McCain in 1999: "All of us are tainted by this (lobbyist) system, myself included"

[ProgressiveEconomist]

IMO, what McCain said on the Senate floor on October 14, 1999 directly contradicts what he said this morning-- that he "never betrayed the public trust."

What do you think?

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http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/e987.htm

'McCain's letters causing controversy By Jim Drinkard, USA TODAY 01/10/00

WASHINGTON -- On Oct. 14, during arguments for reform of a campaign finance system that he called "an elaborate influence peddling scheme," Sen. John McCain made a little-noticed admission on the floor of the Senate. "All of us are tainted by this system, myself included," McCain said. "I do not make any claims of piety. I have personally experienced the pull from campaign staff alerting me to a call from a large donor. All of us, including myself, have been affected by this system."

Since last week, evidence has tumbled out that critics say illustrates just how the system has affected McCain, who as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee is steeped in the capital's politics and policymaking. As a senator, McCain has kept up a prolific correspondence with federal regulators that illustrates how lawmakers walk a delicate line between keeping the government responsive to constituents and exerting improper influence. For example, the GOP presidential candidate wrote letters in November and December in which he demanded quick action from the Federal Communications Commission on a television license request by Paxson Communications. Paxson has provided its corporate plane for McCain's campaign use four times, and its executives have given $20,000 to McCain's Senate and presidential campaigns over the past two years.

.. Paxson wanted approval of a complicated transaction in which the company would end up with a TV station in Pittsburgh, the only major market missing from its holdings. McCain wrote the FCC on Nov. 17, and followed it with another letter on Dec. 14 .... The letter came "at a sensitive time in the deliberative process," FCC Chairman William Kennard responded. He told McCain it was "highly unusual" for commissioners to be asked to publicly announce their voting status on a pending matter. Ultimately, the FCC voted 3-2 to approve the transfer of the station to Paxson.'

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. Tainted is an understatement!

[TahitiNut]

2. Well, it seems she got beyond the lobby. Perhaps she should be called a "boudoirist"?

:shrug:

[ProgressiveEconomist]

3. Another good one. Just imagine what TDS, Leno, and Letterman will do with this.

They may keep the McCain-Iseman-Telcos story alive until November. IMO comedians PRAY for this knd of material to stimulate their writers' imaginations. And the writers are BACK!