WP Frontpage Tomorrow: Cindy McCain: A Tangled Story of Addiction

[sabra]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103928.html

[slinkerwink]

1. so now it comes to light after 9/11

[anonymous171]

2. OK, the title made me laugh.

Sounds like a bad soap opera. :rofl:

[ailsagirl]

3. kick

[AllentownJake]

4. Not good

This is going to end badly for us. Obama and the democrats should keep their mouths shut on this one.

[BlooInBloo]

6. hahaha! You guys really make me laugh.

[AllentownJake]

11. Call me a troll

I put on more hours on the campaign than most people on this board. Most of it because of the nature of the district I live in. I got the night off sort of because they closed the offices for 9-11.

Sorry I don't see how this helps us.

[Lucky 13]

22. You don't see how our opponent, using his elected official position...

...to get his wife off scott-free for the crime of stealing prescription medication isn't going to help us? Any regular person would have done 3-4 years. Then they used their money and stature to get off clean and then cover the whole thing up.

It's gotta help us. Obama just stays quiet on it and lets the media run wild.

[AllentownJake]

30. The only thing I can hear

is he "protected his wife" said over and over and over again by every RW idiot pundit.

I tested this with some neutral people at the office men and women. They saw it as him protecting his wife.

Do I think its detestable. Yes. However our lizard portion of our brains is going to cause people to empathize with both of them.

[javadu]

52. You are Wrong

He protected himself. When other family members tried to hospitalize her and get her help, McCain took her one of his homes a secluded cabin. He didn't want the news to get out and ruin his own political career. He put her at greater risk.

[AllentownJake]

59. What he did and what he didn't do

isn't the issue.

Its the three words PROTECTED HIS WIFE repeated over and over and over again that will end up being said.

I think he's scum and this is further proof but I can see this spun to easily.

[CTyankee]

142. There are ways to handle it. For instance, bring up the "responsible" way to protect your wife

which is the way he DIDN'T choose, and the "irresponsible" (sneaky) way he did it and then infer that he wasn't REALLY trying to help her, he was trying to cover his own ass.

Look, if we Dems cringe, run and hide because of what the pukes MIGHT say, instead of coming up with creative ways of dealing with it ahead of time and innoculating our message against their interpretation, we shouldn't be running a political campaign at all.

Ijust wrote a letter to the editor of our local newspaper in which I talked about McCain taking "government run health care" at our expense but opposing it for the rest of us. Fearing a "but he was a POW" response, I talked about the suffering of people who can't get health insurance and whose catastrophic illness could cause them to lose their home. And I added: "One would hope that John McCain, as a former POW, would understand physical and mental suffering better than anybody."

So there.

[renate]

152. everything you said--yay!

Yes to bringing up the responsible way to care for your wife.
Yes to no more running and hiding because of what the other side might say and yes to coming up with ways of dealing with it ahead of time
Yes to puncturing the likely argument in the text of your very own letter

All very well said!

:applause:

[Buck Rabbit]

159. So he protects the rich pretty second wife, but dumps the injured first one.

What a stand up guy.

[lonestarnot]

129. When she was facing 20 fucking years!

[1corona4u]

44. And I don't see how it "hurts us".

Obama had nothing to do with it.

[AllentownJake]

51. Obama doesn't have to do anything

one idiot surrogate comments on it and the MSM will go crazy.

[Bluebear]

96. If it is the truth, does it have to "help us"? Aren't you for transparency as McCain is touting?

[lumpy]

102. It might help those 'undecided' voters who haven't made up

their minds whether to vote for McCain.

[Lorien]

157. You don't see how?

Have you ever observed OTHER elections?

[RagAss]

31. Yup...stand by for the parade of concern trolls !!!!!!

They haven't figured out yet that The D's are throwing the kitchen sink this time !!!

[AllentownJake]

39. Yep I'm a concern troll

Hi I'm Jake3463 maybe you haven't read me during FISA, recent polling, and all other BS telling people to STFU

[demobabe]

67. 3 things

1. Thanks for all you do and continue to do
2. You can't control the media
3. You can't worry about what ANYBODY else thinks or does. It's counterproductive.

You can be right all you want, but it doesn't change a thing.

[AllentownJake]

69. True

Agree...just don't understand the excitement over this. I thought we all knew she was addicted to drugs and he helped cover it up.

[lonestarnot]

130. Not everyone in the country is familiar with this story! But now they will be.

:)

[AllentownJake]

139. This will be gone with the Hurricane and the Palin gaffes

by Monday.

