McCain linked to group in Iran-Contra affair

DaemonSeid · #1 10-08-2008, 08:50 AM

WASHINGTON (AP) — Barack Obama has his Bill Ayers connection. Now John McCain may have an Iran-Contra connection. In the 1980s, McCain served on the advisory board to the U.S. chapter of an international group linked to ultra-right-wing death squads in Central America.
The U.S. Council for World Freedom aided rebels trying to overthrow the leftist government of Nicaragua. That landed the group in the middle of the Iran-Contra affair and in legal trouble with the Internal Revenue Service, which revoked the charitable organization's tax exemption.

The council created by retired Army Maj. Gen. John Singlaub was the U.S. chapter of the World Anti-Communist League, an international organization linked to former Nazi collaborators and ultra-right-wing death squads in Central America. After setting up the U.S. council, Singlaub served as the international league's chairman.

McCain's tie to Singlaub's council is undergoing renewed scrutiny after his campaign criticized Obama for his link to Ayers, a former radical who engaged in violent acts 40 years ago. Over the weekend, Democratic operative Paul Begala said on ABC's "This Week" that this "guilt by association" tactic could backfire on the McCain campaign by renewing discussion of McCain's service on the board of the U.S. Council for World Freedom, "an ultraconservative right-wing group."

In two interviews with The Associated Press in August and September, Singlaub said McCain became associated with the organization in the early 1980s as McCain launched his political career. McCain was elected to the House in 1982.

Singlaub said McCain was a supporter but not an active member.

"McCain was a new guy on the block learning the ropes," Singlaub said. "I think I met him in the Washington area when he was just a new congressman. We had McCain on the board to make him feel like he wasn't left out. It looks good to have names on a letterhead who are well-known and appreciated.

"I don't recall talking to McCain at all on the work of the group," Singlaub said.

McCain has said he resigned from the council in 1984 and asked in 1986 to have his name removed from the group's letterhead.

"I didn't know whether (the group's activity) was legal or illegal, but I didn't think I wanted to be associated with them," McCain said in a 1986 newspaper interview.

Singlaub does not recall any McCain resignation in 1984 or May 1986. Nor does Joyce Downey, who oversaw the group's day-to-day activities.

"That's a surprise to me," Singlaub said. "This is the first time I've ever heard that. There may have been someone in his office communicating with our office."

"I don't ever remember hearing about his resigning, but I really wasn't worried about that part of our activities, a housekeeping thing," said Singlaub. "If he didn't want to be on the board that's OK. It wasn't as if he had been active participant and we were going to miss his help. He had no active interest. He certainly supported us."

A news article and two documents tie McCain to the council in 1985, a year after he says he resigned. The group's Internal Revenue Service filing in 1985, covering the previous year, lists McCain as a member of the council's advisory board. In October 1985, a States News Service report placed McCain, Rep. Tom Loeffler, R-Texas, and an Arizona congressman at a Washington awards ceremony staged by the council.

On Tuesday, the McCain campaign addressed the resignation by saying the candidate disassociated himself from "one Arizona-based group when questions were raised about its activities."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politic...a_N.htm?csp=34

Active or no....this shows more 'poor judgement' on McCain's part

UGAalum94 · #2 10-08-2008, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

WASHINGTON (AP) — Barack Obama has his Bill Ayers connection. Now John McCain may have an Iran-Contra connection. In the 1980s, McCain served on the advisory board to the U.S. chapter of an international group linked to ultra-right-wing death squads in Central America.
The U.S. Council for World Freedom aided rebels trying to overthrow the leftist government of Nicaragua. That landed the group in the middle of the Iran-Contra affair and in legal trouble with the Internal Revenue Service, which revoked the charitable organization's tax exemption.

The council created by retired Army Maj. Gen. John Singlaub was the U.S. chapter of the World Anti-Communist League, an international organization linked to former Nazi collaborators and ultra-right-wing death squads in Central America. After setting up the U.S. council, Singlaub served as the international league's chairman.

