McCain: ‘It Doesn’t Matter’ If Indicted Congressman Renzi Is Still Part Of My Campaign
McCain: ‘It Doesn’t Matter’ If Indicted Congressman Renzi Is Still Part Of My Campaign
Last Friday, Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ), who is a member of Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) National Leadership Team and a co-chair of his Arizona Leadership Team, was indicted for extortion, wire fraud, money laundering and other crimes. Asked that day about Renzi’s indictment, McCain said he didn’t “know enough of the details to make a judgment.”
Later, on a conference call with conservative bloggers, McCain said Renzi “would probably step down as co-chair of his Arizona campaign.” Asked in Ohio today, however, McCain said “it doesn’t matter” if Renzi stays on his campaign or not. Watch it:
McCain has been staunchly loyal to his fellow Arizonian. After the FBI investigation into Renzi was first reported in October 2006, McCain vouched for Renzi’s “integrity” in a robo-call to Arizona voters:
This is Senator John McCain. I’m calling to urge you to support my friend, Representative Rick Renzi for Congress. Rick has represented the first district of Arizona with tenacity, honesty and integrity beyond reproach.
But despite his claim that “it doesn’t matter” if the indicted Renzi remains a part of his campaign, McCain hasn’t hesitated to call for scandal plagued public officials to resign. Just last year, McCain said that both Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should step down.
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55 Responses to “McCain: ‘It Doesn’t Matter’ If Indicted Congressman Renzi Is Still Part Of My Campaign”
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Just like Bush, it doesn't matter is a criminal stays on, they are republicans and therefore most likely criminals anyway.
February 26th, 2008 at 7:23 pmHas McCain finally realized that he stands no chance of being elected?
February 26th, 2008 at 7:24 pmHas McCain finally realized that he stands no chance of being elected?
Comment by belac — February 26, 2008 @ 7:24 pm
I don't think he's that lucid.
February 26th, 2008 at 7:25 pmI don’t think he’s that lucid.
Comment by ralph the wonder llama — February 26, 2008 @ 7:25 pm
February 26th, 2008 at 7:28 pm...or we're that lucky.
Please keep thinking that.
GW Bush can recklessly award one of the presidential medals for the last time to McCain, for being the best sacrificial lamb in modern GOP history.
February 26th, 2008 at 7:31 pmwell, of course it doesn't matter (wink wink)...
February 26th, 2008 at 7:34 pmwhat a better place for someone indicted for extortion, wire fraud,
money laundering and other crimes, than to be on the team of a
presidential candidate...
i say, keep him on!
lol! mcINSANE, why dont you just give all that money you're spending on your campaign and hand it over to charity. your defeat has already happened!
February 26th, 2008 at 7:35 pmCherry-picking is obviously a communicable disease spread by the Chimpy administration ...............
February 26th, 2008 at 7:36 pmIt doesn't matter. Renzi is just one of the many criminals who has found a home in McCain's campaign. McCain himself has announced that he is going to break the law by flouting the requirements of the FEC's public financing system.
February 26th, 2008 at 7:40 pmMcCain, with his open mouth/insert foot way of talking, is the gift that just keeps on giving.
How fun will it be to watch his entire campaign implode over the next few months, funding or not?
PEACE
February 26th, 2008 at 7:41 pmMcCain's probably right. It doesn't matter. Even if Renzi resigns, someone's got to replace him, and that someone will probably be a Republican. Odds are pretty good that, being a Republican, the replacement will be a criminal too.
So what's the point?
February 26th, 2008 at 7:47 pmWhy not add Larry Craig to the campaign. Why not Borat? Go crazy, John.
February 26th, 2008 at 7:48 pmComment by katy
February 26th, 2008 at 7:51 pmWhy he ought to make him V.P. with those qualifications. There was a time that I would have voted for John-boy,but he has proven himself to be just another G.O.P. flunkie. :(
Odds are pretty good that, being a Republican, the replacement will be a criminal too.
So what’s the point?