[lonestarnot]

164. That's what you think Buster!

[demobabe]

156. I really don't know.

Guess we'll see what does and does not stick. I can't tell if it's a big deal or not, or if it's worth pursuing.

[RagAss]

70. You're not a troll and I realize you work very hard.

This election is different. It's taking on a life of it's own and it's rolling down hill right now. Let it run it's course and hope we end up on top.



"Nobody does anything. Everything just happens."

- Wei Wu Wei

[AllentownJake]

73. I can't do anything to stop this

but it won't be something I talk to with undecided voters.

[RagAss]

76. Agreed.

This is about not being savaged again like 2004... It speaks to future elections and the Repug tactics as well. It's between the parties and the media. It may be the wrong strategy in the long run, but it had to be done. As for my mentioning Kerry, I don't view John McCain as more or less of a war hero than John Kerry or my father(WWII) or any other man or women who served and suffered in war. They all served with honor, and survived, while countless others paid the ultimate price.

[AllentownJake]

80. After this election if we win

The idea of republicans owning the military and patriotism will be disputed.

Obama gives speeches that beat anything Reagan did and Rival both Kennedy brothers. He's also smart enough to govern. They wouldn't be fighting so hard for McCain if they weren't afraid of what he could do if he was elected to the democratic party brand.

The only person I can compare him to is a FDR 1932.

[RagAss]

83. yes...JFK comes to mind as well. Both very intelligent yet practical

leaders.

[lonestarnot]

131. It's ok! I'll take up the slack

[lumpy]

104. Hey, its out there in the stream. What will be will be.

v

[Motown_Johnny]

7. Fits the narrative of her having poor values. Breaking up John's first marriage is the first part

now she did this shit.

find one or two more examples and her popularity goes in the shiter

[Lex]

8. Oh my! Whatever will we do!

Do you honestly think the Republicans wouldn't bludgeon us to death with this, if the situation were reversed?

[AllentownJake]

12. If you haven't realized there are different rules

and a media that plays by those different rules over the past 20 years...I'm sorry.

[Lex]

Not talking about the media.

Talking about the Democrats not running and hiding every time an issue presents itself.

[JackBeck]

13. 'democrats' is spelled with a capital "D", sweetie.

[AllentownJake]

20. See post 11

What have you done this week for Obama? Sorry if I see the problems with this.

Do a quick search of my past posts go back to the Primary or the FISA period. I'm hardly chicken little but I guess anyone who doesn't follow the herd mentality 100% of the time gets hit here.

[RagAss]

46. Remeber when John Kerry shot himself to win the Purple Heart?

These are bullies we're fighting... bullies only respect savagery...it hasn't even started yet....this is all out mudslinging this time....wait till next week.

[AllentownJake]

56. Sorry if I disagree

I just don't see this ending well and a 12 year old could write the RW talking points to rebut this for the undecided voter.

[JackBeck]

48. I have done absolutely nothing this past week.

Nor have I done anything after his announcement that he was running for President.

Just keeping my fingers crossed that he gets elected.

[bluestateguy]

19. You know damn well they'd be all over Michelle Obama if she had a past drug problem

I do agree, however, that they need to avoid talking about this matter and let the MSM kick it around.

[AllentownJake]

23. Like I said downthread

Crying Cindy. John holding her hand. McCain gets 2% points.

[Ichingcarpenter]

34. You say a lot of stuff

but we don't take you seriously because of your track record.

[AllentownJake]

43. Really?

What track record. I've shown concern over 2 things since being on here. Max Cleland being denied entry into a fundraiser and this.

So please tell me what track record you speak of.

[AllentownJake]

63. crickets

chirp chirp chirp

[writes3000]

29. You're right. The Obama campaign needs to stay away from this.

But as long as they do, I don't know how it can effectively be turned around on us.

In the meantime, it will get McCain off message.

[anonymous171]

33. Don't worry. Obama won't attack this nor will any of his OFFICIAL surrogates.

He's already said that families are off-limits.

[Cha]

47. That's right and anyone paying attention to what

Obama's about and has stated would know this.

[Sophree]

150. Exactly.

Thank you, zidzi, voice of reason!

Part of the reason so many people admire and respect Obama, myself included, is because this is exactly the type of "story" he would say is off-limits.

For one, it's repugnant. Two, it's politically stupid.

[Barack_America]

37. Of course they will.

They know how to handle this.

Having read the entire story, I think it's okay.

There's one bit in there that worries me a bit, but I'm not going to highlight it (you'll know it when you see it).

