AMAZING! Truthful "American Conservative" Article On Foreign Influence On McCain!

[Median Democrat]

This caught me by surprise. I was expecting another puff piece by American Conservative filled with apologies for John McCain. Instead, it was an article that nailed McCain and defended Obama with respect to allegations of foreign influence. It was honest and fact filled!

Here is another surprise, it is actually addresses issues ignored by the MSM such as how McCain campaign aides, Randy Schuenemann and Charlie Black, were actively involved in pushing the case for the Iraq war. The article asks, "Country First or Client First."

http://www.amconmag.com/article/2008/oct/06/00023/

/snip

“The notion that we can let foreigners define our foreign policy without injury to us is naïve and childish,” charges Stephen Van Evera, who teaches international relations at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

* * *

But Black, a veteran of Republican campaigns dating back to Ronald Reagan, remains McCain’s top policy adviser. McCain’s campaign manager is Rick Davis, a pre-eminent Washington lobbyist and GOP operative whose lobbying partner Paul Manafort worked with Black on several foreign accounts under a separate PR firm. Although both Davis and Black reportedly quit lobbying—Black as recently as March— their firms continue to reap benefits from foreign contracts. Their connections still run deep, and their appetite for winning at all costs remains strong.

These instincts dovetail so seamlessly with McCain’s bloodlust that the teaming is almost natural. Unfortunately, the senator’s proudly unreconstructed approach to international events makes it hard to discern where the spin from former lobbyists (and their clients) ends and his own gut—and that of his more résumé-challenged running mate—begins.

* * *

“ is not loyal to America, he is loyal to his client list—that’s how he makes the big money,” Van Evera complains. “Anyone who thinks he won’t continue to be loyal to his clients after McCain gets into office is smoking something.” One needs only to look at top McCain foreign-policy aide Randy Scheunemann to see the blurring line between client and country. When McCain suggests there will be “severe, long-term negative consequences” for Russia if it doesn’t leave Georgia alone, how do Americans know that isn’t the $800,000 Scheunemann’s lobbying shop has gotten from Georgia since 2004 talking?

/snip

[Overseas]

1. K&R-- Truly serious issues I think are under-reported so far. //nt

[pnorman]

2. The "American Conservative" is what is (sometimes) derogatively known as "Paleo-Conservative"

Pat Buchanan typifies it. It's sometimes pro-fascist as well as anti-Semitic. But it's brutally HONEST, and follow their (reactionary) credo with 100% consistency. People like Pat Buchanan frequently infuriate me beyond measure, but I always regard them as worthy of open debate. I'm tempted to take up their introductory subscription offer.

Rachel Maddow had been recently criticized here, for being too "friendly" with Buchanan. I suspect that she feels the same way about him as I do. Read many of their on-liner articles, and you'll see a LOT of worthwhile stuff.

It's NOT beyond belief, that Americancon might soon make a "qualified" endorsement of Obama!

pnorman

[MissMarple]

3. They are the other side of our coin. The GOP, today, is funny money.

Alas, in more ways than one.