McCain and His Unethical Ties to Developer Donald Diamond

"When considering John McCain’s history of unethical behavior, the list usually starts (and ends) with the Keating Five scandal in the 1980s, for which McCain was rebuked by the Senate Ethics Committee for having shown, at a minimum, poor judgment. In the aftermath, McCain helped improve his public image, and bury the scandal, by becoming an advocate of campaign-finance reform.

But the notion that McCain cleaned up his act may not be entirely true. Take, for example, Donald Diamond, a wealthy Arizona real estate developer and generous McCain contributor, who wanted some coastal land in California freed up by an Army base closing.

When Mr. Diamond wanted to buy land at the base, Fort Ord, Mr. McCain assigned an aide who set up a meeting at the Pentagon and later stepped in again to help speed up the sale, according to people involved and a deposition Mr. Diamond gave for a related lawsuit. When he appealed to a nearby city for the right to develop other property at the former base, Mr. Diamond submitted Mr. McCain’s endorsement as “a close personal friend.”

Writing to officials in the city, Seaside, Calif., the senator said, “You will find him as honorable and committed as I have.”

Courting local officials and potential partners, Mr. Diamond’s team promised that he could “help get through some of the red tape in dealing with the Department of the Army” because Mr. Diamond “has been very active with Senator McCain,” a partner said in a deposition.

For Mr. McCain, the Arizona Republican who has staked two presidential campaigns on pledges to avoid even the appearance of dispensing an official favor for a donor, Mr. Diamond is the kind of friend who can pose a test."

It gets worse...read the story here:

MCCAIN'S "INFLUENCE PEDDLING" FOR PROFIT

to be fair I didn't read all

Submitted by oldbeachbear on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 8:47pm.

but I read all I needed. To me, McCain seems not for the little guy.. This is the election in a nut shell, it doesn't matter if you are pink, white, yellow, orange, or black. Vote for the person who you feel will help you the most. I think some people have visions of grandeur...that being a republican will make them ..'look rich', feel rich, etc. I don't know. All I know is that who you vote for is gonna make you stand your ground financially, or go further down the rabbit hole. I know I'm not rich, I'm poor, but if things keep going the way they have...I could move a notch down from poor, I could be destitute! Do not be fooled, vote for who ever will do you the most good. I don't care if the SOB is selling boot leg whiskey out of the back of his car...VOTE FOR WHO HAS YOUR BEST INTEREST AT HEART!...YOU WILL BE BETTER OFF! It is just that simple...at then end of the day, will this person help you and your family have a better life, or...will you be watching someone else have one?

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So What, is this illegal now?

Submitted by Robert W. Morgan on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 8:15pm.

Teapot Dome, Whitewater, now this. What is your point? Should we vote for Obama because of this?

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Everyone one of them....

Submitted by Cyclist on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 8:31pm.

has dirt in their hands.
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Back off, you.

Submitted by FourLeggedWord on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 8:27pm.

Well, this seems to be pretty unbiased (I mean, consider the opening) and based off of fact, so my guess is that you're supposed to come to your OWN conclusion.
Sheesh.
You can vote for anybody you want to. Don't be so pushy.

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