[writes3000]

58. Yep, I just saw it, LOL.

I suspect this story isn't going to go very far because the Obama campaign won't push it.

In fact, I expect Obama to say "Let's move on."

[AllentownJake]

66. which is the smart thing politically

[Phx_Dem]

88. Oh please. Shut up.

What the fuck does Obama have to do with anything? Go wet your pants somewhere else.

[lonestarnot]

107. LOL

:)

[AllentownJake]

137. You delievered nothing but an old story

and you acted like it was the biggest news in the world. Palin fumbling the interview was bigger than this tripe.

[AllentownJake]

136. STFU yourself

Lets see I've been called a concern troll by people I've never heard of on here 15 times today. I've shown concern twice in this entire campaign. This is toxic. If your too stupid to understand why you've been living in a box the past 20 years.

[progressoid]

146. I agree Jake3463

She will be seen in a sympathetic light. Like Betty Ford.

We should let it go.

[brentspeak]

5. This particular story is unlikely to cost McCain any votes n/t

[Lex]

10. What? I'm considering switching my vote to Obama now

just because of it.

[lonestarnot]

108. Me too!

:rofl:

[Roland99]

9. Won't play. Fundies and most of the M$M will praise her for getting past rough times.

[AllentownJake]

14. and John becomes a hero for standing by her

in those tough times. One Diane Sawyer interview with her crying and John holding her hand and that's 2 points in the polls. Come on people...are we seriously that stupid to fall for this shit.

[lonestarnot]

110. Over my dead body! The influence peddling war is just heating up!

[ClarkUSA]

15. lonestarnot DELIVERS!

:hi:

[Ichingcarpenter]

18. Many need to eat crow....... I supported her.

[ClarkUSA]

36. Yes, many do and I hope they will do so ON THIS THREAD.

Regarding the story, let's see what TV media does with it -- one wonders what a GOP media circus it would be if it was Michelle Obama who was the subject of this story.

[AllentownJake]

49. A game changer?

Something we all knew 15 years ago? I'll eat crow publicly when this becomes a game changer.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

89. At first glance it looks juicy and delicious, but I think it's

best to let it sink...To easy for MrsMcMansions to get sympathy and smokescreen the meddling McDouche did.

[lumpy]

111. We don't have control over the media, remember?

What the hell can we do about it? Whether old news or not, it is in the news.

[lonestarnot]

112. Young voters do not know the whole story. And for those going out into the work place, would they

want to work for a piece of shit like McDruggie? And do we want someone running the country who breaks arms and ruins little peoples' careers because they dare to make him or his extentions, kids wife cousins whothefuckevers obey the fucking law? HUGH FUCKING UGH! Geezus get a fucking clue!

[AllentownJake]

138. It isn't the truth but the spin

Just because you think this is a giant story (its nothing but a rehash of something we already knew) doesn't make it one.

[nc4bo]

141. That's what made me pick my head up with this story - the young people just don't know

anything about Mccain, "The Real Mccain".

Keating 5 - nope
Sindy-gate - nope
Silver State Bank - nope

While it's true that Mccain/Sindy dope-gate is a 15 year old story - the 18 and 21 year olds would be clueless about it and we've sure got a WHOLE lot fresh, newly registered young folk out here that may be interested.

Educate the new young voters - old foggies like us, especially the ones who say it's old news - please step aside.

[Sophree]

151. McDruggie?

Nice. In case you hadn't noticed, addiction is an epidemic. Most people, especially the young voters to whom you refer, are or have been affected by addiction in some way or another. They've seen friends die and seen the anguish it causes families.

It doesn't surprise me that a person like Cindy McCain, still in the grip of her addiction, fired the person who "outed" her. Not that this is somehow OK, but it's common for a person in denial to retaliate against the very people who may be trying to help him/her. The important thing is that she got help, even if it was as a result of a crisis with political and/or legal implications. It usually takes a major crisis for those suffering from addiction to seek help. Many, many "normal" people (the non-powerful or politically connected) who deserve jail time for illegal acts committed while in active addiction are given second chances. And thank God for that!

As a person who stuggles with addiction, I find these types of attacks repugnant and, frankly, exactly the type of attacks so frequently used by soulless Rove-minions. Talk about gaining the whole world while losing your soul.

We are better than this. We can (and will) win without resorting to these types of tactics. Let's not let fear or partisanship cloud our judgment or sense of morality.

[jeanmarc]

27. He didn't deliver at all, he spammed

I'll remember this, lonestarnot.

Pathetic.