McCain's tie to Singlaub's council is undergoing renewed scrutiny after his campaign criticized Obama for his link to Ayers, a former radical who engaged in violent acts 40 years ago. Over the weekend, Democratic operative Paul Begala said on ABC's "This Week" that this "guilt by association" tactic could backfire on the McCain campaign by renewing discussion of McCain's service on the board of the U.S. Council for World Freedom, "an ultraconservative right-wing group."

In two interviews with The Associated Press in August and September, Singlaub said McCain became associated with the organization in the early 1980s as McCain launched his political career. McCain was elected to the House in 1982.

Singlaub said McCain was a supporter but not an active member.

"McCain was a new guy on the block learning the ropes," Singlaub said. "I think I met him in the Washington area when he was just a new congressman. We had McCain on the board to make him feel like he wasn't left out. It looks good to have names on a letterhead who are well-known and appreciated.

"I don't recall talking to McCain at all on the work of the group," Singlaub said.

McCain has said he resigned from the council in 1984 and asked in 1986 to have his name removed from the group's letterhead.

"I didn't know whether (the group's activity) was legal or illegal, but I didn't think I wanted to be associated with them," McCain said in a 1986 newspaper interview.

Singlaub does not recall any McCain resignation in 1984 or May 1986. Nor does Joyce Downey, who oversaw the group's day-to-day activities.

"That's a surprise to me," Singlaub said. "This is the first time I've ever heard that. There may have been someone in his office communicating with our office."

"I don't ever remember hearing about his resigning, but I really wasn't worried about that part of our activities, a housekeeping thing," said Singlaub. "If he didn't want to be on the board that's OK. It wasn't as if he had been active participant and we were going to miss his help. He had no active interest. He certainly supported us."

A news article and two documents tie McCain to the council in 1985, a year after he says he resigned. The group's Internal Revenue Service filing in 1985, covering the previous year, lists McCain as a member of the council's advisory board. In October 1985, a States News Service report placed McCain, Rep. Tom Loeffler, R-Texas, and an Arizona congressman at a Washington awards ceremony staged by the council.

On Tuesday, the McCain campaign addressed the resignation by saying the candidate disassociated himself from "one Arizona-based group when questions were raised about its activities."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politic...a_N.htm?csp=34

Active or no....this shows more 'poor judgement' on McCain's part

You know this has already been posted, right? AGDee linked it and quoted from it.

texas*princess · #3 10-08-2008, 10:39 PM

I think it's possible he didn't know.

Either way, interesting news.

At least this gives the "liberal media elite" something else to talk about since Palin hasn't made an idiot of herself lately

DaemonSeid · #4 10-09-2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texas*princess

I think it's possible he didn't know.

Either way, interesting news.

At least this gives the "liberal media elite" something else to talk about since Palin hasn't made an idiot of herself lately

see...that is the issue I have with 'poor judgement' at 40+ to 50+ years old. He didn't use judgement to have this group checked out before he joined? He didn't meet with any of the leaders of this group? ANd they used him mostly as an endorsement whihc is just all kinds of wrong because it send a signal out that he was cool with what they did...and them getting involved with the Iran Contra Scandal doesn't help either.

TexasWSP · #5 10-09-2008, 11:53 AM

Can Black Jesus Obamabot Messiah Camp even run with this?

So basically what we have here is a controversy over when McCain disassociated himself with the group after he became skeptical of their activities. After reading the article a couple of times that's about all I found that was noteworthy.

We've also got the head of the group stating McCain was a supporter of the group but did not participate in any member activities.

"We had his name on the board to make him not feel left out. It looks good to have names on a letterhead who are well known and appreciated."

Hahaha. So they felt sorry for him, put him on a board, and he didn't participate in anything. Big time controversy I tell ya....almost as bad as being ole buddy ole pal with a radical, Hugo Chavez supporting, domestic terrorist.

DaemonSeid · #6 10-09-2008, 12:01 PM

but you missed the other part:

"I don't recall talking to McCain at all on the work of the group," Singlaub said.

