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McCain Adviser: Stop Whining, America!
Jul 10th 2008 10:53AM
Filed Under:eRepublicans, John McCain, Featured Stories, Economy, Gaffes
Via The Washington Times and TPM comes yet another embarrassment for John McCain's campaign. This time, McCain's "top economic adviser," Phil Gramm had the following to say about the lousy economy and its effects on American working men and women:"You've heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession," he said, noting that growth has held up at about 1 percent despite all the publicity over losing jobs to India, China, illegal immigration, housing and credit card problems and record oil prices. "We may have a recession; we haven't had one yet."
"We have sort of become a nation of whiners," he said. "You just hear this constant whining, complaints about a loss of competitiveness. America in decline" despite a major export boom that is the primary reason that growth continues in the economy, he said.
While it's true that in technical terms--two consecutive quarters of negative growth--we have yet to see honest-to-God recession, the tenor of Gramm's comments illustrates a tone-deaf pattern from an out-of-touch campaign. Stop being so hysterical, Gramm is telling you. Things aren't really so bad! So you lost your house, canceled your summer vacation, are skimping at the grocery store. It could be a whole lot worse.
Phil, of course, knows a thing or two about foreclosures. After all, he's a lobbyist for a Swiss bank embroiled in the credit crisis, and was a chief player in the deregulation of the banking industry.
In fact, Gramm might just qualify as the single person most-culpable for what he calls our "mental recession":
Who's to blame for the biggest financial catastrophe of our time? There are plenty of culprits, but one candidate for lead perp is former Sen. Phil Gramm. Eight years ago, as part of a decades-long anti-regulatory crusade, Gramm pulled a sly legislative maneuver that greased the way to the multi-billion-dollar subprime meltdown. Yet has gramm been banished from the corridors of power? Reviled as the villain who bankrupted Middle America? Hardly. Now a well-paid executive at a Swiss bank, Gramm cochairs Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign and advises the Republican candidate on economic matters. He's been mentioned as a possible Treasury secretary should McCain win. That's right: A guy who helped screw up the global financial system could endu up in charge of US economic policy.
The more you know about the McCain team, the more you cringe.
UPDATE:
McCain knew this was bad for him. He has now repudiated Gramm. Maybe no Treasury post after all?
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 4)Kwaayesnama11:19AMJul 10th 2008
Cindy McCain charged over $750,000 last month.
Do I want her husband in charge of the USAs economy?
Nope!
I'll vote for Obama, Thank you.
That is reason enough to vote Democratic11:21AMJul 10th 2008
Do you ever wonder why so many people are supporting Barack Hussein Obama?
Could it be that this nation is becoming colorblind and does not care if a good person is black, white, red or tan?
Could it be that the American people don’t care if a person worships as a Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, or Jew?
Could it be that people remember the scandals of the Clinton And Bush years?
Could it be that the American people know that if it was not for the Clinton’s filth and scandals that Al Gore would be completing his second term in office.
Could it be that the American people remember Bush and McCain looking into our eyes and saying, believe me there are weapons of mass destruction?
Could it be that the American people are shell shocked that over 4,000 precious lives have been lost fighting the wrong war in the wrong country against the wrong enemy?
Could it be that the American people realize that Carl Rove politics brought our nation to where it is today?
Lets Think About This11:26AMJul 10th 2008
John McCain has been in the senate for over 26 years.
Barack Hussein Obama is a young first term senator.
Hillary has all that experience and that great honorable AMERICAN name.
Why the hell is McCain, the best that the Republican Party could do not wiping this inexperienced, young, black kids butt?
Maybe the American people are sick of politics as usual?
But! But! The GOP Cares about YOU11:29AMJul 10th 2008
What had McCain done to help the 97% percent of the American people that make less then 1/4 million dollars per year in all of his years in the Senate?
He voted against raising the minimum wage in, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2006.
Now he wants us to die younger instead of collecting social security!
The intellect of John McCain11:35AMJul 10th 2008
Phil Gramm is only repeating what John McCain has said publicly in the past.
John McCain stated that the economic downturn is psychological. Having on multiple occasions admitted his limited understanding of the economy, Senator McCain instead turned armchair psychologist to diagnose the U.S economic slowdown. In April, McCain told Fox News' Neil Cavuto that a lot of our problems today, as you know, are psychological. Apparently, seven months of job losses, oil at $140 a barrel, record gas prices at the pump, 47 million uninsured and a devastating home foreclosure crisis are merely figments of Americans' imaginations.
GOP Talking Points11:38AMJul 10th 2008
McCain says you are better off under George Bush.
John McCain says we made great progress economically during the Bush years. If Americans financial woes are all in their heads, John McCain's assessment of George W. Bush's economic leadership is pure hallucination. Asked by Bloomberg's Peter Cook on April 17 if Americans would say they are better off today than before George Bush took office more than seven years ago, McCain replied:
I think if you look at the overall record and millions of jobs have been created, et cetera, et cetera, you could make an argument that there's been great progress economically over that period of time.
