Paxson contradicts McCain on FCC letters

Sen. John McCain claims he never met with broadcaster Lowell "Bud" Paxson, or his lobbyist Vicki Iseman, before writing two letters to the FCC on Paxson's behalf.

Paxson says he met with McCain in 1999 and asked him to intercede with the FCC:

Paxson said he talked with McCain in his Washington office several weeks before the Arizona Republican wrote the letters in 1999 to the FCC urging a rapid decision on Paxson's quest to acquire a Pittsburgh television station.

Paxson also recalled that his lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, likely attended the meeting in McCain's office and that Iseman helped arrange the meeting. "Was Vicki there? Probably," Paxson said in an interview with The Washington Post yesterday. "The woman was a professional. She was good. She could get us meetings." [WaPo]

[HT: Think Progress]

Comments

[mudkitty]

The thing is, Isman was bragging all over town about her access to McCain.

[Mold]

Some of the bloggers that predicted the Iraq fiasco also predicted the press circling the wagons to protect citizen McCain. Whitewater was a failed investment and got huge press. A Senator consorts with a known lobbyist and the MSM tries to discount what would hopefully only be a ancient boy with an open marriage.

[shrimplate]

It's the lies.

[cavjam]

McCain's been on the Commerce Committee since when, the gaslight era? Of course he's in bed with corporate lobbyists. And corporate media give him a pass? Surprise, surprise.

[The Phantom]

--urging a rapid decision on Paxson's quest to acquire a Pittsburgh television station.--

not a rapid decision, more like a timely decision. It is understood that the FCC had taken about twice the time it normally takes to approve such transactions. They were not doing their job.

There's no substance to this. There are real issues to attack McCain on- this ain't one of them.

[Autumnal Harvest]

Phantom, whether or not it was reasonable for McCain to write the letter is one question. Whether he's lying about what happened is another one, of interest on its own. That Paxson contradicts McCain on the FCC letters is a real issue to attack McCain on. An ever better one is that McCain contradicts McCain on the FCC letters. In testimony under oath, no less.

[Autumnal Harvest]

Phantom, whether or not it was reasonable for McCain to write the letter is one question. Whether he's lying about what happened is another one, of interest on its own. That Paxson contradicts McCain on the FCC letters is a real issue to attack McCain on. An ever better one is that McCain contradicts McCain on the FCC letters. In testimony under oath, no less.