McCain adviser ousted in conflict uproar

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico.com

John McCain's campaign asked a prominent Republican consultant, Craig Shirley, to leave his official campaign role Thursday after a Politico inquiry about Shirley's dual role consulting for the campaign and for an independent "527" group opposing the Democratic presidential candidates. The campaign also released a new conflict of interest policy barring such arrangements.

Shirley, a conservative public relations veteran, doubled as a consultant to McCain and to the group Stop Her Now, a 527 group barred from coordinating its activities with presidential campaigns. He is not currently on the McCain campaign’s payroll, but would also step down from his role on McCain’s Virginia Leadership Team, a McCain spokesman, Brian Rogers, said.

"If you're working for a 527 involved in the presidential race, you won't have a named role in our campaign,” said Rogers.

Under the new policy, a copy of which was provided to Politico, “no person with a McCain Campaign title or position may participate in a 527 or other independent entity that makes public communications that support or oppose any presidential candidate.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10394.html

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Setting aside the political embarrassment, isn't the coordination of campaign and 527 groups, um, what's the word I'm looking for.....illegal?

[Thrill]

1. Trust me McCain has some big skeletons in his closet. You can tell

because he really wants to try and keep the 527s and outside people from negative ads against the Dems. I think its because there is some stuff out there he doesn't want the other side to attack him with.

[msongs]

2. "...won't have a NAMED role..." emphasis mine nt

[Duke Newcombe]

7. "named role"...And they say _we_ "parse words"? n/t

Duke

[Lochloosa]

13. That is what popped for me.

[Ian David]

15. Good catch. n/t

[McCamy Taylor]

3. Ooops...

[KSinTX]

4. Wait ... didn't McCain bring up Rob Malley just today?

It would seem imprudent to start slinging mud at the opposition's situation when yours is a whole lot worse off. What part of "Please, please for your own sake John, don't start this mudfight - it will end badly for you" does he not understand?

[habitual]

5. Is this ILLEGAL? i want to know if the republican nominee is breaking laws already.

and I agree with BrentTaylor above, what the hell is with the sly wording of "a named role"??

[NYC Liberal]

8. He's already breaking laws

He signed a binding agreement with the FEC to get matching funds when his campaign was broke...and accepted the spending limits that go along. Now he's completely ignoring that.

[starroute]

6. Craig Shirley has a long and dubious history

He was the publicist for both the Willie Horton ad and Stolen Honor. His clients in the 90's included Paula Jones, Gary Aldrich, and Ann Coulter,

He's also been a registered lobbyist for the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Even out of the McCain campaign, he's somebody worth keeping an eye on.

[Kaleko]

9. He's a lobbyist for Borat's country too? You can't make this shit up.

[truthisfreedom]

10. But everyone called him Shirley.

[starroute]

16. His actual name is Craigan

Compared to that, the Shirley part is nothing.

http://www.nndb.com/people/995/000129608/

[Hubert Flottz]

11. McCain sees nothing wrong with what Bush has been doing...

Making up "REALITY" as he goes along.

[liberal N proud]

12. This is just like the bu$h regime

Full of crooked no good pieces of s#!#

How many more working for McSame are dirty?

[Ian David]

14. Shirley? You can't be serious. n/t

[underpants]

17. Wow it's just like Ben Ginsberg allover again

Given the choice of continuing to work in the Bush campaign (IN THE CAMPAIGN )OR rep the Swiftboat liars he chose the latter. He was on "Hardball" every night until the election after Michelle Malkin's infamous "self inflicted wounds" meltdown.