McCain's connection to a terrorist

The McCain campaign is trying to out Barack Obama's alleged ties to William Ayers, and there has been quite a lot of reports from various newspapers on Ayers, but the bottom line is that the connection he has to Obama is so thin that it doesn't merit investigation. Essentially, the relationship is sort of like you and your co-worker, who you'd occaisionally meet on the way to the water cooler, or at official company functions. They were merely both working for the same board of the Woods Fund of Chicago. That's about it.

Now, if people wanted a REAL juicy story about shady conenctions to a terrorist, why not go after John McCain's self-described "Old Friend", G. Gordon Liddy? Remember him? People's memories are a bit foggy, so let me give you some simple facts about Liddy, in my usual heavily-hyper-linked research.

1. Liddy served four and a half years in prison in connection with his conviction for his role in the Watergate break-in and the break-in at the office of the psychiatrist of Daniel Ellsberg, the military analyst who leaked the Pentagon Papers.
   
   
2. Liddy has acknowledged preparing to kill someone during the Ellsberg break-in "if necessary".
   
   
3. At CRP (The Committee to Re-Elect the President, appropriately nicknamed "CReeP"), Liddy concocted several plots, some far-fetched, intended to embarrass the Democratic opposition. These included firebombing the Brookings Institution in Washingon, D.C., where classified documents leaked by Daniel Ellsberg were being stored.
   
   
4. He plotted to murder journalist Jack Anderson.
   
   
5. He plotted with a "gangland figure" to murder E. Howard Hunt to stop him from cooperating with investigators.
   
   
6. He plotted to kidnap anti-Vietnam war protestors at the 1972 Republican National Convention -- a plan he outlined to the Nixon administration using terminology borrowed from the Nazis.
   
   
7. During the 1990s, Liddy reportedly instructed his radio audience on multiple occasions on how to shoot Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents and also reportedly said he had named his shooting targets after Bill and Hillary Clinton.
   
   
8. Liddy has donated $5,000 to McCain's campaigns since 1998, including $1,000 in February 2008.
   
   
9. In addition, McCain has appeared on Liddy's radio show during the presidential campaign, including as recently as May.
   
   
10. An online video labeled "John McCain On The G. Gordon Liddy Show 11/8/07" includes a discussion between Liddy and McCain, whom Liddy described as an "old friend."
    
    
11. During the segment, McCain praised Liddy's "adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great," said he was "proud" of Liddy, and said that "it's always a pleasure for me to come on your program."
    
    
12. Additionally, in 1998, Liddy reportedly held a fundraiser at his home for McCain. Liddy was reportedly scheduled to speak at another fundraiser for McCain in 2000.
    
    
13. The Charlotte Observer reported on January 23, 2000, that McCain's campaign vouched for Liddy's "character":
    

    
    His [McCain's] campaign officials said Liddy's character will appeal to many voters because he was following orders from President Nixon and kept silent afterward.
    
    "His (Liddy's) judgment might be in question, but I don't think his character is," said Ed Walker, the York County chairman of McCain's campaign. "He was following orders just like any good soldier, and he didn't tell on anybody. He felt like he was on a mission and kept his silence."
    

    
    

I think that McCain's connection to a creep like Liddy should be far more of a concern for Americans than a pretty much non-existant connection to a former terrorist. Remember, Liddy was plotting terrorist actions as a part of secret government responses to critics and a blatant attempt by Richard Nixon to supress voters and steal the election. This is a guy we're asked to be proud of, and to honor as a good soldier who did his job. Sorry -- McCain is a soldier who did his job. Liddy was just a hired thug working to help a president break laws and undermine the constitution.

Nuff Said?