[Lex]

35. I'm sure she's worried.

nt

[Teaser]

60. Hey man, yeah you're no great shakes, but we don't think you're pathetic.

.

[lumpy]

114. Good grief, it's like you don't want anyone to know about

this McCain saga. Why? It's unlikely Obama is going to comment about it.

[onenote]

53. hardly.

Lonestarnot alleged, or at least implied, that the story would be a game changer. Even intimated that it could force him out of the race (or allowed others to suggest that without trying to rein them in).

In fact, what we get is a rehash of an old story that will be news for about fifteen minutes before the country turns its attention to Hurricane Ike and by Monday forgets that this story ever existed.

[katandmoon]

54. Maybe this was lonstarnot's idea of a "game changer" - it sure as hell is not my idea

And THAT was what lonestarnot promised. But there is no delivery on that promise in this story. So I don't think any apologies are owed. I really resent being jerked around for days for the likes of this rehash. It's not news at all and it won't change anything. Rehashing this story now is only going to get sympathy for Cindy McCain. It's certainly not going to hurt John McCain.

[lumpy]

120. Read all about it !!! This is not about you. Perhaps the media

wants to educate those who haven't heard the story. You can be sure there are plenty of young voters who haven't heard about this and those that have a new found interest in politics.

[katandmoon]

153. The story is NOT what lonestarnot promised, period. It is NOT a gamechanger. Because of her desire

to be the center of attention for several days, WE WERE HAD.

I resent it and I have every right to resent it.

[monomach]

91. Delivers WHAT?

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1994-09-08/news/opiate-for-the-mrs/

A rewrite of a story that ran in 1994?

Not. Fucking. Impressed.

[Social_Liberty]

16. nice

[Ichingcarpenter]

17. LONESTARNOT...... DESERVES APOLOGIES.... THIS IS A FRONT PAGE STORY

Not the back page, middle hidden in the career section but the FRONT FRICKING PAGE!!!

[sabra]

21. it's also long and extensive - includes interview with Tom Gosinski

[Lex]

28. If the 24 cable news media echo-chamber gets going on this

then it could be damaging.

Hard to predict what they'll do with it though.

[onenote]

55. hurricane ike will blow this story so far back that people won't even

remember it by monday.

Its not anywhere the explosive revelation that it was made out to be. Its a repackaging of old information.

[katandmoon]

68. No apologies deserved. This story is not about JOHN'S drug use, it's about CINDY'S drug use.

[AllentownJake]

75. Yeah the speculation on the Aricept

would have been nice to been nipped in the bud up front.

[MilesColtrane]

85. Where's the part about John McCain using his powers of office to cover up her addiction?

[anigbrowl]

87. Yeah, but I think it's just the Friday human interest story

I'll be very surprised if they are still talking about it by Monday. It's all old news. Well, at least it'll keep the 'Obama needs to FIGHT!!11!!' keyboard warrior brigade quiet for 24 hours. Personally, Id prefer that the weekend news cycle focus on how weak Palin is, and how weak McCain is for that matter. Neither of them seeem prepared.

[Phx_Dem]

92. No shit. The DU handwringing pussies couldn't

wait for an actual story to come out before they started smearing one of their own and claiming Cindy McCain's addiction and CRIME was no big deal, a real yawner. And about the claims of McCain's abuse of power and corruption . . ."we've been had! Disgusting.

Lonestarnot never said it was going to "turn the election." As I accurately recall, she said it was "toxic." And it is.

[lumpy]

124. Are some of these posters for real ? Good grief they sound like

McCainites. Amazing that they can't abide the truth about McCain's cover up. Sounds like they just came in from Vilesville. Makes one wonder.

[monomach]

93. The front page of 1994.

Yawn. Friday human interest rewrite of a 14-year-old story...interviewing the same guy, even.

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1994-09-08/news/opiate-for-the-mrs/

:rofl:

[lonestarnot]

113. No stop, don't make this about me! I have not made this about me!

It is not about me! This is about saving our fucking country and the world! We DON'T NEED MORE LOSERS IN THE FUCKING WHITEHOUSE!

[lumpy]

125. Pay no attention to the sadistic people who are trying to blame

you for a story that the media decided to print. Obviously some of these people are wrapped up in their own little world and feel betrayed somehow because a newspaper prints the truth. Strange, isn't it, that they can't see the forest for the trees.

[lonestarnot]

127. I don't understand why they don't get it. If I were inclined to be frustrated,

they might frustrate me, but I refuse to let them have any control. The last 8 has been enough control and we have endured it and become just that much more determined.

