McCain's Embattled Campaign Manager Skips Lunch With Reporters
The New York Times, under fire from the McCain camp over an earlier piece probing McCain campaign manager Rick Davis, responded today with a second piece that hits Davis very hard, reporting that Davis' lobbying firm received a monthly sum of $15,000 from Freddie Mac up until last month.
Now comes word that Davis has quietly canceled a gathering he was supposed to hold with reporters today.
Coincidence? Hard to know. But more broadly, the question is, At what point do the repeated revelations about Davis render him more of a liability to McCain than an asset?
Davis is a bit of a throwback in McCain's universe. He's been a longtime confidante to McCain; he managed McCain's 2000 insurgent campaign against George W. Bush, and isn't really a part of the new camp of hard-boiled Rove acolytes -- Steve Schmidt, etc. -- who have come in to take charge of the McCain campaign.
You have to imagine that the Schmidt camp doesn't feel particularly disposed towards rallying around Davis. That said, the Schmidt team is not disposed towards doing anything that smacks of weakness, defensiveness, or disorganization, such as pushing to cut Davis loose, and McCain won't do that in any case. Which means the revelations about Davis are likely to keep dragging McCain down.
Folks in the McCain camp avoiding reporters? I'm *shocked*!
September 24, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Davis is probably sharing a hidey hole someplace with Carly Fiorina.
September 24, 2008 1:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
You can hide but you can't run away forever!
September 24, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I gave Rick Davis the same advice about reporters I gave Sarah about subpoenas." And my avatar is more optimistic than yours.
September 24, 2008 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/07/top-senate-recipients-of-fanni.html
September 24, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why did Obama not support Hagel-McCain s190 to stop the FNMA FMC fraud? Not really much of a mystery is it.
September 24, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why don't you to walk up to someone on the street and say that. They'll blink at you a couple times and walk away. Nobody gives a shit. Everybody knows who created this fucking mess. Everybody.
September 24, 2008 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/us/politics/10fannie.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1
Directors, officers, and Lobbyists for Fannie/Freddie gave McCain $169,000 for his 2008 campaign.
September 24, 2008 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
debunked
September 24, 2008 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
let's have a link to your "debunking"
September 24, 2008 1:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, you don't understand. He just shot a debunking ray at the story. It no longer exists.
September 24, 2008 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
..not debunked troll jizz.
September 24, 2008 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
No such thing. Trolls cannot afford footed bath tubs, much less Cialis.
September 24, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Also, fogu, why don't you walk down the street and call a black man "brutha" to his face? All the bullshit you throw here is meaningless, your avitar reveals why you hate Obama so much. You're nothing but a piece of shit racist. People shouldn't waste their time arguing with you.
September 24, 2008 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Word
September 24, 2008 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Keyboard courage.
It's the only kind fogu knows.
September 24, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Where is the roll call vote on this measure?
September 24, 2008 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
fogu2,
you're putting people to sleep, try FreeRepublic.com
September 24, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those are contribs from employess on behalf of themselves. All of that combined is less than Davis took from the company on behalf of itself.
September 24, 2008 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac employees not the entities. A huge difference.
September 24, 2008 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not to mention that Obama is not out there saying he never received this money.
September 24, 2008 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
So it's an issue if McCain and his associates take it but not Obama?
You're a joke.
September 24, 2008 1:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Again, can you post the roll call vote? Also, can you point to the provision in this bill that sought to regulate derivatives (in particular collateral debt obligations and credit default swaps)? Thanks.
September 24, 2008 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Obama campaign receiving contributions from individual employees of an organization is hardly the same thing as McCain's CAMPAIGN MANAGER's company receiving money from the organization itself for apparently no work being done. What do you think they were paying him for? Just because they liked him? Worse yet, either McCain either knew about it and lied to the American people....or Davis lied to McCain about it. Take your pick.
September 24, 2008 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously stop with this nonsense. I posted a long post about this in another thread somewhere. I'm not going to repost it here.