Ellery D. Thomas11:43AMJul 10th 2008
America has become a nation of whiners. Where is the American inventiveness that I was raised seeing. These are all problems that we can solve as a nation and always giving out handouts are not the answers. Phil Gramm being a lobbyist is not a problem and deregulation did not create these problems they are just easy to point to
God please save this world from the Republicans11:44AMJul 10th 2008
DO YOU WANT THESE PEOPLE'S FINGER ON THE NUCLEAR BUTTON?
CHANGE?11:53AMJul 10th 2008
It was obvious that the DNC did not want Hillary to win the nomination. All you had to do was educate yourself on who is running the DNC. Then take a good hard look at who endorsed Obama. If you do that --- ding ding ding --- the light will come on. (Hint: ‘swimmer Teddy’ was one --- pig Pelosi was another --- Coward Dean another).
TALKING TO AN OBAMA SUPPORTER IS LIKE TALKING TO A TREE.
You ask, “Why are you voting for Obama?”
THEY say, “Change.”
You say, “OK, What change?”
THEY say, “You know, change.”
You reply, “NO, I don't know. What change?”
THEY say, “You know --- change everything.”
Damn --- Obama just programmed the word “change” into their small minds and, like robots, they just repeat it. They don't know why they're saying it; they just seem to be happy to say the word ‘change’.
Sooner or later, people will wake up and realize that Obama has just taken eloquently oratorical advantage of us!
I'm not convinced the ‘change’ he speaks of is the one we've been wishing for and is the right one for all of us.
Hillary was the better candidate.
WE NEED TO REPLACE ALL DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS!
VOTE McCAIN IN 2008 --- HILLARY IN 2012.
Yep! No Problems In This Country12:07PMJul 10th 2008
Sounds like Bush - Chaney Brainwashing to me.
There were weapons of mass destruction - weren't there?
Sedam Hussein was responsible for 9-11?
Oil was going to pay for the Iraqi war?
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
EXPERIENCE?12:14PMJul 10th 2008
HA! OBAMA'S GOING ON A "WORLD TOUR" --- AT OUR EXPENSE --- AND HE'LL COME BACK AND EXPLAIN HIS "FOREGN EXPERIENCE". WHAT A JOKE.
Obama is an empty suit, created by the media with the help of the Chicago political machine. He is a weakling whose strings are manipulated by Kennedy, Kerry-Heinz and Joe Biden. He is at their beck and call and is unable to make a decision without their help. An empty suit. Obama further created a cult which was incited to hate the Clintons and John McCain.
Along with the above three are Howard Dean, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, who are panting for Obama to become nominated --- they are further manipulation. Pelosi wants to be the first female president. The Democratic party is split and I for one, will be glad to see it buried and never alive again.
The big-wig democrats stabbed Hillary in the back. I will vote for McCain and I will campaign that each of the above, when faced with their own re-election, may not win.
Obama is an unknown. He has told too many lies. He has no leadership experience and is not qualified to become president.
And, Yeah --- I AM A TYPICAL, HARD-WORKING, MIDDLE-CLASS, BLUE COLLAR PERSON. They should have counted Florida and Michigan. Florida voted. Both candidates were on the ticket. Michigan has an election in August. They should have added Hillary and Obama to the August ticket!
Vote for America!
Vote for John McCain in 2008 --- Hillary in 2012.
Yep! No Problems In This Country12:14PMJul 10th 2008
I'm not wining I'm Bitter!
You see I live in one of the poorest parts of the United States. Employment on my Native American Reservation is over 60%. I live 90 miles from the nearest small town, Winslow, AZ. So when I drive 180
miles round trip to go grocery shopping I am dam BITTER. When I spend 1/4 if my monthly budget on gas I am extremely BITTER. In the last year my propane bill for fuel to cook and heat my home has more then
doubled - you could bet I am awfully BITTER when I have to scrape the money together to pay that bill.
I do work but in the past two years I have not had an increase in salary. Many of my friends have lost their jobs and they are really suffering, do you really think all their problems are in their heads?
We depend on tourism for our lively hood here on the reservation. How many people do you think are going to visit the reservation when gas is over $4.50 per gallon here?
So Phil Gramm and John McCain if you think it's all in my mind YOU are suffering from mental delusions.
If you think when push comes to shove anyone but the top 2% of the nations wealthiest citizens(And Bitter Chinton supporters)will vote for you it is you who is suffering from hallucinations.
lilnate71412:19PMJul 10th 2008
So, you want to stay in Iraq indefinitely, add another conservative hard-liner to the Supreme Court for the next 25 years, further loot the treasury and trash the economy, and validate the ethical and legal nightmare left after seven years of three-branch Republican rule?
You're not thinking about this much, are you.
You are not a real Democrat then are you.
Vera12:20PMJul 10th 2008
To Hillary Clintons bitter supporters:
I want you to know that you are the reason that I will not donate one dollar, not even a penny to help Hillary Clinton pay off her campaign debt. I think you and all the other 18 million people that voted for her should donate one dollar each and leave Obama alone. After all you are working to defeat my candidate so why should I help your candidate? So thank you for your bitterness you saved me and many other democrats quite a few dollars.
Tommy Christopher12:20PMJul 10th 2008
DK,
maybe Gramm can pass a law forcing mortgage companies to accept "mental cash."
TOWN-HALL-MEETINGS?12:25PMJul 10th 2008
How many times during the primary season did Senator Obama say, “I welcome that debate with John McCain”?
So why does he now do everything possible to avoid the weekly town hall meetings Senator McCain kept asking for?
McCain has offered to travel with Obama and hold ten town hall meetings. Obama wants to cut it down to two meetings --- to be held on Holidays!
Not only is Barack Hussein Obama arrogant --- he appears to be an idiot.
Here’s what Senator Obama’s actions say to me:
• Senator Obama is not a man of his word.
• Senator Obama does not respect voters who very much want to hear both candidates discuss the issues. Nor does he respect leaders in other countries who also want to hear both candidates discuss the issues.
• Senator Obama is not a man who can or will reach across the aisle as he has repeatedly promised to do. If he intended to reach across the aisle, he’d be doing it now every chance he could.
• Senator Obama is afraid that Senator McCain will expose the lack of substance behind his rhetoric.
• Senator Obama isn’t confident enough about the issues to speak without a teleprompter or the scripted words of his speech writers.
• Senator Obama doesn’t believe in transparency in government.
• If Senator Obama were to become President, he would repeatedly shy away from difficult discussions and uncomfortable topics. So, too, would he avoid talking with other world leaders unless they fall in line behind everything Senator Obama says.
On policy issues, I’m more closely aligned with Democrats than I am with Republicans. But I cannot in good conscience vote for a man of such bad character.
In November, I will vote against Senator Obama.
McCAIN 2008 --- HILLARY 2012.
Leslie12:30PMJul 10th 2008
I think each and every one of you angry Clinton supporters have every right to your bitterness.
But I think you should also channel some of your energy to helping Hillary Clinton pay off her campaign debt. So I recommend next to Hillary 2012 you add a line requesting people send Hillary $5 to help the Clintons pay off their debts.
Because if she stiffs the poor American people that provided her services she will not have a chance in hell of winning reelection.
Pamskater112:33PMJul 10th 2008
I'm a Obama supporter and I'm not brain dead.....Can't say the same for your pal McSame.
Only a rich dummy who hasn't pumped his own gas in 12mos will say this isn't a recession....but that's the McSame plan any how. They thrive on lies. "Recession??? what recession?" "Global warming??? What global warming?" "12 billion a month war??? We need to stay there for a hundred years!"
I love how every thing peaches and cream, until they start talking security,...then Al queda and every terrorist in the world is paddling a raft here...right now!...to blow us all up. What a bunch of crap.
Let's talk flip flop too. McCain tells every town rally he can find that he doesn't have a clue on what to do about the economy, but as soon as he is on GMA or MtPress, it's "what?? I never said that."
How about the GI BILL. Let him tell you he was all for it, but never bothered to vote for it. He votes against every damn near every GI and veteran bill put in front him....some Great Vet he is.
This McSame guy is worst than GWB in my book....and that's worst than bad!
I'm a Democrat12:33PMJul 10th 2008
Oh! Get Real!
Do you really think that democrats will vote McBush???
A Democrat would not vote for overturning Roe v. Wade.
A Democrat would not vote to keep killing our bravest young people for 100 years.
A Democrat would not vote for a man who does not know that 9-11 was caused by Osama Bin Laden not Sedam Hussein.
A Democrat would not vote the man who does not know if the Sunnis or Sheits are our enemies!
A Democrat would not vote the man who voted against increasing benefits for the military that he sends in harms way.
A Democrat would not vote to keep putting our government on the China, Saudi Arabia credit card.
A democrat would not vote for tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of the middle class.
A Democrat would not vote for broken promises on the deficit.
A Democrat would not vote in opposition to SCHIP.
A Democrat would not vote For a man that help turn a projected surplus into a national debt of 9.2 Trillion and counting
A Democrat would not vote for tax credits for health care rather then a national health care program.
A Democrat would not vote for and a right-wing Supreme Court.
A Democrat would not vote for a third Bush term.
A Democrat would not vote for a man who says the economic downturn is psychological
A Democrat would not vote for a man who says you are better off under George Bush.
A Democrat would not vote for a man who says irresponsible, undeserving homeowners are loosing their homes.
A Democrat would not vote for a man who voted against raising the minimum wage in, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2006.
A Democrat would not vote for a man who publicly called his wife a trollop and c*nt?
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OZ11:18AMJul 10th 2008
John McCain reminds me if the straw man from the "Wizard Of Oz". All Of Cindy McCain's money can't buy him a brain.