Ed Note: Ollie North, War Criminal, has been in some years the GOP's biggest
Fundraiser. One of the many benefits of not prosecuting or collecting the gun
and drug money proceeds from the lucrative trade triange he ran supplying
missile parts to Iran, Drugs to LA, and Guns to Nicaraguan anti-democratic
Terrorists. Once Iran was happy with its missile parts, the drug running
proceeds could be redirected to US GOP candidates...



This morning the McCain campaign helpfully circulated a column Oliver
North had penned in the Washington Times, extolling the senator's
virtues, under the heading "In Case You Missed It: Oliver North on John
McCain." The e-mail made a point of pulling out the key laudatory quote
and placing it in bold, making it even easier for reporters to read:
"Neither John McCain, nor anyone in his campaign asked me to write this
column. But I cannot sit silently while my fellow conservatives do to
John McCain what GOP 'moderates' did to me. Today, the stakes for our
country are far higher, the implications for the future far greater than
who sits in one of 100 U.S. Senate seats. Now, our nation is at war
against a vicious foe. We need a president who has proven how to win
it."

That prompted The Trail to ponder a simple question: Is McCain pleased
to receive North's endorsement, given the fact that the failed GOP
senatorial candidate was convicted in 1989 of shredding documents,
accepting an illegal gratuity and aiding and abetting in the obstruction
of Congress? Of course, a three-judge panel vacated North's conviction
the following year on a technicality, calling for proceedings to
determine whether North's immunized testimony influenced witnesses in
his trial. And after the Supreme Court declined to review the case, U.S.
District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell -- who had earlier sentenced North to a
three-year suspended prison term, two years' probation, $150,000 in
fines and 1,200 hours' community service -- dismissed it. Still, McCain
was serving in Congress when North was conducting the activities in
question, so it seemed like a reasonable question to ask.

The McCain campaign's response? "We'll let the comments in the release
stand," wrote spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker in an e-mail. "Thanks."

John McCain was also a bit player in Ollie's 1994 Senate race. In June,
just after Ollie was nominated by a Republican convention to take on
Chuck Robb, many Republicans balked and refused to support North. Bob
Dole and John McCain were both interviewed on CBS's "Face the Nation" on
June 5. Dole said he wouldn't support North and would instead meet with
J. Marshall Coleman, a former Republican attorney general running as an
independent. That sent huge shock waves through Virginia. McCain said he
would support North but offered disparaging words about his chances of
winning that were seen as an additional shot by national Republicans who
clearly didn't want him. Here's what McCain said on the show:

"I know nothing illegal or unconstitutional that took place in the
Virginia Republican Party's process of selecting their nominee. I'll
support their nominee and it's -- clearly, it's Colonel North at this
time. And by the way, I'm the person that called for the resignation of
the governor of this state, who was of my party. But I don't see
anything wrong with the process. I think from a clear political
standpoint, our chances of winning that seat are dramatically
diminished. There's no doubt about that. But I respect the views and
decision of the Virginia Republican Party."
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/seafan/1810
<http://journals.democraticunderground.com/seafan/1810>