CNN

If there is any substance to these charges it will be devastating for the McCain campaign

John McCain,

Indeed you are an honorable American and everyone can make mistakes. But, please stop acting so high and mighty about issues like earmark projects. Look, I disagree with earmarks like any smart American should. But, you have had ties in the past and present with lobbyists. So which is worse? You will say that earmarks are wrong and you're proud not to have taken any earmarks in your career, but you will work and deal with lobbyists in Washington and in your own campaign?

he has never "done anything that would betray the public trust or make a decision" that would in favor a particular group.
LOL I guess it depends on your point of view.

Once a cheater always a cheater.
Obama and Ron Paul are the only 2 candidates left on either side that have any personal integrity.
Neither one support the Iraq war.
Both inspire people.
Obama is electable.
Unfortunately, Paul is a little to quirky to get enough supporters. He can't speak well to the American people. Good message, poor delivery.

The best part about this:

The NY Times has endorsed McCain.

Oh, this will end well.

Look at McCain's history.
He cheated on and ditched his first wife, after she was badly injured, for heiress Cindy who stole pills from her charity. (Google it)
It's not a stretch to believe this story.

Oops, Wasnt McCain claiming he can do a better job then anyone on securing us from threats. He is a war veteran. Well he proved he isnt that good. Hey get a hot girl who could be working with terrorists and she will get access to, and have influence with, McCain.

I'm not making any decisions until I see a picture of this lady. If she's hot then McCain still has my vote.

The Old York Times is just starting it's first round of campaigning for Obama Hussein Barack. If "Janet" believes that McCain smeared Obama Hussein Barack by criticizing his speeches and their lack of substance, which has been more loudly echoed by Hillary Clinton, then she has no sense of human reasoning. Obama is a character created by the Times and the media as the saint of politics. We in Chicago know of all his dirty deals and his lack of any substantial record in the Senate. This is just one more step the Old York Times is taking toward bankruptcy since they lost their legitimacy decades ago.

SHOCKING!!

A politician who sells out the country to lobbyists!!

SHOCKING I TELL YA!!

I think these claims have some truth to them.....This sounds like the same ole politics to me and he represents the Conservative Republicans in America. Politicians claim to be conservative and want to implement family values for others but not there own. This does not surprise me one bit, I believe the stories and McCann should own up to them because we all know that woman will begin to come out and humiliate his family just like the Clintons.

What goes around, comes around. Remember the Swift Boat smear against John Kerry? Perhaps the Republicans have forgotten about that one.

Hey New York Times, if you are going to run a smear campaign based on no real evidence, why don't you report on the Larry Sinclair story? Oh, I forgot, you can't write any trash stories about the CHOSEN ONE, THE GREAT OBAMA. This McCain story is irresponsible journalism at it's worst.

Is McC any good at wagging a crooked finger at the public? He should take lessons from Bill!

I dont think this story is true, but

-what I know, is McCain had "PROBLEMS" with his first wife, then divorced her

-I also know that the GOP are phonies, who change their view on issues, to suite the political atmosphere.

The Grand Old Phonies (GOP) should stop posing as Christians because they are not. They were religion on their sleeves just like the Pharisees.

They claim to be against abortion, but when Giuliani (who is pro-Choice) was leading polls, the Christian leaders like Pat Robertson and the others endorsed him, and said, abortion is not the major issue, but radical islamic terrorism is the most important thing.

They claim they are against Amnesty. But now since McCain wrote the Amnesty bill, immigration is no longer important, it is who will make sure America stays in Iraq for 100 years.

I am a Christian conservative, and I will NEVER vote for the GOP.

Obama is a little liberal than I would have wanted.
But I will rather support someone who tells the truth, and speaks of unity and HOPE,
than McCain… who is only good at telling us to afraid of al Qaeda.

OBAMA'08
……………….YES WE CAN…!!

I'll take "hollow" words and "lack of experience"(if this is what is considered experience) any day........

How can you deny having a relationship with someone that you are pictured with at fund rasing events and traveloing. How naive does this guy really thing that the American people are? he would have been better off just saying that he had a friendship with her and that was it. This jerk is going to deny having almost any relationship at all with this woman. How political!

