McCain advisers on '527' attacking Obama: The Swamp
The Swamp
Posted May 24, 2008 8:00 AM
The Swamp

by Mark Silva

Both John McCain and Barack Obama say they want to rein in the power of the so-called "527s," the independent political committees that skirt the campaign finance laws with unlimited financing and unregulated campaign attacks.

But two of McCain's own campaign chairmen are serving on the board of an independent organization behind a new attack ad against Obama, "an apparent violation of the Arizona Republican's new conflict of interest policy,'' the Huffington Post notes.

"Sens. Joseph Lieberman and Lindsey Graham both hold chairs for the McCain camp as well as positions on the board of advisers of Vets for Freedom, an advocacy group that supports the Iraq war,'' the HuffPost reports. "A week ago these titles may not have been a political issue. But under McCain's newly-implemented ethics policy, Lieberman and Graham's role with Vets for Freedom is now proving problematic.

According to the policy: "No person with a McCain Campaign title or position may participate in a 527 or other independent entity that makes public communications that support or oppose any presidential candidate."

On Friday, Vets for Freedom, an independent group, did just that. In a commercial released on its website, the organization directly took on Obama over his willingness to negotiate with the leadership of Iran.

"Obama wasn't available to meet with us [combat veterans]," Sgt. Garrett Anderson (Ret.) of Illinois' Army National Guard says to the camera. "But we weren't surprised. Because he hasn't once, sat down one-on-one with our in Iraq, Gen. Petraeus. Worse, he hasn't been to Iraq in two-and-a-half years. He's unwilling to get the facts on Iraq, yet he is willing to travel to Iran to meet with their leader or anyone else who hates our country... The question for America is, if Barack Obama won't listen to us, who will he listen to?"

In addition to the two senators, McCain's foreign policy adviser, Max Boot, also sits on the group's board. Pete Hegseth, the executive director for Vets for Freedom, said that far from being campaign-motivated, the advertisement was an issue-based criticism of Obama's stance on the war.

For more, see the Huffington Post report."

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Comments

Who needs a "527" to attack political opponents, when you have HuffPo and the Swamp to do the dirty work for you?

Perhaps Mr. Silva should take a look at the far left political connections of his political soulmates at HuffPo.


It increasingly appears that the real reason that Hillary won't concede is that the Democratic primary is actually the presidential race. McCain doesn't seem to be able, like Hillary, to be able to run his own campaign. Really, that stupid proposal for the "Gas Tax Holiday" should have tipped us off to the populist direction that McCain was heading. If he debates Obama, McCain is going look less like Ronald Reagan and more like the second coming of Admiral Stockdale.

Beltway Greg


If we learned nothing from the "Willie Horton" ad that ran only once, UNLESS AN AD IS RUN BY THE CAMPAIGN ITSELF, IT SHOULD NOT BE MENTIONED. It's only NEWS if the media make it NEWS. And it's irresponsible to get credence to every fringe element that wants to besmirch a rival campaign by running one ad and getting out of the way.

Now, if one campaign or another embraces such an add, THEN and ONLY THEN does it become NEWS.


527's are scary folks, but you know what? They are relics of the old way of campaigning. And they are going to hurt McCain in the general. He is trying to clean out his closet so that he can go after Obama, but he is going to be up against MORE than just camp Obama, but the entire country. And lets just say it like this....folks that live in glass houses.....


More of the same from McCain and his "double" talk express.

The Republicans just don't get it. Americans want to know about what the candidates are going to do about the economy, the wars, health care and illegal immigration.

Americans do not want to hear about flag pins, pastors and smear directed at peoples wifes.

Smear masquerading as a policy will not work this year.

You want more of the same, vote McCain.

My vote is for Obama.


So much for a new era of clean politics. Hopefully this group won't be as toxic as the groups Bush unleashed. Surprising McCain would go this route after all the smear jobs the Republicans tried to do on him in South Carolina. But I guess maybe he figures it is better to join than fight.


Get used to the onslaught of lies, lies and more lies by the Ridiculous Republicans. It will be coming from 527s, from corporate commercials, from corporate news organizations and it will be coming from people who misrepresent themselves as Democrats !! Count on it !! If you think, Senator Clinton's scorched earth approach was an accident, than I have a WMD for you!! This is the battle we have all been waiting for, the battle against the greedy and anti-democratic corporations. They will attack Senator Obama, relentlessly, as they will, his wife, Michelle and they will even find a way to besmirch the good name of their daughters. That is how desperate they are, far more so, than Senator Clinton showed !! Be on your guard, America, this is the election , in which we prove whether we are truly democratic and fair-minded or whether we are hypocrites and phonies, like the Ridiculous Republicans !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.


It is becoming easily appearant that John McCain was a maverick all those years for political expediency. He was able to move forward, and become a media darling because he would get attention. The man will do anything to get elected. How do you think Republicans would respond if Barack was nearly last in his class, got into his college because of his father, cheated on his wife with a sugar momma to help start his political career...he then speaks out of one side of his mouth for cleaner government, but on the other side he's buddy-buddy with all these lobbyists. What a Fraud!


Someone from McCains' camp attacking Slick Barry? Well, hooray and keep on going. It's about time someone showed some balls


"...He's unwilling to get the facts on Iraq,..."

OBAMA's unwilling? How about McCain who can't tell a Sunni from a Shia and thinks that waltzing around a Baghdad marketplace surrounded by enough firepower to defend a small country is getting the "facts"?


McCain talks as if Barack purposely avoided military service...what was he supposed to do...enlist to go to Grenada...the mini conflict that was the only one going on at the time Obama would have been at that age? Or should he have enlisted at the age of 13...the age he would have been when the US withdrew from Vietnam??? DON'T even try it McCain ...unless you want to make yourself look like a TOTAL fool!!!


John McParrot wouldn't be able to talk about issues or debate his way out of a paper bag. That's why the old relic is relying on old politics.

Shame on you Trib for playing that old game.


What did they do? Promise Sgt. Anderson better veteran's benefits if he did the ad? Amazing how he's getting the help he needs now that he's doing this B.S.

He was on a CNN program with Dr. Sanjay Gupta having trouble with the VA. I just bet he's all better now that he has help.


Who was McCain listening to when he voted many times against increased funding for the VA and for increased time at home between tours?


VETS FOR FREEDOM IS NOT A 527. Please do some research before you report

Vets for Freedom is a nonpartisan 501(C) (4) non profit organization, formed in January 2006. Our mission is to educate the public about the importance of achieving success in the Global War on Terror by applying our first-hand knowledge to issues of American strategy and tactics. Vets for Freedom Political Action Fund, a federal PAC registered with the Federal Election Commission, was formed in November 2007. Vets for Freedom PAC aims to support those candidates, regardless of party, who recognize the importance of achieving success in the Global War on Terror. Vets for Freedom and Vets for Freedom PAC are separate organizations.


I AM TIRED OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS SINCE ITS ONLY ONE SIDED.
H-R-C
B-H-O


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