Senator Brown (OH) Opens the "Keating Five" Attack on McCain

[understandinglife]

|One of the Senate's most progressive members ripped John McCain on Tuesday] for offering a phony populist self-portrayal in the wake of the current crisis in the financial markets. In the process, Sherrod Brown of Ohio raised the Republican nominee's involvement in the Keating Five scandal as evidence that voters couldn't trust McCain's record on both the economy and ethics.

"It is not so much his economic proposals but his economic record," Brown said of McCain. "His main adviser is Phil Gramm -- he was his mentor in the Senate -- and you just tie it all together. Of course John McCain supported the oil industry, he has oil lobbyists working for him. Of course John McCain supported these trade agreements, he has got Wall Street people working for him... It is all wrapped up together. John McCain is a creature of these interest groups in Washington. He is no maverick and, from the Keating Five on, his ethics have been questionable. He's not a maverick and Barack has got to just keep hammering on that."

In referencing McCain's involvement in that 1980's Savings and Loans controversy, Brown has gone where the Democratic nominee himself has only tread subtly. During his speech on Tuesday, Obama drew parallels between that industry collapse and the current stumbles of the housing and financial sectors.

"Instead of sensible reform that rewarded success and freed the creative forces of the market, too often we've excused an ethic of greed, corner-cutting and inside dealing that threatens the long-term stability of our economic system," he said. "It happened in the 1980s, when we loosened restrictions on Savings and Loans and appointed regulators who ignored even these weaker rules. Too many S&Ls took advantage of the lax rules set by Washington to gamble that they could make big money in speculative real estate."

Now that's what we need ... Thank you Senator Brown!



YEP ... the dude is definitely lost

[FrenchieCat]

1. John McCain attempting to remake his image as a populist

is a fucking joke, and nothing more.

Amazing that the media attempts to report this "change" with straight faces.

Kind of like saying that Satan is now continuing the good work of Mother Theresa!

[understandinglife]

2. "Kind of like saying that Satan is now continuing the good work of Mother Theresa!"

You should copyright that one!!!!

:thumbsup:

[blondeatlast]

3. It's a game of chess and the opening move was brilliant. Let the press and the surrogates

play it out!

[lamp_shade]

4. Thanks. Can you tell me where he made this speech?

[understandinglife]

10. I think it was during yesterday's conference call ...

http://www.irontontribune.com/news/2008/sep/17/brown-ryan-rip-economic-policies/

[lamp_shade]

12. Thanks.

[cottonseed]

5. Maddow mentioned it on her show last night.

I think it's extremely relevant in light of the recent day's events. I'd like to hear much more "discussion" as to what exactly McCain was doing during the last related crisis. I don't think anyone would disagree that insight from his behavior during the S&L crisis could shine some light upon what we can expect from him during this deadly serious crisis.

[ellie]

6. That's my senator!

[OHDEM]

19. Mine too!

Weird coincidence - I just got a handwritten note from Sherrod Brown today complimenting a letter I wrote to the Cleveland Plain Dealer! How thoughtful is that!?!

[ellie]

22. That is really nice!

[AzDar]

7. Sherrod Brown is awesome.

:thumbsup:

[RoccoR5955]

8. About freakin' time!!!

I have been saying this for a while now... McCain is as corrupt as the bass turds that are in power today. Remember the S&L crisis and the Keating Five. I am so glad SOMEONE is bringing it into the light. Maybe McVampire will scurry in the light, along with Cruella Palin.

[Ian David]

9. The Keating lawfirm donated $150,000 to McCain's campaign this year, IIRC. n/t

[Ikonoklast]

11. I love my Senator.

Now Ohio needs to shit-can the other do-nothing doofus and elect a Democrat that will re-energize the state, instead of help the Pukes ship everything to China.

I'm talking about YOU, Voinovich, you worthless stooge.

[Cha]

13. Senator Liar..who if gets in would change

his so called "populist" on one of those dimes added to the National Debt.

Is the corporatemedia going to call him on this like they would Obama if he had a 26 year record of deregulation and all of a sudden was for Regulation 'cause the other guy is winning who has always been behind regulation?

[understandinglife]

14. David Mizner now has a diary on it at dKos ... some interesting comments ....

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/17/135455/988/325/601741

[Hope And Change]

18. Thanks for the link to the DailyKos diary!

[understandinglife]

20. Of course ... some good comments in that diary, for sure ...

:hi:

[Hope And Change]

15. K & R!

[rndmprsn]

16. the obama camp needs to be SCREAMING this like bloody murder!

[dgibby]

17. Or, in the immortal words of GWB

BRING IT ON!!!:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Alpharetta]

21. Good. That's what we need in Ohio.

Fearless words of truth. Proceed!