Comment by ralph the wonder llama
The wonder llama is wise, very wise.
I agree it truly won't matter who replaces who on any republican ticket. All the repub players in that arena have proved to be shameless racists and bigots - not what America is all about.
Someone told me that GOP stands for "Gods own party". I soiled a very nice suit spitting coffee all of myself - and the co-worker who said that. I hope the stain can be removed - I mean Bush, not my suit.
February 26th, 2008 at 7:52 pmMORE grist, for the general election mill.
February 26th, 2008 at 7:53 pmMcCain must realize that he is Salvatore Belomo wrestling Hulk Hogan. McCain should wear a unitard and call himself a Hammand Egger.
-GSD
February 26th, 2008 at 7:58 pmOk, I expect some Republican outrage about this soon. Remember how outraged they were when Clinton had taken money from some guy who was indicted for a crime? Well, if they aren't a bunch of hypocrites, the right will be screaming about McCain allowing this guy to remain on his campaign.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:07 pmMcCain's comments have become disjointed mumbles of late. It is like his big victory was in securing the Republican nomination for President. Now that that is pretty much in hand he is feels free to make whatever kind of ass out of himself that is demanded by his huge ego.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:07 pmLooks like Renzi's got the goods on ol' McCain.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:24 pm"McCain said 'it doesn’t matter' if Renzi stays on his campaign or not."
From that statement from McStraight Talk, he is definitely hosed in his run for Prez. Renzi will hurt his campaign whether he denies it or not. Renzi's case is connected to the USA firing of Paul Charlton.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:28 pmPander Express leaves the station once again, without the railcars of common sense.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:42 pmThe guy shoveling coal into the firebox looks like Al Capone, but hey! It doesn't matter, we've got shit to shovel!
I hope McCain keeps the disgraced and indicted Renzi on his campaign. Please, please, please, please keep him on your staff!
February 26th, 2008 at 8:42 pmPander Express, once again loaded up with goodies for the lobbyists and criminals! Choo! Choo! Off it goes, clickety clack, sounding just like McCain's dental work.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:44 pm"Go crazy, John."
Comment by McWars — February 26, 2008 @ 7:48 pm
Too late, that train has long since left the station. He's as nutty as ...
a box of... oh what's the use, he's just bat shit crazy! ;)
February 26th, 2008 at 8:48 pmdufas
February 26th, 2008 at 8:54 pmThe only thing I can come up with as to why McCain wouldn't care if Renzi stayed on his campagin or not is the fact that the crimes he is charged with do not include trolling for men in the bathroom.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:54 pmSeriously Grumps, "it doesn't matter?"
WTF!
I think we might actually be watching evolution happening right before our very eyes. No, no hear me out, I think there might actually be something "different" in the make-up of repug's, something that inhibits their ability to spot that "wrong" is "wrong" no matter who is doing the "wrong".
They seem only capable of spotting bad behaviour when it's done by someone outside of their bubble. Hell, in 50 years we very well might be thanking god for the bush catalyst that caused the complete eradication of the dinosaurs formerly known as Repugnicunts
February 26th, 2008 at 8:58 pmOK John, what would matter? Does the guy have to be a serial killer before you sack him? Mr. McCain, look up the word indictment and when you hit on what it means, it doesn't look real great to have an indicted suspect on your payroll. A practical side of it is the fact that he will be spending a lot of time talking to lawyers and cops and prosecutors. So, he may not be able to put in much time on your campaign. You know, your campaign is becoming a bit of a circus with the indicted guy and now the hate crime warm up speaker. You know the one that's hung up on the fact that Obama's middle name is Hussein. Just sharing, we can see what he' up to here. If you keep this low life shithead on your campaign, ur gonna lose some points. I'm jus' sayin' is all.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:03 pmLive-blogging of the Democrat debate on TheZoo.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:03 pmOf course it doesn't matter >pats McCain's headstrokes head gently, McCain makes ululating noises
February 26th, 2008 at 9:07 pmMcCain sometimes forgets he's not running against fellow Republicans when someone on your Team, indicted for extortion, is a requirement.
