As I posted Wednesday, questions have been raised about whether Senator John McCain had an affair with Vicki Iseman, a lobbyist with Alcalde & Fay whose client, Paxson Communications, contributed to McCain's campaign. And McCain, who holds himself out as a paragon of virtue, did Paxsons' bidding in front of the FCC. Yesterday, McCain denied the story -- claiming that McCain had never even spoken with anybody from Paxson or Alcalde & Fay about the matter.

But today, Newsweek reports that McCain's flat claim seems to be contradicted by an impeccable source: McCain himself. "I was contacted by Mr. Paxson on this issue," McCain said in the Sept. 25, 2002, deposition obtained by Newsweek. "He wanted their approval very bad for purposes of his business. I believe that Mr. Paxson had a legitimate complaint." While McCain said "I don't recall" if he ever directly spoke to the firm's lobbyist about the issue-an apparent reference to Iseman, though she is not named-"I'm sure I spoke to [Paxson]."

If McCain is not telling the truth about his involvement with Paxson or Iseman, it wouldn't be the first time a person has ever lied. But it does suggest he might back off of holding himself up as a paragon of virtue as he attempts to win the Republican presidential nomination. Otherwise some might start wondering whether McCain is a hypocrite.

Peter Cohan is President of Peter S. Cohan & Associates. He also teaches management at Babson College and edits The Cohan Letter.