Was McCain really exonerated for his part in Keating 5?

[The Wielding Truth]

News and REP's strongly assert that he was.

[BlooInBloo]

1. Why DUers continue to treat things republicans say as though they *might* be true...

is utterly beyond me.

[The Wielding Truth]

3. I want to know if we can prove them wrong. I need something.

[AZBlue]

2. Sort of.

The Senate Ethics Committee cleared John Glenn and John McCain of having acted improperly but were criticized for having exercised "poor judgment".

[The Wielding Truth]

4. He was scolded for irresponsible behavior?

[Ashy Larry]

5. That's like saying OJ Simpson was exonerated of murder.

[mohc]

6. Typically the words "exonerated" and "censured"

Do not go together. The best way to phrase it is that "McCain avoided any serious punishment" for his involvement with Keating, but he certainly was not fully exonerated.

[nyhuskyfan]

10. There's also multiple issues

Whether or not he took bribes is one thing.

Whether or not he was on the side of deregulation - and going to bat on behalf of Keating's bank while it was stealing the savings out from 50,000 people and causing a crisis that cost American taxpayers billions. That's all out in the open.

[Essene]

7. Yes and no

His direct involvement with the absurd regulatory meetings was considered mild, but they also never examined his financial dealings with Keating.

[BlooInBloo]

8. If by "yes and no" you mean "no", then you are correct.

[FrenchieCat]

9. It's like saying that William Ayers was exonerated for his part in the Weatherman!

The only difference is that Bill Ayers is not running for the Presidency.

[calimary]

11. From what I've read, he sort of got away on a technicality, with a verdict from

investigators that he showed "bad judgment" being in bed with Keating. Basically because he was a fairly new Senator, and most of his involvment with Charles Keating happened while he was still a Congressman, so the Senate investigators figured they really didn't have much jurisdiction. Check this out for background on former Senator Dennis DeConcini, who was another one of the Keating Five.

http://www.politicker.com/deconcini-says-keating-five-fair-game

[The Wielding Truth]

12. Really "judgement is the issue". Isn't it?

[calimary]

13. Well, you could make a larger case for the overall judgment that leads one down

the dark path - the divisive, and totally selfish republi-CON way: "me first, screw you. And if you need help? Like I said, screw you. Get it yourself." The entire IGMFU (I Got Mine, F-U) mentality is what has to be thoroughly discredited and utterly demonized. I dream of the day when the whole CONservative and neoCON philosophy is rendered as toxic as they've worked for decades to make the word liberal." If not moreso.

A TOTAL repudiation and vilification of their agenda and their mindset. TOTAL. The Great Political Realignment - that's OURS.

[The Wielding Truth]

14. Yes, these times of "bad judgment "are hopefully behind us.

[4lbs]

15. It's pretty close to what Palin got slapped with.

McCain didn't do anything illegal that could have him removed as a Congressman, but he was found to have excercised poor judgment and done some unethical things to try to help Charles Keating.