He forgets there's a different world outside the Republican bubble.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:31 pmLooks like Renzi’s got the goods on ol’ McCain.
Comment by Guido OBGYN Lover
Or what might be the case is that McBush has Renzi around until he pays up with the tribute, then he takes Renzi out for a walk in the desert.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:37 pmIt doesn't matter that my campaign manager for my home state, controlling both personal data of contributors and massive financial assets, has been indicted for funny dealings with cash ?
I think we have a campaign issue for the demos.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:55 pmGigi, you never answered the other day... do you think William Jefferson should resign his seat in Congress?
February 26th, 2008 at 10:49 pm36. I think that if Libs are going to insist that Republicans resign when they are indicted (charged), they should also insist that their own resign.
Comment by good_golly — February 26, 2008 @ 11:01 pm
I think if CONs are going to insist that Democrats resign when they are indicted (charged), they should also insist that their own resign. Where's that insistence? HYPOCRITE? ROTFL!
February 26th, 2008 at 11:55 pmMcCain has such a long record of accomplishments in his distinguished and heroic career that this unproven charge on Renzi (who is innocent until proven guilty) should be of little impact. In comparison, we should take a moment to look at a comprehensive list of Barak Obama’s accomplishments. See
http://directorblue.blogspot.com/ 2008/ 02/ comprehensive-list-of-barack-obamas.html
Comment by good_golly — February 26, 2008 @ 10:45 pm
The keating scandal, and constant influence peddling while claiming to be a REFORMER? ROTFL! Yeah, he's just FULL of those ACCOMPLISHMENTS we like to call FAILURES and HYPOCRISY!! ROTFL!
February 26th, 2008 at 11:56 pmTell us Gin, does that accomplishment include the campaign finance reform McCain REFUSES to abide by? Even though he was BEHIND the legislation he won't follow? Yet Another McCain HYPOCRISY!
February 26th, 2008 at 11:57 pmCome on, this is guilt by association. Let's not stray from the debate.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:17 amSo let me follow st. juan de fecal's statements. He is okay with ricky because he works for him? He is okay with the fact that he has been indicted by a DOJ populated with stooges that have been proven a bit less than curious when it comes to republican tic's and their indictments in general. He has enough charges that even a cretin can't count them on available toes.
This guy must have the goods on st. juan. Would you use someone up on charges of extortion and numerous other crimes as a character reference?
Who would believe any of this in 1972?, 1992?
February 27th, 2008 at 12:29 amMcCain is a REPUBLICAN senator. Any surprise that he would defend corruption?
REPUBLICAN: Corruption = democracy.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:40 amWell of COURSE it doesn't matter. He's a Republican. Crime is part of their creed. Ignorance is part of their skin. Evil is all of their soul.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:04 amMcCain: it doesn't matter, we can all govern just as well from our prison cells.
And, with Bush as the benchmark, he's right.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:46 amI think that if Libs are going to insist that Republicans resign when they are indicted (charged), they should also insist that their own resign.
Comment by good_golly — February 26, 2008 @ 11:01 pm
as if anyone, anywhere, gives a shit what you think.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:47 amThe crucial difference is that Craig had plead guilty, and Gonzales was not a situation of "innocent until proven guilty" but "he's not serving the president well." I think you can criticize the "it doesn't matter," but McCain has been pretty consistent it seems. I personally think that, as a general rule, we should be aware that an indictment is not a conviction, and that people still retain the presumption of innocence. There may be extreme cases where the court of public opinion should basically say, "OK, this guy/lady is guilty," but I'm not familiar enough with the Renzi case to know. The point is, McCain's been consistent and, while it seems that he's trying to distance himself from Renzi, it really isn't important whether Renzi is part of the campaign or not.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:11 amThe point is, McCain’s been consistent and, while it seems that he’s trying to distance himself from Renzi, it really isn’t important whether Renzi is part of the campaign or not.
