Monday, February 25, 2008
It’s hard work being John McCain. It seems every time he turns around there’s another shady character trying to stuff money in his pocket. I wish I had McCain’s problem, but the closest I ever got was a guy in a community college parking lot trying to sell me a VIP pass to a new strip club. I guess not everyone can be a war hero.
It’s like McCain lives in a comedy of errors, where he finds himself face-to-face with a rich guy in awkward moment, so he compliments him on his money, just to have something to say. The rich guy says, “Oh, do you want some?”
“No, thank you. That’s okay.”
“Come on, take it.”
“Oh, I couldn’t.”
“You must. I insist.”
“You insist? Well, now that you’ve put it that way, I guess I have to.” And he walks out with his pockets bulging with cash. Like I said, it’s hard work.
John McCain supports campaign finance reform more adamantly than any other politician because no other politician needs campaign finance reform more than John McCain. He’s found his way to the center of an impressive number of congressional financial scandals.
First came his days as a member of the Keating Five, a group of senators accused of corruption in 1989, taking millions in campaign contributions from banker Charles Keating while pressuring regulators to back off the oversight of Keating’s failing savings and loan. Keating and McCain’s wife were business partners, but McCain didn’t see a conflict of interest because his prenuptial agreement divided their assets. Evidently every dinner out for the McCain’s is a Dutch date.
Last week we had his flat denial of ever having met Bud Paxson, despite Paxson’s memory of meeting McCain in the senator’s office. McCain says he never spoke with Paxson or any of his associates. However, he used Paxson’s personal jet, took his campaign contributions and then just happened to write two letters urging the FCC to take speedy action on a Paxson business deal. If McCain is wondering why people have been quick to believe these allegations, it might be because they’ve heard this one before.
Now McCain denies he posted his eligibility for federal election funds as collateral for a loan, insisting that the real collateral was the idea that he might someday in the future post the federal matching funds. I’d like to say I can personally vouch for the ease of securing million-dollar bank loans on the promise of an idea, but again, I’ve just never experienced many of the hardships of the senator’s career.
For instance, I’ve never had issue ads mention me by name within 30 days of a primary election or 60 days of a general election, and now, thanks to McCain, I never will. I’m sure that was rough for the senator, having members of the public talk about him before an election. I mean, that might end up effecting the outcome. Luckily, the Constitution has absolutely no provisions about whether or not Congress can make a law respecting speech. (The Bill of Rights might have said something about it, but it belongs to Omnitouch now.)
McCain is like the “good girl” who sleeps over at a different guys house every night and then can’t understand how she got a reputation as a “bad girl.” But when faced with allegations of impropriety, McCain feels it’s easier to ban the talking than to stop being improper. Because, when you’re John McCain, ending the impropriety is the hardest part of it all.
Minster is a Lawrence senior in economics.
Disappointment sets in for Republican supporters
GOP election watch parties break up early as Barack Obama defeats John ...
Minster: Republican caucus: tiger cages, scripture and ...
The gist of things: A prisoner of war, a pious politician and ...
Professor to give lecture on campaign ads
The lecture will cover Barack Obama’s and John McCain’s campaign advertisements and ...
Dole speaks at RNC event
The former senator and presidential candidate backs McCain, slams Obama
Evaluating presidential platforms
Obama and McCain differ on three major points during campaign.
The Iraq War
The two candidates offer different views on the Iraq War.
Minster: Party does not recognize Republican principles
Republicans used to think government should allow citizens to be responsible for ...
Poole: How narrow victories will pile up ...
Sen. Brownback addresses RNC delegates
He says Gov. Sebelius would lose Senate race for his seat, endorses ...
Sarah Palin makes for a fascinating, if ...
Since her elevation to the Republican ticket, the Alaskan governor has been ...
Thompson: How the culture of fear relates ...
Cohen: Sarah Palin who?
What was Sen. John McCain thinking when he chose the Alaskan governor?
Poole: Republicans' VP pick shattered the mold
By choosing Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain proved that he is ...
Kansan bloggers' take on the prolonged primaries
Joshua Anderson, Andy Greenhaw and Kelsey Hayes discuss the ramifications of the ...
Obama’s ‘flip-flop’ doesn’t deter supporters
The Democratic Presidential nominee opts out of public financing, becoming the first ...
Letter: How can you call Barack Obama ...
Edwards, Giuliani abandon race
Democrat John Edwards and Republican Rudy Giuliani have dropped out of the ...
Brinker: GOP scrambles for candidate
Gingrich still looks strong but will fade in the polls.
Kansas Republicans assemble for first presidential caucus ...
Republicans who registered by Jan. 25 can caucus on Saturday, Feb. 9, ...
Two sides of healthcare
Health insurance is one of the major issues this year.
The influences behind KU students’ votes
Political affiliations and candidate reputations are likely to affect students when they ...
Thompson campaign manager remains hopeful after Michigan ...
Bill Lacy left his job indefinitely as director of the Dole Institute ...
Nader speaks to Lawrence crowd
Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader reminded listeners at Abe and Jake's Landing ...
Poole: How over-regulation has ruined Wall Street
Students get involved in local political campaigns
Political science students work this summer with local politicians to gain some ...
Past, present, future presidents discussed
The four-part series, presented by journalists and speakers from across the country, ...
Biden says he and Obama ‘share a ...
Barack Obama and Joe Biden were officially named the Democratic presidential and ...
Ron Paul grants private interview to KU ...
Paul is speaking in Minneapolis this week at the ‘counter convention’ he ...
Letter: Palin insulting to women’s causes
Cohen: Dems’ indecision may cost them
The DNC needs to sort out the nomination, or it may regret ...
Reichert: What your sex life and the ...
Hirschfeld: It’s not always bad to be ...
Cohen: It’s time to get ready for ...
Still more than a year out, the race for the White House ...
Some who can’t vote still care
These international students followed the presidential elections though they weren’t able to ...
Editorial: Calling the race early
Coverage of the 2008 presidential race often looks at the noteriety of ...
Letter: Obama the best choice for the ...
Sen. Barack Obama demonstrates the leadership and optimism needed in the next ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Minster: McCain’s blundering demonstrates effective PR
I'd just like to congratulate the UDK for doing what everyone else does and always attack the Republicans, or Hillary if they're feeling risque. Why is it that we never see anything like this about ALL the candidates? The 'Dressing' photo is far from the only thing that's out there. Stop being cowardly and hypocritical and actually report ALL the news!
Minster: McCain’s blundering demonstrates effective PR
Zach - It's an op/ed column, not a news story. Besides, the Republicans suck. Granted, so do the Democrats, but the Republicans suck more. Way more.
Minster: McCain’s blundering demonstrates effective PR
Wait a minute, Zach: McCain's a Republican? Are you sure? Why don't I write something like this about all the candidates? I have space considerations, but two weeks ago I wrote this: http://www.kansan.com/stories/2008/feb/11/minster_republican_caucus_promises_tiger_cages_scr/ Simon: I agree that both parties suck, but I think they've gone too far to tell which one sucks "more." It's like arguing that infinity over one is bigger than infinity over two.
Minster: McCain’s blundering demonstrates effective PR
pwnd!
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID