[Mrjinglesusa]

Since McCain/Palin and thus many people here prefer to play guilt-by-association games instead of focusing on the issues, how about we talk about some of McCain and Palin's associations?

1) Sarah Palin has ties to Alaskan Independence Party, a group that wants a statewide vote on seceding from the the union. Her husband was a member for 7 years.

"Keep up the good work," Sarah Palin told members of the Alaskan Independence Party in a videotaped speech to their convention six months ago in Fairbanks. She wished the party luck on what she called its "inspiring convention."

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics...,6399468.story

2) McCain has been linked to a group in the Iran-Contra Affair

In the 1980s, McCain served on the advisory board to the U.S. chapter of an international group linked to ultra-right-wing death squads in Central America.

In McCain's case, he was a House member and a board member of Singlaub's council when, as a new congressman, he voted for military assistance to the Nicaraguan Contras, a CIA-organized guerrilla force. In 1984, Congress cut off military assistance to the rebels.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081007/...in_iran_contra

3) The latest guilt-by-association played up by McCain regards Columbia University professor Rashid Khalidi. However, during the 1990s, McCain himself served as chairman of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and distributed several grants to the Palestinian research center co-founded by Khalidi, including one worth half a million dollars.

The relationship extends back as far as 1993, when John McCain joined IRI as chairman in January. Foreign Affairs noted in September of that year that IRI had helped fund several extensive studies in Palestine run by Khalidi's group, including over 30 public opinion polls and a study of "sociopolitical attitudes."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/1..._n_138606.html

http://www.iri.org/newsarchive/2007/...-AP-McCain.asp

4) McCain also has "ties" to a former domestic terrorist. In 1993, John McCain was the keynote speaker at a fundraising banquet for the Oregon Citizens Alliance, the notorious anti-gay organization that was causing all sorts of trouble in Oregon in the 1990s.

Prior to his speech, Marylin Shannon offered a prayer in praise of a woman who shot a Navy veteran and doctor who happened to work at an abortion clinic. The judge who later sentenced the shooter for a string of clinic bombings made it very clear: "You are a terrorist."

And yes, Marylin Shannon later became a state senator, a state GOP official, and a 2008 McCain delegate.

http://www.blueoregon.com/2008/10/john-mccains-as.html

6) G. Gordon Liddy

Liddy served four and a half years in prison in connection with his conviction for his role in the Watergate break-in and the break-in at the office of the psychiatrist of Daniel Ellsberg, the military analyst who leaked the Pentagon Papers. Liddy has acknowledged preparing to kill someone during the Ellsberg break-in "if necessary"; plotting to murder journalist Jack Anderson; plotting with a "gangland figure" to murder Howard Hunt to stop him from cooperating with investigators; plotting to firebomb the Brookings Institution; and plotting to kidnap "leftist guerillas" at the 1972 Republican National Convention -- a plan he outlined to the Nixon administration using terminology borrowed from the Nazis. (The murder, firebombing, and kidnapping plots were never carried out; the break-ins were.) During the 1990s, Liddy reportedly instructed his radio audience on multiple occasions on how to shoot Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents and also reportedly said he had named his shooting targets after Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Liddy has donated $5,000 to McCain's campaigns since 1998, including $1,000 in February 2008. In addition, McCain has appeared on Liddy's radio show during the presidential campaign, including as recently as May. An online video labeled "John McCain On The G. Gordon Liddy Show 11/8/07" includes a discussion between Liddy and McCain, whom Liddy described as an "old friend." During the segment, McCain praised Liddy's "adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great," said he was "proud" of Liddy, and said that "it's always a pleasure for me to come on your program."

Additionally, in 1998, Liddy reportedly held a fundraiser at his home for McCain. Liddy was reportedly scheduled to speak at another fundraiser for McCain in 2000. The Charlotte Observer reported on January 23, 2000, that McCain's campaign vouched for Liddy's "character"

http://mediamatters.org/items/200810040004

http://www.reason.com/news/show/126320.html

Spin! Spin!

[TheMosco]

who cares?

Obama can run on his own merits, he doesn't need this garbage.

[Mrjinglesusa]

Originally Posted by TheMosco 

who cares?

Obama can run on his own merits, he doesn't need this garbage.

I know. That's the whole point. Everyone has past associations that don't matter in the least. I was demonstrating how silly it is for McCain and his apologists to focus on Obama's past "associations" instead of the issues.

[Shaddim]

I love these Dem talking points, saw this on CNN forums earlier.

[Mrjinglesusa]

Originally Posted by Shaddim 

I love these Dem talking points, saw this on CNN forums earlier.

What's funny is that they really aren't "Dem talking points". Obama has focused on the issues, not the past questionable associations of McCain and Palin. The same cannot be said for them.

[Shaddim]

RiiiIiiight

[smacintush]

Yeah 'cuz politicians would never do anything so underhanded as to say one thing in public, then anonymously create or perpetuate rumors.

Especially not, "The One".

[Mrjinglesusa]

Originally Posted by smacintush 

Yeah 'cuz politicians would never do anything so underhanded as to say one thing in public, then anonymously create or perpetuate rumors.

Especially not, "The One".

Well, other than the Liddy connection, I had never heard of these others. I Googled "McCain associations" and those are some links that came up. I had to actively look for them to prove a point.

[Chongo]

dedicated this book to