John McCain called out by Jed Bartlet's aides

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- It turns out that hobnobbing with liberal blogger Arianna Huffington and the cast of NBC’s "The West Wing" on the left coast can be a risky proposition for a Republican with White House ambitions.

In Jersey City Friday morning, John McCain emphatically denied a report by Huffington on her blog that he confessed, during a Beverly Hills dinner party in 2001, that he had not voted for George W. Bush after his bitter defeat in 2000. But "West Wing" cast members -- who said in published reports they supported a Democratic ticket -- back up Huffington’s story.

"It’s nonsense," McCain said this morning when a reporter asked about the matter in the Liberty Science Center. "I voted, campaigned for, worked as hard as I could for President Bush’s election in 2000 and 2004. I voted for President Bush. I said so at the time." And McCain is proud of what he saw as his help in getting Bush elected. "I know we’re already in a silly season—but my record stands very clearly of campaigning all over this nation on behalf of the candidacy of President Bush," he said. "I think that some people believe that contributed to the fact that he won that election, and also in the 2004 election."

On Monday, Huffington posted an entry on her website asserting that McCain confessed during the 2001 party that he had not voted for the President. On the Huffington Post website, she explained her long silence by saying ...

... she "felt it was time to for me to tell what I knew," because the press was giving McCain "a pass."

McCain’s longtime aide Mark Salter, who said he spoke directly with McCain about his vote for Bush after the election, quickly dismissed the story as fiction, and said Huffington would "make anything up" to promote her cause of the moment or her new book.

But actors Bradley Whitford and Richard Schiff, who played White House deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman and communications director Toby Ziegler on the show, told the New York Times -- at Huffington’s prompting -- that they too heard McCain’s confession at the dinner party at actress Candice Bergen’s Beverly Hills home.

Whitford told the New York Times and the Washington Post that when a guest asked McCain at the dinner if he’d voted for Bush, McCain put his finger to his lips and mouthed "No way."

Asked about the detailed accounts offered by Huffington, Schiff and Whitford, McCain said he had "no clue" where the story came from.

"I know that I discussed my vote with my wife and family -- and discussed it and said so at the time," McCain said. "In all due respect, this is hardly worth our time. Allegedly this happened eight years ago. I know this is a silly season."

-- Maeve Reston

Comments

[Steve Wimer]

It appears McCain is a liar.

[Joe]

If he voted for Bush in 2000, then why did he contact Kerry about possibly joining the Democratic ticket in 2004? It makes no sense (and he has publicly acknowedged the contacts with Kerry).

[Abe]

I had hoped that John would be a good candidate for my vote, but after his nomination was set, he has become a Bush! Not sure why he thinks he has to do this. Those of us who supported him when he was just making a comeback feel betrayed and are now going to vote Democrat!

Bye bye Bush Jr

[Candi]

It sounds more like he put his finger to his lips and said "no way" like there was "no way" he was going to talk about it with them because of who they are. I am certain they understood the context and are using this to smear him. No one is more annoying than money-grubbing Huffington.

[Todd Franks]

I think if McCain would have said: "Of course I didn't vote for Bush, he's an idiot" he would win in a lanslide in November!

[Mark]

Let McCain's people do a poll real quick to determine if Americans would have liked it better if he voted against Bush. if the polls say yes, than McCain will say he voted against him. McCain is such a spineless jellyfish, that he will take either side. It would not shock me that he voted for the guy that smeared him in the Republican primary, like I said, he is spineless.

[Bob Scofield]

That's how deluded McCain is, he thinks not voting for Bush is a bad thing.

[egc52556]

[QUOTE]
McCain said. "In all due respect, this is hardly worth our time. Allegedly this happened eight years ago."
[/QUOTE]

So anything that happened more than 8 years ago is off limits? Or is it that anything that happened more than 8 years ago is beyond McCain's aged ability to remember?

[Marcisdad]

This just raises my opinion of John McCain. While I have always been for Obama and hope to vote for him for President, if he is not the choice there is no doubt that McCain is my man.

[boomerscoutofamerica]

I dunno. Can Johnny Mac's memory be trusted? Admittedly, Huff's account is hearsay, but TWO confirming witnesses? Wait, what are we taliking about?

[PC]

I don't think anyone should be put on the hot seat to discuss who they voted for in an election. But aside from the integrity issue which this brings to light, I fear the story will only serve to endear McCain to even more voters. His biggest mistake right now, is in aligning himself so closely with Bush.

[jsny]

It's ok, John... I didn't vote for George W Bush in 2000 eithier

[Rattlesnake Bob]

The more John McCain can move to the center of the political spectrum, the better chance he has of election. With the inevitable nomination of Barack Obama, the Dems will feature their most blatant socialist agenda since the candidacy of George McGovern in '72. The thought of higher capital gains taxes, more social security taxes, higher estate taxes, and passage of Nancy Pelosi's windfall profit stock market tax on those over 65, strikes fear into the heart of this aging Democrat baby boomer. My prediction is that in the moment of truth behind the curtain of the election booth, well to do and working class baby boomers will send the Democratic Party a message they will always remember. So why in the world, would Senator McCain worry about upsetting the conservatives in his party. For whom shall they vote other than McCain?

