The effort to connect this to the ongoing crisis is significant. Every page on the Obama campaign KeatingEconomics.com site is anchored by what's essentially a thesis statement: "The current economic crisis demands that we understand John McCain's attitudes about economic oversight and corporate influence in federal regulation. Nothing illustrates the danger of his approach more clearly than his central role in the savings and loan scandal of the late '80s and early '90s." And there's some damaging stuff there. Check out the Research and Downloads section, where you can grab John McCain’s Letter on behalf of Keating to James Baker, ("I wanted you to be aware of this matter, and to let you know that I support Congressman Annunzio in his effort to delay the promulgation of this regulation. I believe it to be unwise, and I think it flys (sic) in the face of recent efforts to remove the hands of government from the affairs of private enterprise."), his first and second and third letters on behalf of Keating to banking regulator Edwin Gray, a newspaper photo of McCain celebrating his birthday with Keating, etc. It's damaging stuff, and aimed, I'd guess, at the press, many of whom might not realize exactly how deeply involved McCain was with Keating.
