Lobbyist Sues NY Times Over McCain Affair Allegation

Remember how the NY Times had a front page story about John McCain's relationship with an attractive blond lady lobbyist, implying they were having an affair? And then John McCain and his campaign called the article full of lies and the Times full of liberal bias? (The article also examined McCain's close ties to lobbyists.) Well, now with the election well over, the lobbyist is suing the Times! The NY Times, ahem, reports that Vicki Iseman has sued the paper and some editors and reporters for “falsely communicat[ing]" that she "had an illicit ‘romantic’ and unethical relationship in breach of the public trust in 1999." Iseman, seeking damages of $27 million, says the article was based on "minimum factual support" and says she suffered an "avalanche of scorn, derision, and ridicule." The Daily News notes the statement from the Times: "We fully stand behind the article. We continue to believe it to be true and accurate, and that we will prevail."

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By Jen Chung in News on December 31, 2008 11:29 AM

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AJ WEBERMAN

Vicki Iseman WAS A PUBLIC FIGURE BEFORE THE TIMES ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED as she is a leading member of a rightwing Likud group that attempted to free Israeli MIAs held by Islamists. The now-defunct organization was known as The International Coalition for Missing Israeli Soldiers.

The ICMIS website stated, "ICMIS is based in Jerusalem, and is funded exclusively by donations from concerned individuals who wish to support this humanitarian cause." None-the-less the intelligence community will often sponsor seemingly independent organizations as a means of providing cover for their agents or as a means of making negotiations with the enemy more palatable. Alyza Lewin was Vicki's partner at ICMIS. Alyza Lewin is a partner in the father and daughter law firm of Lewin and Lewin. There is no doubt that her father, Nathan Lewin, is plugged into the Israeli espionage network operating in the United States, despite his Department of Justice bona fides. A June 1985 article by Max Holland in The Nation alleged... “for the past seven years, Bryen has had the threat of prosecution hanging over him. He is alleged to have leaked government documents to the Israelis, and whenever the issue seems to have gone away, like herpes it breaks out Bryen obtains a lawyer, Nathan Lewin, and the case heads for the grand jury, but is mysteriously dropped. Bryen later goes to work for Richard Perle.” Lewin later became AIPAC's lawyer and according to Eli Lake in the New York Sun “Heard the highly classified case against [two AIPAC employees] and advised the organization to sever its relationship with the two. The charges against Rosen and Weissman, which have yet to be made publicly, were so secret that Mr. Lewin needed security clearance just to hear them." Nathan Lewin wrote: “Studies of Palestinian suicide bombers and of those who, knowing their death was imminent, carried out the September 11th horror indicate that most were closely knit to their families - to parents, brothers, and sisters. Indeed, these family members routinely give press briefings extolling the suicide killers, and they are the recipients of financial bounties from supportive Muslim charities and governmental organizations. What if Israel and the United States announced that henceforth the perpetrators of all suicide attacks would be treated as if they had brought their parents and brothers and sisters with them to the site of the explosion? Suicide killers should know that they will take the lives of not only themselves and the many people they don’t know (but nonetheless hate) in the crowd that surrounds them when they squeeze the button that detonates their bomb, but also the lives of their parents, brothers, and sisters.”

Other members of ICMIS with intelligence community connections include the administrative director of the coalition Brigitte Silverberg who worked with Yona Baumel. Brigitte stated, "Yona Baumel may look like a congenial granddad, but this man has connections to former KGB intelligence agents and all kinds of shady and shadowy sources in the Arab world.”

Iseman also worked with Mr. Daniel Grisaru whose bio stated, "Daniel Grisaru has significant experience in media, communications, public relations, non profits and government. Most recently, he served as the International Coalition for Missing Israeli soldiers Chief Communications Officer where he established himself as a key player in building the right connections with the leading military and governmental personalities, foreign governments, Embassies in Israel, Jewish and Christian non profit organizations. Professional public affairs analyst, strategist and lobbyist for more than 12 years. Communications advisor for Likud Knesset candidates & candidates for positions in the Municipal governments, Jewish Agency, & the JNF Spokesperson for the Israeli Bio Tech industry, healthcare and medical research clients working for the Foreign Press and in Israeli Home Land Security and Military national corporations and international corporations."

There is nothing wrong with being pro-Israel and wanting get these Jews out of the hands of the Islamist scum. But something smells bad about someone who is involved in an area the often attracts the intelligence community trying to allegedly seduce a United States Senator. The moral of the story assuming an intelligence community connection exists: the Israelis should not operate within the US.

Brainwash

Of course she's suing. Would would want to be known for touching McCain's junk?

Mr Mel

"But I guess since they printed the name McCain and didn't have the word "hero" or "patriot" in the same sentence, it constitutes a grave slander in the eyes of the Republicans."

Or maverick.

MrManhattan

I remember when that article came out, I read it very carefully, since, based on the hissy fit the Republicans were throwing, that this (the lawsuit) was coming.

Frankly, I'm surprised it took this long.

The Times didn't say any of the things alleged. What they said was it LOOKED bad.

But I guess since they printed the name McCain and didn't have the word "hero" or "patriot" in the same sentence, it constitutes a grave slander in the eyes of the Republicans.

handsomedevil

The Times didn't say any of the things alleged. What they said was it LOOKED bad.

Exactly. (They also noted that McCain staffers had told him to stay away from her.)

This story and the phony fallout is a perfect example of the illiteracy of our political culture. People devour talk radio and crap blogs and regurgitate what they are told because it squares with what they want to believe, without ever bothering to read the original reportage it's all based on.

jpeditor

"The Times didn't say any of the things alleged. What they said was it LOOKED bad."

from the article above: "The Daily News notes the statement from the Times: "We fully stand behind the article. We continue to believe it to be true and accurate, and that we will prevail."

"But I guess since they printed the name McCain and didn't have the word "hero" or "patriot" in the same sentence, it constitutes a grave slander in the eyes of the Republicans."

From the original NY Slimes article: "Mr. McCain started his career like many other aspiring politicians, eagerly courting the wealthy and powerful. A Vietnam war hero and Senate liaison for the Navy, he arrived in Arizona..."

""The story, "part of a series of articles about the life and careers of contenders for the 2008 Republican and Democratic presidential nominations,"...

Yeah, I remember clearly the Slimes' in–depth reporting and followup on the PENUS' lack of billablle hours as an atty, his legal advising to ACORN to demonstrate and sue for ninja & liar loans, his relation with terrorist Ayers & America–damning Wright, and of course, the Slimes crucial uncovering of PENUS' and Rham's relationship with Rezko, Blogo, etc...

NOT....

If the Times had done ONE TENTH the investigating on BHO as they did on Palin...well, at worst we'd have Shrillary instead of BHO appointing Clintonistas...