McCain Comments On Involvement In Keating Five: ‘It Was A Very Unhappy Period In My Life’
McCain Comments On Involvement In Keating Five: ‘It Was A Very Unhappy Period In My Life’
During the savings and loan scandal in the late 1980s, Charles Keating — a wealthy Arizona businessman and chairman of the failed Lincoln Savings and Loan Association — turned to John McCain to ask for his assistance as he was trying to stave off the government intervention. Keating found a champion for deregulation in McCain.
Soon after arriving in Congress, McCain flew on Keating’s corporate plane to vacations in the Bahamas. He “did not pay for most of the trips until years later, when the matter became public.” By 1987, “McCain had received about $112,000 in political contributions from Keating and his associates.” McCain was investigated and ultimately admonished by the Senate ethics committee. Keating went to prison.
McCain’s involvement in the “last great financial scandal in our country” has largely been ignored by the media. But local Ohio reporter Tom Beres finally forced McCain to comment on the Keating Five scandal in an interview yesterday. “Talk of greedy bankers, lax regulation brings back memories of the Keating Five,” Beres reported:
BERES: Is there some relevance of that chapter, which I think you have acknowledged was maybe not your proudest moment?
MCCAIN: It was a very unhappy period in my life. But the fact is that I moved forward and I have been the greatest voice for reform and against corruption in Washington than anybody.
Watch it:
McCain made his comments on the same day the New York Times reported that his campaign manager’s lobbying firm was receiving $15,000 monthly payments from Freddie Mac — a company that McCain has said is rife with “corruption.” Also on the same day, it was reported that McCain’s transition director made $260,000 lobbying for Freddie Mac. The New York Times reports McCain received $169,000 from “directors, officers, and lobbyists for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac” for the 2008 campaign cycle.
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unhappy period? That’s it?
September 24th, 2008 at 12:06 pmMcPutz knows no shame.
MCCAIN: It was a very unhappy period in my life.
– - Yeah, those semi-mea culpas go a long way to restoring the life savings that some people had stolen from them.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:08 pmI have been the greatest voice for reform and against corruption in Washington than anybody.
BULLSHIT.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:08 pm“It was a very unhappy period in my life.”
And now we’re unhappy that you are in our lives, you doddering old fool.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:08 pmHe should have been overjoyed to get away with just a light slap on the wrist! He deserved worse!
September 24th, 2008 at 12:08 pmBush and Palin are WAY better liars than JonnieMac.
Righties don’t care any more if their heroes are out-and-out liars. I think they actually delight in it, because they are sickies.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:10 pmWith this mess going on in the banking industry, it’s the perfect time to re-visit the Keating-5 scandal.
Let’s sink that corrupt old bastard.
¶ AIO
September 24th, 2008 at 12:11 pmAIO,
I agree whole-heartedly and have been wondering why this hasn’t been a major Dem talking point for months. It shows where Johnny Boy stands; Deep in the pockets of the Lobbyists.
If ever there was a poster child for corrupt politicians in the financial world, he would be at the top of the heap.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:12 pmHopefully Senator McIIIrd can start another unhappy period of his life on November 5th.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:12 pmthis one stinks to
high heaven.
*
good luck.
^
September 24th, 2008 at 12:12 pmWait a minute, maybe its McCain’s “secret plan” to stop corruption in Wall Street. He keeps Rick Davis close and taking money from Fannie Mae at the same time he is also taking money from Fannie Mae. Keep them real close to keep an eye on those corrupt bankers. Yeah that must be it, keep your enemies close and tell everyone else, “Get off my lawn!!”.
But its a “secret plan” like how he is going to get Osama bin Lauden. so Shhhhhhh.
Excuse me, must go back to banging my head against my desk. It seems to help me understand McCain better, the harder I hit my head………
September 24th, 2008 at 12:15 pmAn unhappy period in HIS life? What about the people who lost their life savings, many of whom were retirees. He’s a blathering, senile old man who should be sitting in a rocking chair in one of his many homes.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:20 pmSorry for the OT. I posted this on the ThinkFast thread, but thought more of you would see it here:
Anyone see the article on salon.com about a dutch reporter who claims to have worked undercover for the McCain campaign’s department of lies in their Virginia office as recently as earlier this month? She worked for a Phil Tuchman ghostwriting letters to the editors on behalf of McStain/Failin. They gave her example letters and talking points and was encouraged to be whoever she wanted to be in the letters. She wrote one letter posing as a proud middle American mom with a (fictional) son in the Iraq War, extolling the genius and appeal of Sarah Palin. She was instructed to leave the signature line blank as these letters are then e-mailed to supporters in various battleground states, signed and forwarded to the Letters to the Editors sections of local newspapers.I was aware that the practice of asking supporters to submit letters on behalf of their candidates has a long tradition, but ghostwriting fictional stories, stocked with talking points and signed and circulated by small town supporters to local papers? How un-American and completely un-ethical is the McCain campaign? We’ve all read letters in the editorial section and said to ourselves, “Is this idiot for real?” Well, apparently not by a long shot. We all know that many of our trolls are paid and owned by the RNC but this special type of propaganda needs to be addressed by the MSM! Maverick my pale white azz!
September 24th, 2008 at 12:20 pmhttp://www.salon.com/ news/ feature/ 2008/ 09/ 24/ mccain_letters/
umm did you guys hear that martial law has been declared?
September 24th, 2008 at 12:21 pmUS Taxpayers And S & L Investors Comments On McCain’s Involvement In Keating Five: ‘It Was A Very Unhappy Period In Our Lives’»
September 24th, 2008 at 12:22 pmOff topic, but does anyone else think that Rick Davis looks creepily similar to Jeffery Dahmer?
Just askin’.
¶ AIO
September 24th, 2008 at 12:23 pmWayne; “secret plan” sounds too Nixonian don’t you think?
But then, I never could have imagined missing having Nixon to kick around. It’s amazing what having 8 years of chimpy will do to you.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:24 pmPlenty of S&L depositors were unhappy too, when they lost their life savings. Most of them don’t own seven houses.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:25 pmA Patriot Acting Says:
I was aware that the practice of asking supporters to submit letters on behalf of their candidates has a long tradition, but ghostwriting fictional stories, stocked with talking points and signed and circulated by small town supporters to local papers? How un-American and completely un-ethical is the McCain campaign?
September 24th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
_______
Didn’t the military get exposed for doing exactly the same thing about a year ago?
September 24th, 2008 at 12:25 pmHeads up my fellow Floridians.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:25 pmSo are we even surprised? They are corrupt through and through. Democrats need to be throwing this in their face and making them deny it if they can. That’s the type of message the sheeple can understand–he’s done it once (or more if we guess accurately) and he’ll do it again.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:26 pmI think you’re on to something there, tombaker.
I’m beginning to suspect that this whole McSame-Palin is a the result of a bet being waged by the evil geniuses who got an idiot elected twice. They’re snickering behind the scenes in 2007 and saying, “what can we do for an encore?” and one of ‘em snaps his fingers and says, “I got it! We’ll run a short-tempered geriatric with bad judgment and get HIM elected too!” His buddy laughs and says, “You’ll never pull it off.”
“Wanna bet?”
“You’re on. Only you’ve got to saddle him with rabid right-wing small-town mayor as a running mate.”
“No problem. But a small-town mayor? That might be beyond even my abilities to sell.”
“Okay, okay, we’ll compromise; the new governor of Alaska was a small-town mayor. She took a town with no debt and left it $22 million in the hole.”
“She? She’s a woman?”
“Yep.”
“Hmmm…. I like it. It’s kinky.”
“Shall we make it the usual wager?”
“Done. A dollar.”
It makes more sense than the conventional explanation — that Republicans actually think these two are the best choices to serve in the highest offices of the land.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:27 pmThe fact the McCain is still in the race as the republican candidate tells us all we need to know about the state of our country. In normal times – or in a normal country – he would have been pushed out of the race simply because he left his first wife to marry a rich, drug addled robot. The enough should have turned off all his ‘potential’ supporters and voters. But here we are, still seeing his ugly mig all over the TeeVee, lying his face off.
Dude: where’s my country?
September 24th, 2008 at 12:27 pmOT- yesterday, I received in the mail from the Michigan GOP, an absentee ballot application form. Something from the Rethugs is suspect in itself. I did not solicit for this particular “mailing”
Is this some kind of attempt at “voter caging”?
I’d like to hear what you others think.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:30 pmRUCerious Says: #9
Yes! And then since Cindy won’t be first lady she’ll dump McScandal like a load of trash.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:31 pmalphainfinityomega Says:
Off topic, but does anyone else think that Rick Davis looks creepily similar to Jeffery Dahmer?
Just askin’.
AIO, I’ve been saying it for days. Apparently, so has Jane.
We’ve been wondering what Rick’s hiding in his freezer? Wayne suggested we not eat at his barbeques.
And I’ve suggested that this is how Rick gets a-head!
But perhaps we’re all a little twisted. This is what happens after months of spin!
PEACE
September 24th, 2008 at 12:32 pmMcKeating, you can’t win at poker when everyone can see your hand.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:36 pmold_hack Says:
umm did you guys hear that martial law has been declared?
Seems like some in DC are more concerned about the “fundamentals” of the economy than they’re letting on.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:38 pmUncle Ho Says:
——————————————————————————–
OT- yesterday, I received in the mail from the Michigan GOP, an absentee ballot application form. Something from the Rethugs is suspect in itself. I did not solicit for this particular “mailing”
Is this some kind of attempt at “voter caging”?
I’d like to hear what you others think.
Yes. Lee Rayburn, who subbed for Thom Hartman on Air America a couple of weeks ago went into this story. Dozens of people called from every battleground state saying they received these strange applications from the GOP. All of them were registered Democrats. Many of them said the applications contained inaccurate submission addresses, so that the applications would go to the wrong county clerk and be discarded. Also, some said there was an inconspicuous box which needed to be checked at the bottom which, if left unchecked, would cause their removal from the voter rolls.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:47 pmI hope McCain is prepared for what is surely likely to be yet another unhappy moment in his life. I’m talking about the period beginning the day he becomes history’s laughing stock, and answer to the trivia question “who was President Obama’s first opponent for the White House?” This “unhappy moment” will extend to the expiration of his dying breath.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:53 pmUncle Ho Says:
Wayne; “secret plan” sounds too Nixonian don’t you think?
But then, I never could have imagined missing having Nixon to kick around. It’s amazing what having 8 years of chimpy will do to you.
Nixon was a saint compared to Bush and the Wrecking Crew Republicans.
What Chimpy has done to me is give me a greater appreciation of Jefferson’s discourses on tyranny, greed and corruption. The republicans in 8 years returned us to the Robber Baron days and the clowns are still ripping us off.
This bailout will be the biggest haul ever and I bet 10 to 1 not one of these crooked bastards will see jail time.
September 24th, 2008 at 12:58 pmMcCain has the morals of George Castanza on “Seinfeld” who said, “Jerry, just remember, it’s not a lie if you believe it.”
September 24th, 2008 at 1:01 pmI think if McCain and Palin win the election we’ll be wishing we had Bush and Cheney back.
September 24th, 2008 at 1:07 pmOn Tuesday, paleo-conservative columnist George Will joined Mitt Romney and a long list of Republicans in warning Americans about John McCain’s decidedly unpresidential temperament. “Under the pressure of the financial crisis,” Will wrote, McCain reacted “furiously.” Alas, McCain’s rage now is just a repeat of his 1989 temper tantrum as the Keating Five scandal enveloped him during the last U.S. financial meltdown.
For the details, see:
September 24th, 2008 at 1:08 pm“Two Financial Crises, Two McCain Tantrums.”
spencers mom:
I must have missed your comments about Ricks looks.
Darn, I thought that I had an original observation.
Oh well, at least I’m not the only one who noticed it. LOL
¶ AIO
September 24th, 2008 at 1:23 pmKeating Five McCain is a LIAR, HYPOCRITE and FRAUD.
September 24th, 2008 at 1:24 pmShayne Says:
I think if McCain and Palin win the election we’ll be wishing we had Bush and Cheney back.
If McCain and Palin win, it is proof that America’s gene pool needs more chlorine.
September 24th, 2008 at 1:29 pmHammerin’ Hank says, “No” to equity in banks for taxpayers’ loans. Then tell ‘em to go pound sand!
