McCain 2008
GOP presidential nominee Ariz. Sen. John McCain
McCain addresses Abramoff hearings in nationwide conference call
By
Vincent Schilling, Today correspondent
Story Published:
Oct 27, 2008
Story Updated:
Oct 27, 2008
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Across the country, supporters of Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his vice presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, took part in McCain’s “Super Saturday” campaign event Oct. 25 in an effort to garner support for the ticket. Part of the event entailed a conference call in which supporters would be able to directly ask him questions.
He mentioned that he was not afraid to address any issues regarding Native people, even if it meant challenging people within the GOP.
“I would like to mention that one of the aspects of serving on the Indian Affairs Committee for many years and taking charge and being involved in Indian health issues and tribal sovereignty and land issues was that when we found out that this guy [Jack] Abramoff was ripping off Indian tribes [in the amount] of millions and millions of dollars,” he said, referring to a scandal involving a lobbyist who had bilked American Indian tribes to the tune of tens of millions in false fees and tribal services. McCain was then the chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, which conducted hearings on the matter. Abramoff and others were convicted and sentenced to jail time.
“I went after him, and I knew he was Republican. I knew he was a powerful Republican lobbyist. I went after him, he is in prison, others are in prison because of that scandal; and I am not afraid to take on my party or the other party if I see that corruption is going on – and it was corruption.”
McCain ended by stating his pride in having dealt with Native people for many years.
“But I am also very proud of my relationship with the Native Americans in my state and across America. I have had that long relationship; it is a tradition handed down from [former Arizona Sen.] Barry Goldwater and [the late Rep.] Morris K. Udall. I am proud of my relationship with, and I am proud of the work that I have been able to do, for Native Americans for a long, long time.”
(Goldwater had served on the SCIA; Udall had worked in the interest of American Indians, specifically in securing passage of the Southern Arizona Water Rights Settlement Act, which outlined Indian water rights claims, in 1981.)
Saturday, Nov 1 at 2:53 PM Patricia wrote ...
Both Clinton and Obama have received hundreds of thousands of dollars of donations from Greenberg Traurig staff
11700294 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Wednesday, Oct 29 at 11:53 PM Turnbull wrote ...
Cherokee Nation chief took money from Abramoff Thursday, April 12, 2007 Cherokee Nation Chief Chad Smith accepted a $1,500 campaign contribution from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, The Oklahoma Gazette reports. Smith took the money in 2002, when he was running for re-election. The following year, Cherokee Nation enterprises hired Abramoff and paid his firm about $120,000, according to Senate records. Smith is the current Chief of Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.
11570914 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Monday, Oct 27 at 4:45 PM Keith Boughton wrote ...
What about the theory in "Perfect Villian" that McCain went after Jack at the prompting of Roger Stone and Scott Reed to eliminate their competitor and, co-incidently, get even with Ralph Reed, Grover Norquist, Bush and others for South Carolina 2000? And why hasn't McCain released the rest of the vast number of e-mails he got from Abramoff's employers? Do they have info that hurts other Republicans, like Burns, DeLay, Feeney Ishtook etc? Did McCain answer Maverick questions, like those?
11445064 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Monday, Oct 27 at 4:12 PM Ernie S. wrote ...
Who besides Abramoff is in prison? Nobody is.
11443264 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Add a comment
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