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McCain Campaign Brings On Board Yet Another Operative McCain Once Blamed For Sliming Him During 2000 South Carolina Primary
October 18, 2008 1:29 PM
ABC News has learned that Warren Tompkins, one of the strategists of then-Gov. George W. Bush's South Carolina campaign in 2000 -- which Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., blamed for his family being slimed -- is now a part of the McCain-Palin campaign team, albeit in an "unofficial" role.
Tompkins, a protégé of Lee Atwater, has been dispatched to North Carolina to assess the state for the McCain-Palin campaign, Southern GOP strategists tell ABC News.
The McCain campaign says only that Tompkins has "no official role" with the campaign. The Raleigh News and Observer spotted Tompkins in the state "surveying North Carolina for the McCain campaign to determine what can be done to shore up the state."
The news of Tompkins being brought on board the McCain campaign brings to a total of three the number of GOP operatives McCain now is using despite the fact that he once held them responsible for the ugly campaign that contributed to his South Carolina primary defeat, a campaign in which McCain's wife Cindy was attacked for her past addiction to painkillers, and the McCains' adopted Bangladeshi daughter Bridget was targeted as his illegitimate black baby.
Last month, to the dismay of many McCain 2000 alumni, McCain hired another former Palmetto State opponent, Tucker Eskew.
This week, as a wave of robocalls attacking Obama has been reported across the country, and some of those calls have been tied to Jeff Larson and his firm FLS-Connect, a client of Bush's in 2000, whom McCain's team back then held responsible for anti-McCain robocalls.
The recipient of one of the new McCain robocalls, Minnesota Democratic County Commissioner Chris Shoff, was reported in the Huffington Post and the New York Times as having tied the call to FLS-Connect, which has been paid more than $8 million by the Republican National Committee during this election cycle.
The McCain campaign has refused to comment.
Eight years ago, of course, McCain was much chattier on the subject of these types of calls.
"A lot of phone calls were made by people who said we should be very ashamed about her, about the color of her skin," McCain told one interviewer. "Thousands and thousands of calls from people to voters saying 'You know the McCains have a black baby.' I believe that there is a special place in hell for people like those."
"You've seen it -- turn on the radio, turn on the television, and unfortunately now pick up the telephone and you'll hear a negative attack against John McCain," McCain said during a February 2000 GOP debate in South Carolina.
"At a town hall meeting a mother stood up and she said, 'Senator McCain, my son was 13 last year. We had a lot of trouble of explaining things to him that went on in Washington.' She said, 'Now he's 14. He's told me not long ago, "John McCain is my hero. He's the man I want to be like." Well, last night he came into her room,' she said, 'and he had tears in his eyes because he had answered the phone and the phone call, even though he told the caller that he was 14, said, "Do you know that John McCain is a liar, and a thief and cheat?"' Well, that night I called my people together. I said, 'Take down our response ad. We're running nothing but a positive campaign from now on.' I committed to that, I promise that."
In 2001, McCain said he was "very unhappy" about his family being attacked, specifically identifying "the phone calls that said, 'Do you know that Cindy McCain's a drug addict?'...Phone calls saying, 'Do you know the McCains have a black baby?'" Phone calls, he told Rolling Stone magazine that went out to the voting public of South Carolina "by the hundreds of thousands, yeah. And, you know, that's really the ugly underside of politics."
In Maine, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine -- an original member of McCain's 2008 campaign kitchen cabinet who's up for re-election -- recently said the calls "don’t serve John McCain well. This kind of campaign call does not reflect the kind of leader that he is.”
-- jpt
October 18, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (163)
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If Obama gets elected, and does all that he says about the taxes say goodbye to prosperity. And of course Guns. And Bibles. He was not a Christian when he first started working with black pastors in Chicago. Till one of them asked O "what Church did you attend"? That's when he chose a Church to his liking. A "Hate America" Church.
His wife wrote a paper on her racial problems at her college and passed it around for comments to the other Black students. I think there 500 or so students. I think it was 5 returned the letter. One other black student when asked about her problems said this if there were any problems it because of what she was doing, not because of the color of her skin.
Don't tell me those Obama's don't have a problem with people who have white skin. YES, THEY DO.
Posted by: Mikel | Oct 19, 2008 3:13:47 AM
Remember Brame in Washington State? A chief of Police who was going through a divorce. He also was threatening his wife. Nobody stopped him and he killed his wife and himself.
That Commissioner has put Gov Palin and her husband and thier sister and her ten year old kid at risk. Remember this, The Trooper tazed his ten year old kid with his tazer. A clear Domestic Violence Act. He should have been arrested and had his weapons taken away from him for the families safety. Shame on all of you for accusing the Gov of Abusing her power.
