June 16, 2008 - 10:28am
Don't believe Maggs' spin
By Wally EdgeJames Maggs says he resigned his post as Alternate Delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention from New Jersey’s 12th district because he couldn’t take off the first week of September. The problem is Maggs isn’t telling the truth. Maggs – despite his spin – resigned because of policy differences with the presumed GOP presidential nominee, John McCain.
Maggs sent an e-mail to GOP fundraiser Robin Visconi on May 29 – six days before the Republican primary where he was on the ballot as a delegate candidate – saying that he no longer desires “to be part of this effort.” The Maggs e-mail caused considerable disruption in the McCain camp, causing his friend, McCain National Finance Co-Chairman Lewis Eisenberg, to lean heavily to ensure that there would be no national news story on the defection of a delegate. Maggs is now saying he continues to support McCain and the war in Iraq, but that just isn’t the case.
Read the Maggs e-mail:
From: James Maggs [mailto:jmaggs@briellelaw.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 11:38 AM
To: Robin Visconi
Cc: Lewis.eisenberg@yyyy.com; lme@yyyy.com Subject: Senator McCainDear Robin:
I attempted to contact you last evening, but was unsuccessful. This email is to advise you that effective immediately I am resigning whatever position I hold in New Jersey in support of Senator McCain. (Actually, I am not quite sure what position, if any, I do hold). I have worked very hard to assist Senator McCain in his Presidential bid, however, after reflecting over a number of issues that have arisen during the past 12-15 months which have given me great pause, I no longer desire to be part of this effort. As such, kindly notify the appropriate party members to have my name withdrawn as an alternate delegate for the 12th District to the Republican Convention.
Jim
James A. Maggs, Esq.
Maggs & McDermott, LLC
800 Old Bridge Road
Brielle, New Jersey 08730
Phone: 732-223-9870
Fax: 732-223-7367
jmaggs@briellelaw.com
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"reflecting over a number of
"reflecting over a number of issues that have arisen during the past 12-15 months which have given me great pause, I no longer desire to be part of this effort"
He does not say policy issues at all in this statement.
Huh?
Isn't it possible that the "issues" that arose had nothing to do with McCain or politics at all but were personal? This seems like a bit of a hatchet job on the part of Wally...if you got the goods Wally...dish 'em!
Could it be the AMT?
Is he any relation to National Journal writer John Maggs, who just wrote a critical piece about McCain's support for Bush's tax cuts and permanently doing away with the alternative minimum tax?
Stop the presses!
Kudos, Wally, on getting the big scoop on James Maggs' possibly somewhat shaded reasoning for not wanting to be an alternate delegate. You sure have defeated the clandestine designs of Lew Eisenberg by making this the true national political story that it deserves to be! Has Politico called yet?
You have certainly proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that Maggs does not, in fact, continue to support McCain and the war in Iraq. What could be more plain from his email in which he said he has great pause over a number of issues? Gotcha, Maggs! Way to go, Wally!
Hard to believe that some people think this site has gone downhill.
"Wally" knows Maggs and is
"Wally" knows Maggs and is probably writing this baseless piece based on some trivial personal vendetta between the firms. I've read the Magg's e-mail and nowhere does it say anything about policy differences.
"Wally" says, "despite his spin – (Maggs) resigned because of policy differences with the presumed GOP presidential nominee, John McCain."
Gee "Wally," where in the e-mail does it say the issues were policy related.
While I don't usually use the comment section to respond...
If the e-mail had said the issues were policy related, or if Maggs and/or the McCain campaign felt like being honest about this, the story would have been written by our reporter and posted on our front page. The Inside Edge is simply reporting, in this opinion piece, what we know to be absolutely true: that Maggs quit over his frustration with McCain's positions on certain issues (Iraq), and forced the campaign to scramble to come up with a cover story (note there was never an announcement by the campaign that a candidate for alt. delegate was withdrawing, even though they were notified six days before an election where Maggs' name was on the ballot). Several campaign leaders called Maggs and leaned on him heavily, including Lew Eisenberg, and put considerable pressure on Maggs to keep quiet.
Maggs lied to PolitckerNJ.com, and we stand behind our story 100%. We have this right!
Gee, at least pull a Jason
Gee, at least pull a Jason Blair and cite some pretend anonymous sources before calling the guy a liar. It's fine that it is an opinion but that should be clearly stated instead of being so bold about claiming it as truth.