June 23rd, 2010
03:16 PM ET
13 years ago

McCain ad suggests opponent is a 'huckster'

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/06/23/art.huckster.youtube.jpg caption="A new McCain campaign ad uses footage of J.D. Hayworth that was originally used in a 2007 infomercial."](CNN) – Parts of a 2007 infomercial that features Arizona Senate hopeful J.D. Hayworth are hitting Arizona airwaves today – but this time as part of a McCain campaign ad that slams Hayworth over his involvement with a company called National Grants Conferences.

Hayworth, a radio host and former congressman, recorded the infomercial in 2007. The ad promised free information about "hundreds of billions of dollars in government funding" to individuals who attend a conference on the topic.

But the company behind the meetings – National Grants Conferences – has been criticized by the attorneys general of multiple states for deceptive marketing. A simple internet search brings back legions of complaints about the company.

Hayworth is seen in the spot saying, "Now you may think that what you've heard is too good to be true, but let me assure you, it is real."

Fast forward to 2010, and the McCain ad hitting airwaves statewide Wednesday uses the same language, but this time, a narrator's voice slams Hayworth after he delivers his pitch.

"Well, it was too good to be true. Twenty four attorneys general condemned this company for promising people free government money, and then ripping them off," the narrator says.

The 30-second spot ends with a graphic questioning whether Hayworth is a "huckster."

When the ad first surfaced earlier this week, the Hayworth camp says the McCain campaign is engaged in "politics as usual."

Hayworth served six terms in Congress before being defeated in 2006. Arizona's GOP primary will be held on August 24.


Filed under: 2010 • Arizona • J.D. Hayworth • John McCain
soundoff (20 Responses)
  1. Irma in North Carolina

    John Boy you need to be booted out of the senate. You don't want to work with the president. You are just like all your low life buddies.

    June 23, 2010 03:21 pm at 3:21 pm |
  2. Fed up

    That's great, no matter which side of the fence you are on, that is good, hang the guy with his own infomercial....exposes the guy for who he really is. That alone should keep this guy out of office.

    June 23, 2010 03:24 pm at 3:24 pm |
  3. Crazy Harry

    Haworth is indeed a wacked out guy. He was a pompous jerk on the radio and had a very hard time with facts. As an Arizonan, I would be truly disappointed to have him representing me in anyway.

    Hopefully, he will lose and go on a long trip with Sarah Palin. They deserve each other.

    June 23, 2010 03:25 pm at 3:25 pm |
  4. Larry

    Gawd, is McCain and Hayworth the best Arizona can offer up?

    June 23, 2010 03:28 pm at 3:28 pm |
  5. anotherGDlefty

    A lifetime huckster calling another lifetime huckster a huckster...

    Oh. it's a great time to live in Arizona.

    These two idiots are the best our GOP has to offer here. That is the shame.

    June 23, 2010 03:28 pm at 3:28 pm |
  6. Rosslaw

    McCain should know the Republican right is made up of hucksters and their "please tell me a fairy tale" victims. Good lord, he picked Sarah Palin.

    June 23, 2010 03:32 pm at 3:32 pm |
  7. Jill, California

    I'm no fan of McCain, but Hayworth would use the same tactic if necessary.

    June 23, 2010 03:35 pm at 3:35 pm |
  8. Albert

    That language is too obvious, ""Now you may think that what you've heard is too good to be true, but let me assure you, it is real." The only words missing are, "But wait, theres more,..." and, "Call Now." McCain is correct, this guy is a huckster!

    June 23, 2010 03:36 pm at 3:36 pm |
  9. Fred

    J.D. Hayworth..the slime bag snake oil salesman who what the SECOND HIGHEST receiver of campaign contributions from the crimminal ABRAMOFF and was thrown out of office by the voters in 2006...Now wants to jump back into the political circle so he can put his wife back on the payroll and get those campaign contributions from corporations...Yep JD the HUCKSTER

    June 23, 2010 03:40 pm at 3:40 pm |
  10. Brian Dodge

    What a choice – the huckster or the oldster!
    Although McCain voted for or skipped votes against tax breaks for big oil, and consistently votes against support or tax breaks for renewable energy, at least he gives lip service to the dangers presented by global warming and our dependence on foreign oil.

    June 23, 2010 03:43 pm at 3:43 pm |
  11. chui

    For a rank of a general and being commander, McChrystal is lot short of common sense and military protocol befitting his rank. Too bad that during Bush / Cheney cleansing of the officer cadre and flag ranks who disagreed with the fraud war on Iraq and this BS untenable war on terror in Afghanistan / Pakistan, that all toll cost the US taxpayers something like $50 billion a month, McChrystal was not retired with the rest.

    June 23, 2010 03:44 pm at 3:44 pm |
  12. NVa Native

    Of course he's a huckster – have you ever listened to this guy?

    June 23, 2010 03:45 pm at 3:45 pm |
  13. Lori

    McCain voted for TARP and can go to he LL

    June 23, 2010 03:49 pm at 3:49 pm |
  14. Dano

    A huckster? I thought that was a requirement for becoming a politician? They are all experts at selling you something that isn't quite as advertised.

    June 23, 2010 03:52 pm at 3:52 pm |
  15. Johnathan

    The company JD hayworth (mongoloid looking freak) pitched for is based in Boca Raton, where every phone hustler of every kind is always just one step ahead of the law. The NFA calls this area "Maggot Mile" – home to untold phone investment scams.

    Folks, don't ever get involved with these losers in Boca (usually, they've lost their brokers or other licensing) and they show up here to seperate people from their money over the phone, South Florida is the phone scam capital of the country.

    Lots of Mercedes and Bentleys in their parking lots, but don't know how they sleep at night.

    If anyone thinking of voting for this clown really knew the sleaziness of these outfits, to which this candidate has lent his name, it would be like Bush pitching for the Psychic Friends Network

    June 23, 2010 03:56 pm at 3:56 pm |
  16. oy vey az

    Carpetbaggers come and carpetbaggers go. McCain's overly liberal positions, and unrealistic flip flops are just not acceptable anymore. Bye bye John Boy .... flush

    June 23, 2010 03:58 pm at 3:58 pm |
  17. Chuck Anaheim, Ca

    And senator mccain is a? Come on John, you gotta lose sometimes, you created this mess with your dingbat princess from Alaska, now live with it.

    June 23, 2010 03:59 pm at 3:59 pm |
  18. rs

    As an Arizonan who suffered with Mr. Hayworth as our elected Representative to Congress, all I can say is Mr. McCain is being kind AND restrained in calling Hayworth a "Huckster". Far worse words come to mind when I think of JD.

    June 23, 2010 04:07 pm at 4:07 pm |
  19. Pragmatic

    Suggests? No doubt about it! Hayworth , is known to be "an avid earmarker" with links to Jack Abramoff… and his opinion that gay marriage means you can legally marry your horse !

    June 23, 2010 04:20 pm at 4:20 pm |
  20. DIANA

    I pray for Arizona. Both of these are losers.

    Hey McCain, when are you going to tell us where Bin Laden is? Since you lost the election, did you decide that you were going to keep it a secret?

    June 23, 2010 04:22 pm at 4:22 pm |