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DEL.ICIO.USWatchdog group calls on McCain to cancel Atlanta fund-raiser because of Reed’s participation
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ralph Reed’s standing in national GOP circles is getting a test.
Campaign Money Watch, a campaign finance watchdog group, has just called on Republican presidential candidate John McCain to cancel plans for an Aug. 18 fund-raiser in Atlanta hosted in part by Reed, the former state GOP chairman and ex-leader of the Christian Coalition.
Here’s the original post that sparked the response.
The organization cites Reed’s association with Jack Abramoff, the disgraced Washington lobbyist now in federal prison for influence-peddling. Reed lost an ‘06 bid for lieutenant governor, largely because of revelations of that relationship — uncovered by McCain’s Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
“Will the real John McCain stand up, already?” asked David Donnelly, director of Campaign Money Watch. “Sen. McCain knows exactly how Ralph Reed helped Jack Abramoff defraud Indian tribes out of tens of millions of dollars, and how Reed lobbied on Abramoff’s behalf to protect sweatshop owners in the Northern Mariana Islands. Sen. McCain should spare himself any further embarrassment by canceling this event immediately. Whose help will he accept next? Tom DeLay’s?”
Update: A call to the McCain campaign by my colleague Aaron Gould Sheinin produced this response from Republican National Committee spokeswoman Katie Wright:
“I find it laughable they would go this route, considering Senator McCain chaired the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that investigated Jack Abramoff. I suggest they take a closer look at Barack Obama’s friends like convicted felon Tony Rezko or his National Co-Chairman Harry Reid, who took nearly $68,000 from Abramoff.”
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Comments
By Ga Values
August 11, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
After Reed’s failure in the Lt Governor race, it’s really hard to see how McCain can gain anything from being close to him. I doubt that Reed carried 1/2 of the Christian Coalition. McCain’s Georgia campaign is run out of Florida, which looks like a problem. Borz sure did a job on Saxby this morning so the Ga. GOP is not having a good few weeks.
By Mark
August 11, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
Ralph Reed is a parasite. I’m sure this fund raiser will go along just as planned and Ralph, who is quick to take credit for everything that goes well around him, will do the same here. Then when McCain’s campaign tanks around October, Ralph will be miles away saying “John who… I supported someone else…”
By LOL
August 11, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
ROFL. sounds about right….
By Robby
August 11, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
John McCain should do no such thing in canceling a much needed fund raiser with Ralph Reed. As a conservative I’m getting sick and tired of watching McCain throw conservative after conservative under the bus when it seems politically expedient to do so. Anyway, the left wing fringe hype over Reed is asinine. I think it’s funny how any conservative who has been effective in electioneering against Democrats is treated as some sort of anathema by the press and these so called “independent watch groups.” They’re more transparent than scotch tape.
By carlton
August 11, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
Mr. Baxter:
The next time Campaign Money Watch criticizes a Democrat, pls run that press release.
carlton
By obamasucks
August 11, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
George looney Clooney holds a fundraiser for Obama on foreign soil and no one some much as raises an eyebrow… talk about a double standard
By Paul from Milton
August 11, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
Gosh, an article criticizing McCain. What a shock coming from the AJC. How many more subscribers did you lose today?
By The Snark
August 11, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
Hey David Donnelly, the real McCain IS standing up. I the only one who remembers the “Keating Five”?
By RenaP
August 11, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
It looks like the Alzheimers is kicking in.
It amazes me that there are people that are actually ok with putting a 72 year old person in office. How out of tune could America possibly be?
By M
August 11, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
I’m sorry- did I miss something? Did George Clooney help Jack Abramhoff defraud folks also?
Just because you agree with someone’s political beliefs- or let’s say stated political beliefs, who knows if these guys really believe what they say or do what’s expedient-does not mean you overlook shady activity. I mean I liked what John Edwards says but you sure will not find me defending him now.
By Matt
August 11, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Carlton- I could not have said it better myself! But we are talking about the AJC…would you expect any different?
By Pay Attention
August 11, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
Paul from Milton, The article reported that Campagin Money Watch crticized McCain, not the AJC. Last I checked, it is still ok to report the news, which sometimes includes things you don’t want to hear. It’s absolutely ridiculous to suggest that a newspaper should just ignore the news because it doesn’t please everyone who reads it.