Those numbers are from employees. EMPLOYEES. Not the company.
You notice a pattern with the people at the top. Look hard before answering. Think. Think.
Oh! Wait! They all ran highly publicized campaigns for public office. Some even for President! Wow! Imagine that. People were in the news because they were running for public office and some people from one of the largest employers in the nation donated to them! I am shocked!
Are you too daft to understand this or just deceitful enough to spread half truths? Either is unacceptable.
September 24, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think he gets thrown under the bus and the NY Times takes the blame for it.
: we are trying to run a good and honest campaign but the partisan media are opposing us at every step! It is an uphill battle and the other side has already claimed our poor little lamb! Who else will you let them attack? Who else, I ask?
September 24, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
After the last 8 years, I think a story like this - with very little retelling - gets traction right away. Even conservatives are sick to damn death of all the duplicitous cronyism and insider games that get played on the right, IMO.
September 24, 2008 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah - like the Repugs and neo-cons Hillary had on her campaign staff and they couldn't win it for her, either.
September 24, 2008 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Guess he was afraid reporters would have him for lunch!
September 24, 2008 12:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm....let's start a pool on exactly when Davis will resign from the McCain campaign. He's gone and made the old turkey look like more of a liar than he already is. Either that, or he's so busy taking naps he doesn't know what's going on right under his nose.
I'm begininng to wonder if republicans even know what the truth is. We sure aren't hearing any from Paulsen.
September 24, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great news! Now we have to expose Randy Scheuneman for the crazy ass neocon warmonger that he is, preferablly before Friday's debate on foreign policy!
September 24, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Run away! Run away!"
September 24, 2008 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's campaign is everyday resembling a Monty Phython skit more and more.
September 24, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
fogu, I did some research on this, and the majority of those contributions came from people in low level positions (secretaries, janitors, etc.) making less than 50k a year.
Why do you hate the middle class so much?
September 24, 2008 12:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
The real question is: Why fogu hates everybody who don't agree with him (or her)?
September 24, 2008 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's have a link to your "research".
September 24, 2008 1:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/09/10/us/politics/10fannie.graphic.jpg
September 24, 2008 1:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac employees not the entities. A huge difference.
September 24, 2008 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sequestration. mcShame's Military Strategy!
September 24, 2008 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ok. mcShame campaign now has 3 strategies.
Lie.
Cry (wolf).
Panic and Sequester.
September 24, 2008 12:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can a cone of silence be used for a panic room?
September 24, 2008 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
EMPLOYEES is much different than LOBBYING.
Plus either McCain didn't know about Davis' money from Freddie Mac thus he is "out of touch" with his own campaign OR he was LYING.
Both are bad...
September 24, 2008 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why is that Greg? What have I missed? Why would Schmidt refuse to cut Davis loose if it's dragging McLame down? I love it - don't get me wrong. I just wonder why you're saying that - you're the expert. ;)
September 24, 2008 1:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
All I can say is
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahaha!
September 24, 2008 1:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Will President McCain send out a strike force to rescue Obama from whatever prison you have him in? He looks...sad, defeated, dejected.
September 24, 2008 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Roll call vote and sections related to regulating the derivatives market.
September 24, 2008 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
O for god's sake - now you want to say Obama is losing because he looks dejected?
Shut up. I mean you have gone totally wack. I used to think you had a modicum of sense but no more.
Jeeeeeezuz!
September 24, 2008 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whatever imaginary prison Obama's in is apparently a lot more plush than Palin's. He's at least allowed to communicate with the outside world.
September 24, 2008 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Depends on whether McCain thinks Obama is a lobbyist or blonde (or both).
September 24, 2008 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gallup unchanged: Obama winning 47% - 44%!
September 24, 2008 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
shorter fogu: panic panic panic.
Isn't it slightly amusing to you that Rick Davis received more cash from Freddie Mac to give them unfettered access to McCain in 3 months than Obama did in his lifetime?