It's pretty pathetic that the times would report something like this without siting sources and backing it up with proof of some type. It's clear and obvious that it is nothing more than slander. Shame on you NY Times!

Out of curiosity...why is another reason Hillary shouldn't run? Was she the other woman here?

OH Please!! I can't believe anyone is going to believe this!! The NY times is known for printing false stories! Go McCain! Texas will support you!!

Let's cut the liberal bias crap, the endorsed Mccain and have had nothing but positive things to say about him. if they really wanted to hurt him, they could have waited until october, or they could have dropped this during the florida and south carolina primaries. They dropped this at the best possible time for McCain. if anything they gave him the advantage. I'm aconservative that views things in reality. The reality is nothing could be gained or earned from this story unless it is true. McCain now has conservatives crying foul and solidifying his base even more. Those that are complaining were not going to vote for him anyway! Get over this liberal bias crap!

Okay, does anyone else see that this is a strategy by the McCain campaign? Think about it. Get the story out now long before the convention and the general election. We see what happens. It becomes big news and then disappears. So, rather than have the Democrats spring it at a convenient time for them, the McCain campaign gets it out now...which is convenient for him.

What if it had come out at Christmas? McCain would never have been a candidate. What if it came out a month ago? He would have lost to Romney. Now that he has Romney's endorsement and it looks like he will have enough delegates, he can leak the story.

Watch his face when he talks about it. Anger? Shock? No, but a relaxed smile of one who has prepared for such news. And sorry, the same paper who endorses him, breaks the story? Coincidence? I doubt it.

Great strategy that would make Bill Clinton proud.

Why did they pull her bio from the internet. That makes me wonder if there is something to hide. How would the Republicans react if this was an accusation about a Democrat? I think there would be two sets of rules. I hope there is no substance to it, but if there is, then don't excuse it because he is your Republican front man. This nation needs to heal and it will take everyone to accomplish that.

the new york times endorsed McCain, so what is the shout for?..when obama had the rezko affair, they reported it, same with the clinton scandals.it is our right to know.Mccain is not a saint. let the press do its duty

They all do expensive favors for each other. They all have hookers and call girls on there speed dials... This is nothing new to politics.

couldn't this story be a fabrication planted by the republican party?

Now the Cindy McCain has this mess to handle, maybe she will cease from trying to capitalize on Michele Obama's words. Or did she already know about this and choose to "stand by her man, anyhow."

So who brought this back to the front page? I would suspect the Obama camp is behind this... What a way to try to gain an edge on the playing field in November.

while i'm no conservative, i too find the timing and tenor of this story to be disturbing. it seems to be more a case of the NYT having some ax to grind rather than reporting on a story worth reporting. the level of reporting appears more along the lines of the National Enquirer or Star, or any other of the tabloid rags. these kinds of stories help fuel complaints of liberal bias in the media.

I SUPPORT OBAMA BUT I THINK DOING A HIT JOB ON McCAIN CHARACTER IS WRONG.I LIKE McCAIN AS A PERSON HE IS A GOOD HONEST MAN!

Poor Hillary, I do feel sorry for you. Now what? Please don't cry again. Go home with your husband and daughter and give to him who will undoubtly be the rock of the nation a fair chance to creat an America that you will finally be proud of. Oh! I am talking about Mr. Obama.
Finally see how this thing is done, without traces of racism and segregation. Just watch how All children will have an equal opportunity to education.. I am talking about the hope and the change that Mr. Obama speaks of. I cannot wait. Yes we are going to change America for the better.
YES WE CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WE CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Keep Hope Alive. WE Did IT. Blacks and Whites are finally comming together to change this Great Nation. God Bless America.

McCain calling Obama a man without substance is really quite " Republican."

When people liste to them talk ..its quite apparent ..beyond the shadow of a doubt ..that Obama has way more intellect ..it just is.

The only folks who will spin this is the right wing Lou Dobbs who just makes people sick with his one dimensional claptrap.

Considering that McCain isn't a "natural born citizen" of the USA and thus can't even run for the Presidency, this story is rather small if you compare the issues.

McCain's current unfortunate situation reported in NYT increases chances for Huckabee to be the next President of the US. Lucky for Mr. Huckabee.

Obama for prez February 21st, 2008 8:07 am ET

This is another reason wHY HILARY SHOULDN'T RUN..