By Drewbob
August 11, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
I like the person who thinks it’s “asinine hype” over Ralph Reed. The guy is smarmy, was in bed with a convicted smarmer and defrauded the Indian tribes. He is exactly who should be thrown under a bus. It shows about as much respect as he showed for his supposed clients - to whom he apparently felt no loyalty.
By Bob
August 11, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
Snivel, whine. The hypocrisy of the left never fails to kick into high gear. If they can jump on a Christian, the glee is increased all the more.
Of course, since McCain is on the right side of the left, he may well follow their marching orders.
Which is why I’m not voting for either party’s liberal candidates.
By Ich bin ein Beginner
August 11, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this
“RenaP” wrote: It amazes me that there are people that are actually ok with putting a 72 year old person in office. How out of tune could America possibly be?
In addition to discriminating against older people, what other groups should be disqualified from the presidency? Women? Blacks? Gays?
What is amazing is that EGObama is running neck and neck with a 72-year old—despite the Chosen One having half a billion dollars to spend on his campaign.
Need any additional evidence that (1) many people don’t like EGObama’s ideas, and (2) most folks don’t trust him.
You should be embarrassed about the comments you made, but libs don’t possess the embarrassment gene. [See Edwards, John.]
By Tony
August 11, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this
Clooney is raising money on foreign soil. From non-citizens who have no business meddling in our affairs. They will and they do, but it only gets protested when its the GOP. Reed’s a jerk, but taking money for the Communist Chinese (as the Clintons did) isn’t admirable either.
By Bill
August 11, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
I just hope all of the trailer park, pick-up driving Republicans in this state and in the rest of the country continue voting Republican out of prejudice and fear so that the this country will always have a low income “working class” of uneducated white folks.
By Aaron Burr V. Mexico
August 11, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this
No Ichy,
Obama is running neck and neck with a 72 year old because the vast majority of the people in this country are STOOOOOOOPID.
They reelected Bush in 2004.
By ron
August 11, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
How many of the vast majority of the people who are STOOOOOOOPID are voting for Obama?Looks like about the same number that are voting for McCain,seeing as to how they’re neck and neck.
By Churchill
August 11, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
If the libs want, neck and neck really means that the Lib candidate is ahead because everybody in the whole wide world hate Republicans beacuse of Bush. Or Obama is neck and neck because the country is racist and evil. Take your pick. For verification of this theory, check out Aaron’s post. He hates the “Bitter-Clingers*” as much as Obama does.
*Bitter-Clinger= Americans that are God fearing, good, honest, and normal. Peace.
By Churchill
August 11, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this
It is Bush’s fault that Obama sucks. I hate bush because Obama is flaming out. It is Bush’s fault that Bush made Obama adopt McCain’s view on Georgia. It is Bush’s fault that some in my party will think that when I mention Georgia that I mean our state, when I really mean the former liberal/communist country that is trying to Westernize. It is Bush’s fault that the former Soviet Union is trying to wreck Obama by focusing the election on foreign policy. I hate Bush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Larry Craigstein
August 11, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
Conservs prefer taps at half-mast, their ignorance has led America to socialism, they preach fear for it is all they have left, hopefully Obama will be able to implement his intelligent strategy without the conservs scaring the public to pledge allegiance to hate. They sell fear of immigrants, believe freedom of religion equals Christianity, hate individual freedom unless they deem it necessary, deny equal rights for all, and deny true compassion for their fellow man. Enjoy your shrinking middle-class before it rises up. Conservative America Destroyers, Peace.
By Churchill
August 11, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this
Wackolibhack has hijacked my name. It is Bush’s fault that he did it. I hate wackolibs. Peace.
By Jane
August 11, 2008 11:38 PM | Link to this
Reed sold out his conservatism to the highest bidder. McCain would be better served by meeting with real conservatives who still have standing in the community.
By Meltdown
August 12, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
So Ralph’s a Christian now? Right - like Baby Bush is a conservative. Ralph’s what he’s always been, a cynical hack exploiting the ignorant and the credulous for personal gain. It’s about time the Goldwater GOP rose up and sent Ralph and all of his ilk packing.