[cottonseed]

165. So was "squirrel on skis", that didn't change an election either.

I don't want to be a jerk here, but this thing is not as "num num" as it was advertised. It's a great story, but will anyone uncomplicate it (to the undecideds) so that it is the "game changer" it was supposed to be?

[FreakinDJ]

24. Sheeple don't read more then 1000 words

and the really damaging stuff is buried under 10,000 words of fluff

I would be amazed if it gained any traction or even lasted the entire weekend news cycle

Sorry folks just my opinion

[LostInAnomie]

25. I can hear the Repukes and pundits now...

... "The media and the Democrats needs to stop attacking McCain/Palin's family".

What a great way to sweep Palin's interview from the headlines.

[lonestarnot]

132. This is a direct attack on McSame, not his family.

[Jennicut]

26. Lonestarnot, thank you for telling the truth

Maybe its not the story everyone wanted and maybe it won't take McCain down but Lonestarnot did know something was going to happen and did tell us.

[Honeycombe8]

32. This is old news, isn't it? I mean, hasn't everything about this story come out before? nt

[electron_blue]

45. No. What's new is someone is ready to talk about the laws McCain broke to

get the drugs to Cindy. This goes way beyond a personal doctor doing a 'favor' by writing too many scripts. Read the whole article, or at least skim for those parts.

[flamingdem]

38. Here comes the Detanglers, but at least Obama cannot be blamed for this

Unless he mentions something about pigs, lipstick and Cindy.

[electron_blue]

40. She's probably still addicted. The cast just draws attn to that. But what is really

damning is the illegal acts that McCain did to get his wife drugs, including across international borders.

[ErinBerin84]

41. eh

I really don't feel like hearing about "The liberal Washington Post" from the pundits tomorrow all day long, so I hope that this isn't News. I'd rather them replay that awful Palin interview over and over!

[AllentownJake]

61. Ding Ding Ding

or the new Obama attack ad.

Looks like another good news cycle gone.

[lonestarnot]

117. LOL

:applause: oh me too! ROFLMAO! :rofl:

[senseandsensibility]

42. bookmarking to read later

eom

[Frank Booth]

105. Don't bother bookmarking. It's not even an interesting article.

There's nothing new here. It barely even mentions John McCain. If the Dems tried to make something out of it, it would only help the Republicans.

I'm glad I never bought into those "game-changer" posts to begin with.

[lonestarnot]

118. Middle of the road much here?

[lumpy]

126. Who let all the freepers in ? Jesus H. are these negative

jerks Obama supporters? Disgusting!

[Ichingcarpenter]

50. DU Late Breaking News link....... nominate it

link:http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3484418

[MoJoWorkin]

57. I noticed that the Keating 5 scandal was mentioned a couple of times in the article.

Many might be introduced to that little tidbit for the first time---maybe some might even look it up. Bringing Keating 5 into the public conversation now would further tarnish the lying slimy old turd.

[RagAss]

62. The Aristocrats !!!!!

[Ichingcarpenter]

64. The McCain Campaign will have to spin time away from campaign to

defend this. Ultimately McCain and Cindy will need to go on TV..
and miss campaign events.

This is an abuse of power...... a fricking diplomatic passport for a druggie?

[RagAss]

65. READ IT ALL, FOLKS THIS IS BIG !!!!!

[FreakinDJ]

71. Thats just it - Folks don't read articles that long

the real story is buried

[onenote]

78. even putting in all caps isn't going to make it big

its a long, drawn out repackaging of previously reported information that will be drowned by Hurricane Ike. No one will even be talking about it by Monday.

[lonestarnot]

116. Bullshit. Your attitude just blows.

[onenote]

135. its not attitude. its reality

if you want to live in a fantasy world and do giddy giddy dances that's fine. I'll choose to live in the real world.

[jeanmarc]

84. It might have been big if Cindy hopped on a bull moose

If this was Michelle Obama, this would have been big.

It would start on Fox News, and then it would move to the New York Post, and then the rest of the news orgs would be quoting the story and then it would have been 'news.'

If Cindy had sex with a bull moose, that would be news.

I'd love to hear what Barack really thinks privately about all of this bullshit. Then again, maybe not, because it has to be a close circle for the airing out, and they are doing a great job of keeping it in that circle.

If I was Barack, I'd be not interested in this bullshit story, but I would be wondering why every little misinterpretation of his wife's words are 'fair game' and this sort of shit was not fair game.