Posted by: Mikel | Oct 19, 2008 3:00:25 AM
Barbara ...you are leaving if Obama gets elected?
How childish...what are you afraid of?
And I am a senior citizen, so I know what it has been like for a long time.
Obama/Biden '08
Posted by: Bev | Oct 19, 2008 2:41:28 AM
An Obama/Biden win : the end of civilization?
Give me a break. How dare Americans even incinuate that they are civilization? War-mongerers.
And with all honesty, we people from outside your "civilization" bubble would like a leader from your country who doesn't like going to war. McCain to the tune of Barbara Ann, "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran..."
Think of this: Does America get attacked by terrorists before or after they decide to invade a country?
Obama will mellow the US- hopefully put some brains to your playground bully country.
There is passion for Obama because people not only from the US want him to be president, also people outside. Because for once, it will be the chance for America to be governed by a leader who knows what it feels like to be a minority member- in this case black.
There is still racism in America. Hispanics vs Blacks vs Asians vs Whites. And hopefully an Obama win will bring to realization a truly equal view among individuals regardless of color or race.
PS.
Sarah Palin represents the soccer mom? The problem with America is stereotyping. Black dude = has a felony record. Asian = me love you long time. Hispanic = I love taco bell! Can I do your garden?
Sarah Palin is not like you. Yes, she is a woman the same way that all women share the same genitalia. Yes, she has kids and so does the rest of the population of the world. Yes, she goes too church and believes everything she is taught there hook, line and sinker. But she isn't poor, she can afford a lot more than an average individual. No, she doesn't slave at home after getting home form the office.
America doesn't need a president who they can relate too. Would you like your drinking buddy to be president if you can relate to him? And about child health care, she would think of that naturally because she is a woman unlike Obama/Biden. You have flawed logic. Very.
Even animals are afraid of Sarah Palin. Ask the moose up there in Alaska.
Posted by: Linus | Oct 19, 2008 2:32:53 AM
@Patrick... Well observed, and very, very true observation. Mr. McCain would have served himself and his party much better by addressing the ISSUES facing AMERICANS rather than attempting to "wield a club" onstage in that final debate. The McCain-Palin ticket has no answers to the real issues, so they are employing scare tactics and smears to try and scare the American people into voting for him. And about choosing Sarah Palin as a running mate.... whoever told him that due to the success of Hillary Clinton, and her subsequent absence from the Democratic ticket; that it would be a campaign-saving move to choose a female running mate.....One question... What were you thinking? I personally am glad for the selection. This race COULD be much closer if the Republicans had made a RESPONSIBLE choice instead of throwing a "hail mary" out of desperation. 11/4/08... Judgement Day and redemption for 8 long years of destroying our countries' future. Good Riddance, gw...
Posted by: Douglas | Oct 19, 2008 2:30:32 AM
The young people of America are very aware of the price of liberty and free speech - we are fighting a war in Iraq now based upon the failed nation-building policies of Bush and McCain. Instead of lecturing the youth of the nation about their lack of political knowledge, perhaps we should analyze the mistakes that were made by the "older and wiser" citizens of this country that have us in the position we are in today. As far as the DEMs being responsible for the fiscal meltdown, the legislation that deregulated the financial system was passed when Congress was held by the REPUBLICANS. I recommend people understand the actual history before attempting to generalize the problems our nation face - otherwise you end up looking ill-informed and unintelligent...but then again, what would I know, I am a young American.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 19, 2008 2:19:03 AM
Its not surprising the digusting slime of the GOP need to lie to get elected they have been doing it for years. What we are seeing now are the last throes of a desperate party that knows they are going to be sent into the wilderness for a very long time. to the GOP and their slimey fear tactics I say goodbye and good riddance.
Posted by: califtom | Oct 19, 2008 2:09:48 AM
Let's face it, Obama has been focused on articulating his policy positions.
Meanwhile, McCain+Republican party are focused on dirty attacks - they've given up on being the leaders in policy thinking.
Shame and embarrassment for us conservatives.
