Will McCain’s Nightmare Continue?
McCain might very well be living out every Presidential candidate’s worst nightmare. A page one story was published yesterday in the New York Times, calling his character into question and to make things worse his campaign’s finances had just been dealt a potentially crippling blow by the FEC.
On top of the lobbyist scandal, which grabbed all of yesterday’s headlines, John McCain’s campaign recently received word from the FEC that they were not going to let McCain out of the federal matching funds program that he entered at a time when his campaign was in financial distress. Two weeks ago McCain notified the FEC that he wanted out of the federal matching funds program, but they informed him that it wouldn’t be so easy because he used the hypothetical matching federal money (which he never actually collected) as collateral in order to qualify for a loan from a Florida bank. If McCain is trapped in the federal program it would mean that he would only be able to spend another $5 million between now and the Republican Convention in September, this would essentially doom his general election campaign before it has even left behind Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul.
This problem will not be resolved until four open seats on the FEC board are filled and the board can come to a decision on the issue. If the board ultimately decides to not allow McCain to exit the federal program, the Republican National Committee would have two choices; stick with McCain whose campaign would be doomed for failure or put pressure on McCain to drop out of the race allowing them to turn to an candidate that would not have the same spending restrictions and would be allowed to run the full blown campaign that will be needed to effectively challenge the Democratic nominee.
The news of the ex-staffers allegations along with the news from the FEC are not only significant in and of themselves but are amplified in their relation to the way John McCain has positioned himself as a candidate.
On the lobbying issue McCain, who has attempted to distinguish himself as the enemy of pork barrel spending, is hurt, I believe, simply by having to address this issue and go on defense on an issue that he claims to champion. The seed of doubt, whether or not it is legitimate or will bear fruit, has been planted.
If McCain were to exceed spending limits placed on him by the federal matching funds program, he would be essentially defying an issue (campaign finance reform) on which he pushed legislation that was proudly tied to his name.
On top of these two recent developments McCain recently stated that he, “…always supported allowing the CIA to use extra measures.” A statement that is just ambiguous enough to call into question his once admirable stance against torture. Now it is unclear if this statement was an attempt to appease the current administration or the Ann Coulter’s of the world, regardless it jeopardizes his straight talk reputation and gives ammunition to the Democrats in the courting of independents for the general election campaign.
In short, this thing just got very complicated and very interesting. In the next 24 hours it will be important to watch if the New York Times sources step forward and then if they are able to withstand public scrutiny. If they choose not to step forward, I think we see this story fade over the weekend. But even if the lobbyist story fades, McCain’s FEC federal funding problem will not be solved for some time, possibly weeks. How long will a Republican base that is already apprehensive of McCain stick up for him and wait out his laundry list of problems.
Comment by TheOneLaw on 22 February 2008:
We of the Ron Paul r3VOLution have always suspected McCain
would come around to supporting torture as accepted
practice in order to deal with the people who torment him
the most – anyone in contact with him.
McCain has an inverse, perverse strain of the Midas Touch.
Comment by Chuck on 22 February 2008:
McCain’s records for his POW years needs to be looked out.
Does he have “flashbacks” as alot of POW have to be on med. or dr. care.
His postions in Congress hearings about his denial of leaving American soliders in Vietman..is unbeilieved. He turned his back once (probably more) time on Americans..something needs to be looked into.
Comment by Kathy from PA on 22 February 2008:
What a bunch of ass clowns this makes the GOP look like. Guiliani, then Romney, now McCain. Third choice of 11 original contenders.
How about the most conservative of the pack? Maybe the media will start giving Ron Paul a little air time.
Or we could support Huckabee and let him “change the consitution to reflect the word of God….”
McCain is completely inadequate as a candidate. Let’s hope the party cuts their losses now and regroups.
Comment by brian on 22 February 2008:
What will be interesting to note it whether the mainstream media will pick up on this story. Time will only tell.
The only one standing with the cash to lead will be Ron Paul. It might be time that the media finally listens to what he has to say and gives him the attention he deserves.
Comment by Don on 22 February 2008:
When you put the NYT article together with McCain’s sworn deposition from a 2002 lawsuit on the same subject, it is obvious that he’s been lying his butt off. Now he’s in the “I don’t recall” mode. Some candidate, but the same old McCain. He’s not required to follow the same laws that he wanted passed for “other people”. He supports torture and his memory doesn’t seem good enough to recall the truth. GOP suicide. Nice job neocons. You should have picked the only genuine conservative (Dr. Ron Paul) in the first place. At least you would have genuine integrity and a man who really knows economics. McCain = Disaster.
Comment by Erin on 22 February 2008:
McCain is a joke . I can’t believe people vote for him. He is the most uninspiring candidate to ever run in history. He is a socialist neocon who can be bought and sold and will not defend this country as he has proven in the many anti-American bills he has sponsored in Washington.
Why not look at him on the issues? Nearly every single piece of legislature he puts forward in the Senate is anti-American and anti-conservative/republican.