Just today, I saw McLame explain away on the most holiest of holy 'forums on national service' that it was okay to attack Obama with the most absurd lies like claiming he passed a law for sex ed for kindergarteners, because 'it's a dirty business and I wish he would have accepted the townhall forums format for our debates on the issues'. There was no follow up to this bullshit.

The entire idea of this forum was to honor 'service'. And McLame was allowed to scrub his dirty campaign away with the same bullshit line he has used at less 'hallowed' venues. Ha! If he just appeared with me, I wouldn't have to let this happen! The entire event is buried in bullshit now. What a dirty and stupid place to be at. McLame got away with it again!

I'm sick of this bullshit!

[blm]

145. The story would have been BIGGER if Mccain's role in the cover up was not edited down by WaPo.

lonestarnot would have been completely within rigght to see the damage to Mccain - but, WaPost's newsroom editors are notorious for editing out the really damaging stuff to any Republican candidate.

[Princess Turandot]

98. Could you quote the part that you think is highly damaging?

It sounds like he is a lousy husband. Not surprising. She stole/used drugs. She may or may not have been in treatment but if someone lied about it, it was her. That stuff was mostly known.

The article indicates that he hired a high-powered lawyer to defend her. That's not damaging: if you have money, it's normal.

It then goes on to say next that she received a much lighter 'punishment' than she could have received. Are you inferring that there was an 'abuse of office' by McCain that resulted in that outcome? (It does not say that in the article.) There could have been but the flip side of that is that the 'deal' was signed off on by a Democratic President's Justice Department, not a state prosecutor in Smalltown, Arizona. It's not likely, at least to me, that the filing of charges against a US Senator's wife, and any subsequent deal, would not have been brought to the attention of the Attorney General. I don't think that the AG could be forced into signing off on something (figuratively speaking) even by a US Senator.

Or are you focusing on him asking for an investigation of the ex-employee? He did ask them (according to his own lawyer) to pay him money to drop the lawsuit before he publically revealed more damaging information about the situation. Hard bargaining? Extortion attempt? It's hard to say it's one or the other, frankly. (Going solely by the wording of the article, it sounds closer to extortion to me.)

[marlakay]

72. Read whole article sounds like it is about Cindy not John?? nt

[cynatnite]

74. Interesting story...

I'm sure it'll be discussed to a degree in corporate media, but I don't expect much more than that.

Far as I'm concerned, there are other more pressing matters to go after McCain/Palin for. This isn't one of them, IMO.

But if others think it's something worthwhile, go for it.

[RagAss]

81. It's one drip... and thousands more to come....

Looks like the media has jumped into the fight.

[cynatnite]

94. It's a drip that means nothing in the millions of other drips that it takes to fill up a sink...

The reason why this won't get far is because Cindy McCain owned up to her addiction a long time ago. Sure, there are contradictions in her story. Probably because she doesn't want folks to know when she became addicted. None of the details really matter. What will count is that she says she's clean. She'll come across as a Betty Ford type of person....which really sickens me because I think Betty Ford was an admirable person.

This is a drip, but it'll be forgotten...along with the millions of other drips.

[abumbyanyothername]

77. I don't see this story in itself being a game changer

But it does raise a point of vulnerability . . . They paint themselves as mavericks (or mavricks), but what I am actually seeing is very impulsive, vindictive people who not only pull no punches, they don't always check to see who they are punching.

I would hope to get a little more measured caution out of a chief executive.

But that's just me.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

79. It looks like McCain lied to reporters about his wife's completion of her

required treatment and lied about the fact that she had signed an agreement with the feds to get treatment and do community service instead of getting hard prison time, when she hadn't yet done any of those things. I don't see that as an enormous lie, as she eventually complied.

It looks like the McCain political machine played hardball with Gosinski when he wanted an additional $250,000 for inside information on what happened that didn't appear in his legal complaint for wrongful termination. McCain tried to get the feds to charge Gosinski with extortion, but that didn't fly.

It looks like Cindy lied about when she had her baby (she said the drug use that started in 1989 was connected in part to her pregnancy but she didn't have the baby until 1991).

Other than that, I don't see how this really hurts McCain or his wife. I guess he hired a good attorney (the same one who got him off on the Keating Five affair) who put pressure on the feds. But Cindy was a first time offender and probably didn't deserve hard time (although there are a lot of poor people doing hard time for drugs and that is unfair).

Is there more coming on this story? I'm feeling a little deflated here, but I'm hoping for something more.