Why not?

Singlaub: Hey John, you wanna join my group?"
McCain: Sure, what it called?
Singlaub: The WACL
McCain: Those initals sounds funand important! What do I have to do?
Singlaub: Nothing. We will get you name out there because we have some cool letter head.
McCain: Sounds great!
Singlaub: You know I am a general right?
McCain: Yessir!

we need to create a "guilt by association" thread...because I have a feeling that another one is about to surface on Palin.

texas*princess · #7 10-09-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasWSP

We've also got the head of the group stating McCain was a supporter of the group but did not participate in any member activities.

"We had his name on the board to make him not feel left out. It looks good to have names on a letterhead who are well known and appreciated."

OK... so McCain "supported" them (in your own words) even though he was aware of what was going on...

But it's not OK for Barrack to be polite to someone who lives down his street and he works with because of something that individual did decades ago when Barrack was 8 yrs old? Barrack wasn't even old enough to support this guy when he was doing what he was doing.

He met this guy because they worked at the same place and they live down the street from each other

That shizz makes no sense.

meangreen1111 · #8 10-09-2008, 04:27 PM

I still wonder how pure either one of them is?

In Congress it seems that if you do not scratch my back I will not do the same for you. This is nothing new if anyone knows.

So, we are laying our lives on this election one way or the other.

Obama had a bigger presence than McCain id in the last debate, but rhetoric can only go so far.

KSig RC · #9 10-09-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texas*princess

But it's not OK for Barrack to be polite to someone who lives down his street and he works with because of something that individual did decades ago when Barrack was 8 yrs old? Barrack wasn't even old enough to support this guy when he was doing what he was doing.

He met this guy because they worked at the same place and they live down the street from each other

Did you miss the part where Obama held press conferences in the guy's home, and had a relatively close working relationship with him as he began in politics?

I mean, I think the entire thing is somewhat overblown, but it's kind of disingenuous to say they're merely neighbors, isn't it? Fair is fair for both sides - there's no need to minimize if it's no big deal.

texas*princess · #10 10-09-2008, 06:46 PM

You're right... but all that stuff happened DECADES ago. The guy turned himself in, did his time didn't he?

Obama never endorsed that guy's actions ... unless maybe I missed that press conference.

So because of what this guy did a long time ago, no one is allowed to be nice to him anymore? That doesn't make any sense.

if you're saying "fair is fair" then maybe the Dems should make a big ol honking deal out of this McCain issue since some Rep's are trying to make a big ol honking deal out of Obama's past.

CrackerBarrel · #11 10-09-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texas*princess

You're right... but all that stuff happened DECADES ago. The guy turned himself in, did his time didn't he?

No, I'm pretty sure that he and his wife became fugitives and the case against them eventually got dismissed for prosecutorial misconduct so they reentered normal life from being on the run. I may be thinking of something else, but that's my distinct recollection.

UGAalum94 · #12 10-09-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrackerBarrel

No, I'm pretty sure that he and his wife became fugitives and the case against them eventually got dismissed for prosecutorial misconduct so they reentered normal life from being on the run. I may be thinking of something else, but that's my distinct recollection.

mine too. others among the Weathermen were pardoned by Clinton.

DaemonSeid · #13 10-09-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

mine too. others among the Weathermen were pardoned by Clinton.

and Liddy was pardoned by Bush...so hey..."friends" look after "friends" huh?

nittanyalum · #14 10-10-2008, 12:53 AM

Sorry, but nothing in this thread is going to have a real effect on this election at this point.

It's like 1992 all over again:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_the_economy,_stupid (for the young 'uns

)

DaemonSeid · #15 10-10-2008, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

Sorry, but nothing in this thread is going to have a real effect on this election at this point.

It's like 1992 all over again:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_the_economy,_stupid (for the young 'uns

)

and u may be right....all the more reason why McCain needs to lay off about ayers....because a whole mess of skeletons will pop up out of the closet if he goes there!