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McCain Camp Distances Themselves From Push Poll
John McCain's campaign is condemning the recent round of push-poll phone calls attacking Mitt Romney in New Hampshire, and is asking the state attorney general's office to investigate the calls for failing to disclose who paid for them. The McCain camp has good reason to want to condemn them — apparently they also ask "questions" that would benefit McCain
Campaign vice chairman Chuck Douglas acknowledged that the calls were "made to appear to be friendly to Senator McCain, but we had nothing to do with the poll at the state or national level." Assuming that they're being honest, this wouldn't be the only time they've had to deal with out-of-control donors/supporters, as they've also worked to stop an independent ad campaign in South Carolina.
Update: The calls have also been received in Iowa.
Of course McCain is distancing himself from the push polls. It is in his nature to let others do the dirty work while he stands behind them and maintains his innocence. His mothers comments are just the latest. But if you go back to the beginning of the S Carolina campaign his staff was open in their bigoted comments about Mormons. He had a chance to stop it then but thereafter we see those same staffers making more such comments. There is too much smoke here not to believe a fire exists. But it really has nothing to do with Mormonism. Such despicable behavior will raise its ugly head for other groups he and his people find to be fair game. Who will it be next time? One does not have to be a KKK member or a White Supremacist or Black Panther to be dangerous. In fact the most insidious would be a member of some socially acceptable group who only occasionally let us see his hideous nature. The world can not tolerate an openly bigoted president regardless of which party or religious affiliation.
November 17, 2007 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, this stunt smells like a Romney ploy. I know too many folks that currently work at Western WATS and all of them would rather burn their temple recommends than trash the Mittster. In case you haven't bothered to read the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Book of Abraham, or the Journal of Discourses recently, the LDS canon still espouses virulent racism as a tenet of faith. Otherwise, why hasn't Deseret Books, owned and operated by the LDS church, not removed Rlder Bruce R. McConkie's "Mormon Doctrine" from its bookshelves?
Bigotry? Try living in Utah County if you're not white or Mormon; then you'll really appreciate the meaning of the word. As a non-LDS Arizonan, McCain would likely be aware that there is a sinister side to Mormonism that should not be ignored as an issue. Push polls aside, Romney core religious beliefs ARE a valid concern.
November 20, 2007 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink