From George Will, no less, not too long ago, but missed in that news cycle:
McCain should thank the Times also because its semi-steamy story distracted attention from an unsavory story about McCain's dexterity in gaming the system for taxpayer financing of campaigns. Last summer, when his mismanagement of his campaign left it destitute, he applied for public funding, which entails spending limits. He seemed to promise to use tax dollars as partial collateral for a bank loan.
There are two ways for a candidate to get on Ohio's primary ballot -- comply with complex, expensive rules for gathering signatures or simply be certified to receive taxpayer funding. McCain's major Republican rivals did the former. He did the latter.
Let me just be the first to say that this calls into question - Krauthammer rules, naturally - everything we know about John McCain, "over 20 years".
Let me also be the first to ask, would John trade arms-for-hostages, just like his close associate Ronald Reagan, whom he considered a spiritual mentor and for whom he was a "foot soldier", if it seemed like a good way to get on the Ohio ballot, proverbially speaking?
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