John Weaver (political consultant)
Encyclopedia
John Weaver is an American political consultant best known for his work on the John McCain
presidential campaigns of 2000
and 2008
. In between, he worked for a time for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
and has one daughter, Jordan Diane, and one son, Arann-Ryan. Weaver, described as one of McCain's "closest advisers" and "an architect of McCain's 'Straight Talk Express,'" left the McCain campaign in July 2007, along with campaign manager Terry Nelson
, political director Rob Jesmer, and deputy campaign manager Reed Galen, following several consecutive months of poor fund-raising.
In 2004, Weaver appeared in the documentary film (based on the 2003 book of the same name) Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential
, which alleges that Karl Rove
, former campaign manager and Deputy White House Chief of Staff
to President
George W. Bush
, was behind a South Carolina push poll during the 2000 Republican primary
that used racist innuendo to undermine support for McCain by asking voters: "Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain for president if you knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child?" In the film, Weaver assigns blame to Rove, stating "I believe I know where that decision was made; it was at the top of the [Bush] campaign".
In 2008, Weaver made headlines within the Washington beltway
during the John McCain lobbyist controversy when some American media personalities speculated about his involvement in an article published by The New York Times
that questioned the propriety of McCain's relationship with lobbyist Vicki Iseman
. Weaver denied speaking to the paper without the campaign's approval.
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
presidential campaigns of 2000
John McCain presidential campaign, 2000
John McCain, the United States Senator from Arizona, launched his first candidacy for the presidency of the United States in the 2000 presidential election....
and 2008
John McCain presidential campaign, 2008
John McCain, the senior United States Senator from Arizona, launched his second candidacy for the presidency of the United States in an unsuccessful bid to win the 2008 presidential election. His candidacy, in the works for a number of years, was informally announced on February 28, 2007 during a...
. In between, he worked for a time for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Biography
Weaver was born and raised in Kermit, TexasKermit, Texas
Kermit is a city in and the county seat of Winkler County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,708 at the 2010 census. The city was named for Kermit Roosevelt after a visit by his father Theodore Roosevelt to the county.-History: -Establishment:...
and has one daughter, Jordan Diane, and one son, Arann-Ryan. Weaver, described as one of McCain's "closest advisers" and "an architect of McCain's 'Straight Talk Express,'" left the McCain campaign in July 2007, along with campaign manager Terry Nelson
Terry Nelson
Terry A. Nelson is a consultant and Republican strategist in the United States. He was the political director of the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign...
, political director Rob Jesmer, and deputy campaign manager Reed Galen, following several consecutive months of poor fund-raising.
In 2004, Weaver appeared in the documentary film (based on the 2003 book of the same name) Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential
Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential
Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential is a book by James Moore and Wayne Slater that chronicles the political career of Karl Rove and the role he has played in the elections of George W. Bush, both when running for Governor of Texas and for President. It was published in...
, which alleges that Karl Rove
Karl Rove
Karl Christian Rove was Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to former President George W. Bush until Rove's resignation on August 31, 2007. He has headed the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaison, and the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives...
, former campaign manager and Deputy White House Chief of Staff
Deputy White House Chief of Staff
The White House Deputy Chief of Staff is officially the top aide to the White House Chief of Staff, who is the senior aide to the President of the United States. The Deputy Chief of Staff usually has an office in the West Wing and is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the White House...
to President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, was behind a South Carolina push poll during the 2000 Republican primary
United States presidential primaries, 2000
The United States presidential primaries, 2000 can refer to:*Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2000*Republican Party presidential primaries, 2000*Reform Party presidential primaries, 2000...
that used racist innuendo to undermine support for McCain by asking voters: "Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain for president if you knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child?" In the film, Weaver assigns blame to Rove, stating "I believe I know where that decision was made; it was at the top of the [Bush] campaign".
In 2008, Weaver made headlines within the Washington beltway
Inside the Beltway
"Inside the Beltway" is a phrase used to characterize parts of the real or imagined American political system. The name refers to the Capital Beltway , a circumferential highway , completed in 1964, that encircles Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States.The phrase is commonly used to...
during the John McCain lobbyist controversy when some American media personalities speculated about his involvement in an article published by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
that questioned the propriety of McCain's relationship with lobbyist Vicki Iseman
Vicki Iseman
Vicki L. Iseman is a Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist working for the firm Alcalde & Fay.She gained national media attention in February 2008, due to her involvement in the John McCain lobbyist controversy.-Personal:...
. Weaver denied speaking to the paper without the campaign's approval.