McCain questioner was Thompson donor

Yahoo News ^ | oct 21,2001

[AmericanMade1776]

The man who flustered White House hopeful John McCain last week by questioning his standing among fellow Vietnam prisoners of war was a contributor to rival Fred Thompson's campaign. Ed Nowokunski, a retired Air Force major and fighter pilot, gave $500 to Thompson's testing-the-waters committee in July, Federal Election Commission records show. He also gave $1,000 to President Bush a month after his bitter 2000 primary defeat of McCain in South Carolina, and again in 2004 when he wasn't opposed.

McCain supporter Orson Swindle, a former Marine POW, suggested afterward that an opposing campaign planted Nowokunski in the retirement community audience to embarrass the Arizona senator. "That's sort of the nature of the game," he said. "It's so easy to put a plant in one of these town hall meetings.

[AmericanMade1776]

The Thompson campaign said it does not send plants to put rivals on the spot. "Heavens, no," said Karen Hanretty, speaking for the candidate. She said Nowokunski donated online and the campaign has had no contact with him. (from same article)

[AmericanMade1776]

On Wednesday, Nowokunski told McCain he had spoken with the candidate’s POW buddies and they would not say anything positive or negative about him. “They say, ‘He’s a politician,’” Nowokunski said. “Why do they answer me that way?”

McCain, caught off guard, said people Nowokunski mentioned were his dearest friends as well as donors who had traveled with him during the campaign. “I don’t know why they would be telling you that,” McCain said. “I am frankly astonished and I don’t believe you.”

[2ndDivisionVet]

Much ado about nothing. I’m a Thompson donor, bundler, supporter, etc. Does that mean if I ask another candidate a question at a townhall-style event that it was arranged by Fred’s campaign? No, it does not!

[Gil4]

Giving $500 doesn’t exactly make one a campaign insider. And an Air Force major isn’t exactly a general.

[AmericanMade1776]

, 2ndDivisionVet wrote: Much ado about nothing. I’m a Thompson donor, bundler, supporter,

Get out of here, really? You are a Thompson supporter ? (just teasing)

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Imagine that—being asked tough questions by supporters of political opponents. What next—open debate?

[LonePalm]

So?

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[PalmettoMason]

McLame whines about being asked questions by a fellow Republican... but wants us to think that he can handle the Klinton smear machine?

Doubt it.

[calex59]

Wow, I guess we aren’t supposed to ask candidates embarrassing questions. What a crock of crap.

[AmericanMade1776]

I don’t believe Ed Nowokunski, really asked a substantial question, I believe Ed Nowokunski repeated undocumented Hearsay.

[AmericanMade1776]

PalmettoMason wrote: McLame whines about being asked questions by a fellow Republican... but wants us to think that he can handle the Klinton smear machine?

I am not a McCain supporter, of course if he should win the nomination, I would support him against Hillary, I would even support Fred Thompson against Hillary. But I don't think you have a right to belittle McCain on his response to this question, Unless you too where a POW in a Vietnam.

[LibLieSlayer]

I’m a Fred donor and if I met mccain in person, I would thank him for his service... and tell him what a POS he is for attacking the SBVFT... colluding with the traitor kerry against missing POW’s in Vietnam... remind him he is corrupt for being part of the Keating Five... tell him he is responsible for the "move on", "media matters" BS due to CFR... tell him he was liberal for opposing the Bush Tax Cuts, which have kept our economy afloat during WAR... Accuse him of leading the AMNESTY Scam... and tell him that I think that he is insane. So what is the point of this article? We all know the above is 100% true... and mcinsane should retire and fade away!

LLS

[AmericanMade1776]

Maybe you could ask McCain the Lame Nowokunski question?

Nowokunski told McCain he had spoken with the candidate’s POW buddies and they would not say anything positive or negative about him. “They say, ‘He’s a politician,’” Nowokunski said. “Why do they answer me that way?”

By the way, I would dare to say that everyone running for President is a Politician.

[AmericanMade1776]

LibLieSlayer wrote: I’m a Fred donor

Old Fred doesn't have any Military record does he? No POW pals, No Swiftboat Pals, No one to talk about his time during the Vietnam years.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Among the oldest political tricks in the book. McCain or any other candidate should not be surprised.

[AmericanMade1776]

Virginia Ridgerunner wrote: Among the oldest political tricks in the book. McCain or any other candidate should not be surprised.

Guess it was a bit more Personal to McCain. I am sure he is way over it.

[AmericanMade1776]

Fred Dalton Thompson (born Freddie Dalton Thompson[1][2] on August 19, 1942) is an American politician, lawyer, lobbyist and character actor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Thompson

A Description of Fred Thompson from Wikipedia, ... I see besides being a “politician” he is also a lobbyist and a character actor.

[rhombus]

A Description of Fred Thompson from Wikipedia, ... I see besides being a “politician” he is also a lobbyist and a character actor.

Ah...so?

[AmericanMade1776]

Ah....so.... did I mention that further down on Wikipedia, it says that Fred Thompson was deferred from Military service to his country so he could become a Lawyer.

[mvpel]

Someone asks a question that the anointed politicians don't like, and they call it a "plant." Pretty lame, you'd think they'd never campaigned before.

Here in New Hampshire, we call it "bird-dogging," and it's a standard element in the political play book up here. We don't have a New Hampshire football team, so we have to do something to entertain ourselves in the fall.

That's why New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation status is so important - do you think that they'd permit questions like this if the only way you could see a contender presidential candidate was at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena with 90,000 other people?