DEL.ICIO.USFormer Christian Coalition leader tied to scandal sent e-mail for Atlanta fund-raiser
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/14/08
Ralph Reed's involvement in an upcoming Atlanta fund-raiser for John McCain has the presidential candidate fending off an onslaught of criticism from Democrats.
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 OSCAR SOSA/SPECIAL |
| Ralph Reed's firm received more than $4 million to rally Christian voters against a casino that competed with lobbyist Jack Abramoff's Indian clients. |
 LYNNE SLADKY/AP |
| Abramoff is serving a six-year prison term, but John McCain's Senate Indian affairs committee never called Reed to testify when it was investigating in 2005 and 2006. |
Reed, the former head of the Christian Coalition, was tied to the corruption scandal involving Jack Abramoff, the highly paid Washington lobbyist now serving a six-year prison term. Much of the Abramoff scandal was exposed by an investigation led by McCain when he chaired the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
McCain's campaign said Tuesday that Reed has no official role in the presidential campaign. But that didn't stop Democrats from castigating Reed's participation in Monday's fund-raiser at the Marriott Marquis.
"John McCain's decision to cozy up to one of the central figures in the Republican culture of corruption shows how far he is willing to go to win," said Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean. "Despite all of his rhetoric about reform, McCain's willingness to accept money raised by tainted Abramoff cronies like Ralph Reed shows that McCain simply cannot be trusted to bring change to Washington politics."
The Georgia Democratic Party was even more blunt. "John McCain says he takes the high road, and then he comes to Atlanta and chows down on shrimp cocktail with an unindicted co-conspirator," party spokesman Martin Matheny said.
The Republican National Committee struck back. Katie Wright, a spokeswoman, called the attacks "baffling" considering McCain led efforts to uncover Abramoff's corruption. McCain, she said, "has a solid record of integrity."
Democrats have Abramoff's dirt on their shoes as well, she said, noting that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) accepted nearly $70,000 in contributions from Abramoff and his associates.
Link began in 2000
All this, apparently, from one e-mail. On Aug. 7, Reed wrote friends and supporters asking them to give to Monday's fund-raiser. He praised McCain and said he had joined the "McCain Victory 2008" team in a message that was billed as a "special invitation from Ralph Reed."
McCain Victory 2008 is a joint fund-raising venture of the McCain campaign, the RNC and various state Republican parties.
The first hint of controversy came Monday when Campaign Money Watch, a Washington group that monitors campaign finance, called on McCain to cancel the event.
"Senator McCain knows exactly how Ralph Reed helped Jack Abramoff defraud Indian tribes out of tens of millions of dollars," Campaign Money Watch director David Donnelly said. "Senator McCain should spare himself any further embarrassment by canceling this event immediately."
Reed's firm received more than $4 million to rally Christian voters against a casino that competed with Abramoff's Indian clients.
Although McCain's committee uncovered much of Abramoff's shenanigans, McCain never called Reed to testify. Reed was not charged in the subsequent Justice Department investigation, although the scandal helped sink his 2006 bid for the Georgia GOP's nomination as lieutenant governor.
McCain and Reed's history goes back to 2000, the first time McCain ran for president. His bid was derailed in the South Carolina primary by a whispering campaign of false charges. Reed oversaw direct mail for George W. Bush's campaign in the state.
McCain has tried to heal wounds from 2000. They include a rift with some evangelicals, whom McCain criticized after the devastating loss. For some, such as the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, that reconciliation was successful. For others, it was not.
Evangelical votes needed
All this creates an electoral minefield for McCain. Having Reed's support could bolster his campaign with still-skeptical evangelicals. Should McCain criticize Reed's actions on his behalf, he risks angering the evangelical voters he needs as part of the traditional Republican base. Reed's presence also leaves McCain open to criticism, since he uses his work against Abramoff to boost his reputation as a reformer.
Damien LaVera, a DNC spokesman, struck that chord Wednesday.
Reed's involvement in the Atlanta event, LaVera said, "raises serious questions about why he [McCain] didn't bring Ralph Reed before his committee. Was he concerned it would undercut his presidential campaign? Now you see Ralph Reed raising money for his campaign."
