Politics
John McCain’s Latest Blunder
John McCain just announced the appointment of Nixon aide Fred Malek as his campaign’s finance co-chair. The press release calls Malek a “pioneer in business and government … an inspiring public servant who has served our nation well.” (If you go to McCain’s web site, be sure to click on the “McCain as Mensch” link on the left. Oy, vey.) What McCain doesn’t mention is that in 1971, Nixon ordered Malek to count the Jews in high-ranking posts in the Bureau of Labor Statistics, where the paranoid president thought a “Jewish cabal” was out to get him. (He came up with 13 names, though his methodology was questionable.) According to the Washington Post,
Instead of refusing, Malek set about compiling a list of 13 of 35 top BLS employees who, he believed, were Jewish. Less than two months later, two senior BLS officials who were Jewish were moved out of their jobs to less visible posts. Malek acknowledges carrying out the disgusting hunt for Jews, but he denies having anything to do with the transfers.
What will that straight-talking maverick think of next?
Comments (8)
Hire Tom DeLay as his ethics consultant?
I loved the NY TIMES destroyed him after his "tour" of the market. I wish they had been this on at the begining of the war.
He is done. Who else do the republicans have?
Posted by SeMe | April 4, 2007 1:34 PMI think this Iraq tour will become McCain's Dukakis-perched-in-a-tank moment. The moment of mockery when everyone stopped taking him seriously.
Posted by SDA in SEA | April 4, 2007 2:19 PMI'd like to see some Jewish reporters interview McCain and Malek with yellow stars on their jackets. Just so you can, you know, tell.
Posted by Fnarf | April 4, 2007 2:54 PMMcCain who?
Posted by Will in Seattle | April 4, 2007 3:26 PMReally, though, McCain is the only unwavering true believer for the culture war conservatives. So if he goes down, they'll have to latch onto somebody from the second tier types (the Law&Order guy, Newt, etc). In reality, the religious right is just screwed: they saddled the Bush pony only to find it didn't take them where they wanted to go, and meanwhile they've reached the limits of what the mainstream will tolerate. Most voters are far more interested in resolving the war and middle class issues, not pushing the Talibangelist agenda. If the Republican party wants to have a hope at winning in '08, they'll pick someone who looks a lot more like a Democrat.
Posted by Joe | April 4, 2007 3:58 PMAntisemitism is everywhere in America. It makes me so sad. If only the American government were secular like Israel. Can you imagine anyone in the Israeli government asking about the religion of another government official? Doesn't happen.
Posted by Shoshanna | April 4, 2007 4:29 PMGood points Joe, but do you really think the conservatives would go for Thompson? I know that some conservatives think he might be a Reagan type, but Thompson, though popular in Tennesse ( he took AL Gore's old seat by beating a Dem) has moved to Virginia and has tons of baggage as a lobbyst. He can be easily taken apart. I'm thinking they might try to get behind that guy whose name I cant remember who is leading the republicans in fundraising. It sure looks like theyre done for at least 10 years, hopefully more. If the Dems cant win this one, they should give up politics.
Posted by SeMe | April 4, 2007 4:43 PMThe problem in Iraq IS McCain! This is like the second war that McCain has been associated with that we end up loosing. Get a clue.
Posted by Jill | April 5, 2007 4:16 AMComments Closed
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