John McCain is shameless. He attacked Obama today while on a campaign trip to Canada -- and then went on to break more campaign laws. John McCain is so cozy with the traditional media, he really thinks he's impervious to criticism.
First, the political attack from Canada. And, it was a campaign trip. On MSNBC, Adam Aigner-Treworgy stated that "It's a little unclear exactly what the campaign had planned today. They made this a political trip by paying for it by the campaign rather than going through McCain's Senate office, which most of his diplomatic trips are paid for by."
The Associated Press has more:
In a cross-border political attack, John McCain said Friday that Barack Obama's opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement is "nothing more than retreating behind protectionist walls."McCain then went to a fundraiser for his campaign hosted by the American ambassador to Canada, which appears to be a violation of federal law:
The Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting added that if he wins the White House, "have no doubt that America will honor its international commitments - and we will expect the same of others."
McCain did not mention Obama by name as he spoke before the Economic Club of Canada, a business organization whose membership cheered his remarks....
...In an unmistakable reference to Obama, he added, "Demanding unilateral changes and threatening to abrogate an agreement that has increased trade and prosperity is nothing more than retreating behind protectionist walls."
A Canadian newspaper reported Thursday that Friday's scheduled $100-a-plate luncheon speech by Sen. John McCain in Ottowa was organized in part by U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins, a former South Carolina lawmaker whom President Bush appointed in 2005.McCain is probably thinking: What the Hell? I've already broken the campaign finance law by illegally attempting to remove myself from the campaign finance system, after financially benefiting from it, which is punishable by five years in jail. Hell, why not violate the Hatch Act, too? All my pals in the traditional media will let me off the hook. They don't want me to get mad and kick them off my bus.
Democrats pointed out the article late Thursday night, and alleged that Wilkins's actions could be construed as a violation of the Hatch Act, which prohibits many kinds of political activities by government employees.
The article in the Edmonton Sun, and an earlier one in the Globe and Mail, says that Wilkins contacted Thomas d'Aquino, the president of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, to help set up what they described as a fundraiser before McCain's visit. McCain is scheduled to give a speech at the the Chateau Laurier Hotel and to meet with several Canadian officials.
According to the Sun: "Wilkins had been contacted by the McCain campaign about a Canadian visit, and the ambassador wanted to know if some of d'Aquino's group of corporate chief executives might be interested in meeting the Republican presidential candidate. Almost instantly, d'Aquino jumped at the opportunity."
The Hatch Act circumscribes political activity for government employees. According to the American Foreign Service Association Web site, the State Department's ethics office prohibits fundraising activities for its presidential appointees.
Now, the question is whether the punditry will view this as a breach of trust by McCain -- or just another McCain transgression to be ignored.
Where's AP's Liz Sidoti's outrage on this one?
Main & gay blog