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John McCain on Offense: Calls GOP Rival Hayworth a 'Huckster' in New Ad

1 year ago
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Sen. John McCain, his reelection threatened by a conservative rival, has taken to the airways to attack former Rep. J.D. Hayworth for an infomercial he cut in 2007 for a company accused of deceptive marketing.

McCain's two new advertisements call Hayworth a huckster, a lobbyist and a "pork-barrel spender" -- all for making the spot for the National Grants Conference, an outfit that has been criticized by attorneys general in several states. The company has been accused of using high-pressure tactics to persuade people to pay for information about government grants that was already available for free online.
Sen. John McCain
Hayworth, a onetime talk-show host running against McCain in the Aug. 24 Arizona GOP Senate primary, says he made a mistake and should have checked the firm out more thoroughly. According to CNN, he said in an online broadcast last month that "one of the staples I learned growing up is 'caveat emptor' -- buyer beware. I think that is a given in any commercial endeavor. I would certainly hope in this one."

The McCain campaign has been all over that remark. The new ads reword Hayworth's staple to: "voter beware."

Hayworth spokesman Mark Sanders shot back, telling CNN, "What is truly shameful is that Sen. McCain has no record to run on when it comes to what he's done for Arizona and is instead involved in character assassination of his opponent."

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8 Comments

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vobox3343

Thank you America! You didn't elect an 18th Century candidate to do a 21st Century job. God bless America.

July 06 2010 at 12:45 PM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to vobox3343's comment
matt102678

No Vobox they didn't. What they did do is elect an inexperienced community organizer that couldn't manage a lemonade stand let alone the most powerfull country in the world. The health care debacle, lack of timely response on the oil spill and his inability to realize that the government cannot spend a country out of a recession are all examples of his ignorance. If the main stream media did not get tingling feelings up their legs and did their duty and job and properly vetted Mr Obama as candidate for President it is possible the outcome may have been different. Bottom line is they did not and alot of the people that voted for this man are experiencing buyers remorse.

July 06 2010 at 1:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
joe

John McCain is going to run a get tough campaign against Hayworth and people wonder why he was such a wimp in the Predidential campaign. Also the usuallly moderate McCain is suddenly turning very hawkish now. Again he will become a media darling because Hayworth is the legitimate hawk in this one. The media supports McCain till he runs against a Democrat. Sorry John you need to wise up.

July 06 2010 at 12:16 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to joe's comment
chasblahh

John McCain, that's who. Everyone loves to go after John McCain because of his independence, but McCain is right on the big issues. McCain is a true small government politician in the same vain as Tom Coburn and Paul Ryan, and his support of the surge in Iraq saved that war.

Hayworth meanwhile is a Jack Abramoff stooge who loves pork barrel spending and voted for huge government expansions like Medicare part D. You may disagree with McCain on immigration, but what is more important: Fiscal responsibility or allowing illegal immigrants to work toward citizenship so that we can collect taxes from them? Politicians like Hayworth are the reason that Democrats creamed Republicans in 2006 and 2008.

July 12 2010 at 10:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eddie

I've been 63 years in AZ. Not voting for McCain. I have not forgotten that he created the amnesty bill and we all know where we are with that issue in AZ. JD doesn't come off well on camera, but if you listen to him, he cares about the state and what's going on, here. He gets my vote. Pork barrel spending? Who's innocent on that issue?

July 06 2010 at 9:48 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Eddie's comment
hider51210

McCain constantly complains about the "pork barrel" spending in the bills that come up for a vote yet votes for every bill containing "pork barrel" spending. Well, not so much in this election year. Bye Johnny, you've seen better days.

July 06 2010 at 10:03 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
hider51210

John doesn't seem to be "crossing the aisle" as much these last few campaigning months. Happy retirement Sen. McCain.

July 06 2010 at 9:34 AM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to hider51210's comment
antidonkey

McCain knows policy and when it is best for the American people. McCain has never been afraid of his ego, he will sacrifice it for us any day and he has proven that time and time again! McCain's record is the 3rd most fiscally conservative member in Senate...JD could never compare to that, not with his earmarks and free govt money infomercials!

July 08 2010 at 12:18 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply

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