Olbermann: McCain, Palin have questionable ties of their own Nick Cargo and David Edwards

Published: Wednesday October 8, 2008





Print This Email This Senator McCain and running mate Governor Sarah Palin have Senator Obama "beat hands-down" on anti-semitic, Iranian and terrorist ties, said MSNBC's Keith Olbermann.



Former Clinton aide Paul Begala pointed out on Sunday that McCain sat on the board of the U.S. Council for World Freedom, part of the World Anti-Communist League, having joined in 1982 after the Anti-Defamation League called it a "gathering place for racists and anti-semites with links to Nazi collaborators and right-wing death squads." The Council for World Freedom was funded by right-wing tycoon Sun Myung Moon, and among its ranks were founding CIA member and Iran-Contra figure John K. Singlaub. While McCain resigned from the organization due to a stated "lack of time," he attended one of its events as late as 1986, and the organization continued to use his name on its letterhead around the same time.



Governor Palin's involvement with the pro-secession Alaskan Independence Party, to which husband Todd belonged, was also criticized. The Governor herself, in a March video message, told the organization to "keep up the good work." Founder Joe Vogler, in 1993, intended to give a speech denouncing "American tyranny" at the United Nations with the sponsorship of Iran.



"If Iran ties and secession do not qualify as terrorist associations," Olbermann said, the WACL also armed and sent supplies, including boots, to rebels in Afghanistan who would become the Mujahadeen, later the Taliban, and Osama bin Laden, "whom McCain once promised to chase to the gates of Hell."



"And, if bin Laden is quaking in his boots at that thought," Olbermann quipped, "who knows, maybe those boots are 'Air McCains.'"



More of the segment, with commentary from MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, is available to view below. It was broadcast on MSNBC's Countdown on October 7, 2008.









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