By: E&P Staff Sen. John McCain at a 9 a.m press conference in Toledo, Ohio, hit back at The New York Times for running a long-delayed story last night on its Web site, and on its front page today, detailing some sort of relationship with a female lobbyist eight years ago.
McCain said, "I?m very disappointed in the New York Times piece. It?s not true. "
He asserted that he and the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman -- the
Times reported that McCain staffers had suspected a romantic link and urged him to stay away from here -- are just ?friends.? As for ethical issues, he said that traveling in her client?s corporate jet ?was an accepted practice.?
He also denied that anyone on his staff urged him to spend less time with her. This puts him in open conflict with the Times and its two anonymous sources.
The Times endorsed McCain in the recent New York primary, which he would win handily.
John Weaver, a longtime aide, told the Times he arranged to meet with her to urge her to stay away from the senator before the 2000 campaign after "a discussion among the campaign leadership" about Iseman.
But McCain said he was unaware of any such conversation. "I never discussed it with John Weaver. As far as I know, there was no necessity for it," McCain said. "I don't know anything about it," he added. "John Weaver is a friend of mine. He remains a friend of mine. But I certainly didn't know anything of that nature....
''I will focus my attention in this campaign on the big issues and on the challenges that face this country,'' he said.
His wife, Cindy McCain, said, "My children and I not only trust my husband, but know that he would never do anything to not only disappoint our family, but disappoint the people of America."
UPDATE: Marc Ambinder at TheAtlantic.com reports an email from Weaver: "The New York Times knew about my meeting with Ms. Iseman and asked me about it and why it occurred. I informed the Times, in a written reply, that Ms. Iseman's comments about having strong ties to John's committee staff, personal staff and to him I felt were harmful and not true. And so I informed her and asked to to stop and desist. The moment I answered the inquiry from the New York Times I sent that answer also to Mark, Steve and Charlie. All of this happened in December. I've wanted John McCain to be president since I first approached him in 1997. I do so today. I love John McCain and I believe the country badly needs him."
UPDATE 2: In an email to Politico.com, Rush Limbaugh weighs in: "The story is not the story. The story is the Drive By media turning on its favorite maverick and trying to take him out. The media picked the GOP's candidate, the NYT endorsed him while they sat on this story, and is now, with utter predictability, trying to destroy him.?
UPDATE 3: The New York Times' Executive Editor Bill Keller released this statement today received by E&P: "On the substance, we think the story speaks for itself. On the timing, our policy is, we publish stories when they are ready. 'Ready' means the facts have been nailed down to our satisfaction, the subjects have all been given a full and fair chance to respond, and the reporting has been written up with all the proper context and caveats. This story was no exception. It was a long time in the works. It reached my desk late Tuesday afternoon. After a final edit and a routine check by our lawyers, we published it."
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