McCain Critics Say Denials Bend Truth

They cite rebuke from FCC chief over letter in 1999 telecom case

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 21, 2008 4:40 PM CST

(Newser) – John McCain's camp insists he did not act inappropriately on behalf of lobbyist Vicki Iseman's clients, but Talking Points Memo bloggers beg to differ. They point to newspaper articles from 2000 that said McCain—then chair of the Senate Commerce Committee—wrote a letter to the FCC on behalf of Paxson Communications, and that the FCC chief rebuked him for it, saying he was "concerned" about its effect on the decision-making process.

McCain’s camp says the candidate wasn’t “personally asked” to urge the FCC to action, but Mac's aides told the Washington Post in 2000 that he wrote the letter at the request of Iseman’s firm. McCain says he gave Paxson opponents an appropriate hearing, but at the time those opponents said the letter was “improper, unethical … and appeared designed to assist a major contributor.”

Vicki Iseman (Getty Images)

Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., accompanied by his wife Cindy, speaks at a news conference in Toledo, Ohio. Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Associated Press)

Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., accompanied by his wife Cindy, visits Charlie's Restaurant in Perrysburg, Ohio, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Associated Press)

Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his wife Cindy, leave at the conclusion of a news conference in Toledo, Ohio. Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Associated Press)

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McCain Critics Say Denials Bend Truth

They cite rebuke from FCC chief over letter in 1999 telecom case

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

John McCain • FCC • Vicki Iseman

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Broadcaster Rebuts McCain Lobbying Denial

Recalls meeting before FCC letters; McCain did, too, in 2002 deposition

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Iseman settles with no payment or retraction; article implied affair

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Vicki Iseman seeks $27M for defamation

Lobbyist Denies McCain Affair

'I have never even been alone with Sen. McCain,' Vicki Iseman says

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