McLame Says Report on Lobbyist Not True; Has Robert Bennett for Scandal

[tekisui]

Source: AP

John McCain says a report by The New York Times suggesting an inappropriate relationship with a female lobbyist is "not true" and he denied a romantic relationship with her. "It's not true," McCain said as his wife, Cindy, stood alongside him during a news conference.

The Arizona senator described the woman in question, lobbyist Vicki Iseman, as a friend.

McCain says he "will not allow a smear campaign" to distract from his presidential campaign.

The New York Times quoted anonymous aides as saying they had urged McCain and lobbyist Vicki Iseman to stay away from each other prior to his failed presidential campaign in 2000. In its own follow-up story, The Washington Post quoted longtime aide John Weaver, who split with McCain last year, as saying he met with lobbyist Iseman and urged her to stay away from McCain.

(snip)

In late 1999, McCain twice wrote letters to the Federal Communications Commission on behalf of Florida-based Paxson Communications — which had paid Iseman as its lobbyist — urging quick consideration of a proposal to buy a television station license in Pittsburgh. At the time, Paxson's chief executive, Lowell W. "Bud" Paxson, also was a major contributor to McCain's 2000 presidential campaign.

McCain did not urge the FCC commissioners to approve the proposal, but he asked for speedy consideration of the deal, which was pending from two years earlier. In an unusual response, then-FCC Chairman William Kennard complained that McCain's request "comes at a sensitive time in the deliberative process" and "could have procedural and substantive impacts on the commission's deliberations and, thus, on the due process rights of the parties."

McCain wrote the letters after he received more than $20,000 in contributions from Paxson executives and lobbyists. Paxson also lent McCain his company's jet at least four times during 1999 for campaign travel.

Robert Bennett, a Washington attorney representing McCain, said McCain's staff provided the Times with "approximately 12 instances where Senator McCain took positions adverse to this lobbyist's clients and her public relations firm's clients," but none of the examples were included in the paper's story.

"There is no evidence that John McCain ever breached the public trust and that is the issue and the only issue," Bennett, who once represented former President Clinton, told NBC's "Today" show on Thursday.

link: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iG-8I87S5w4QP8CPIrx2wh8irqmgD8UUOBUG0

[BobbyVan]

1. Something's fishy here

Is this all there is to the story? Seems pretty thin to me. Remember, the Times ENDORSED McCain. And this story seems tailor made to help McCain consolidate his base. Conservatives will reflexively attack the NYT and rally around McCain.

[fasttense]

2. Rally around adultery, we can all get into that. n/t

[kskiska]

4. They literally applauded Bob Livingston when he announced his adultery

during the Clinton impeachment. They apparently had second thoughts overnight, though, and the next day Livingston had to announce his resignation.

[NNN0LHI]

5. I don't know why but your post really tickled me

Maybe because that is exactly what happened.

Don

[BobbyVan]

6. So far it's 2 anonymous people with suspicions

Let's just not get our hopes up. Unless there's more evidence, this story will disappear.

[WinkyDink]

3. When the accused tries to frame and limit the story, you know there's fire.

[AlertLurker]

7. SPIN, 'Pukes, SPIN!!!

"There is no evidence that John McCain ever breached the public trust and that is the issue and the only issue."

Ummmmm. no. That's just ONE issue. I wanna know ALL of them.