September 24, 2008 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, my friend, there's a world of difference. A campaign contribution is above-board, reported, and publicly acknowledged.
Freddie Mac's pay-offs to Davis were hidden by Davis, flatly and hotly denied by McCain, and demonstrate clear hypocritical lying by that campaign.
There's a world of difference between buying flowers for your wife and buying flowers for your mistress. They're both flowers, but the intent sure isn't the same. You think the American people don't know that?
This thing's going to explode in McCain's face like Gary Hart on the "Monkey Business." When you taunt and deny, and literally invite scrutiny... you better be clean as the driven snow.
September 24, 2008 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
O nice! I love that analogy.
September 24, 2008 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hate that analogy - it's leaving me with an image of John McCain as somone's mistress: black negligee, furry slippers, smeared lipstick. Blecch.
September 24, 2008 1:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
really -
September 24, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only acknowledged mistress out there is 77 and in Brazil. She will come back and ride on a float with Mr. Timmons, the 77 year old Freddie Mac lobbyist chosen by McCain to plan his transition. They will wave when the parade turns left off Consitution Ave. and crosses the River Styx.
September 24, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not........ Phyllis Schlaffley!!!!!!
September 24, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I hadn't thought of it that way exactly, but.. yeah, now that you mention it, that's exactly what McCain is: the round-heeled mistress to this whole big Kleptocracy that has been in office for the past eight years.
And whatever you do, don't think of J. Edgar Hoover's black dress, ok?
September 24, 2008 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
A bulldog in a blue dress running with a pitbull with lipstick.
September 24, 2008 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
DAMN YOU! It took me 17 years to get that image out of my head and you just put it back in!
September 24, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
NEWS ALERT!!
Obama supporters have jobs.
It had been widely rumored that the liberal hippies actually had to work for a living instead of living off of daddy’s inheritance. This now appears to have been confirmed by one fogu2. He was overheard saying, “When we told them to go get a job and stay off our lawn, who could have known that they would?”
This stunning development has wide ranging implications. Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild of the Institute for the Ironically Impaired stated “This changes everything. We might even have to reopen the debate on the existence of the middle class. There might actually be some there there.”
September 24, 2008 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oooooh! (hugs self with glee)
September 24, 2008 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Slipping as they try and navigate the ice trailed by an angry populace with hockey sticks.
September 24, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
This was meant to go in the mistress thread above after Tena's last.
September 24, 2008 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Run! The Ice Weasels are coming!
LOLOLOL!!!!!
September 24, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Karma calling on Line 1...
Finally!
September 24, 2008 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
How can anybody take McCain seriously when, a short time ago, he was for "deregulation"? It's no secret that his good friend and advisor, Senator Phil Gramm, wrote the original legislation that got all this mess started by voiding the rules it was supposed to prevent. McCain's own manager, Rick Davis, a key figure in his campaign, was paid $2 million for years to lobby for Fanny May and Freddie Mac so they wouldn't be regulated. These are facts. So how can McCain suddenly now be for "regulation"? And here in Orange County, more facts: does anybody remember the scandal of Keating and Lincoln Savings of Irvine with their big-time melt-down, with McCain being friends with Keating, accepting contributions from him, and pushing for 'deregulation." So, tell, me please, how does Senator Flip-Flop McCain have any creditability when it comes to being a "deregulator"? (Find out the truth about these things, guys and gals, it's your money and your kids' money they're giving away.)
September 24, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
He needs to "make a run for the Border"™ -- !
September 24, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Davis' arrogance, fake outrage and generally annoying demeanor have made him a guy you love to hate. Where is the McCain campaign disappearing to? Palin can't be asked questions. Davis is ducking the press and media. McCain himself want to postpone the debate. 40-something days to go and I think we're seeing the implosion of the McCain campaign we've suspected was coming. Maybe this is a new, unexpected "October Surprise".
September 24, 2008 9:11 PM | Reply | Permalink