Romney Camp Pushed McCain-Iseman Story?

ABC News blog Political Radar suggests that the Romney campaign was pushing this story:

ABC News' John Berman Reports: The remnants of the Romney campaign are shaking their heads this morning.
For months they were whispering about a New York Times investigation into John McCain's ties to a certain lobbyist.
They would poke and prod reporters to see if they had heard anything new about when and if the New York Times would publish the story.
On Thursday, while no one would allow their name to be published, several former advisers lamented the timing of the story, one suggesting, "If this piece had run before New Hampshire, McCain would have lost. If it had run before Florida, he would have lost."

I don't have much to add about this that Drew didn't already say: "meh." The point of the story is to make credulous and cynical readers believe that McCain was having an affair with a lobbyist and that he let the relationship influence his activities in the Capitol Building. Note, however, that it doesn't actually say that.

Instead, the explicit claim of the story is that McCain's staff thought there was a relationship and, horrors, he once wrote letters to some of her clients. Also, the quotes from the one and only McCain adviser to go on record in the NYTimes story are entirely focused on the political consequences of having a lobbyist with close ties to the campaign:

John Weaver, a former top strategist and now an informal campaign adviser, said in an e-mail message that he arranged the meeting after “a discussion among the campaign leadership” about her.
“Our political messaging during that time period centered around taking on the special interests and placing the nation’s interests before either personal or special interest,” Mr. Weaver continued. “Ms. Iseman’s involvement in the campaign, it was felt by us, could undermine that effort.”

No mention of a romantic relationship there. But given the previous 3,000 words, it's easy to jump to an inaccurate conclusion. As others have responded, "Where's the beef?" It seems the Times sent four reporters and two researchers (at least) on a wild goose chase after a story that was eight years old. When they came up with nothing to show for months of effort, they stitched together this pile of innuendo.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 01:37 PM

Comments

1 I say bullshit. I bet they're saying this so it reduces the chance of Romney being tapped as VP if that were an option for McCain.

Posted by: Kaitian at February 21, 2008 01:43 PM (S5mm4)

2 Yeah - gotta call BS, too. Anyone with half a brain can see the McCain/Iseman "affair" has no legs - and no one ever accused Romney of having half a brain.

Posted by: Barbula at February 21, 2008 01:53 PM (zf6OM)

3 Already sensing the NYT's has helped McCain. People who otherwise weren't that supportive now have a reason to be.

Posted by: Topsecretk9 at February 21, 2008 01:56 PM (Hsdkj)

Is it me, or am I seeing similarities in the coverage of our political process and the news media's coverage of the war in Iraq?

Playing us all like a cheap fiddle..........

Posted by: 7% Solution at February 21, 2008 02:05 PM (ZWxLw)

From the TNR article, "The publication of the article capped three months of intense internal deliberations at the Times over whether to publish the negative piece and its most explosive charge about the affair"

So, is this the secret affair-related story that everyone debated was about Hillary and Huma back whenever?

Posted by: Penn State Marine at February 21, 2008 02:34 PM (DFVTW)

6 So, is this the secret affair-related story that everyone debated was about Hillary and Huma back whenever?

I don't think so. I thought the Hillary!/meat curtains story was being held by the LAT and this story is the one McCain begged the NYT to spike a couple of months ago.

Posted by: runninrebel at February 21, 2008 02:41 PM (0n9wc)

7 The only interesting thing about Romney's campaign's pushing the story is that the Times wouldn't run it until it wouldn't benefit Romney at McCain's expense. They do still love him...compared to other Republicans. But now there are none left to compare him too.

Ha.

The point of the story is to make credulous and cynical readers believe that McCain was having an affair with a lobbyist and that he let the relationship influence his activities in the Capitol Building.

You don't have to be credulous or cynical to think that this is likely. You just need to have a vague idea what McCain is like, based on other, true stories that contain each half of this one. He's a corrupt cocksman. Facts, long-established. Why wouldn't he combine his passions?

The story doesn't prove it, sure. It barely even says it. But he is who he is. True in this case or not, it's a reminder.

Don't like it? Don't nominate him. He should still be in prison for the Keating shit, not running for President. You would be. Why isn't he? Because fuck you, that's why.

(That's his primary campaign slogan, isn't it?)

Posted by: Retired (Not Gay) at February 21, 2008 02:57 PM (k5JzA)

I thought the Hillary!/meat curtains story was being held by the LAT

Yes, but I thought they were not the only group that had the info. I'd just like to know what that was because it's still another shoe waiting to drop.

Posted by: Penn State Marine at February 21, 2008 03:08 PM (DFVTW)

Re: #7

Never thought I'd see the day when conservatives would break out the old "Fake but Accurate!" horseshit.

Posted by: The_Freeze at February 21, 2008 03:16 PM (+grxI)

10 I voted for McCain today in Texas. I love early voting.

Nice try New York Times. I never knew fighter pilots were into women.

Posted by: Stormy70 at February 21, 2008 03:18 PM (Y+o71)

Don't like it? Don't nominate him. He should still be in prison for the Keating shit, not running for President. You would be. Why isn't he? Because fuck you, that's why.

I love this. Marry me, Retired not..oh.

Never mind. Still, good stuff, Butch.

Posted by: cringeworthy at February 21, 2008 05:21 PM (a00go)

12 The ny times sat on it. Duh.

Posted by: rob at February 21, 2008 06:13 PM (1oZN7)

13 Never thought I'd see the day when conservatives would break out the old "Fake but Accurate!" horseshit.

Well, lets separate them.

"Fake" This story.

Accurate. McCain's involvement in the Keating Five (and insufficient evidence to convict isn't proof of innocence, having "another plausible reason" for your vote after taking money from someone who was buying votes... not really avoiding "corrupt".

Accurate. After coming back from Korea, his wife (who stood by him) got in a car accident. then there was a messy divorce. He had been cheating on his wife (he has admitted as much) and then traded her in on a younger model (conveniently a heiress with the funds to support political campaigns too).

So, no "smoking gun" proof, but a likelyhood of corruption, and a definite past of chasing the skirts even when married.

Does that make this story true? No. But it doesn't make it anywhere near impossible either. I'd like some evidence before stating its true; but it does match his past actions in both arenas. Making votes based on (probable) outside influence? Yes. Cheating on his wife? Yes. Doing both however is inconceivable?

So this story is "unverified". Calling it fake is claiming that you know for sure that either a man involved in the Keating scandal "can't be bought"; or that "he'd never cheat again".

So, Cheater? Verified. Corruption? Strong suspicion, but insufficient proof for conviction (we know he took money from a guy giving bribes to others, but not what the terms were... that isn't really "innocent" is it?). Now, a mix of the two? Not enough evidence to know what occurred.

However, your starry-eyed love for McCain stating that this is "fake" with no proof, based on McCain's history in these areas? Amusing. Are you jockeying for some political post, or are you kissing his ass for no reason?

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