McCain headed the parent org that was the primary fundraising entity for the PNAC. This is disturbing news I did not know about. Notice too... he does not answer this man's question, but changes the subject to how he and Lieberman brought about the first 9/11 Commission.
I would have liked to have heard a direct answer. But that wasn't to be. We can only speculate as to why this question was asked in the context it was giving information about McCain's PNAC affiliation.
Its important to note however, that McCain's history working for the PNAC fundraising efforts dates back to 1994. I just think this is worthwhile information.
McCain asked about PNAC and 9/11 at town hall
David Edwards and Muriel Kane Published: Thursday July 10, 2008
During a town hall event in Portsmouth, OH on Wednesday, John McCain was asked by a member of the audience whether his links to the parent organization of the Project for a New American Century explain why he has been reluctant to support calls for a new investigation of 9/11.
The questioner began, "I was curious about a document. Back in September of 2000, the Project for a New American Century, or PNAC, whose members included Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Jeb Bush and Paul Wolfowitz, wrote a document entitled 'Rebuilding Americans Defenses.'"
As McCain turned and paced away from him, the questioner continued, "In it, they state, quote, "The process of transformation, even if it bring revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event like a new Pearl Harbor."
"Now, many Americans believe that that 'new Pearl Harbor' event took place on 9/11," the questioner went on, as McCain grimaced slightly. "And according to a recent New York Times and CBS News poll, 84% of Americans believe that there were some criminal elements of our government involved in 9/11."
Calls of disapproval began to arise from the audience, but the questioner shot back, "Hold on!" and continued asking McCain, "Can you tell us about your role as -- hold on -- as president of the 'New Citizen Project,' founded in 1994, which served as a chief fund-raising and parent organization to PNAC? And is this one of the factors that has made you so reluctant to support the victims' family members and first responders who are begging for a new investigation into 9/11?"
The boos became louder at that point, and McCain grimaced again, turned his back and walked away, but the questioner insisted, "It's a serious question."
"I have a serious answer, sir," McCain replied, "and that is that it was Joe Lieberman and I -- a Democrat -- that sponsored the legislation for the 9/11 Commission. ... And very frankly, the administration was not, shall I say, enthusiastic about the establishment of that commission. ... I am proud of what the 9/11 Commission did. I am proud that we have enacted many of the reforms ... that they recommended. And I will stand by their recommendations and their conclusions, as will the overwhelming majority of Americans."
"It's a free country," McCain concluded. "You are free to disagree with their conclusions. But I am proud to have been one of those who was, along with Joe Lieberman, responsible for the establishment of the 9/11 Commission."
This video is from CNN.com, broadcast July 9, 2008. Go to link above to view video.
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From SourceWatch
New Citizenship Project (also New Citizenship Project, Inc.) is a non-profit organization funded by large right-wing foundations. Founded in 1994, NCP initiated the Project for the New American Century, one of the key behind-the-scenes architects of the Bush administration's foreign policy. According to his senate biography, John McCain served as a president of NCP, "an organization created to promote greater civic participation in our national life."[1] NCP shares the same address and suite as PNAC. According to NCP's listing in The Right Guide, NCP and the Philanthropy Roundtable share the same phone number. The Philanthropy Roundtable's office is on the same floor of the same office building as PNAC and NCP. In 1996, the Council on Crime in America, another NCP project, authored a report The State of Violent Crime in America which was published by the Heartland Institute. The Council., which appears to have only been briefly active in 1996, was chaired by former "Drug Czar" William Bennett and former Attorney General Griffin Bell. McCain also served on the Council.[2] per [3] Chairman: William Kristol President: Gary J. Schmitt The watchdog group "Media Transparency, the Money Behind the Media"[4], reports 47 grants totalling $2,722,900 given to the New Citizenship Project from 1994 through 2001. Funding sources appear to be exclusively from three far right-wing neo-conservative think tank funders: The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation of Milwaukee, Wisconsin[5]: This is the primary sponsor of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), which was the recipient of over a million dollars in 2001 alone. "By way of a program known as the New Citizenship Project, Inc., PNAC Project for the New American Century received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation."[6] John M. Olin Foundation, Inc. of New York[7]: This foundation grew out of a family manufacturing business (chemical and munitions) and funds right-wing think tanks like the American Enterprise Institute, the Heritage Foundation, the Manhattan Institute for Public Policy Change, and the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace.[8] Scaife Foundations -- Sarah Mellon Scaife Foundation[9] and Scaife Family Foundation[10] -- in New York: These foundations are financed by the Mellon industrial, oil, and banking fortune.[11] The John M. Olin Foundation, Inc. listed grants in 1997 show the subtitle for The New Citizenship Project as the "Project for the Next American Century." It clearly appears that the origninal 1994 PNAC concept has become the current Project for the New American Century.[12] "...the New Citizenship Project, an affiliate of the Project for the Republican Future, a conservative G.O.P. think tank founded by William Kristol."[13] From the 2000 edition of "The Right Guide (published by Economics America, Ann Arbor, MI): New Citizenship Project 1150 17th St., NW Ste 510 Washington DC 20036 Phone: 202-822-8333 Fax: 202-822-8325
Contact person: John Walters, President Officers or Principals: William Kristol, Chairman; Jay P. Lefkowitz, Director. Mission or Interest: "To restore American self-government and civil society." Public policy organization focusing on the AmeriCorps program, drugs and crime, affirmative action, and other issues. Accomplishments: In 1997 the Project spent $194,859 on its programs. Total Revenue: 1997 $152,008 Total Expenses: $219,815 -- 89% Program Services, 9% Management and general, 3% Fundraising Net Assets: $72,276 Tax Statuts: 501(c)3 Financial Information: In 1997 grants received included $50,000 from the Sarah Scaife Foundation, $50,000 from the John M. Olin foundation, $37,000 from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, and $35,000 from the Scaife Family Foundation. Background Information: Established in 1994.
[edit] Contact
New Citizenship Project, Inc. 1150 17th St., NW Ste 510