this guy is a creep…

adultery(with a woman half his age)
murder(supports our invasion of Iraq – resulting in the murder of hundreds of thousands of civilians)
stealing(oil from Iraq)
stealing(money from his second wife’s family)
stealing(tax cuts for the rich to be paid for by everyone else)
vanity(wants to be president)
shameless(embraced Bush after Rove blindsided him with lies in the 2004 election)
treason(got special treatment for cooperating with the North Vietnamese)

But when you look at the others, he’s still the best of the lot. At least he believes in evolution. And he did what any serviceman would do when tortured. He told them whatever they wanted to hear.

31.
On January 20th, 2008 at 11:04 am, Etselec said:

No one is perfect and never will be and that’s the honest truth.
He’s not the only one that has cheated on his wife but at least he has been man enough to admit that mistake.
What about the last democrat that actually held the office of President (clinton)?
I, for one, could care less about a candidates personal life as long as it don’t affect their presidency should they win.
What happened with McCain happened many years ago and happened after a very trying time as a P.O.W. He’s lived through that and hopefully has learned from his mistakes.
I’m not saying I’m *for* McCain but just think about some of the things you may have done when you were younger, would you want that held against you now?
Look at the candidates for whatand who they are now not from what they were when they were young and dumb and full of…

32.
On January 28th, 2008 at 2:26 am, jerry said:

Has anyone thought much about McCain’s age? I have several relatives I love who are in his age group and they are not what they use to be and not likely to be improving as time goes on. If you think it would be better for our counrty to be run by someone who should have retired years ago rather than Romney at a prime age with a solid back round. Then I would have to question your motives.

33.
On February 18th, 2008 at 2:40 pm, jill said:

Can not believe that this guy would even consider running for President. Talk about the morals of the Republican party. How conservative is it to cheat on your sick wife, and marry another woman 1 month later? If a man will cheat on a sick cripled woman, then you can’t trust him to run the country. I have voted republican all of my life, but what do I do? I can’t vote for a known cheater with no moral values. This is the same guy that was going to go Democrat back in 2004 to go with Kerry! Please think about Huckabee over McCain. We can still do this. The country is going south any way morally. I just don’t think that McCain is the man.

34.
On February 19th, 2008 at 11:12 pm, heavydinsc said:

jill,
You ask what to do. Consider Barack Obama, I say. He’s relatively untainted by beltway corruption and has an IQ that would put all other current candidates (with the possible exception of Hillary) to shame. We’re just finishing up two lamentable terms with one of the dumbest people ever to hold elected office, and McCain is giving signs that he’s comfortable with the failed policies Mr. Bush has engendered. I think we’ve got to have a leader who can actually think for himself, and Obama appears to be that person.

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