Blackwell and McCain ride 'The Double Talk Express'

For Immediate Release

April 11, 2006

Contact: Brian Rothenberg,

Communications Director

614-221-6563 

                      McCain and Blackwell Take Ride on the "Double Talk Express"

Columbus, OH--Republican Senator John McCain is bringing his Double Talk Express on a swing through Ohio today. While McCain has tried to cast himself as a champion of ethics, he is in Cleveland tonight to raise money for scandal-plagued Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell, who reportedly steered government contracts to a company he held thousands of dollars of stock in. According to the Associated Press, Blackwell held thousands of dollars in stock in voting-machine manufacturer Diebold Inc. at the same time Blackwell was being sued by other manufacturers over contracts he awarded to Diebold. (AP, 4/3/06)

McCain's support for an ethically-challenged candidate is just the latest evidence that he has abandoned his principles on key issues to garner support for his White House bid. Since his unsuccessful run in 2000 McCain has switched positions on abortion, gay marriage, creationism, and tax cuts. McCain has even gone so far as to embrace the Reverend Jerry Falwell, who McCain had previously called an "evil influence" on the Republican Party. Now, McCain and Falwell have "agreed to move forward."

"Looks like Senator McCain is taking his Double Talk Express for a spinthrough the Buckeye State today," said Democratic National Committee spokesperson Damien LaVera. "McCain is a apparently so desperate to bolster his White House bid that he's willing to cast aside his reputation as a straight shooter to raise campaign cash for ethically challenged candidates like Ken Blackwell.

"Ohio voters can see right through McCain's pandering because they are hungry for real change, not more of the same failed leadership and misplaced priorities from Bush-Taft Republicans like John McCain and Ken Blackwell. Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland and his Turnaround Ohio plan are offering a bold agenda of change that will provide the American people and Ohio's working families with real security and the honest leadership they deserve."