On NPR's Morning Edition today Scott Horsley reported on John McCain's post-Vietnam command of the Navy's VA-174 squadron, which McCain has often cited as part of his presidential resume.
For Horsley's report, a completely random sample of 3 former naval aviators (from among roughly 750 in the squadron) were quoted and - wouldn't you know it - every one of them offered glowing, unqualified praise of McCain's leadership.
These pulled-from-a-hat, man-on-the-street type sources were identified only as:
- Ross Fischer - "a flight instructor who served under McCain. Fischer now runs a charter airline based in Florida."
- Bob Stumpf - "a student pilot under McCain who went on to command the Blue Angels."
- Carl Smith - "former flight instructor"
continued...
Ross Fischer
Fischer donated $2100 to the McCain campaign in February 2007 and another $2300 in May 2008 (see FISCHER, DOUGLAS R; MIAMI AIR INTL/PRESIDENT).
He was also a little known player in the White House travel office "controversy" in 1993. Fischer was and is CEO of Miami Air, a company that had contracted some press charter flights for the White House in 1992. The whole affair began when whistle-blower Catherine Cornelius told the FBI that she'd heard Fischer was solicited for kickbacks by a travel office employee. Fischer denied the kickbacks, and the right wingers were soon adding Cornelius to their Vast Clinton Conspiracy.
Bob Stumpf
Stumpf donated $1000 to the McCain campaign in January 2000 (see STUMPF, BOB; FEDEX/PILOT).
Besides being a Blue Angel, he is also notable for his involvement in the infamous Tailhook scandal. After an investigation, he was denied a promotion to captain by Clinton's Sec. of Navy John Dalton. An embittered Stumpf quit the service and became a minor cause celebre in conservative circles.
The Bush administration granted Stumpf a post active-duty promotion to captain in 2002. The action carried a substantial financial reward for Stumpf, including six years of back pay and an additional $500 per month on his pension. The retroactive promotion was strongly advocated by... John McCain, who wrote to Sec. Of Navy Gordon England that "It is well past the time for the Navy to right this wrong."
McCain also reportedly stumped for Stumpf during closed-door Senate committee meetings on the Tailhook matter in 1994 and 1995.
Carl Smith
Smith donated $1000 to McCain's PAC in November 2005, just months after it was reactivated for his 2008 presidential run (see SMITH, CARL M; MCGOVERN & SMITH LLC/ATTORNEY).
He is also a member of the McCain campaign's "Truth Squad" which is tasked with insulting and lying about any retired generals who may venture to speak on McCain's qualifications for the presidency.
Besides being a "former flight instructor", Smith is a longtime Washington attorney and lobbyist with McGovern & Smith LLC. His partner John McGovern is a McCain fundraising bundler and $2300 contributor. The firm also previously employed John Timmons who was John McCain's counsel and legislative director from 1983 to 1991.
Additional Thoughts:
First, I should make it clear that the NPR report never claimed its sources represented a "random sample" of airmen who served under McCain in the VA-174 - that was sarcasm on my part. Also, I'm not trying to suggest there exists some journalistic standard for mathematically balanced sourcing that has not been met here. I think the real problems with this pool of sources are:
- They're not accurately identified.
- Their composition suggests they may have been supplied by the McCain campaign - and if so, that should be disclosed.
(end of diary)