The list goes on....
This story is a little older but people seem to forget rather quickly that this man wrote McCain's economic plan. Pay attention to McCain's responses.
McCain campaign co-chairman Phil Gramm says America in 'mental recession'
12:27 AM CDT on Friday, July 11, 2008
By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News tgillman@dallasnews.com
WASHINGTON – Texan Phil Gramm handed John McCain a huge headache Thursday by calling America a "nation of whiners" whose economic complaints are mostly "mental."
The Republican nominee-to-be rejected the colorful assessment from his campaign co-chairman – and even threatened him with exile to Europe's last communist dictatorship.
"Phil Gramm does not speak for me. I strongly disagree," Mr. McCain said, trying to tamp down the problem caused by his longtime friend, who holds a doctorate in economics and taught the subject at Texas A&M before moving to Congress.
In a campaign in which the economy is the top issue, Democrats pounced on the comment. They said Mr. McCain is ill-informed on economics and out of touch with the struggles of ordinary Americans.
"I guess what he meant was, it's a figment of your imagination, these high gas prices," Barack Obama told supporters in Fairfax, Va. "America already has one Dr. Phil. We don't need another one when it comes to the economy."
The former senator's suggestion that much of Americans' economic pain and uncertainty is psychosomatic came in an interview with the conservative Washington Times. "You've heard of mental depression. This is a mental recession," he told the paper. "We have sort of become a nation of whiners. ... You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline."
Mr. Gramm, a budget hawk in Congress who's known Mr. McCain for decades, played a key role in rescuing the campaign a year ago. But that didn't stop Mr. McCain from issuing a sharp critique of the comments while campaigning Thursday in Michigan.
Mr. McCain – clearly unhappy with the distraction – said that people who've lost their jobs or are struggling to pay bills aren't suffering from a " 'mental recession.' ... America is in great difficulty, and we are experiencing economic challenges."
Asked if he still would consider Mr. Gramm for Treasury secretary or another top administration post, he said, "Senator Gramm would be in serious consideration for ambassador to Belarus, although I'm not sure the citizens of Minsk would welcome that."
It was probably a joke, but he never cracked a smile.
Thank you, David W. Pittman
McCain campaign co-chairman Phil Gramm says America in 'mental recession'
12:27 AM CDT on Friday, July 11, 2008
By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News tgillman@dallasnews.com
WASHINGTON – Texan Phil Gramm handed John McCain a huge headache Thursday by calling America a "nation of whiners" whose economic complaints are mostly "mental."
The Republican nominee-to-be rejected the colorful assessment from his campaign co-chairman – and even threatened him with exile to Europe's last communist dictatorship.
"Phil Gramm does not speak for me. I strongly disagree," Mr. McCain said, trying to tamp down the problem caused by his longtime friend, who holds a doctorate in economics and taught the subject at Texas A&M before moving to Congress.
In a campaign in which the economy is the top issue, Democrats pounced on the comment. They said Mr. McCain is ill-informed on economics and out of touch with the struggles of ordinary Americans.
"I guess what he meant was, it's a figment of your imagination, these high gas prices," Barack Obama told supporters in Fairfax, Va. "America already has one Dr. Phil. We don't need another one when it comes to the economy."
The former senator's suggestion that much of Americans' economic pain and uncertainty is psychosomatic came in an interview with the conservative Washington Times. "You've heard of mental depression. This is a mental recession," he told the paper. "We have sort of become a nation of whiners. ... You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline."
Mr. Gramm, a budget hawk in Congress who's known Mr. McCain for decades, played a key role in rescuing the campaign a year ago. But that didn't stop Mr. McCain from issuing a sharp critique of the comments while campaigning Thursday in Michigan.
Mr. McCain – clearly unhappy with the distraction – said that people who've lost their jobs or are struggling to pay bills aren't suffering from a " 'mental recession.' ... America is in great difficulty, and we are experiencing economic challenges."
Asked if he still would consider Mr. Gramm for Treasury secretary or another top administration post, he said, "Senator Gramm would be in serious consideration for ambassador to Belarus, although I'm not sure the citizens of Minsk would welcome that."
It was probably a joke, but he never cracked a smile.
Thank you, David W. Pittman
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