McCain Camp Touts Ollie North Endorsement

[JI7]

<One of the key figures in the Iran-contra scandal is now endorsing Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), but is McCain endorsing him back?

This morning the McCain campaign helpfully circulated a column Oliver North had penned in the Washington Times, extolling the senator's virtues, under the heading "In Case You Missed It: Oliver North on John McCain." The e-mail made a point of pulling out the key laudatory quote and placing it in bold, making it even easier for reporters to read: "Neither John McCain, nor anyone in his campaign asked me to write this column. But I cannot sit silently while my fellow conservatives do to John McCain what GOP 'moderates' did to me. Today, the stakes for our country are far higher, the implications for the future far greater than who sits in one of 100 U.S. Senate seats. Now, our nation is at war against a vicious foe. We need a president who has proven how to win it."

That prompted The Trail to ponder a simple question: Is McCain pleased to receive North's endorsement, given the fact that the failed GOP senatorial candidate was convicted in 1989 of shredding documents, accepting an illegal gratuity and aiding and abetting in the obstruction of Congress? Of course, a three-judge panel vacated North's conviction the following year on a technicality, calling for proceedings to determine whether North's immunized testimony influenced witnesses in his trial. And after the Supreme Court declined to review the case, U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell -- who had earlier sentenced North to a three-year suspended prison term, two years' probation, $150,000 in fines and 1,200 hours' community service -- dismissed it. Still, McCain was serving in Congress when North was conducting the activities in question, so it seemed like a reasonable question to ask.

The McCain campaign's response? "We'll let the comments in the release stand," wrote spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker in an e-mail. "Thanks.">



http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/02/12/mccain_camp_touts_ollie_north.html

[XemaSab]

1. GAWD.

:banghead:

I was hoping to never see or hear from that gap-toothed asshole again.

Thanks for ruining the century for me. :(

:banghead:

[flor de jasmim]

2. Just look what the cat dragged in...

It just goes to show how warped the Republicans are (or maybe how short their memories are?). Who's next? G. Gordon Liddy?

[MagickMuffin]

3. John Kerry should be all over this, he knows where the skeletons are buried

from his investigations into Iran Contra.

[HawkerHurricane]

4. McCain's going for the Benedict Arnold vote?

Ollie sold weapons to Iran, Iran was shooting at U.S. ships. I'd call that "aiding the enemy".

[Hippo_Tron]

5. A criminal endorsing the guy who wants to continue the criminal actions of this administration

Why am I not surprised?