Today's McCain Myth: John McCain is a strong leader of his party.
WASHINGTON, May 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Democratic National Committee: John McCain says he's a strong leader, but in North Carolina where he is traveling today, his leadership skills haven't measured up. When the North Carolina Republican Party announced last month it would be running a racially divisive ad against Democratic candidates, McCain said he would bring "every pressure to bear" to force the North Carolina party to pull the ad, but then backed off the statement by saying he would not play "referee." Despite his ties to the state and the fact that many of his supporters have given thousands to the North Carolina Republican Party, McCain has refused to exhibit the kind of leadership necessary to stop the party from running the ad. [Boston Globe, 4/25/08; Foxnews.com, 4/28/08] In fact, John McCain's inability to stop his own party from pulling an ad like this shows he's either sending a signal to the Republican groups who have run divisive and destructive ads in the past that this type of campaigning is okay with him, or he doesn't have the clout within his own party to stop this ad.
McCain Supporters Help Fund North Carolina Ad Several Prominent McCain Supporters, Including the Former Chair of the Party and the Current RNC Committeeperson, Have Given Thousands to the North Carolina Republican Party.
In March 2007, Former North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Ferrell Blount and Former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot Joined the McCain North Carolina Steering Committee. A March 2007 McCain press release noted, "Blount and Vinroot will serve as state steering committee members for Senator McCain's presidential campaign in North Carolina. Ferrell Blount served as the North Carolina Republican Party's chairman for over three years. Prior to serving as chairman, Blount also represented the Tar Heel State as national committeeman where he chaired the Republican National Committee's (RNC) Resolutions Committee, as well as the RNC Committee on Call for the 2004 National Republican Convention. Richard Vinroot has an impressive record of public service, most notably serving as the Mayor of Charlotte from 1991 to 1995." [McCain Press Release, 3/8/07] -- Blount Has Contributed Over $22,000 to the North Carolina Republican Executive Committee Including $1,000 in 2008. Blount has contributed $22,562 to the North Carolina Republican Executive Committee. [Political Moneyline, FEC Filings] -- Vinroot Contributed $500 to the North Carolina Republican Executive Committee in February 2008. [Political Moneyline, FEC Filings] -- Blount Gave $2,300 to McCain in March 2007. [Political Moneyline, FEC Filings] -- Vinroot Contributed $1,000 to McCain's Campaign in March 2007. [Political Moneyline, FEC Filings] State Chair a Member of the Republican National Convention's Arrangement Committee. "Linda Daves was elected Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party in December of 2006 after being elected Vice Chairman of the Party in May 1999-2005. Prior to serving the North Carolina Republican Party, she served in several positions in the Mecklenburg County Republican Party including serving four years as Chairman after two years as Vice Chairman. Chairman Daves is also a Committee on Arrangements Member, 2008 Republican National Convention." [NC GOP website, accessed 4/24/08: http://www.ncgop.org/leadership/ncgop.asp] McCain Supporter Senator Burr Has Given Almost $15,000 to the North Carolina Republican Party. Burr gave $14,570 to the North Carolina Republican Executive Committee in 2004. [McCain for President web site, Accessed: 4/23/08; Political Moneyline, FEC Filings] After casting himself as a "Maverick" in 2000, the new John McCain is walking in lockstep with President Bush, pandering to the right wing of the Republican Party, and embracing the ideology he once denounced. On the campaign trail McCain has callously abandoned many of his previously held positions, even contradicted himself, in a blatant attempt to remake himself into a candidate Republicans can accept in 2008. So just who is the real John McCain? The Democratic National Committee will present a daily fact aimed at exposing the man behind the myth.
Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, http://www.democrats.org/.
This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. DATASOURCE: Democratic National Committee CONTACT: Damien LaVera of the Democratic National Committee, +1-202-863-8148 Web Site: http://www.democrats.org/ http://www.ncgop.org/
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