Posted by: Patrick | Oct 19, 2008 2:08:09 AM
Sounds like we have a lot of young people on tonight. They don't have any idea what they are talking about. The last 14 months we have had high gas prices. Before that things were not bad. The DEMS. took over 2 years ago and all of this has been done in to prepare the way for Obama. With the DEMS in control and hating BUSH will not do anything that may make him look good. The DEMS have hurt this Country for Obama to win. You may think its been tough for the past 8 years, but I assure you ,you haven't seen anything bad yet. Just wait till Obama is elected. Young people have been totally brainwashed as far as this Country is goes. They do not understand how people had to die for their rights to even speak. Obama is at the present time stopping people from talking about him. His attorneys just send letters claiming they will sue. Just wait till there are not jobs, because there there are no rich people who own them or are still left in America. You know people are free to take their money and leave. If this happens you will be in the bread lines. You will be given so much for only. Young people have NEVER had it bad in the COuntry. But, they are about to. And the deserve it. They need to learn a hard lesson. As for me and my family, we are leaving!! Enjoy!!!!
Posted by: Barbara | Oct 19, 2008 1:26:09 AM
I think it obvious to all reasonable people that McCain is willing to sacrifice the good image and decency of our country to get to the white house with his drug addicted wife. we may feel that this is all politics but the fact is that this is his true character. The apple does not fall too far from its tree. If he end up losing this election, the best thing for him would be to retire from public office. Being a war heron does not aways equate to decency.
Posted by: Andy | Oct 19, 2008 1:20:08 AM
i left out a letter..should have read "GWB having issued" sorry about the typo..late here.
Posted by: Texasatheist2 | Oct 19, 2008 1:19:08 AM
GWB haing issued 2 *t e r r o r i s t i c-t h r e a t s* to Iraq/Iran by saying he would attack them,makes himself the world (terrorist).
So what does that make McCain/Palin who said he would follow Bush policies?
Makes McCain also a **t e r r o r i s t** since he wants the US to stay 100 years more in Iraq..That is a *t e r r o r* to the Iraqui
people,plain and simple.
So why would anyone want to vote for a
known world **t e r r o r i s t** following the policies of The Decider/Dictator Bush?
No wonder the world hates our policies
thanks to Bush/McCain/Palin.So easy a 10 year old can figure it out.
Posted by: Texasatheist2 | Oct 19, 2008 1:14:25 AM
Hey John how can you even look at your daughters or your wife after selling out to the same people who slimed them
in 2000. Hell how can you look at yourself in the mirror. It can't be worth more than your family.You really can't be that sorry can you.
Posted by: Scott | Oct 19, 2008 12:45:18 AM
John McCain: Early Character Traits
graduated fifth in naval class
admits to slacking off serious studies;
broke vows of his first marriage;
War hero
Federal Senator
faced Ethics charges re Keating affair
Obama:Character
Worked his way through Harvard;
Got high grades
was president ofschool newspaper; helped others through community service
Taught Constitutional Law
Married, parent of two girls
Served as State and Federal Senator
Qualities for a President? The choice is clear
Posted by: Lou | Oct 19, 2008 12:39:17 AM
McCain's hiring of the same slime merchants used by Bush against him is nothing more than clear and convincing evidence that he has traded the last shred of his integrity, honor and decency, AND HAS BECOME EXACTLY LIKE BUSH. Maybe worse, because I don't think that anyone can argue that Cheney wasn't qualified to be VP or President, unlike that dimwit Palin. And speaking of Bible Spice, although actuarial tables give McCain a one-in-four chance of not surviving his first term, the odds of McCain simply becoming debilitated due to injury or disease and unable to fulfill his duties as President are actually much higher. Those who are still supporting McCain/Palin at this point reveal as much about their own lack of character as these candidates have with their despicable mudslinging campaign of lies and deceit. This is from a proud Independent who enthusiastically supported McCain in 2000. I don't even recognize this man anymore.
Posted by: Anthony Lewis | Oct 19, 2008 12:30:13 AM
Wanting any of the corrupt republican Bush vipers of hate shows how low McCain is going. McCain becomes more like Bush as each day passes.
Posted by: Vicki | Oct 19, 2008 12:23:43 AM
Tucker Eskew, the scum of the earth, wasn't filthy enough? What has happened to John McCain? How could he hire the people who slimed his own daughter? And all of the evidence showed that it wasn't working anyway. How could he do this? Unbelievable.
Posted by: mara | Oct 19, 2008 12:05:45 AM
If you can't beat them join them?
I didn't think there were going to be any new lows, but with Sarah Palin calling all city folks "unAmerican" and McCain choosing the dirty politics he "detested". I guess these two mavericks get the feeling they are being put out to pasture or worse,the glue factory.
Elmer Fudd and Elmers glue.
Posted by: val | Oct 18, 2008 11:52:05 PM
Mccain is history. He should live with it.
Posted by: bill | Oct 18, 2008 10:41:59 PM
mccain=honorless. This is as low as it gets America. He needs to turn it around for the sake of his very soul....come back to the light john!
Posted by: tehevo | Oct 18, 2008 10:39:44 PM
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