The McCain campaign has said little about the fund-raiser or the Reed controversy. McCain spokesman Jeff Sadosky said that "Ralph Reed is not part of our fund-raising organization in the state of Georgia, nor is he part of this event."
Reed initially told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday that he sent last week's e-mail as a private citizen, and that he has no role in the campaign. But he reportedly told The Hill, a newspaper that covers Congress, that he was asked to do so by Jamie Reynolds III, McCain's Georgia finance committee chairman.
Reynolds was not in his office Wednesday and did not return a telephone message. When contacted for clarification on why he sent the e-mail last week, Reed's office issued a statement.
"I take the long view of politics, which is that yesterday's opponent can be tomorrow's friend or ally," the e-mailed statement said. "I have found this to be the case with Senator McCain. I am supporting him because he is running on principled conservative positions on taxes, judges, terrorism, energy, values and the family. I hold no position, title or official role in the McCain campaign and am not seeking one."
Political charge
The issue has some here scratching their heads.
"I was very intrigued when I heard reports that Ralph Reed was actively fund-raising for McCain," said Jim Beck, executive director of the Georgia Christian Coalition. "I was curious as to whether or not Senator McCain knew that Ralph Reed was actively fund-raising for him."
Mark DeMoss, a GOP political strategist from Gwinnett County who specializes in evangelical voters, sees a problem for the larger political system.
"The whole process on both sides of the aisle is getting so politically charged," said DeMoss, who said he received both Reed's e-mail and an official invitation to Monday's event. "Someone can certainly take issue with Ralph Reed's politics or his conservative views," DeMoss said, "but I would hate to think Senator McCain would decline Ralph's effort to recruit some people to attend a fund-raiser in Atlanta. Ralph has friends and he has enemies. Anyone who's been in politics for long, the same could be said."
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Comments
By nick_lacaal
Dec 25, 2008 11:30 PM | Link to this
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Dec 25, 2008 11:30 PM | Link to this
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Dec 25, 2008 11:29 PM | Link to this
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By racmonzelsit
Oct 26, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
domelttro
By racmonzelsit
Oct 26, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this
domelttro
By wcwalters
Oct 9, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this
McCains Shady Company
James Hensley: Felon convicted on 7 counts was father of McCain's wife, and financed McCain into politics.
Charles Keating: 12 ý years in prison for racketeering. Keating Jr. paid McCain $112,000 in political contributions.
Rick Renz: Congressman, AZ: McCain's AZ campaign co-chairman accused of embezzling $400,000.
Ralph Reed: Jack Abramoff 's partner & key in Abramoff scandal is part of McCain's Victory 2008 team. Abramoff: Serving a six-year jail sentence for illegal lobbying activities
Rick Davis: McCain's campaign mgr., arranged McCain to meet Russian aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska whose links to organized crime caused the US to revoked his entry visa in 2006. Mortgage crisis Freddie Mac paid $15,000 a mo. to Davis, from 2005 to last mo., contradicting McCain's statement that Davis, had no recent involvement with the company. Hypocrite McCain promised to eliminate political influence peddling yet kept a major lobbyist as his campaign mgr.
Gordon Liddy served four and a half years in prison for the Watergate burglary. He donated $5,000 to McCain's campaigns including $1,000 in February 2008. McCain appeared on Liddy's radio show as recently as May. An online video labeled "John McCain On The G. Gordon Liddy Show 11/8/07? includes a discussion between Liddy and McCain, whom Liddy described as an "old friend." During the segment, McCain praised Liddy's "adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great," said he was "proud" of Liddy, and said that "it's always a pleasure for me to come on your program." Just last year, McCain expressed how "proud" he was of an ex-felon who urged shooting law enforcement agents in the head
By jefflz
Aug 15, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
McCain's association with anti-abortionist bigot Ralph Reed fits perfectly with his management by the Karl Rove team of the Big Lie and Smear. These handlers have muzzled McCain so he can no longer make a fool of himself in front of reporters on his bus. They have cut way back on his favorite platform, the Town Hall, because he can't answer the questions. Having Reed on board cements him with the religious right and provides another reactionary mouthpiece for his ugly campaign. Maverick? Straight-talker? - what a joke! He is nothing more than addled old hack who has turned over his campaign to the worst elements in US politics. Why? Because he is incompetent.
