Blumenthal Claims Inside Knowledge that McCain Flirted with Leaving GOP

Business and Media Institute ^ | 4/1/08 | Jeff Poor

[gridlock]

Clinton campaign adviser points to presumptive GOP nominee's positions on torture, taxes, global warming, tobacco and health care as evidence.

Could John McCain have been the Independent or Democratic senator from Arizona?

Though that sounds awkward, especially in the midst of a presidential race with McCain as the GOP’s nominee, but one Washington insider claimed McCain considered abandoning the Republican Party.

According to Sidney Blumenthal, a senior adviser for former President Bill Clinton and current adviser to Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton, at one point McCain was going to leave the Republican Party and caucus with Senate Democrats.

“And although he doesn’t want to talk to reporters about it now, there was a time and I was privy to some of those who were involved, did conduct negotiations through third parties about whether or not he would leave the Republican Party and become an independent more or less aligned in the Senate with the Democrats,” said Blumenthal on April 1. Blumenthal did not say when those negotiations took place.

snip

Although McCain has disappointed some members of the conservative movement, Blumenthal said he did not think this would hurt McCain on Election Day.

(snip)

Blumenthal even supplied advice for McCain.

“So I do not think this will hurt him and if I were advising McCain right now, I would say he’s slightly overreacting to his conservative base,” McCain said. “I don’t think he needs to do that so much. I think they don’t have any choice right now.

[gridlock]

Hey, if you can't trust Sid Vicious, who can you trust?

[don-o]

Sadly, this DOES pass the smell test.

[bill1952]

Although McCain has disappointed some members of the conservative movement, Blumenthal said he did not think this would hurt McCain on Election Day.

That passes as “thought?” - Dream on.

[Jaxter]

"..but one Washington insider claimed McCain considered abandoning the Republican Party."

Considered? I think he left the Republican Party a long time ago.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

“Sadly, this DOES pass the smell test.”

Smells like Clintonian politics. Whom do we know, who has Sid in her pocket, who would like to take McCain down a couple pegs before election day?

[acapesket]

Sidney and McQueeg sittin’ in a tree....
Quelle shock! NON.

[John W]

No, it doesn’t.

[Old Retired Army Guy]

Isn’t this the “Grassy Knoll” guy who just got a DUI in New Hampshire?

[MARTIAL MONK]

“So I do not think this will hurt him and if I were advising McCain right now, I would say he’s slightly overreacting to his conservative base,” McCain said. “I don’t think he needs to do that so much. I think they don’t have any choice right now.

Ah kin rite gooder thannn this ol' boy.

[tanknetter]

Sadly, this DOES pass the smell test.

True. But isn't this story, like, six or seven years old (along with the story that McCain engaged with Kerry in 2004 over the Dem VP slot)?

I understand Republicans/Conservatives bringing it up and making an issue out of it ... but for Sid Blumenthal to bring it up, acting like he's actually adding something to the discussion (based, apparently, on the fact that he has "insider knowledge" of something people already knew about)?

This story isn't really about McCain flirting with the Dems. It's about Blumenthal playing up something that's already common knowledge to reinforce his own vanity and narcissism and to get his name/face in the press (for something other than his DUI bust).

[AmericaUnited]

Lying snake SCUM! If this guy said the sun was coming up tomorrow, I'd run out and buy up all the flashlights and batteries I could get my hands on.

[LibLieSlayer]

While I despise mcqueeg... he is heads above any POS that would work for the satanic couple known as the bubbaroids... like hemorrhoids but different.

LLS

[don-o]

True that. I can vote for JM based solely on the CinC role of the President. That is enough, I guess.

[don-o]

Yes it does. McCain hates the conservative movement.

[Dixie Yooper]

one Washington insider claimed McCain considered abandoning the Republican Party

Looks like McCain was several years ahead of many FReepers who have been threatening to do the same thing this year. I guess sticking in there and toughing it out pays off in the long run. I hope this strategy never works for Ron Paul...

[Archon of the East]

Somehow this is a surprise? One only needs to open their eyes.

[bvw]

Sidney’s own lil’ Op Chaos ...

[Just mythoughts]

This is NO lord McCain hit piece, actually sounds like a soothing call to liberals, that no matter who gets elected liberals will control government.

[Williams]

Well then, I expect McCain to get many democrat votes and secure the presidency for the republican party.

This republican party loyalty thing constantly touted by democrats seems like a non starter to me. It's rather obvious McCain did NOT join the democrat party and I'm unimpressed by their claims he "considered" it.

[deuteronlmy232]

While I have no great love for McCain, Sidney Blumenthal is a lying sack of dung at best a clinton clone in actuality. In other words, Sidney Blumenthal is a lying piece of scum.