John McCain is a maverick senator and former Vietnam veteran and prisoner of war for 5 years in North Vietnam. On the
positive side, he is a rare exception to the partisan bitterness in Washington these days, often crafting bipartisan approaches to
issues such as smoking and campaign reform.
Here are some negative allegations:
- McCain was one of the "Keating Five," congressmen investigated on ethics charges for strenuously helping convicted
racketeer Charles Keating after he gave them large campaign contributions and vacation trips.
Charles Keating was convicted of racketeering and fraud in both state and federal court after his Lincoln Savings & Loan
collapsed, costing the taxpayers $3.4 billion. His convictions were overturned on technicalities; for example, the federal
conviction was overturned because jurors had heard about his state conviction, and his state charges because Judge Lance Ito
(yes, that judge) screwed up jury instructions. Neither court cleared him, and he faces new trials in both courts.)
Though he was not convicted of anything, McCain intervened on behalf of Charles Keating after Keating gave McCain at least
$112,00 in contributions. In the mid-1980s, McCain made at least 9 trips on Keating's airplanes, and 3 of those were to
Keating's luxurious retreat in the Bahamas. McCain's wife and father-in-law also were the largest investors (at $350,000) in a
Keating shopping center; the Phoenix New Times called it a "sweetheart deal."
- Mafia ties: In 1995, McCain sent birthday regards, and regrets for not attending, to Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonano, the head
of the New York Bonano crime family, who had retired to Arizona. Another politician to send regrets was Governor Fife
Symington, who has since been kicked out of office and convicted of 7 felonies relating to fraud and extortion.
- At least one veteran's group (U.S. Veteran's Dispatch) really hates him, and accuses McCain of cooperating with the North
Vietnamese while he was their prisoner. They also sketch McCain's ties, through his wealthy father-in-law, to various Arizona
scandals including the murder of reporter Don Bolles.
Check out their version at the US Veteran's Dispatch web site.
- Family troubles: McCain has a reputation as a politician who has difficulty keeping his pants zipped, according to Republican
sources. He acknowledges that his adultery broke up his first marriage. His second wife Cindy, the daughter of a wealthy
Budweiser beer distributor, was addicted to prescription narcotics and even stole hard drugs from a medical charity that she
ran. McCain acknowledges that she didn't want him to run, and only agreed once he promised that she doesn't have to go to
New Hampshire or Iowa.
Quotes:
- "Do you know why Chelsea Clinton is so ugly? Because Janet Reno is her father." -- John McCain
- Leonardo DiCaprio is "an androgynous wimp." -- McCain.
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