September 24th, 2008 at 2:03 pmMcCain’s involvement with the Keating 5 is much more benign than Obama’s involvement with a terrorist (Ayers), racist (Wright), political mafioso (Boss Dale of Chicago), and so forth and so on. McCain has been involved in politics a long time, and naturally some associations don’t always work out. Obama’s short “career” as a community organizer, teacher of legal theory, and political candidate have already resulted in wide array of unsavory characters that I wouldn’t want to have access to the White House front door.
Be honest with yourself–Obama is a media construct and hype. He’s all about making you feel good about yourself, and that’s all you really want, right?…
September 24th, 2008 at 2:05 pmHe’s just referring to the part where he got caught. Ask him what he thinks of the Bahamas and Lear Jets. :)
September 24th, 2008 at 2:07 pmThe sadness of all those Keating perks – money and otherwise were gone (Keating 5: 4 democrats and 1 republican).
Sadness that he was caught and admonished by his colleagues.
Sadness his fiend Charles Keating faced time in the slammer.
Probably not too sad that thousands were left holding a big bag of nothing, he kept his job in the Senate.
September 24th, 2008 at 2:28 pmSeptember 24th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
MCCAIN: It was a very unhappy period in my life. But the fact is that I moved forward and I have been the greatest voice for reform and against corruption in Washington than anybody.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:25 pm…and one that will never forget!!!!!! Specialy on election day!
And let’s not forget about McCain’s son, Andrew. I wrote about Andrew McCain back in July.
Andrew K. McCain, son of John McCain, has resigned two high posts in the banking industry.
Andrew McCain stepped down from the boards of Silver State Bancorp and Silver State Bank of southern Nevada for “personal reasons”. Uh-huh, like he doesn’t want to be dragged down with a failing bank that the American Taxpayers will have to bail out.
Families lost $20 million in the Silver State failure (because they had over the FDIC insured $100,000).
September 24th, 2008 at 3:31 pmhttp://thelieshavenotimproved.blogspot.com/
What is it about the repubs that they think they are the only ones that experience suffering:
keating 5 was unhappy for McCain. I wonder if those that were bilked experienced anything ?
McCain’s daughter writes a biography about him for children and says that he is the only one that understands the suffering of families in war. I can think of over 4,000 families who had a death in the family who may disagree.
Shrub and family proclaim that Bush suffers more than anyone about the war.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:56 pmVery unhappy about getting caught, nothing more than self-interest.
September 24th, 2008 at 4:05 pmIt’s all about him, huh?
Yeah, like Vietnam. A very unhappy period in his life — he was a POW, you know!
September 24th, 2008 at 7:53 pmtigger Says:
It’s all about him, huh?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Exactly because that was the REAL tragedy of the S&L crisis the way it made HIM feel bad. All those people who lost their lives savings was just an inconvienience
September 24th, 2008 at 8:21 pmAccording to William Black, termed a ‘lead investigator’ in the Keating Five probe…
“Senator McCain was unique among the five Senators in have a direct financial conflict of interest, involving direct financial investments.” Former regulator Black is unforgiving. He went on to say, “On judgement, ethics and truthfulness, he [McCain] failed this test as badly as you can fail.”
It appears nothing has changed in the ensuing years. On judgement, ethics and truthfulness, Senator McCain continues to fail each of these tests as badly as you can fail.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:44 pm#s 16 & 26: Holy crap! You guys are absolutely correct! I knew there was something really creepy about him but I couldn’t put my finger on it. That’s it though — he looks like Dahmer.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:13 pmYeah, as one poster pointed out, he was happy as hell UNTIL HE GOT CAUGHT! Otherwise, he would probably STILL be caught up in supporting that bunch.
By the way, is there anyone out there that can explain how being a POW qualifies one for the highest office in the land? We have had hundreds of POW’s from several wars. Does that qualify THEM to be president too? His spokeperson even attributed his ignorance of computers to his “injuries as a POW.” Yet, it only takes fingers to work a computer and you see him day after day out there waving his arms, pointing, gestures, etc., yet he can’t use his fingers to work a computer?! Give me a break: the man is just living in the 1950’s or so, and we DO NOT NEED A PRESIDENT LIKE THAT!
September 25th, 2008 at 10:39 amYou people need to get a grip and look at who you are backing.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:09 pmThis country will really be in a mess if barry gets elected.
Look at who his associates are.