[MilesColtrane]

90. Exactly...NEWSFLASH!! Politician lies about his personal life!!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

95. Actually, on re-reading the article, it looks like it was Cindy who lied to reporters

The article sometimes just uses the name "McCain" and I thought at first they meant John. Apparently, it was Cindy who tried to pre-empt the damage and do damage control by telling reporters she had already struck a deal with the feds and was already getting treated.

The only question I have about this is what did John McCain know and when did he know it. The article appears to state that McCain was out of the loop about what his wife was doing through her charity. It says that she decided to live in Arizona to raise a family and John was in Washington, commuting home on week-ends. It appears that the article states that John McCain first learned of his wife's addiction and her shenanigans in getting the charity's doctor to issue her prescriptions in the names of her employees, when Cindy was confronted by her parents.

I'm wondering if John McCain knew at an earlier date and whether Gosinki might have a few more facts up his sleeve. He did appear to say that he did, asking an additional $250,000 from McCain in his wrongful termination lawsuit in exchange for keeping quiet about his extra information. If John McCain knew about his wife's illegal behavior in getting a medical doctor to falsify prescriptions and did nothing about it and in fact was complicit in this criminal behavior, there might be more to this. I'm wondering why Gosinski was really fired. The article suggests that Cindy accused him of gossiping. If there's proof that John McCain himself was using drugs obtained through his wife's fraudulent and criminal behavior, then maybe there's more to this. If not, then I'm not feeling particular overjoyed with this story.

[MadrasT]

82. It should be highly damaging, but the public has ADD

Nobody is going to read and digest the finer points of why this makes McCain an asshat.

Unless M$M picks it up and 'splains to them why it makes McCain an asshat.

:toast: to lonestarnot for the heads up.

[goodgd_yall]

86. That's IT?!!??

Is that all the WaPo is doing with this story? Somebody got to them to tone it down. It's more about Cindy than John McCain. I haven't read the whole article yet, so I shouldn't say too much. But just glancing through it, this WaPo story doesn't look like it's going to go anywhere.

[tomnjoy]

97. Just finished reading it - doesn't seem to be much here

I just finished the article and, honestly, I don't see anything here that will be a negative toward McCain - not anything new. In fact, the tone of the article - to me, anyway - will create sympathy for Cindy McCain. It is basically a re-hashing of the old story. There is NO mention of John McCain's abuse of power, obtaining passports, covering up, etc. It's just not the "toxic" story I thought it would be. Perhaps someone else will expand on the story and dig deeper...who knows.

Either way, I have been feeling really good about our campaign - I think we're soaring even WITHOUT this story!

[lynne]

99. This is what we've been waiting for? I'm disappointed -

- this story is OLD news in more ways than one. Cindy McCain's addiction to painkillers hasn't been any secret. And Betty Ford did it before her and she did it better.

Didn't see anything damaging in the story to either McCain or his wife, actually. Are we sure this is the story that we've been waiting for?

[goodgd_yall]

100. I just finished reading it

:puffpiece:

[lonestarnot]

101. ahaa ha ha ha ha ha ha the trolls just love honey for some reason.

5 pages worth. Well what can I say, yeah I'm fuck'n GIDDY DANCE'N and you nay sayers can kiss my fuck'n ass!

[Frank Booth]

109. No offense, but I really don't understand why you're GIDDY DANCE'N about a five page

human interest story that portrays Cindy McCain in a sympathetic light.

Nobody will vote against McCain because his wife used to be addicted to painkillers. And they shouldn't -- that would be stupid.

[Name removed]

119. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Imagevision]

103. She has not discussed what kind of treatment she received for her addiction,(Qualudes)

[lonestarnot]

121. Meadow House. Never heard of it. I guess it must exist for 1 wk stays when she was facing 20 years

I like how richies never have to follow the laws of this country, especially when married to a club wielding Senator with his own arm of justice.

[lonestarnot]

106. This is what happens when a prosecutorial body becomes an extention of politics. Have we already

forgotten about the DOJ? Well I for one have not!

[1corona4u]

115. Oops, wrong topic

[lonestarnot]

122. I love your sig line.

[mokawanis]

123. Oh what a tangled web we weave

when first we practice stealing prescription drugs.

The only lesson to be gained from Cindy is that you can get away with it if you're a rich heiress married to McSame.

[lonestarnot]

128. K & R!

Thanks for posting this Sabra! :)

[Imagevision]

133. I don't believe Cindy couldn't have a doctor in her pocket, like Limbaugh...?!?!

[Blackhatjack]

134. OK Here is What You SHOULD find in the McCain Records...

The DEA opened and pursued an 11 month criminal investigation, and McCain was facing possible charges carrying a maximum 20 yr sentence.