Can I ask what has this got to do with Hillary!!!!!!!!

Lobbyists + Republicans = Winners
American Tax Payers + Trust = Losers

I live in AZ and have always voted for McCain as a Senator. I felt he was a fine human being and though he can be combative on issues he feels strongly about – it was okay it meant he was courageous. This information does concern me. If an affair occurred he needs to come clean. If his decisions were influenced by the lobbyist to the detriment of the American people then this is terrible news. Either way he needs to address each item specifically. All of the candidates who are running have had problems with contributions. This includes Obama with Revko. They are not any different – it is politics as usual and there cannot be change until the entire system changes. One person cannot do it – it will take putting the right people in office in the Senate, House and White House. We are not there yet by far. The great news is the younger voters are galvanized and there will be change.

Forget about the "affair." The problem here is flying on that jet, taking money from a lobbyist and writing letters for them which the FCC said at the time not appropriate.
That's not even a big problem. They are all crooks. The bigger problem is him running on INTEGRITY and spent the last 72 hours calling on OBAMA'S INTEGRITY. This makes MITT ROMNEY look like a saint.
Mitt Romney suspended his campaign. BRING MITT ROMNEY BACK. This guy is no conservative. He is a democrat! He behaves like one, votes like one, and his major endorser is Al Gore's running mate. GIVE ME A BREAK. THIS WHOLE THING IS THE BIGGEST FAIRY TALE I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE!

This was probably planted by Huck to try and get ahead. He can't do it any other way.

Get used to it folks. It won't only be far righters doing the swiftboating this year.

Quote – Anyone but Hillary God: "SO WHAT !!! Just look what Bill did in the Oval Office !!!!"

Looks like Ol' Johnny couldn't wait that long.

It's disturbing that John McCain has not said I didn't do this this is not true. Instead, he's saying NYT is on attack. Can't wait to hear from him at 9 this morning.

This will be a great distraction for Hillary & Obama. I don't imagine Bill will have much to say about it, though....

McCain/Rice '08

Pretty weird that CNN seems to want to bury this story on their web site, so that you have to search for it.... Wonder why?

the reality of things is that if the guys had to talk to her then there was something going on ?on the other hand we understand that he is only human remember this is coming from people who used to be with him,politicians are not perfect but we understand temptation, amazing the semblance between the wife and the girl ha! this make mccain a stud! certified! the irony of it all is been conservative makes it rather difficult to admit.but i guess he could always learn from bill but the real lesson is dont point fingers when you yourself are no saint.

Now there's only 2 left for the Rebulican race Huck % Paul!!!!!!

As contentious as the Republican Primaries were if there is really something there it would have come out before now. Nice try NY Times.

swift boating the republicans. jeeze what comes around goes around. between him and his wife just like bill c. when he had an affair it was between him and hillary. the campaign favors is what worries me. if he is ting lobbyist money and then doing favors then he cannot be trusted. that is a fact

BTW. The only candidate worth voting for is Ron Paul.

This is another reason wHY HILARY SHOULDN'T RUN..

Well then good ole Christians republicans .what do you think about that?

This is just another example of how far this liberal newspaper will go to act out their own desperation. This won't be the last time you'll here a story like this about McCain from this crap paper.

Well, we could have had Romney, who has been faithful to his first and only wife since their marriage, but NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOO, you Repubs knocked him for being a Mormon. Well, how's THIS going for you?
McCain cheats.
Huckabee lies (under the veil of being a Christian Leader).
Romney is forced to drop because of his faith (if he were not a Mormon, he'd be our Rep candidate, make no mistake about that!)

Was this why Huckabee refused to lose? Did he know something was coming down the tubes on McCain?
NYT McCain Article just took the sting out of John's attack on Obama.

I support Barack Obama but I reject the NYT article!

If they have something substantial, then write it – if not, then do not go out with half-truths and rumors ! That is irresponsible journalism !
That is clintonesque and a smear campaign !

The media picked him for the Republicans, so now they can destroy him to further the Democrats. And look at all the people who fell for it. I guess we are STUCK with him. Too bad.

Having an affair with a lobbyist, even if he did her no favours, is just bad judgement. If he didn't have an affair why doesn't he just say so?...