[Bob]

The press gave McCain a free pass ? Kind of like how it gave Obama a free pass in Jan and Feb ? Had I known about Rev Wright, I never would have voted for Obama. He's an unpatriotic, far-left, confused loser. His words have no value anymore. Now that Clinton is out, I'll take my chances with McCain, thank you.

[john stein]

If Arianna is on the money (and her past would certainly indicate she has those tendencies), I might consider voting for the Admiral's son, despite his reactionary voting record and the fact that his party stands for nothing but flag pins and screwing everybody but the Fortune 100. God bless us all, Tiny Tim.

[Chris Eagan]

Damned if you do, damned if you don't!!!

So if McCain didn't vote for Bush, he is a bad republican. Therefore he has to emphatically state "worked as hard as I could for President Bush’s election in 2000 and 2004, admitting he is partly to blame for the messes Bush has created.

Nice corner!!

[Otto Schiff]

I don't care who McCain voted for. I am more interested in his part of the Lincoln Savings. He was one of the Keating fives.
Where is his explanation of that fiasco?

[S.E. LANDIS]

Not quite an outright denial from McCain. I'll take the word of three witnesses. Is this the straight-talk express?

[Christopher Fee]

Obama is going to turn McCain into lunchmeat during the debates . . .

[jim Sargent]

The left wing nutjobs have proven they will stoop to any depth. This is nothing else but typical BS from a crowd of idiots. McCain may not want to run a dirty election but I am under no such pressure. Huffington is an idiot.

[josie]

you have got to be kidding me. Huffington needs to get off her bias backside and get a real life instead of hanging around actors who seem to confuse acting with reaity. Is anyone really expected to believe anything an actor from the West Wing would say? Gossip. Gossip. Gossip.

[Frank]

Silly season! What a great term!

I wonder who came up with that?

[James Wilkinson]

This was in the "Top of the Ticket" blog on Friday, May 9. It contains an interesting statement about one of the bloggers, long-time journalist Andrew Malcolm:

"A veteran foreign and national correspondent, Malcolm served on the Times Editorial Board and was a Pulitzer finalist in 2004. He is the author of 10 nonfiction books and father of four."

Who knew that a man could be the author of 10 books and the father of four! I guess I slept through that part of my physiology lectures. Do young books have temper tantrums at two like young children at two?

[JDaniel]

More NOTHING from the left....and also nothing unusual....

[John D. Karns II]

John McCain proudly and strongly states in his words to a reporter at the Liberty Science Center "I voted, campaigned for, worked as hard as I could for President Bush’s election in 2000 and 2004”. This statement alone by McCain is an indictment showing that his judgment is beyond repair.

[epthorn]

She should have either told right away or kept her mouth shut. Speaking about it now reeks of opportunism.

[Web Smith]

What does this woman have to do with anything? She puts out a newsletter and invites every Hollywood character to put in their two cents whether they know anything or not so she can be part of the scenery.

Who cares who McCain voted for eight years ago. The real problem will be if he gets elected.

If you like to read the comics in the morning, be sure to get on her mailing list.

[dave]

maybe the immensely moderate (but without a modicum of modesty, preliminarily-purported quasi-modo-nominee by vice or virtue of decree) - mccain aka the preemptively-presumptuous...might want to consider withdrawing his candidacy before his inevitable confrontation with the true and constitutional republican candidate running for PRESIDENT: RON PAUL.
interesting move indeed. mccain's silliness has been reassessed - it's obviously been underestimated, and is even greater than suspected by some or even many, all along; he does not seem to be aware that this question is a classic no-win situation: if MCCAIN is lying (as he, once more, probably is, as we would not be too surprised to learn) and he didn't vote for bush, that would prove him BOTH DISLOYAL (in his own definition, to his own ilk) AND DISHONEST, lying about his disloyalty; if he (for once) should not be lying, and he really voted for bush, and even twice, and even actively supported his machinations, as he asserts - that would prove him (to a great majority of the american people) EITHER EXTREMELY STUPID, OR EXTREMELY VICIOUS/ CRIMINAL, OR BOTH. nothing to recommend him for the highest office.

[Abby Somebody]

So, he's either a doddering old fool, a liar, or both. I would submit, 'both'.

Tee hee hee. Sucks to be McCain right now.

[john]

So just who is John McCain? A double-talk express that voted against George Bush in 2000 and 2004, or a straight talking conservative has stood shoulder to shoulder with President George Bush since 2000?

[Doug]

Who are you going to trust?

