Forget Ayers. McCain Served On Advisory Board Of Whacked Out Council For World Freedom
In a much discussed story, the Associated Press reported today that John McCain served in the mid-1980s on the advisory board of a right-wing group called the Council for World Freedom, which has been controversial because of the group's aid to the Nicaraguan Contras and the presence of anti-Semites in its ranks.
Now we've gotten a hold of another fun little nugget that shows how whacked out this group really is: A newsletter from the group from July 1985 that lashed out at people who criticized Ronald Reagan for visiting the Bitburg cemetery in Germany, which includes the graves of members of the SS.
The Reagan visit was widely controversial among Jews, but the Council newsletter -- which you can view right here -- was less than charitable towards Reagan's Jewish critics.
"Those misguided souls who accused President Reagan of insensitivity for visiting the German cemetery at Bitburg are wallowing in tears of pity over the past crimes of the Nazi regime which collapsed over 40 years ago," the newsletter said. "They claim they want to keep the memory of the holocaust alive so that it can never happen again."
"Crocodile tears! It is happening again," the newsletter continues, "and again, and again, right now, in the modern world; only the crimes of today are not being perpetrated by the Nazis but by their philosophical and demoniacal soulmates, the communists."
McCain reportedly was still associating with the group a few months later: A States News Service article from October 15, 1985, found via Nexis, confirms that McCain was on hand at a Council awards dinner.
McCain told the AP that he resigned the group's advisory board in 1984, and eventually asked to have his name removed from the letterhead. But the State News Service article places him at a group dinner a year later.
The reason this is worth noting is that John McCain has been attacking Barack Obama over Obama's minor ties to former 60s radical Bill Ayers -- putting associations like these into play.
The group was founded by Ret. General John Singlaub, as a U.S. chapter of the World Anti-Communist League -- which itself had a history as a home for anti-Semites and former Nazi collaborators. In his defense, Singlaub worked to clean up that element somewhat. On the other hand, the the group continued to aid right-wing death squads that freely attacked civilians in the bloody Nicaraguan civil war.
The Contra's activities were so brutal that Congress passed the Boland Amendments in the early 80s to specifically forbid the federal government from aiding them -- which led to the Iran-Contra affair and Oliver North's efforts to circumvent the law.
So shorter: McCain belonged to a group aiding death squads in Nicaragua?
October 7, 2008 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
And thanks for unbanning me. : )
October 7, 2008 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, me too. :)
October 7, 2008 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yay! I emailed in saying that "as far as I know" that I've not attacked anyone or gone on a racist rant....
October 7, 2008 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
I understand I'll always be in the minority on this in this country - but McCain supported TERRORISM by supporting the Contras. Reagan was a major enabler of terrorism. Why this is so impossible to have accepted in the mainstream is an endless source of nausea to me.
"Palling around" with a former terrorist 40 years after the fact seems a hell of a lot less important than funding active terrorists.
October 7, 2008 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's completely true.
October 7, 2008 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jeez, I am so sick of that word: terrorist.
October 7, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me too, also!
October 7, 2008 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I pretty much cringe each time that I hear it.
It's time for a new word for the boogieman. This one is so played. Come on think tanks, find a new word to scare us Americans!
October 7, 2008 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Almost OT: somebody wanna explain to me why David Gregory just jumped out of his shorts, insisting to some Obama person that when it came to the Keating Five Scandal. "HE WAS EXONERATED!"
And it was put to her from the standpoint that "can you believe they'd have the audacity to raise this, when he was EXONERATED?!?!?!?"
October 7, 2008 6:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hard to believe but knowing Gregory is such an ass...someone needs to ask why McShame wrote a fuckin book about his shame in the scandal and how many times has he cited this scandal as the reason he is such a reformer...the MSM is a shameful occupation when it comes to gregory and the others who are so lazy in their work ethic to talk shit without the facts!
October 7, 2008 6:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
David Gregory thought that the media did a good job leading up to the war in Iraq. That should illustrate the depth and breadth of the analysis that Gregory is capable of.
