McCain allegations trigger political, journalistic firestorms

WASHINGTON - John McCain emphatically and persistently denied Thursday that he had any personal ties to a female lobbyist and said that no one in his campaign had advised him to avoid her.

The New York Times triggered twin political and journalistic firestorms by raising questions about the relationship between McCain, 71, who has cultivated an image of moral rectitude and political independence, and corporate lobbyist Vicki Iseman, 40. The story said aides had tried to discourage the Arizona senator from dealing with Iseman eight years ago because they feared that "the relationship had become romantic."

McCain said the account was "not true." Times Executive Editor Bill Keller defended it, saying in a statement: "On the substance, we think the story stands for itself."

It was unclear Thursday what, if any, political fallout the story might cause to McCain's presidential race. Also unclear were the journalism repercussions.

Some critics faulted the Times for relying on anonymous sources, retelling old stories about McCain and raising the possibility of a romantic relationship without providing more than hearsay. Others said the story provided legitimate information about a presidential candidate.

The story relies heavily on two unidentified former McCain "associates" but doesn't characterize their current relationships with him. A former McCain aide, John Weaver, told both the Times and the Washington Post that he met with Iseman at Washington's Union Station to persuade her to stop seeing the senator.

The story also reports that Iseman, whose clients include firms with substantial business before the Senate Commerce Committee, "had been turning up with [McCain] at fundraisers, visiting his offices and accompanying him on a client's corporate jet." McCain chaired the committee at various times from 1997 to 2005.

McCain on Thursday almost categorically denied the story's main points.

"I've served this country honorably for half a century," the likely Republican presidential nominee said with his wife, Cindy, at his side. "At no time have I ever done anything that would betray the public trust."

McCain also said he knew nothing about confrontations the newspaper described between him and staff members who were worried that the senator's relationship with Iseman would jeopardize his career.

Calling her husband "a man of great character," Cindy McCain said she and their children "know he would never have done anything to disappoint not only our family but ... our country."

The newspaper's article drew criticism but also supporters in the journalism community.

American Journalism Review Editor Rem Rieder called the story "defensible" because McCain cites his independence from lobbyists as an important campaign theme.

Bryce Nelson, a professor of journalism at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication, said that while the story's structure was "strange," he thought that the news about the aides' concern "is certainly relevant."

Others found the story wanting.

"The hole in this story is the innuendo they can't prove," said Philip Meyer, a professor of journalism at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

The New York Times and Associated Press contributed to this report.