McCain calls out the Times: Pat Buchanan scolds newspaper for breaking its own rules

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Saturday, February 23, 2008 | Patrick Buchanan

[JohnHuang2]

John McCain just shoved his whole stack into the middle of the table and put his credibility and candidacy on the line.

He just threw down the gauntlet to the New York Times by flatly denying every point of a front-page story that implied McCain had an affair nine years ago with a 31-year-old Washington lobbyist, then used his influence as a committee chair to promote the interests of her client.

The Times' front-page story of the alleged romance was based on two anonymous sources the Times identified as former aides to the senator. The Washington Post quoted John Weaver, once the man closest to McCain, as saying he confronted the lobbyist at a Union Station lunch and warned her to stay away from the senator.

Weaver is quoted as saying he brought the matter up with McCain. McCain denies Weaver ever did.

The anonymous aides were said to have confronted McCain and told him his dinners with blond lobbyist Vicki Iseman, and his travels with her on corporate jets, were imperiling his reputation. The aides said they feared a romantic involvement that could destroy McCain.

McCain denies any aides ever mentioned such a thing.

To witness the truthfulness of his words, McCain stood silent as wife Cindy addressed the alleged adulterous affair:

"(T)he children and I not only trust my husband but know that he would never do anything to not only disappoint our family but disappoint the people of America. He's a man of great character, and I'm very, very disappointed in the New York Times."

McCain also expressed disappointment in the Times. His aides, however, are savaging the paper.

His campaign issued a statement accusing the Times of a "hit-and-run smear." Lawyer Bob Bennett compared the Times article to the sleazy robo-calls in South Carolina in 2000

[JohnHuang2]

A middle-finger salute to the New York Times.

Sen. John McCain should wear the Times's attempted -- and now thoroughly discredited -- smear against him as a badge of honor.

[DoughtyOne]

Good morning John. I tend to agree with Buchanan. I will say though, if something comes out that confirms John did participate in something sordid with that lobbyist, the fact that he had his wife cover for him is going to make him look very bad.

I realize Clinton did this and it didn’t matter to the media at all. I don’t care what the media thinks of it, it’s my thoughts that count to me. I didn’t like Clinton’s antics and I wouldn’t like it here either.

I don’t support John and I want to make that clear when I address issues concerning him.

[dasboot]

I was wondering how the Republicans might kiss and make up under the big tent. If you told me two weeks ago that the NYT would do it, I’da said you were a nutjob.

[Westlander]

The New York Slimes will print their investigations of Hussein Obama and the Hildabeast in December 2008.