Civic Alert

A New York Times article Wednesday claimed that John McCain had an inappropriately close relationship with a female lobbyist during his 2000 presidential campaign. McCain vehemently denied this story in a press conference, saying that,

“I’m disappointed in The New York Times piece. It’s not true.”

The story explained that McCain’s aides confronted him and the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, because they were worried about the relationship and the possibility of a romantic situation. They believed that their encounters were going against McCain’s claim to stop special interests and that Iseman’s comments were putting McCain in a bad light.

“Ms. Iseman’s involvement in the campaign, it was felt by us, could undermine that effort,” McCain’s former political adviser John Weaver said.

Weaver said Iseman was telling people she had special interaction with and influence over McCain.

The McCain camp questioned the story and the motivation of the New York Times. McCain adviser Charlie Black claimed the “liberal” newspaper was just saying “rumors and gossip” to hurt McCain’s campaign.

“He doesn’t do favors for anyone,” Black said of McCain.

For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk - [New York Times]
McCain denies inappropriate relationship with lobbyist - [CNN]