By NinaK
Aug 14, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
McCain has played up to the evangelists, he has had to use disclaimers for a couple of those whose support for which he begged and got, then had to disclaim them because their were anti-American and anti-Jewisish and anti-Catholic. See, McCain USES and ABUSES those he used and abused before if they can be of good to him! Watch, now that the fundraiser is over, watch McCain DENOUNCE AND REJECT HIM!! McCain is nothing more than a corrupt cretin of the worst kind!! He is really making the Russians angry with his overr-agressive threats!! Russia is a powerful country and NOT a small country like IRAQ that McCain and his cronies can just go in and start bombing!! McCain has NO business threatening Russia, he is NOT the president, nor will he be president! He has dispised/hated Russia all of his adult life, do you thing Russian leaders WILL WANT TO WORK WITH McCain?? I, myself, sincerely doubt it!! We do NOT NEED MORE ENEMIES THAN WE ALREADY HAVE. IN FACT WE SHOULD BE WORKING TO HAVE MORE ALLIES AND LESS ENEMIES. Things can get resolved between Russia and Georgia through firm and intelligent diplomatic means. McCain is too quick to threaten and act like HE has any influence at at all at this time!! He does not....SO, WHO IS ACTING LIKE HE IS ALREADY THE PRESIDENT??? McCAIN!!! A War-mongering McCain. Electing McCain is a GUARANTEED WORLD WAR III!!
By NinaK
Aug 14, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
McCain just does not match up with INTEGRITY and good character!! He PROVES his lack of integrity and nasty character each and every day with his consistent lies, slander, and shameful PERSONAL AND political attack on Senator Obama! True, McCain came back from VietNam after his faithful wife waited and took care of their children for the five years John was a POW. When he returned he found his wife was a little overweight, limped, and was about five inches short due to a near deadly car accident. His wife was no longer "good enough" for him; he embraced the role of a "Don Juan" and started having multiple affairs with various women until he settled on and shacked up with the 22 year old Cindy. McCain was 40 years old at this time. He and Cindy could hardly wait to GET RID OF CAROL McCain, they got their marriage licence BEFORE the divorce was final and married FIVE WEEKS later!! Even though McCain's character and MULTIPLE AFFAIRS WITH MULTIPLE WOMEN happened years ago, they DID happen AFTER he was a POW. Since he is using his POW status of approximately 35 years ago as THE MAIN VEHICLE to get to the White House, His gross MISCONDUCT POOR JUDGEMENT, and POOR CHARACTER MUST BE FAIR GAMEE, JUST LIKE JOHN EDWARD'S NE AFFAIR IS FAIR GAME!! IN FACT, McCain should be more deeply scrutinized because it was NOT ONE WOMAN, THERE WERE MANY, MANY ARRAIRS WITH MANY, MANY WOMEN. McCain is running for President just as Edwards was, let's be FAIR and CONDEMN BOTH FOR THEIR AFFAIRS AND THEIR LIES. YES, McCain lied to the U.S. Navy and to his wife....in those days, if an officer commited adultry he was kicked out of the Armed Forces....,.unless of course if DADDY ADMIRAL pulled more strings!! By the way, that was the ONLY way McCain got in the Naval Academy and the ONLY way he was assigned as a fighter pilot. McCain just did not have the intelligence or the smarts to keep us with his classmates--graduating 5th from the bottom of his class speaks for itself. A D- AVERAGE!!
By Marvin
Aug 14, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
McCain's followers believe he is a man of "integrity" but his life shows what he is really like: A) divorce wife and abandon kids, B) jump in bed with big oil, C) jump in bed with Ralph Reed, D) been in bed with Keating, E) still in bed with "W" and evil Dick. These are just the obvious clues to his character. The man is morally bankrupt!
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