Rudman: Bringing up Keating 5 was a 'low blow'

By James W. Pindell, Politicker.com Editor

Former New Hampshire Sen. Warren Rudman, who oversaw the Keating 5 ethics investigation, said it was a "low blow" for Barack Obama to bring up John McCain's role in the 1980s-era scandal.

"I thought it was a pretty low blow. If you look at the report of the independent council . . . his recommendation was that John McCain be discharged from the investigation," Rudman said.

Rudman remarks were in response to a question at the end of a press conference call with John E. Sununu.

McCain has said that his association with Charles Keating was one of his low points of his career. As a result he said he changed and become a reformer.

The issue was largely in the past until Obama's campaign released a 13 minute web "documentary" in response McCain's increased chatter about Obama's loose association with Bill Ayers.

JAMES W. PINDELL is a Politicker.com Editor and can be reached via email at james.pindell@politicker.com.

Comments

Of course he did...

posted by Anonymous 2008

Washington insider / DC lobbyist Warren Rudman props up yet another Republican candidate. Of course he does, what else do you expect? "Warren the Wonderful" always dutifully shows up in the Granite State to yabber on about how wonderful every Republican is and how they should be elected.

Yawn.

10/09/08 3:10 pm

Get Onto The Real Issues

posted by Jim Splaine

But it's okay for the Sarah Failin'-John McSame ticket to talk about Barack Obama's minor association with someone who did a bad act when Obama was 8 years old? Or what the pastor at a Church said when Obama wasn't present? Or what misdeeds Obama did when he was a teenager?

Let's get on the discussion about the economy, getting out of Iraq, avoiding invading other countries, having health care for all Americans, providing quality education, fighting Global Warming, bringing ethics to Washington, allowing for a woman to choose, solving our energy needs without creating more problems for the planet.

10/09/08 3:17 pm

Oh Jim if only you and yours knew how to talk issues

posted by Anonymous777

To Jim and the rest of you democrats who are professional fingerpointers,

We have less than Three Weeks until election day and you people cant get over being beaten by the incomptent George Bush. Yes Please lets talk issues. First, How does forcing banks to loan money to unqualified borrowers sound for good policy. Second, Lets talk about how all Americans are having to control cost and you folks want to spend more huh? Ethics the democrats wouldnt know ethics if it crashed into their office. May I remind you of Norman Shu, Rep. Jefferson, and Franklin Raines. Please stop the finger pointing and present ideas or shut up

10/09/08 4:59 pm

nurse? nurse? is it time for meds yet?

posted by Anonymous Eponymous

i think the dems are getting nervous.....they are getting weirder and weirder, angrier and angrier. what will happen when BHO loses? perhaps they will all need to be institutionalised. if we could be so lucky.

10/09/08 5:31 pm

it would be one thing

posted by Susan Bruce

if McCain had learned anything from his Keating 5 experience, but quite obviously he did not. He's been preaching the gospel of deregulation for over a decade, and we're now reaping the rewards of it. History repeats, again and again - thanks to people like McCain and Rudman and their serious concerns for corporate welfare, and utter lack of concern for the people they claim to serve.

10/09/08 7:32 pm

how low will McCain go?

posted by Anonymous1492

The real shame should be from McCain who denounced Romneys negative attacks during our primary, but now embraces them. Once ran from Bush, now towards him. Had several chances to bring about real change like renewable energy, now only talks about it when its a popular theme.
Any man who is holding a rally and does not denouce "kill him", in regards to our possible next president... is WRONG!! McCain you are not the same, you have flipped and now flopped and are not the same man NH used to hold in a better light.

10/10/08 8:38 am

Veterans Affairs

posted by DickNH

So, let's see. John McCain doesn't have a sound economic plan, because he freely admits that he doesn't know much about the economy. He was as big a proponent of deregulation as there was, but now, suddenly, he's all about reining in the excesses of Wall Street. He says he's all for veterans, yet time and time again he's voted against increasing veterans' health benefits, against providing improved body and vehicle armor for them, and he supported sending them into a totally illegal and unnecessary war. Then, you bring up this nonsense about Bill Ayers and Sen. Obama's youthful indiscretions, and expect any of us to take you seriously. Sorry, Sen. McCain, but you made this bed, and you richly deserve to lay in it.

10/10/08 10:11 am

very odd

posted by Bill Duncan

that Rudman would pick the Keating 5 thing, of all things!, to comment on and that anyone would record what he has to say about it.... Sure, he's a good guy, mostly. But this one little brush-back pitch from Obama in response to all that McCain garbage? Why bestir yourself, Warren?

10/13/08 4:59 pm

re: very odd

posted by Lorenzo

"But this one little brush-back pitch from Obama in response to all that McCain garbage? Why bestir yourself, Warren?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Very well said!

10/14/08 10:56 am

Low Blow?

posted by 55Anonymous

Senator Rudman...how on earth is the Obama campaign's mention of the Keating 5 a low blow in view of the way McCain continues to 'beat a dead horse' over "Obama's terrorist ties..." The Republican Party has always perceived the Dems as a bunch of wimps...and now...shame on them for defending themselves first...then slamming them back hard? So they are supposed to remain the "politically correct" party...not making any waves while the opponent slaps him around. Obama would not even be going this route if McCain would stick to the facts...I'm surprised he hasn't had a field day with the "Fellow Prisoner" faux pas...but then again, he is a gentleman...it could be used against McCain to question his grey matter and the suggestion of Alzeimer's or serious PTSD...maybe when the Republicans stop the smear tactics aimed at distracting people from important issues...so will the Dems...

10/15/08 10:30 am