There's a reason why the shows of Olberman, Maddo and Mathews get broadcast twice, and Gregory's only once.
October 7, 2008 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nazi sympathizer - Secessionist '08
October 7, 2008 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
If and when McCain brings up Ayers, Obama should just say, "I've condemned Ayers many times in the past and I do so again tonight, but frankly, John, it saddens me and millions of Americans across this country to see what your campaign has become. You earned a well-deserved reputation as a man of honor and integrity and you promised many many times to run an honorable campaign on the issues. So I'm very disappointed to see you take this road and I know that millions of Americans who are worried about losing their homes and their jobs feel the same way. Now, let's talk about what we're going to do to get this economy on track......"
October 7, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whatever happened to those long ago days when one could answer this by saying "My friends, I was a POW."
(Instant message = MFIWAPOW)
October 7, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Say it aint so Greg and Eric. There ya go again. Always lookin back. Never lookin forward. Mavericks don't let this kind a thing get in their way when they're out there helpin Joe Sixpack while you are lookin back and bein disrespectful of POW's and our troops.
October 7, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
This stuff isn't pretty for Mr. McCain.
Contrast Ayers vs. Council for World Freedom and Keating:
Obama's connection with Ayers - almost tangential.
McCain's connection with CWF - he was on the board>
McCain's connection with Keating - vacations (free jet travel for the McCain family + babysitter; large contributions and McCain pushing Keating's agenda with regulators.
Cranapples vs. Watermelons and Pumpkins.
October 7, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
We should open up a diary on Kos for TPM posters tonight because when the debate starts TPM wont be able to handle the traffic and the page will take forever to load.
October 7, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or you'll get "You aren't permitted to make comments".
October 7, 2008 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
TPM is a great site but they cant handle the traffic when big events happen. its irritating because i prefer this site than Kos.
October 7, 2008 6:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I'm always a bit turned off by the crazies that hang out there. Not that we aren't crazy here, but they seem to be just a bit crazier. (probably setting myself up for a major flame)
October 7, 2008 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think we look like calm rational beings compared to some of the commenters at Kos.
I might be biased, though.
October 7, 2008 6:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's because we are predominantly middle-aged over here, methinks.
October 7, 2008 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those damn younguns at Kos!
October 7, 2008 6:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fire-breathing hotheaded punks!
October 7, 2008 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
October 7, 2008 6:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
O hai! Kos is mild - go hang at Eschaton.
Go in and say something derogatory about Atrios to start with - something mild.
See what happens.
LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!
October 7, 2008 6:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN!
October 7, 2008 8:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a load...I posted at DailyKos until last Oct. and the average age there was something like 46.
October 7, 2008 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's approximately the average age for almost every liberal political board on the nets, I believe, cause that's the average age at Eschaton.
Or was.
And a some of the same people show up at Kos so I don't doubt that that is just about the average age on this side of the - I apologize in advance - blogosphere.
October 7, 2008 6:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Age does not always equal wisdom. (Obama vs McCain as an example)
We're a civilized lot here at TPM and I, for one, find that refreshing. I think there is a reason as to why we choose to post here. Most political sites, left or right, are filled with sad and nasty little people.
I like posting here, I find most here have solid knowledge of the issues, ask good questions and are pretty damn funny!
October 7, 2008 6:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL
Stings, don't it?
October 7, 2008 6:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
It does.
October 7, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Axelrod said this afternoon that Obama would bring up Keating Five if McCain brought up Ayers.
I think if this association is properly boiled down, it would be even worse.
October 7, 2008 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hell, the entire hour of Tweety's show was devoted to "Will McCain be negative and grumpy or not" in the debate.
Who cares what he's trying to do, he can't pull off acting pleasant. It will look rehearsed and like he's pandering.
Let him bring up Ayers. Let him bring up anything he wants.
Obama's answer: Economy, economy, economy.
It's the luxury of being the front runner.
October 7, 2008 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
In other words, if McCain brings a knife, Obama will bring a gun.
