Wrapped Around the Axle

Sen. John McCain (R–Ariz.) was generous with his time to my candidate, and we flew around the state to six different media and political events in one day. We dominated the media coverage on an important topic, national defense. But we were exhausted. Always wanting more input for the campaign, my candidate asked the successful senator for advice. After the long day of campaigning, McCain offered up this one morsel that has stayed with me for over a decade.

“Don’t get wrapped around the axle,” McCain said.

He went on to talk about issues ranging from agriculture to veterans’ policy. He repeatedly gave the same sage advice that no one will be perfect to any group on an issue. There is always more the purists will want on the issue. If you go too far and pander, you will become unacceptable to other voters.

A week or so ago, McCain’s choice to run the Republican convention, Doug Goodyear, stepped down from that position because of his ties to a lobbying campaign from more than five years ago. His departure prompted another exit from the campaign of Doug Davenport for the same reason. Both are good, decent and talented people and would have served the campaign well. I’ve worked with both.

The campaign then issued guidelines for those within the organization regarding contacts with their former government relations firms. And just today The Washington Post reported that the finance co-chairman and former congressman would be stepping down because his is … drum roll please … a lobbyist. He was the fifth adviser to be cut loose.

Just as McCain predicted more than a decade ago, this, of course, is not enough for the partisans masquerading as do-gooder campaign reform groups. Now they want McCain to also release Charlie Black, a top adviser, because he too once was a lobbyist. Never mind that he has retired from the business.

It’s time for McCain to take his own advice. The critics will never be satisfied until he loses. They are much more interested in his defeat — and their own promotion — than they are about the issue.

Don’t get wrapped around the axle.