Shortly after reporting on her Web site that GOP presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain did not vote for George W. Bush in 2000, Arianna Huffington continued to denigrate the presumptive Republican nominee before a Washington, D.C., audience.
"Actually, you know what I think - the more I think of it, John McCain should not be allowed to hold sharp scissors," Huffington said. "[Y]ou know he wants to make the tax cuts permanent. He wants bigger corporate tax cuts. You know, it's an endless process. You know it's basically, exactly what this country does not need. It's expanding and deepening the last eight years."
Earlier, Huffington had charged that the media are playing "Pontius Pilate" when dealing with the issue of global warming.
Huffington's allegation about McCain's 2000 vote came in the midst of her book tour for "Right Is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution, and Made Us All Less Safe." However, she claimed she revealed these allegations to "shed a light" on what she claimed is a transformation for power.
"That's why I really decided to come out with it," Huffington said. "Because I thought maybe it would help shed a light on what has happened to McCain."
Huffington said McCain's path to the GOP nomination was a tragic tale.
"Because of his longing to be president, he basically sacrificed all of his principles," Huffington said. "And it's a classic tale of making a Faustian bargain and giving up your soul for power."
According to a story posted on The Washington Post's blog by Howard Kurtz and Juliet Eilperin, the McCain campaign denied the Arizona senator did not vote for Bush, saying she made it up.
"Why would she make something up? Because she's a flake, and a poser, and an attention seeking diva. And that's on the record," McCain aide Mark Salter said to the Post.
Even though a New York Times story alleged McCain had an improper relationship with a lobbyist on February 21, Huffington also said McCain had been "given a pass" by the media.