The New York Times, and the media in general, need to remember that the "freedom of the press" derives from an AMENDMENT, not an ARTICLE, of the constitution.

Hillary & Bill Clinton are currently under investigation in California for campaign fraud from her senatorial campaign. I already did not think they had the interest of the American people in their hearts, but this is the final nail in the coffin. What the Bushes, Clintons, and McCains do are perfect examples of "politics as usual".

Even the appearance of impropriety is unacceptable. I remember reading a quote from John McCain that essentially said the same thing. He knew the woman was a lobbyist and even after several warnings from his staff, continued to go all around with her. He has no one to blame but himself. He also did MANY favors for her/her company, as well as the business with the Keating 5. There is no way to spin any of these facts. Did he really think that this would go under the radar?

I understand that the McCain campaign is upset, but when they are in the business of smearing Obama because he gives great speeches he has no right to complain. I hope this knocks the flip flopper out of the race for good/. There is no way he would have defeated either Democratic candidate in the general election anyway.

I hope it's not true, because McCain seems to be the last opportunity to get someone with integrity in the White House, who has and will actually do something. I don't consider a great speech maker with no real record of accomplishment a viable candidate, or, God forbid, Hillary the dragon lady. This is just a grasp at trying to derail his surge in popularity, and road to being the next president. He has been the most vocal critic of special interests.

Smear campaign? How righteous the Republicans get when the shoe is on the other foot. Most politicians, for whatever reason, are a bunch of dirty little people with lots of dirty little secrets that they are never quite smart enough to keep hidden. I'm really not sure how many of them could stand up under serious scrutiny. Sure gives you a lot of faith in the caliber of our leadership.

Does the New York Times think that by disclosing an affair McCain may or may not have had will make any difference today? There are more important issues that need to be addressed. Like the ecomony, Stupid!

I'm not even a McCain supporter yet feel that this is so incredibly unfair and trivial by the NYT to print this story based completely on rumor and innuendo. Sometimes I feel like I'm reading the tabloids while waiting in the check-out line at the grocery store instead of intelligent and responsible journalism. I just don't get the point.

I hope the Times has not set him up for a trap and that he has not fallen straight into it. The article truly was lacking anything that was concrete evidence of any wrongdoing, and, quite frankly, they don't usually run with something of this personal nature unless they have a lot of evidence to back it up. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, as it did with Bill Clinton.They gave him an opportunity to come clean, and he lied (Clinton)., which was ultimately what led to his downfall. The people might have actually forgiven him had he not lied. I hope McCain is vindicated and if I so, I hope the New York Times publishes a huge apology and the front page.If , however, it proves he has not come clean, then he may still be a war hero, but he will also be proven a hypocrtie.

Could a strong, HONEST, working for the AMERICAN CITIZEN, Conservative please, please, please decide to run for a 3rd Party. The choices we have for this coming election are ALL the same.

I am a conservative republican and not happy with all this news on
john McClain, we were shamed with the clinton deal with the world and
I for one will not vote for another candidate who will do this kind of thing again think how we'll look as a nation, were supposed to be a
example for third world and other countries we don't need to look stupid and weak again, even though bush has made some dumb
mistakes I think with mcclain were getting the Same as Before!
American People need to Stand up and Say NO MORE!!!! I'm going
Vote RON PAUL instead he's not going to put us back in the same oh
same at least! And he seems to Stand for Truth and he doesn't have girl freinds on the side! No Shame there! Think about it conservatives!!! We might just get a president to be proud of!!

SO WHAT !!! Just look what Bill did in the Oval Office !!!!

McCain was investigated and exhonerated from Keating 5. Even so, in attonment, at great political cost, he pushed the campain finance reform agenda to attempt to fix the problem. It is debatable that it worked but it is not debatable he was brave to tried to do somthing.

In the ful article:

"He has never violated the public trust, never done favors for special interests or lobbyists, and he will not allow a smear campaign to distract from the issues at stake in this election," campaign spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said in a statement.

Never? Really? I mean, I'm perfectly willing to believe that this woman was a friend and that he never did any favors for her. But while I'm too young to remember it myself, isn't it a matter of public record that McCain did favors for Charles Keating in exchange for $100,000+?

Read the full New York Times article!!! It will leave your jaw on the floor...