John McCain: Double Talk Express Hits a New Low

June 22, 2007 -- It's well known that McCain flew the A-4 Skyhawk, not the F-4 Phantom, during his service in the Navy. What's only now coming to light, however, is that McCain may be relying on phantom fundraising events to convince supporters his second quarter fundraising won't be as disappointing as the first.

It was just recently that McCain's campaign began touting that the Presidential hopeful was "jetting to 35 fund-raising events in the 30 days of June, hoping to raise more than $100,000 at each from small groups of big donors." The New York Times noted that McCain was "passing the hat in six states - Georgia, Texas, Arizona, Alabama, Massachusetts and Florida - in" a five-day period alone. [NY Times, 6/17/07]

But as the Tampa Tribune noted, while "McCain's web site showed him holding an event in St. Petersburg," Florida, "no such event took place" and the local County chairman "said he was never aware of any St. Pete event being planned." The Tampa Tribune also found that McCain's web site "showed an unspecified Pensacola event to be held Tuesday, which didn't occur." As the newspaper noted, "McCain's Florida stops reportedly were among 35 fundraising events he planned to hit during the month of June," but despite their prominence on his website, a McCain spokesman acknowledged "no Pensacola or St. Pete events were ever planned." [Tampa Tribune, TBO.com, March on Politics, 6/20/07] McCain's schedule on his website confirms a multitude of events tagged as "TBD" or "details to follow" in the month of June, including the Pensacola and St. Petersburg phantom events, and no events in the last two days of a critical fundraising quarter for his campaign.

"Apparently McCain's do-anything-to-win tactics include touting phantom fundraisers," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Luis Miranda. "The Double Talk Express has hit a new low if that's the case, and even McCain supporters won't be fooled for long. The American people expect honest leadership, and a real vision for the future of America."

Source: DNC