Grover Ralph JackFor all those folks who still cling to the "Maverick" myth like a cheap polyester against your Spanx on a high static hot afternoon, consider this:

Wasn’t it McCain’s committee that surfaced all the connections between Reed, the former Christian Coalition head, and the convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff? Didn’t Reed campaign to defeat McCain during the 2000 presidential primary using sleazy tactics?

Wait, isn’t McCain a reformer? Not so much, apparently.

McCain and Reed certainly have “history.” In 2000, Reed was reportedly behind a smear that played a role in McCain losing the South Carolina primary to George W. Bush. Reed was blamed by some for planting the scurrilous rumor that McCain had fathered an illegitimate African-American child, and by the time the record was corrected, the race was lost.

A few years later, McCain’s Senate Indian Affairs Committee investigated Reed’s work for lobbyist Abramoff. Reed played a central role in a scheme by Abramoff and his associates that defrauded American Indian tribes out of tens of millions of dollars. Despite Reed’s claims of innocence, his consulting firm was paid $5.3 million from working with Abramoff. His handiwork included using a religious group as a front for one casino-rich tribe to pay for an anti-casino campaign against another competing tribe.

Also well-known was Reed’s work to defeat legislation that would have protected workers in the Northern Marianas who were subject to brutal conditions, like forced abortions and prostitution.

Reed was just far enough from the center to avoid criminal prosecution that put Abramoff, other lobbyists and one member of Congress behind bars. But his misdeeds —- and his inability to repent for them —- were bad enough that voters rejected him in his run for Georgia lieutenant governor in 2006.

I’m convinced that the John McCain of 2000 would describe Ralph Reed as the textbook example of everything that’s wrong with politics today. McCain once said Reed was worse than a “charlatan” and a “crook.” Yet the McCain of 2008 appears quite willing to accept his fund-raising help….

What price integrity and honor? Looks like the going rate these days is a rubber chicken dinner, a little glad-handing, some photo ops and about $1.75 million in payola.

Playing footsie with the man who smeared your own child? Not too much to ask. Asking a man that your Senate committee investigated — but never bothered to call before you for testimony under oath, natch — to raise fundage for you? A-okay in McCain’s world. And seemingly a-okay with every single person who showed up for the fundraiser at Ralph Reed’s request, too. Nice company they keep, isn’t it?

What price honor? Whatever it takes for some cash. Maverick, my ass.

(Video via American News Project.)

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