Someone please name one thing he has done for the benefit of this nation besides his Vietnam record (which is also questionable)
Comment by Alexander Nobles on 22 February 2008:
Current Site News : Please Read!
Comment by jeff on 22 February 2008:
McCain is to Conservative what Forest fire is Conservation.
Comment by Sid Davis on 23 February 2008:
It is hard for me to imagine that McCain would back out. He will just move forward, warts and all, because the magnet of power will not let him consider anything else.
It is almost comical to see the GOP in such a well earned mess.
Comment by Randolphus Maximus on 24 February 2008:
I think that the FEC ruling will have a much greater impact on his campaign than the NYT smear piece. Which of course means the MSM will probably bury it. The great irony (which, I have to admit, I’m sort of relishing) is that the McCain’s campaign may be hamstrung by the very legislation that bears his name.
Also, McCain-Feingold should serve as a reminder about what McCain’s understanding of the Constitution is. Which is about at the level of what his understanding of economics is.
Comment by warispeace on 25 February 2008:
As Ron Paul said in his recent campaign update video, “there may be a lot of information coming out about the other two candidates that will change this election completely and totally.” Ron Paul is the only person qualified to lead this country at this critical time in our history. Perhaps we have a case of divine intervention here. Maybe God will bless America after all and give us Ron Paul as our next President. Let’s all start praying every night for this to come to pass. Anything else will be total disaster.
Comment by Linda on 25 February 2008:
I also have started praying every day for God to bless Ron Paul and let him become our next president.
If hundreds of thousands of us cry out to God about this, our prayers will be answered.
We can pray about this several times each day – not just at night. We can pray while we’re driving, eating, walking….. God doesn’t care – he loves hearing from his children as much as our parents love hearing from us. Just remember to tell God how much you love him and thank him for our blessings and answered prayers.
Comment by 4therepublic on 28 February 2008:
Open Letter to Dr. Ron Paul…….
It all started when we saw the first presidential debate over a year ago. My wife and I thought our voice could never make a difference. A government mostly comprised of constitutional traitors holding office. After hundreds of hours of reading, and learning, one cannot help question the workings. When we heard the honorable Dr. Ron Paul speak it gave us hope, and the feeling “Wow, finally a true statesmen.” So desperately needed.. As if something were in the water, in the halls of power and only Paul were immune!”. Began the research, more and more, not just words from faces but the substance in record and content in character. As it progressed, scary and shocking things were stumbled upon. Policies that put fear to ones bones as if the lives sacrificed upon the alter, of sovereign liberty to mean nothing.
Paul a humble elderly congressman from Texas. Him and his wife Carol married now some 51 years. To those hands which have guided thousands of new lives to the light of the world. A voice bringingt chills. Enthralling to the marrow. Searching for a single sentence, A fractured statement. From this hero country doctor, Ron Paul.
Read and watched searched and sought, until finally, triggered to action. I (we) signed on, with heart, soul, wallet and purse. We went for the first time in our life, to a meet-up group for a political organization. Ordered and made signs, cards, slim jims.. Started a family crusade to inform as many people as possible about the good doctor. As I discovered, he was nearly flawless in every way, and was directly in line with my thoughts. A Jeffersonian reincarnation. Just could not believe that we had found somebody that alone had fought so long. A crusader for rights and sovereignty all , yet so honest, forthright and the will to speak truth to power.
Signs in the yard, stickers on a car, and wherever we traveled, always had Ron Paul items with us. Discovering many innovative ways to get this great message out.Spent days at the Daily Paul, excited and learning. Throughout the entire journey was triggered to research and understanding. To monetary policy. an economic expert on Fiat Currency, The Federal Reserve, The Gold Standard, The monetizing of Debt, IRS, Fractional Reserve Banking, The World Oil Trade, CFR (council for foreign relations) Nafta, The Patriot Act, the central bank and the list goes on. Having dug deep, We have informed our friends and family and strangers. To further seed the continuation of a revolution started our founders. When just a year ago, you could of asked any us about these topics, To receive a blank stare! What could have caused this bend of freedom to fascism, socialist corporate welfare, warfare, globalization industrial war mongering machine.
As we marched, participated in money bombs. To watch our numbers skyrocket, donated to our max. Watched the Blimp go into flight. Ron Pauls race car dream for fruition. Day after Day, the excitement built, and I could not believe we were part of such a great cause. So important to all. To many with excitement… “Have you heard of Ron Paul?” and when they would say no, over and over, to see the excitement. The birthing, another patriot awakened. One by one, day by day.
Blinded by enthusiasm, thinking that with all of this excitement, and with such an awesome candidate, and money raised, how could we lose?
The second debates came, Then came this sinking feeling. Soon we noticed that something was wrong. Ron Paul was not allowed to speak. He was given very little time. Then banned entirely. We started to wonder why? Debate after debate, we all witnessed the same thing. As this was going on, I noticed an entire switch in the media. No photos of the Dr. Not many mainstream articles, and the media calling him a kook, for believing in the constitution and the rule of law.