October 7, 2008 6:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah - it's just that the Keating 5 ties so neatly into our present economic situation. Which basically keeps Obama still above the strictly nasty and no point to it smear level.
October 7, 2008 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Precisely. I hope it's not too subtle a point for the average viewer. Then again, I'm pretty impressed with the average American voter this past cycle. Actually from about 2006 on.
October 7, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me too and I'm not shy about getting up in someone's shit when they want to claim Americans are stupid.
But I also have a lot of faith in Obama's ability to explain it. I know some people think he gets wordy, but I think he makes things clear more often than not. Kerry was the one who had a hard time making shit clear and that's not because he's dumb at all. Kerry is really smart, but very lawyerly. Obama didn't go into a law firm - he talks like someone who is used to explaining things to neighborhoods and communities cause that's who he is.
October 7, 2008 6:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think he's become a little less wordy as time has gone on, or to put it another way, I think he's become more precise. Let's face it, you need sound bites as well as analysis.
And that's not because Americans are stupid. It's because we're constantly bombarded with info from every possible angle.
Take, for instance, the guy who just got home from work, is drinking tea, is flipping between CNN and MSNBC, and typing to his friends on a popular political blog.
I mean, that feller's just getting blasted!
October 7, 2008 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
The U.S. Council for World Freedom is John Singlaub's baby. People may remember that name from the time Ollie North was selling arms for hostages to fund killing people in Nicaragua.
McCain has great friends.
John
October 7, 2008 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Its not terrorism if its against a "leftist government". See how that works?
October 7, 2008 6:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
freedom fighter.
October 7, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I'm a contra, he's a contra, wouldn't you like to be a contra too?"
To the tune, of course, of the old Dr. Pepper commercial.
October 7, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I'd like to teach the world to hate..."
October 7, 2008 7:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I sure do remember that name.
I knew when they got away with it, that we were in for real trouble because I knew they'd take that as a sign that they could further. Ta da!
They have.
It was a dark day when they got away with Iran-Contra. Fucking lying Oliver North -
He's cheap ass Gordon Liddy.
October 7, 2008 6:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is also an interesting AIP-Iran tie coming to light. Supposedly the founder of the AIP was going to address and trash America at the UN using the time set aside for Iran back in the day.
Todd Palin of course was a longtime member of the AIP, and Sarah Palin in the very least attended their conventions, and addressed one as Governor.
October 7, 2008 6:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
By golly, you aren't telling me that Princess Sparkle Starburst has actually been pallin around with terrorists!?!
October 7, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
All of these associations won't matter come Oct. 10, when the shit hits the Palin.
October 7, 2008 6:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Princess Sparkle Starburst". Priceless.
Rich Lowry shouldn't have any credibility after that gusher. He really shouldn't.
October 7, 2008 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
No shit. Especially after Keith Olbermann savaged him.
LOL!
He sure savaged the princess, too.
October 7, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I kept waiting for him to just say..."Governor Palin, you disgust me."
October 7, 2008 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Iran Contra - AIP/Iran '08
October 7, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Senator McCain, didn't you ever hear that old Wasilla saying: those with glass heads shouldn't throw stones.
October 7, 2008 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
My Friends,
I cannot support this unsupportable attack on me and my supporters, each and every one of whom knows I love and support them, so help me, I have been the victim of so many vicious smears from the hostile Obama camp, but I am putting my country first and damn the torpedos, now sit down, just sit down and shut up, dammit!
Your Friend,
J. "Smiley" McCain
October 7, 2008 6:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
My Friends,
For five and a half years I was deprived of a board to sit on.
I am John McCain, and I approve of this message.
Mav-Erratic/BarbieCuda 2008BC
October 7, 2008 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Read the newsletter. The antisemitism is there for anyone to see. Pass it on to all your Jewish friends. They need to understand who these people really are and what they really think - despite the pandering to Israel. (I am Jewish, and I'm circulating it).
October 7, 2008 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
OT: PA is out of reach. Rassmussen has Obama up 13!!!!!
October 7, 2008 6:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Woohoo!
