I would like to know just how much of a reformer and a maverick John McCain really is, when his past record proves otherwise. What about the Keating Five. I found a wealth of information in of all places, Free Republic which tends to lean right. Exactly how much does he want to clean up Washington when in the past he has been part of the problem as well.
According to Free Republic, “In John McCain's America, any politician who accepts a large contribution or gift from a donor, and then takes steps consistent with the donor's interests — even though there is no legal quid pro quo — is corrupt.”
Quoting the Senate Select Committee on Ethics concluded about McCain's conduct in 1991, the committee itself found out disturbing facts of the senator.
"Mr. Keating, his associates, and his friends contributed $56,000 for Senator McCain's two House races in 1982 and 1984, and $54,000 for his 1986 Senate race.”
“Mr. Keating also provided his corporate plane and/or arranged for payment for the use of commercial or private aircraft on several occasions for travel by Senator McCain and his family, for which Senator McCain ultimately provided reimbursement when called upon to do so.”
“Mr. Keating also allowed Senator McCain and his family to vacation with Mr. Keating and his family, at a home provided by Mr. Keating in the Bahamas, in each of the calendar years 1983 through 1986.”
"From 1984 to 1987, Senator McCain took actions on Mr. Keating's behalf or at his request. The Committee finds that Senator McCain had a basis for each of these actions independent of the contributions and benefits he received from Mr. Keating, his associates and friends.”
The Senate Select Committee's final judgment of McCain was this, "Senator McCain exercised poor judgment in intervening with the regulators without first inquiring as to the Bank Board's position in the case in a more routine manner.” Note the operative two words there; poor judgment.
Yet, yet, he calls himself a reformer? This sounds like more of the same. Even right leaning Free Republic said of McCain, “The John McCain of old should be thankful that his political fate wasn't determined by John McCain the reformer.”
It is no wonder why the media was branded as an evil entity during the RNC when this article reported of McCain, “McCain conducted a poisonous newspaper interview nearly 20 years ago with his hometown Arizona Republic. Flashing his quick temper, he insulted, cursed and hung up on reporters questioning him about his ties to Keating. He said he now recognizes it was the worst way to respond.”
While he recognized his response to their questions was wrong, still his temper came through when all the media was trying to do was get to the bottom of this.
If he has a problem with say, Putin: Will he show this quick temper, curse and hang up on him?
CBS reported back in March of this year on the Keating scandal which involved John McCain and I want all of you seniors to pay attention who are thinking of voting for John McCain.
This is what they reported:
Keating's Lincoln Savings and Loan sold worthless, high-risk junk bonds. Many of the 23,000 investors were elderly customers who didn't realize their investments were not federally insured. Many were left destitute while Keating maintained a lavish lifestyle. Keating also participated in the risky investments that led to the collapse of S&L's across the country.
The U.S. government seized Lincoln in 1989, sticking taxpayers with a bailout cost of $2.8 billion. Many other thrifts collapsed, with taxpayers footing nearly $124 billion of the $152.9 billion bailout cost, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
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