McCain wrote on behalf of ex-trooper now awaiting trial in civil rights slaying

[maddezmom]

Source: Annistonstar.com

Presidential hopeful John McCain has a connection to a former Alabama state trooper charged with the murder of a man at the height of the civil rights movement, according to documents obtained by The Star.

In the early 1990s, Sen. McCain, R-Ariz., wrote a letter to the State Department regarding James B. Fowler, who was at the time imprisoned in Thailand on narcotics charges.

McCain's State Department letter was dated Nov. 15, 1991. It briefly explains Fowler's situation and asks Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Tamposi of the Office of Consular Affairs to look into his case.

In 2005, The Star published an interview with James B. Fowler who admitted publicly for the first time that he shot Jimmie Lee Jackson, during a melee in February 1965 in the west Alabama town of Marion. Fowler insisted it was in self defense.



Read more: http://www.annistonstar.com/breaking/2008/as-localupdate-1006-jflemingcol-8j06o5456.htm

[Nambe]

1. It is not up to par with the Keating friendship.

It sounds like there is something missing in the story but hey, it is almost nap time.

[slypknot]

3. It shows ties to racist

I am from Alabama, and there are many cases like this that I will not get into. This is similar to how they tried to tie Obama's views with Rev. Wright and Ayers. Coupled with the fact that he voted against the King holiday several times, it has much substance. He needs to throw this guy under the bus as Obama did.

[harmonicon]

8. shows ties to racists?

It's the Republican party, fer cryin' out loud!! - they are the racists, they don't need no stinking "ties" to racists.

[hughee99]

2. I don't think this has legs...

If McShame wrote a letter on his behalf in 1991 and 14 years later Fowler admitted to shooting Jackson, I don't think you're going to hear very much of this.

[scarface2004]

4. makane palling around with murderers?!?!

who would u' thunk it?!?!

[quispquake]

5. That Guilt by Association thing...

Keeps rearing it's ugly head back at McCain hunh?

[Chulanowa]

6. I'm not digging it

We're looking at happenstance here. If there were some evidence that McCain wanted this looked into BECAUSE of the racist thing, that'd be one thing. But it's just going to end up looking like "Former POW sought freedom for American imprisoned in SE Asia." The fact said prisoner later admits to having killed a a man simply isn't a black mark on McCain.

It's a no-go.

[Roy]

9. Of course ut usn't simply a black mark....

If it was only a black man.

"admits to having killed a a man simply isn't a black mark on McCain"

[geek tragedy]

12. McCain knew he shot the civil rights worker.

Everyone knew.

[yardwork]

7. McCain wrote a letter supporting a drug dealer who later confessed to murder?

Gee, sounds like McCain was palling around with a criminal.

[geek tragedy]

11. This guy was WIDELY known as the shooter.

He got off thanks to the Jim Crow legal system down there.

[yardwork]

13. I'm not surprised at all.

[OakCliffDem]

10. Kick

[Democat]

14. Obama should make an MTV style ad, with 20+ McCain friends!

All of them linked to murder, terrorism, the Nazi party, death squads, etc.

Make a 30 second ad that just hits terrorist after terrorist, with quick edits, that McCain has been associated with.