On a conference call today, a McCain attorney, John Dowd, described the Keating Five investigation as “classic political smear-job on John.” (The conference call be heard here, and the quote is at about 14:30). Around 14:10 he stated that there was “no merit” to the allegations against McCain.

Beyond anything else, this is a mistake for McCain tactically. As Ben Smith correctly notes:

I’d always thought McCain’s great strength in defending the Keating affair was that he’d acknolwedged making a huge mistake, and spent his career repenting by recasting himself as a reformer.

I agree. If the McCain campaign is now going to try and recast the investigation as nothing but an attack on McCain, then all that is going to do is create a broader public discussion about those events. Such an approach also damages the whole Road to Damascus/Born Again Maverick narrative.

It will be interesting to see how the campaign tries to deal with this. Dowd, in the conference call, appears aware that his views as McCain’s lawyer differs to some degree from McCain’s interpretation of events (which is an odd way for an attorney to present a situation, but ok).

2 Comments

1. That is a classic case of criminal behavior where no conviction equals no guilt. I’m still waiting to see
   how the how the connection between his former campaign
   managers as paid EADS lobbbyists and his ability to cancel the Boeing contract plays out. I am also curious about
   his current connections to so many of the current financial firms that are tanking right now. The ‘Maverick’ appears to be surrounded by lobbyists for the financial industry.

   With the economy tanking and the cause so closely linked to his dedication to eliminating government regulation, this can’t be good news for him.

   Comment by dl from austin, tx — Tuesday, October 7, 2024 @ 4:43 pm

2. obama’s attack won’t stick. it’s too far gone in the voters’ memories, and it seems like a stretch.

   Comment by mbailey — Thursday, October 9, 2024 @ 6:24 am

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