'In the ad airing Thursday, Obama calls Reed, the former head of the Christian Coalition, a “Republican power broker” who was “in the middle” of the Jack Abramoff scandal.'

'“But when the Senate investigated, the senator in charge never even called Reed to testify,” the ad says. “That senator? John McCain. And who’s now raising money for McCain’s campaign? Ralph Reed.”'

Excerpt from the following link:

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/08/21/barack_obama_ad.html

More on Ralph Reed and John McCain:

Reed lost his 2006 campaign for Georgia lieutenant governor in large part because of details about his relationship with Abramoff — much of the information uncovered by McCain’s Indian Affairs Committee investigation into the wide-ranging lobbying corruption scandal.

The Senate probe discovered $4 million in payments Reed accepted to run a bogus anti-casino campaign aimed at reducing gambling competition. An Indian tribe with a competing casino made payments to Reed, which according to the Senate investigation’s final report, were “passed through” Abramoff’s firm, Preston, Gates, Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds, and another organization, Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform.

On the campaign trail, McCain often touts his work tackling Abramoff’s corrupt lobbying practices as evidence of his commitment to cleaning up Washington and a straight-shooting style that transcends politics.

Considering all that, CREW's Melanie Sloan put this controversy into perspective :

'Watchdog groups are floored that McCain, who has worked with them for years to reform campaign finance law, has called on Reed to help bundle contributions.'

'“[Reed’s] hypocrisy is legion — now matched only by John McCain’s attending a fundraiser he’s helping host,” said Melanie Sloan, CREW’s executive director. “You just have to wonder who’s the bigger hypocrite.”'

Excerpt from the following link:

http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/33690

Will the real 'straight-talking' McCain please sit down!

Sept. 4th, Jack Abramoff talks.

'While the government anticipates that Mr. Abramoff’s cooperation in the form of possible testimony will continue for the foreseeable future, the parties believe that they are in a position to inform the court about the full scope of his misconduct and cooperation, and that, consistent with the commitments in the plea agreement with Mr. Abramoff, sentencing in the near future in this case is appropriate.'

Excerpt from the following link:

http://suzieqq.wordpress.com/2008/06/14/abramoff-sentencing-date-set-and-investigation-may-continue/

McCain, get ready for a September surprise!!!

No question he is ass deep in pay-offs but so are all or almost all the pols on both sides of the isle as are some of the independents.

Maybe what we need are more citizens serving, real election reforms that give each candidates equal funding and advertising, a return to equal time on the news for discussion and rebuttal along with a citizenry who waking up and removing their heads from their asses long enough to see the the politics of division are driving us along the road to our own mutual ruin.

That's sounds good.

But I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for it to happen.