McCain and Liddy
It seems that David Letterman had the guts to do what noone else in the press has done and question John McCain about some of his “questionable associations,” specifically G. Gordon Liddy, the guy who was so crazy and crooked that the other insane criminals on the Nixon plumber squad had to restrain him. McCain told Letterman “I’m not in any was embarrassed to know Gordon Liddy.” Steve Benen observes:
That’s an interesting response. Liddy is, of course, a convicted felon who has “acknowledged preparing to kill someone during the Ellsberg break-in ‘if necessary’; plotting to murder journalist Jack Anderson; plotting with a ‘gangland figure’ to murder Howard Hunt to stop him from cooperating with investigators; plotting to firebomb the Brookings Institution; and plotting to kidnap ‘leftist guerillas’ at the 1972 Republican National Convention — a plan he outlined to the Nixon administration using terminology borrowed from the Nazis.” Liddy also once famously gave his supporters advice on how best to kill federal officials (he recommended shooting them in the head because they might be wearing flak jackets).
Despite this scandalous past, McCain has accepted thousands of dollars in contributions from Liddy, attended a fundraiser in his honor at Liddy’s home, and told Liddy that he’s “proud of” him.
Also remember, Liddy can be fairly described as “unrepentant.” When asked if he regretted his felonies, “A vein twitches angrily on one of his scales, but he replies in a level voice, ‘No.’”
McCain is proud to know a man who had no regrets about his serious crimes against American democracy.
24 Responses to “McCain and Liddy”
Register
RSSLogin
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog RollAbout Matt YglesiasContact Me
Donate
October 17th, 2008 at 10:08 am
McCain is proud to know a man who had no regrets about his serious crimes against American democracy.
That surprises you? Just look at the last eight years.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:26 am
But was he ‘palling’ around with Liddy, or just proud to know him and accept his support?
October 17th, 2008 at 10:28 am
I think Letterman, Stewart and Colbert should moderate the debates next go around. Think of the potential synergy in post-debate YouTube clips – we’d be well on the way to some sort of politico-media singularity.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:31 am
john I: Letterman actually tried really hard to host a debate on his show in 2000, but Bush wouldn’t agree to it. It probably didn’t help Letterman’s cause any when he kept promising that Don Rickles would come out during the debate to pull down his pants and fire a rocket. Although that didn’t stop Gore from committing.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Why isn’t Liddy a terrorist? He plotted to firebomb a public building.
This really is what I hate about the fifty-fiftyism of the press. It’s never fifty-fifty.
Liddy isn’t getting the same censure that Ayers does.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:45 am
The difference is that Gordon Liddy is a patriot.
Like Dick Cheney, he was trying to destroy American democracy in order to save it.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Hey, if politics were beanbag, JFK, RFK, and MLK would’ve only been slightly annoyed. G. Gordon Liddy, bless him, understands that if a few liberal eggheads need to be broken to make an omlette, that’s just the price of Democracy.
October 17th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Next time you’re wandering through a used bookstore or a library book sale, if you see “Nightmare: The Underside of the Nixon Years” by J. Anthony Lukas, pick it up. The descriptions of Liddy’s attitudes and actions is thoroughly disturbing. The guy is a 100% Grade-A lunatic.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I’m sure McCain was broadsided by the Liddy question. Perhaps since Letterman brought it up, MSM will start talking about it–like they did with McCain’s own paster problems several months ago. It probably doesn’t matter about all this guilt by association because I think most voters have already made up their minds who they’re going to vote for.
October 18th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Felicia, I wouldn’t lump together the Obama-Ayers and McCain-Liddy connections. While the Obama-Ayers connection is simple guilt by association, McCain raises a real question about how he would behave as president when he says he is “proud” of someone who plotted and committed crimes in the service of another president’s reelection. Would he resurrect CREEP and staff it with aspiring Liddys? I’m not sure he wouldn’t.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:48 pm
G.Gordon Liddy did a lot of things,some unsavory perhaps but no one can question his loyalty and love of this country. He fell on his sword for a corrupt President and served his time. He wrote a book,”Will” that shows the inner strength and discipline to withstand real incarceration not the country clubs that most pols go to. Some characters in life we like despite indiscretions no matter what. I don’t think McCain should be chastised for being friends with Liddy anymore than we should chastise Obama for past associations with Ayers.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:42 am
laptop battery
laptop batteries
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:37 am
levitraI bookmarked this site. Thank you for good job!
March 11th, 2009 at 4:20 am
Incredible site!
March 12th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right
March 14th, 2009 at 5:02 am
Excellent site. It was pleasant to me.
xanax
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:59 am
tramadol
I want to say – thank you for this!
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:02 am
I bookmarked this site. Thank you for good job!
cheap brand pfizer viagra
April 9th, 2009 at 5:00 am
Incredible site! viagra