The continuation to deny the best candidate his due time of air. Belittlization and ignorization .. Then it all became too clear. After doing all of the research the Diebold machines, Caucus events, Primaries, Voter Fraud, To look in the mirror and say, how could one be so naive? Study and research, points to one thing. The powers to be do not want our champion anywhere near the white House. Congressman Paul challenges every single status quo the world government has built upon. Against the corrupt policies of a darkened government at every level. Has taken nearly a century to get these organizations ans policies in place, and they that run this country in high places, to pull out the stops to deny an honest voice.
Day after Day, Caucus after Caucus, Primary after Primary, The writing on the wall. Voting problems abound. New Hampshire broken chains of custody. Not counting all the votes. The Granny Warriors fighting for us in the NH recount. Washington state, Beverly Harris of Black box voting & Albert Howard shouting aloud, Jane Aitken doing her best. Everywhere hour after hour. The election process and the media have chosen there appointees.
Why did we fall into this? Why is the establishment so corruptrd? As if in a coherent deliberation trying to destroy this the greatest nation a blue jewel in blackest space could produce. Why are so many so blind?
I sometimes wish I could just erase this knowledge, had to find out. Had to play the hand all the way.
Don’t get me wrong…I (we) are more awake than ever. It just sickens me to see the continuation. Feeling so lost in regards to god and country. Like a single black sheep in a herd of a millions, trying to scream“Don’t run off that cliff!” Fearing such a small voice can’t be heard as they fall off the cliff unaware.
As we continue on, to march to Washington, I would like to tell you Ron Paul we will never give up. We will never surrender. If this country truly believes in our divinely inspired Constitution. Our leaders must not just promise to support and defend “but obey.” Yes”obey”
Wars, rumors of Wars, war with no end, restarting cold wars with Russia. Singing Bomb Iran. The devaluation of our monies. Oil 27 dollars a barrel attack Iraq under a UNITED NATIONS resolution 100 dollars barrel. The suspension of habeas corpus, Warrantless searches. Millions losing their houses and dreams.
Putting missiles in Poland. Stoking for war..Russia, the threatening of pre-emptive Nuclear
Attack.
Rights being stripped away, layer by layer, day by day. Attacks upon the 1st and 2cd amendment
infringed..
Opec switching away from the dollar. China holding $1,500,000,000,000 of our debt. Buying up our lands. Us having $56,000,000,000,000 in debt obligations. Inflation, taxation de-evalution
The list goes on and on….. What the hell’s going on!
As I close this letter, one families personal journey, Something else to say. That is, I (we) will keep up the fight, and will always be here, unless they shut down the net, and take a last bastion of freedom. We will get our chipped national ID, just like you all will. We’ll pay our taxes to continue wars negating our own national defense, allowing millions upon millions of illegal’s who hold no loyalty to our flag. We will continue doing our part. Support Ron Paul. Our champion. Our standard bearer. Never give up. So no matter how the remaining election plays, We will continue the fight! Dr Paul re-kindled the fire that will never go out.
To thoughts come a story my grandfather told “Virgil Gordon”. Of the Ferrol hogs that made (the blue ridge mtns.) their home. That if you put out food pigs would come. If you put up a wall they would scramble to the freedom of the forest, keep feeding, and continuously. They’d return. Put up another wall, and another they would flee,, slowly to return, over and over, until there were four walls with slight opening. Cautiously they’d enter until you could leave the pen open. still they would stay. To a point they’d squeal in terror. If prompted toward an opening and freedom.
And finally to you Dr. Ron Paul. In the days to come, and from what you have done in all our lives, even after you pass from this earth, just let to tell you, you have awakened the drowsing giant. You have showed a path, a tiny light in a vast sea of darkness an opening of light. As you said, “This is not about me, it is about the Message.” My god, you are so right. Tears comes to my eyes.. From every emotion of the last year, for every American, for every soldier that has died for the concept of a lie’s. Sorrow for the American not given the chance to awaken. Dr. Ron Paul, you have left a mark upon the few among the many, etched in stone. You have achieved your goal. An inspiration of soul. You said that this will last way beyond you, to now understand. Some of us have never met you, you sent a signed letter for what we have done. It is framed right over our hearth…Forever you have changed …us….the message will live… though our bones be dust. Promise in Passing a message, to our children and our children’s , children. To live forever. Should they plant you in the good earth prior our passing we will be there. As you ask assemble in Washington. Duty bound be there.
Whether it’s at home or in passing. Never let it be said that you heard the voice of liberty and did not answer her call. Tell all of liberty and freedom. Which unites and binds us like no other.
Dr. Ron Paul and Carol……Thank You.
Sincerely,
An American Family.
Comment by Bobby on 28 February 2008:
Very interesting information, but it’s just the tip of the preverbal iceberg! The question is WHAT DON’T WE KNOW ABOUT Mr. McCain? I think that his deepest flaw is his outright “slap in the face” to the families of POW/MIAs. Want real dirt? Look into his actions while in the “so called” Vietnam “prison”.
John McCain = WWIII