"McCain's conduct left her facing federal charges of obtaining "a controlled substance by misrepresenting, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge." Experts say she could have faced a 20-year prison sentence.

Dowd negotiated a deal with the U.S. attorney's office allowing McCain, as a first-time offender, to avoid charges and enter a diversion program that required community service, drug treatment and reimbursement to the DEA for investigative costs. Johnson agreed to surrender his medical license and retire."

What is key here .... the decision not to formally charge Cindy McCain was tied directly to her acceptance into a felony diversion program and completion of all of the requirements of that program. If she failed to comply fully, charges are almost always brought and the individual is prosecuted by the US Attorney's Office for the underlying felonies.

When people enter a felony diversion program they are required to admit their guilt in writing, and they agree if they fail to complete the program that statement can be used against them in the prosecution of the underlying felonies.

They are required to sign an agreement that spells out all of the requirements to complete the program. And usually there is a person responsible for supervising the individual's compliance with those requirements, who has the additional responsibility of notifying the prosecutor's office of any failure to comply.

Criminal records relating to a felony diversion program are usually considered public records open to public view except in limited circumstances(ie. the individual was a minor at the time, or there is a specific statutory provision that allows an individual to have their record of the incident expunged).

So a good investigative reporter familiar with the court system should be able to find a copy of the felony diversion agreement, and supporting documentation if there was a file opened with the Clerk of Court.

If there was no file opened with the Clerk of Court, but there was a felony diversion program agreement in lieu of felony charges, then a record request with the US Attorney's Office should turn up the agreement, and documents showing compliance or non-compliance by Cindy McCain.

Criminal charges are always brought in the name of the people, by public officials, and the records should be public unless a Judge has sealed them for a good reason, supported by evidence presented to that judge.

Keep in mind that Cindy McCain was subject to State Prosecution for the same conduct, so likely there are State records detailing the agreement with the US Attorney's Office agreement to allow her to enter a felony diversion program.

The questions for John McCain should revolve around his relationship to Attorney Dowd, what he learned from Dowd, whether he used any information from Dowd to either coverup or influence government officials in their decisions regarding Cindy McCAin's treatment. And followup with JOhn McCain's use of his staff member Jay Smith to arrange public comment that contained inaccuracies and placed the entire handling of the matter in a false public light.

[GoesTo11]

140. The article makes the McCains sound heroic.

They faced down their difficulties and have redeemed themselves. It's a favor to McCain. The topic will make Cindy more sympathetic than the Ice Baroness she is. It will prevent any further mention of McCain's tampering with justice, because that's now old news. And it will run out one more day on the clock that we aren't talking about real issues.

[mod mom]

143. If you are going to exhort someone, would you hire an attorney?

Seems to be it was more of a settlement for wrongful firing.

[shadowknows69]

144. I swear this will somehow be spun as a "story of triumph" for the McCain family

It's become pretty evident the American sheeple could give a shit if Johnny bent a few laws to help his poor wifey. I hope to the Gods I'm wrong. Too cynical these days sorry.

[President_Obama]

147. let them try.

I, for one, think they would rather not discuss Cindy's addiction and Johnny's Abuse of Power.

And there is a definite chance for Johnny to blow a gasket when being questioned on this.
That is worth more than a thousand lipsticked pigs.

[lonestarnot]

149. And if we sit back and let them do it, well then we have only ourselves to blame don't we?

Get a grip damn it! We have very little time left!

[shadowknows69]

154. Did you suddenly buy a TV network?

[lonestarnot]

162. LOL!

:hug: I would make you the first star!

[shadowknows69]

166. Oh please, let me use my journalism schooling on one of these fuckers

I had a militant professor who said that you get the truth at all costs, you hammer and follow-up until they break or give you the equally damning "no comment"

[lonestarnot]

148. Still fucking GIDDY HAPPY DANCE'N!

:D

[ailsagirl]

155. You're not alone, LSN!!

:bounce:

[lonestarnot]

163. They don't call me lone star not for nutt'n!

:bounce:

[Fading Captain]

158. This story will energize the right wing

more than it helps the left, for sure.

It feeds into their "Us vs the media" narrative.

[Edgewater_Joe]

160. Gonna Be Buried Under Ike

Shame ...

[Major Hogwash]

161. Man, Cindy has aged a whole lot since that picture was taken. She looks like she is in her 60s now.

How old is she anyway?