As a legacy admission (admitted because of his father), Senator McCain finished number 894 out of 899 in his graduating class from the Naval Academy in Annapolis. 5th from the bottom of his class, and he admittedly didn't care! He was a rebellious hard-drinking hell raiser. This should remind you of Bush, except that Bush doesn't have a volatile temper like McCain does. Bush, as a pilot, never crashed three different military jets like McCain did, two of which were stateside, including one in Corpus Christi bay! He comes back and abandons his invalid wife (who to this day refuses to support his presidential aspirations). He cheats on his wife, marries an incredibly rich woman, with a drug problem, successfully gets elected as Senator as a POW/war hero, supports Keating, reforms by then repeatedly alienates and distances himself from his republican senate colleagues, ingratiates himself with the liberal press because of the latter, abandons his position, actively solicits support from the religious right, and now expects us to make him our second stupid president in a row? In the middle of two wars and a recession?

Good luck with that.

[clear voice]

How could anyone believe Arianna Huffington.
She is the biggest rag out there.
Then we have the NY Times. Take your pick. Trash and more trash. Lies and more lies. They make Bush and Clinton look like little leaguer's.
Actors Bradley Whitford and Richard Schiff, couldn't act in on a segment of Barney. They are ass wipes!

[dpb]

If indeed Mr. McCain didn't vote for Bush, it would be the only rational action I"ve seen him take in years.

[john dahodi]

If John McCaine looks like, speak like, think like, walk like and act like Bush, HE MUST BE AN EDIOT, WHO DID NOT LEARN A SINGLE THING AFTER THE 8 WORST YEARS OF AMERICA, John is not fit for any position forget about the President but even my school board. He is too old, too hard head, too bully and medically handicapped. Better he should retire and eat his pension money and millions of dollars of his younf beautiful wife.

[Graniteman]

Obama supporters have been arguing for months, "Why this distraction? Why not talk about the issues?" Who cares who John McCain voted for in 2001?? This is just a stealth attack by two Hollywood actors who want to advance the candidacy of Senator B.O.

[Franky]

Lets save this data for when we get closer to November.

The impact is too small right now.

[Drea]

Let's see...Huffington,Whitford,Schiff are all Democrats...hmmm? .Do you think they brought this all out now to sow divisions between McCain and conservatives because they are tired of the real divisons witin their own party?

[Javalation]

"Senator McCain finished number 894 out of 899 in his graduating class from the Naval Academy in Annapolis. 5th from the bottom of his class, and he admittedly didn't care! He was a rebellious hard-drinking hell raiser."... so McCain had lost his bearings as a youth. Obviously losing one's bearings has nothing to do with age, and a lot to do with how one steers one's course.

[Christopher coughlin]

The West Point Code: "A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do." How has our professional officer corps managed to tolerate its present Commander in Chief? How will it tolerate John McCain, should he be elected? What has been the impact of serving under a compulsive liar been on retention of West Point officers after their obligatory service has ended? Perhaps the military is now only paying lip service to its oath, as the President has only paid lip service to protecting the Constitution.

[Laird Popkin]

This is brilliant. Debating whether McCain voted for Bush means that McCain can't hide behind the image of being a "maverick" and pick sides. Specifically, forces McCain to talk about (and get press coverage for) what a loyal supporter of Bush he is, and how he deserves credit for getting Bush elected. He has to do this to appease the core of the Republican party. But since Bush is fantastically unpopular with everyone else, McCain being a Bush supporter will drive down McCain.

[Clyde Nugget]

If anyone believes this story, they are in denial or just in wishful mode. How can anyone believe the immoral, unethical, drug loving Hollywood group who are mostly ultra liberal. Besides this, it is no one's darn business who McCain voted for, anytime. That's why we vote in a secret manner....that's the America way. A man at the Democratic caucus quizzed me as to who I voted for and I told him it was none of his damn business. This is a stupid report.

[fuzzymath]

The right can't take a little heat from the kitchen. Your gut feeling is you know McCain is weak on many issues (mostly supporting GW). But, then again what do you expect. He is flipflopping his last 8 yrs and more to be The GOP new guru. Unfortunely you righties have to go with the flow. You're still on the ship that Bush build and his policies is sinking America. Wake up, your so worried about tax increases...look at the your wallet after filling up at the pump. Your going to have pay for this War or your children will and don't forget the Trillions we barrow from China. Take it like an American, if you voted for Bush, like McCain claims, then he and you support what you see today in America. Both are weak and instead of following party lines,,,Listen to America WE WANT OUT of Bush/Cheney/McCain policies...period

[ChandraSF]

Quite a few other shoes are going to drop for McCain. Sexual escapades. Huge financial favors for others, besides the Keating 5. Land deals in Arizona that dwarf the Whitewater deal of the Clintons. He has openly used epithets against his wife. Called others all kinds of names. He is potty mouthed, slur-filled two penny tyrant. Just do a Google search on "scandals of John McCain" to see what waits in store for this incompetent.

[Vic_Hern]

Seems obvious that the hate Capitalism, hate America, hate Bush crowd should love John McCain.
He should be the great uniter for Americans to rally around in this coming election.