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McCain Cancels Event with Controversial Fundraiser
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ShareJune 13, 2008 5:36 PM
ABC's Rick Klein reports: Sen. John McCain on Friday abruptly cancelled a Monday fundraiser that had been scheduled at the home of a Texas oilman, after ABC News contacted the campaign inquiring about a verbal blunder the Texan made during an unsuccessful 1990 campaign for governor.
Clayton Williams stirred controversy during his 1990 campaign for governor of Texas with a botched attempt at humor in which he compared rape to weather. Within earshot of a reporter, Williams said: “As long as it's inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it.”
His Democratic opponent at the time, the late Ann Richards -- who, coincidentally, would lose the governor’s mansion to George W. Bush in 1994 -- highlighted the comments in a TV ad during that 1990 campaign. View the ad HERE.
McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers said the Monday event was being cancelled, given the offensive comments. He said he could not yet say what McCain would do with donations brought into the campaign by Williams.
"These were obviously incredibly offensive remarks that the campaign was unaware of at the time this event was scheduled," Rogers said. He added that Williams apologized for the comments back in 1990, but he said that does not excuse them.
Williams told the Midland Reporter-Telegram recently that he had already raised more than $300,000 for McCain and the fundraiser to be held at his home in Midland. Williams said that he needed to help McCain raise money to stop an Obama campaign that would enact “socialist” policies if elected to office.
“Much of the media, particularly the TV media, are to the left,” Williams told the newspaper. “To combat that we must have money to put our case to the people. We are way behind on [fundraising]. If Obama wins, it could move our country to the left, from which we will not recover.”
UPDATE
The DNC is calling on the McCain campaign to return money raised by Williams.
Statement from DNC communications director Karen Finney:
"Mr. Williams' comments are not only outrageous and disgusting, they degrade our values as Americans. John McCain should make it clear that he understands just how offensive these comments are by not only canceling a fund-raising event but also returning the money Wlliams raised for his campaign. Senator McCain should know that you cannot expect the American people to trust you if you say one thing when you stand on the stump and turn a blind eye to this kind of language when you think no one will notice."
June 13, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (326)
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That's an old "so called joke", but it never has been funny and is in poor taste. I am still not in McCain's corner, but Obama really worries me. If he's elected, he'll have a rubber stamp congress majority and thats' never a good thing. And with his liberal fiscal tax policy views it looks like a lot of socialist government programs are in the offing.
Posted by: LongT | Jun 13, 2008 8:16:01 PM
I don't know if a comment like that should still be so controversial 18 years later, but surely McCain's people knew about it. I think the comment cost Williams an election that was supposed to be a shoo in for him. It was a huge story in political news at the time.
Posted by: dave405 | Jun 13, 2008 8:17:38 PM
Well McCain is going to get a big boost on July 4th from Hillary Democrats, on that day all Hillary Democrats will be sending Obama money,we really do like McCain better and we are going to show you, you can count on us.
Posted by: Eric | Jun 13, 2008 8:17:56 PM
Well I guess if we follow the logic behind this guys joke, then if McBush wins then we should all just lay back and enjoy it, like his weather joke.
Posted by: Ben Dare | Jun 13, 2008 8:17:59 PM
Funny how Rightwingers will always make excuses for rotten people like this lowlife oilman. If Hitler or Stalin were in the GOP they would give them a pass and say all the terrible things they didshould be forgiven. Of course if was a Democrat who made a mistake many years ago they would never let that pass.
Posted by: AJ | Jun 13, 2008 8:22:23 PM
Obamasbeenlyn...I like the old so called joke. The reson it has been around so long is that it is good.
Posted by: Eric | Jun 13, 2008 8:23:52 PM
And this is the guy that angry Hillary supporters want to support?
"I don't care that McCain couldn't care less about women's rights...I'm going to vote for him because I'm MAD that Hillary lost"
GEESH !!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Order | Jun 13, 2008 8:27:14 PM
Want continues high oil prices and much more record profits vote McCain. Big oil and big corporations own McCain. John McCai is a lobiests best friend.He will do all he can to help the wealthy get richer and screw the rest of us in the process.
Posted by: AJ | Jun 13, 2008 8:27:38 PM
Which will move our country to the left, from which we will not recover? Really? God bless America, it's about time! I was beginning to think the whole country had gone to hell. Boys...as long as it's inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it.
Posted by: faulpelz | Jun 13, 2008 8:28:48 PM
Really Obama's Trinity Church made quite an impression, we would rather have a Republican than a raict cult. Obama scares us.
Posted by: Eric | Jun 13, 2008 8:29:01 PM
Isn't it ironic that all of these politicians cancel these events, relationships, etc., "when" they get caught. Shows how much, or lack of, investigation when it comes to money.
Posted by: Don | Jun 13, 2008 8:31:04 PM
McCain is the Second Coming of Bush Junior in more ways than one. He graduated 894th out of 899 in his class in college...making him one of the ONLY people in America as ignorant as Bush Junior. America can't afford another incompetent failure as president. That's why Obama will win and McCain will go down in flames. End of story.
Posted by: wilderrr | Jun 13, 2008 8:36:50 PM
Im not voting for McCain,Im voting against Obama simple as that.
Posted by: TH | Jun 13, 2008 8:39:24 PM
With all the comments that I see here decrying Obama as a 'socialist', I have to say this.
Your local police, fire and emergency services, as well as education, infrastructure, highways and military are 'socialized'. If you are against that, then answer me this--would you be willing to go without all of the above or should we each get an individual bill for the extent to which we use them?
Posted by: ofbyforthepeople | Jun 13, 2008 8:41:52 PM
John McCain loves America. Barak Obama, how do we know what he really feels/thinks?
Posted by: Kris in AL | Jun 13, 2008 8:44:14 PM
McCain isn't great,but we know he is great American.when Ipull the handle you can bet i'll vote someone who wants to help the country not distroy it.liberals are doing their best to make distroy it and make it a socialist state.it will no longer be the land of the free.the govermenttake over everything even you right to vote
Posted by: bruce | Jun 13, 2008 8:46:02 PM
TH: You must have read my mind. That is exactly my feeling.
Posted by: bb | Jun 13, 2008 8:48:53 PM
I think one major reason public schools are not working that well is that they are Government run.
Posted by: Eric | Jun 13, 2008 8:49:07 PM
When both of these candidate recognize and realize there are no perfect people, then they may get on with their campaigns. At the rate they are going by the time they finish rejecting and denouncing everybody who's trying to help them, there won't be anyone left.
I guess then we voter's will just have to vote for whomever we believe will be the better President. Without big money influence.
What a novel idea.
Posted by: MyAudacity | Jun 13, 2008 8:54:10 PM
Just Don't Feel Secure With Obama! Something About Him Troubles me and Many Of My Friends!
Posted by: Realist! | Jun 13, 2008 8:54:18 PM
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