I suppose it's long past obvious that McCain doesn't play like this anymore, but surely the year 2000 version would have denounced Ralph Reed--a chief villain in the Abramoff scandal that McCain doggedly pursued--and declared his presence and assistance unwelcome at his fundraiser, no?
Quick Reed flashback here:
McCain, as chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, launched
an investigation of Abramoff's tribal lobbying that turned up a
mountain of e-mails, including some between Reed and Abramoff.
The e-mails revealed Abramoff's corrupt dealings with politicians,
as well as conservative religious and advocacy groups. Reed often
participated in Abramoff's business schemes, telling him in a 1998
e-mail after stepping down as head of the Christian Coalition: "I need
to start humping in corporate accounts!"
E-mails and testimony before McCain's panel showed that Reed, who
once branded gambling a "cancer" on society, reaped millions of dollars
in tribal casino proceeds that Abramoff secretly routed to him through
various non-profit front groups. Abramoff, a lobbyist for the tribes,
paid Reed to whip up "grassroots" Christian opposition to prevent rival
tribes from opening casinos.
Abramoff
sometimes routed his money to Reed through a group called Americans for
Tax Reform, run by conservative anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist.
Norquist lately has been attacking McCain's record on taxes, placing
robo calls to voters in New Hampshire.
Reed's much-publicized role in the Abramoff scandal cost him the
2006 Republican primary for Georgia lieutenant governor--the first rung
on what was widely expected to be a climb into national politics.
--Michael Crowley