In a front page story on John McCain's post-Keating Five ethical conduct, a New York Times cover story tomorrow will focus on the Republican presidential nominee's relationship eight years ago with a much younger female lobbyist named Vicki Iseman.
Political Wire:
A front page New York Times story about Sen. John McCain possibly having a romantic relationship with a female lobbyist will certainly dominate the presidential campaign headlines for the next several days.In a statement released this evening, Sen. McCain slams the Times but does not deny the charges:
That's the titillating headline but the story also alleges McCain did official favors for her. The key point: "Even as he has vowed to hold himself to the highest ethical standards, his confidence in his own integrity has sometimes seemed to blind him to potentially embarrassing conflicts of interest."
Marc Ambinder notes "the interest will be intense because the story was so heavily anticipated. And the wink-wink-nod-nod assertion that McCain allegedly acknowledged unspecified 'improprieties' to some aides is bound to be the part of this that kicks for a while."
Though McCain's campaign denied the story today, the Washington Post noted late last year that McCain and the female lobbyist hired lawyers to defend themselves against the charges.
It is a shame that the New York Times has lowered its standards to engage in a hit and run smear campaign. John McCain has a 24-year record of serving our country with honor and integrity. He has never violated the public trust, never done favors for special interests or lobbyists, and he will not allow a smear campaign to distract from the issues at stake in this election.Huckabee/Romney, anyone?
Americans are sick and tired of this kind of gutter politics, and there is nothing in this story to suggest that John McCain has ever violated the principles that have guided his career.