October 7, 2008 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Quite the dramatic turnaround from 3 weeks ago.
Where will McCain withdraw to next?
Arizona?
October 7, 2008 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
O my god - the way I'm presently calculating, that means he's really up about 23.
But I'll take 13.
O my god - I hope McLame sees the polls before the debate.
October 7, 2008 6:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Be afraid tonight boys and girls -
(from HuffPo)
October 7, 2008 6:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
More evidence of the McCain Projection Talk Express! Amazing how they keep accusing Obama of their own worst actions.
October 7, 2008 6:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cindy McCain also went on to say that the sun rises in the west and sets in the east.
October 7, 2008 6:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obviously she has taken to using her "little helpers" again.
October 7, 2008 7:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
And now how classy it is.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/07/palin-criticizes-biden-wh_n_132753.html
October 7, 2008 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
It really is. It's just toppled over into a psychotic mania in the last 10 days.
October 7, 2008 6:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's actually a pretty common tactic among really sleazy evil lawyers in civil litigation. Whenever they're doing something sanctionable, like hiding documents or improperly invoking attorney-client privilege or coaching a witness, they always try to get to court first with a motion for sanctions accusing you of doing whatever evil thing it is they're doing. The theory is that the judge will look at the competing motions, decide both sides are equally culpable, throw up his hands and refuse to sanction either side or even resolve the dispute.
McCain does that a lot.
October 7, 2008 8:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
By how, wearing all white and presenting himself as 'clean'?
If someone in the crowd gave him a hood, the way his campaign's running lately, I'd give him even odds that he'd put it on.
October 7, 2008 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's going to be interesting to see McCain get schooled on the effects of his own proposals.
October 7, 2008 6:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
John gets cut off from the Good Thang if he doesn't fight like a man!
October 7, 2008 6:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/222619.php
Clearly Cindy has fallen off the wagon and back into the perscription pills if she believes that.
October 7, 2008 6:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here is the Salon.com link to the AIP/Iran connection I mentioned above. http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/10/07/palins_unamerican/
October 7, 2008 6:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ron Fournier is still waiting for the apology from TPM World Hdq
Send Kleefeld
October 7, 2008 6:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tonite might be the night where ol' Johnny Boy flips his wig...
October 7, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Literally.
October 7, 2008 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's not a wig. It's a comb-over.
October 7, 2008 6:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
It sure might.
He just might start foaming at the mouth and going off on Obama in such a vile manner that Brokaw calls a halt to the whole thing.
A girl can hope.
October 7, 2008 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hope springs eternal.
October 7, 2008 7:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think he's going to go back and get all fake patriotic on us. That he's above it all and is determined to always put country first.
I hope someone in the audience calls him on that--I doubt that Brokow will.
You know when someone always--always!--has to point out that they're putting country first, you have to wonder why they don't just do it and quit talking about it! We know at this point, Senator, that when you say country first, it really means putting John McCain first.
October 7, 2008 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Damnit, boy, don't you know I put my country first for five and a half years..." You know the drill.
October 7, 2008 7:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the real absurdity of tonight's debate. This "town hall" is all about catering to the sacred undecideds, i.e. people who haven't been paying a lick of goddamn attention to much of anything for, apparently, the last two years.
Problem is, there aren't enough undecideds to make a difference. When your opponent cracks 50%, it doesn't matter if you get all of the undecideds.
McCain knows this. That's why I'm giving 2:1 odds he comes closer than ever to doing the full Sonny Coreleone wigout before its over.
October 7, 2008 8:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's wonderful that Senator McCain has a plan to end every problem with which the country is now struggling, too bad he prefers not to share those plans with us.
October 7, 2008 11:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
The debate offered another example of dog whistle racism in today's politics. And there are so many more!
We're tracking political race baiting at www.stopdogwhistleracism.com. We find the good, bad and ugly from the right, left and center about race in the race. Visit us today for a non-partisan take on the race card, and the race card card, in today's politics.
Hope to see you at StopDog!
October 8, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink