Courtesy of the New York Times: a bit*h slap for John McCain.
Early in Senator John McCain’s first run for the White House eight years ago, waves of anxiety swept through his small circle of advisers.A female lobbyist had been turning up with him at fund-raisers, visiting his offices and accompanying him on a client’s corporate jet. Convinced the relationship had become romantic, some of his top advisers intervened to protect the candidate from himself — instructing staff members to block the woman’s access, privately warning her away and repeatedly confronting him, several people involved in the campaign said on the condition of anonymity.When news organizations reported that Mr. McCain had written letters to government regulators on behalf of the lobbyist’s client, the former campaign associates said, some aides feared for a time that attention would fall on her involvement.
Here’s my take: the allegations are flimsy, at best. Nonetheless, McCain welcomed the publication by befriending and trusting the main stream media. He thought he was immune to this kind of thing after all those free bus rides aboard the straight talk express. This story demolishes any idea that McCain is going to get a free ride in return.