Comment by thirdparty — February 27, 2008 @ 2:11 am
ROTFL! He HAS? PROVE IT! You're such a LYING REPUBLICAN TARD!
February 27th, 2008 at 2:29 am‘It Doesn’t Matter’ If Indicted Congressman Renzi Is Still Part Of My Campaign... if Bush can pardom Scooter Libby...
February 27th, 2008 at 2:34 amDoesn't matter? Because you and the rest of your motley crew are just as corrupt?
February 27th, 2008 at 2:35 am"The point is, McCain’s been consistent and, while it seems that he’s trying to distance himself from Renzi, it really isn’t important whether Renzi is part of the campaign or not."
Huh? So you and McCain don't care how unethical you guys are. Got it. Weird.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:37 am#47 - "The point is, McCain’s been consistent and, while it seems that he’s trying to distance himself from Renzi, it really isn’t important whether Renzi is part of the campaign or not." Comment by thirdparty — February 27, 2008 @ 2:11 am
What's that mantra the right-whiners used about Democrats? Something like "the perception of impropriety is sufficient to charge one with impropriety"?
The groiwng list of Sen. "Flip-flop" McCain:
* McCain criticized TV preacher Jerry Falwell as “an agent of intolerance†in 2002, but has since decided to cozy up to the man who said Americans “deserved†the 9/11 attacks. (Indeed, McCain has now hired Falwell’s debate coach.)
* McCain used to oppose Bush’s tax cuts for the very wealthy, but he reversed course in February.
* In 2000, McCain accused Texas businessmen Sam and Charles Wyly of being corrupt, spending “dirty money†to help finance Bush’s presidential campaign. McCain not only filed a complaint against the Wylys for allegedly violating campaign finance law, he also lashed out at them publicly. In April, McCain reached out to the Wylys for support.
* McCain supported a major campaign-finance reform measure that bore his name. In June, he abandoned his own legislation.
* McCain used to think that Grover Norquist was a crook and a corrupt shill for dictators. Then McCain got serious about running for president and began to reconcile with Norquist.
* McCain took a firm line in opposition to torture, and then caved to White House demands.
* McCain gave up on his signature policy issue, campaign-finance reform, and won’t back the same provision he sponsored just a couple of years ago.
* McCain was against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before he was for it.
* McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he’s pro-ethanol.
* McCain was both for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag.
* And now he’s both for and against overturning Roe v. Wade.
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/9111.html
February 27th, 2008 at 6:34 amStraight Talk on Renzi!? McCain's correct though--it doesn't matter unless the media (haw haw--figure the odds) hold his feet to the fire (I don't see that coming).
February 27th, 2008 at 7:10 amMcCain's straight talk ends when it comes to his own campaign people.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:03 amProsecutors have been kind to Rick Renzi. They waited until his father was buried before indicting him. In turn, he has been indicted for 35 offenses. There is a very dark cloud over his ability to represent his constituents.
Same for Wm Jefferson. There is a point where honor, dare I suggest it, demands that one step aside and devote ones time to repudiating the charges.
Indictments are serious business. They can be misused, but I doubt that a republican dominated, political DOJ has gone that far....yet...in such a clear case.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:35 pmIt may not matter to McCain but it might matter to the voters.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:02 pmWhat more can you expect from one of the Keating Five? I could see him supporting his addicted drug thief wife (she has the money in that household)), but an obvious crook like Renzi? No way!
February 28th, 2008 at 8:23 amI think we might actually be watching evolution happening right before our very eyes. No, no hear me out, I think there might actually be something “different” in the make-up of repug’s, something that inhibits their ability to spot that “wrong” is “wrong” no matter who is doing the “wrong”.
They seem only capable of spotting bad behaviour when it’s done by someone outside of their bubble. Hell, in 50 years we very well might be thanking god for asus m6n battery,asus m67n battery the bush catalyst that caused the complete eradication of the dinosaurs formerly known as Repugnicunts
October 15th, 2008 at 3:58 am