There have been news reports that John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign had Russian connections. I didn't have to ask him. He came roaring in.
Ann: John?
Senator McCain: Thanks, Annie, for taking my call. I came in earlier to set you straight about something else but now see that the news of the day has usurped that little message.
I want all of you to know in that in no way, shape, or form would I contribute, enable, or turn a blind eye to those who would undermine this country.
That said, politics is dirty, and sometimes you have to lie down with the devil to get up with the angels. It seems that I may have gone too far in that direction, but only real time clairvoyance would have allowed me to see the role that Manafort and his Russian buddies would play in compromising the presidency of the United States and infiltrating my old party. I did my best to set things straight and called out those of my colleagues who I believed had drunk the Kool-Aid and gone over to the other side.
There was never anything more sacred to me than upholding the honor of the United States of America. We make mistakes, I made plenty, but we hold true to the principles of freedom for each and every one of our citizens, and this I did to the best of my ability.
The current efforts that are underway by the so-called representatives of the people in what is no longer the Republican Party are shameful to the core and treasonous by every commonly understood meaning of the word. I continue to fight from this side of the veil any and all of those efforts.
To that end, if the revelation of my ignorance and missteps brings the country closer to a fuller understanding of this iniquity, then so be it. I am glad to play any part I can in the exposure of the greed, lies, and treason that govern the actions of those who are attempting to bring this country to its knees.
May 10, 2020