Sex Should be Private, Corruption Shouldn't Be.

By Cernig Everyone and their auntie's dog is talking about John McCain and the New York Times. Turkana at The Left Coaster has the best comment I've seen yet: we all need to know why the Times, once again, was delaying running a story that could have had a devastating impact to a Republican candidate's electoral chances. The fact that the Times turned tabloid, when they finally did publish the story, is beside the point. This is not a sex scandal, it is potentially a political scandal. It doesn't matter what McCain did with the lobbyist; what matters is what he did for her. And it matters that the self-styled "paper of record" chose not to inform millions of voters about that potential political scandal before those voters cast their votes. Sex, to quote one immortal bard, is nobody's business except that of the three people involved and the shop that sold them the equipment...unless some of those involved have made a public deal out of their sexual probity. But corruption should always be placed in the public view. Update Back in November, McCain said: Everybody says that they’re against the special interests. I’m the only one the special interests don’t give any money to. Not true, as Think Progress points out: According to the Center for Responsive Politics, McCain has taken nearly $1.2 million in campaign contributions from the telephone utility and telecom service industries, more than any other Senator. McCain sides with the telecom companies on retroactive immunity. McCain is also the single largest recipient of campaign contribution by Ion Media Networks — formerly Paxson Communication — receiving $36,000 from the company and employees from 1997 to mid-year 2006. ...Vicki Iseman has represented Paxson since 1998, longer than any of her other clients. The Washington Post reports that Iseman’s clients have given nearly $85,000 to McCain campaigns since 2000, according to records at the Federal Election Commission. In the case of Paxson's company, McCain did an about-face at a crucial juncture to oppose legislation he had supported only two weeks previously - legislation which would have ruined Paxson. Did the Straight Talk Express just crash and burn?