True, Scheunemann worked with Georgia, but even the new DNC attack ad against McCain highlights his meetings with Putin loyalist billionaire Oleg Deripaska (who of course can’t even get a visa to America).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGXIuNthJ7Q

Just as important as Scheunemann’s work, but much more embarrassing and contradictory to McCain’s policy line is Rick Davis’s connections to Viktor Yanukovich - his firm was being paid $35,000 a month to get positive coverage for the party in U.S. media.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121072447597990171.html

Also, any conversation about McCain’s policy people on Russia should include Stephen Biegun, who has headed up the U.S.-Russia Business Council, is a VP of Ford Motor Company (which has significant investments in Russia), and who in general has advocated a very pro-Russia approach.

http://www.robertamsterdam.com/2008/04/getting_to_know_mccains_brain.htm

In short, I think McCain’s bark is a lot worse than his bite on Russia. The populist and aggressive message on Russia sells well to his red meat base, but if he were to win, we’d probably have the third Bush term - with no dramatic action being taken toward Moscow … only some occasional dramatic words.