McCain On Whether Americans Are Better Off Under Bush: ‘Oh, No. No’
McCain On Whether Americans Are Better Off Under Bush: ‘Oh, No. No’
This morning on NBC’s Today Show, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) attempted to distance himself from President Bush on the economy. When host Meredith Viera asked McCain whether Americans are “better off, by any means, than we were eight years ago,” McCain replied, “Oh, no. No.” Watch it:
McCain made a similar comment on Bloomberg TV on April 18, stating, “In fact, I think Americans are not better off than they were eight years ago, when you look at what’s happened to middle-income Americans.”
As ThinkProgress has previously noted, these comments contradict a claim McCain made last week, where he lauded the “great progress economically” during the past seven years of the Bush administration:
MR. COOK: You think if Americans were asked, are you better off today than you were before George Bush took office more than seven years ago, what answer would they give? […]
SEN. MCCAIN: 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. But that’s no comfort. That’s no comfort to families now that are facing these tremendous economic challenges.
So therefore, despite all this “great progress,” Americans are still not “better off.” In order to explain this logical inconsistency, McCain has resorted to blaming it on the American public. On January, he said that economic problems were just “psychological.”
Despite the admitted lack of economic progress over the past seven years, McCain wants to continue Bush’s failed policies — double Bush’s tax cuts, cut anti-poverty programs, and rehash a hands-off approach to solving the housing crisis.
Transcript:
VIERA: We’re hearing that the same week that gas prices are inching up to $4 a gallon, food prices through the roof. We’re seeing rice now being rationed. So, how is the average American to believe that we are better off?
MCCAIN: Well, I’ve said repeatedly American families are hurting in America. We’re in a recession. I have plan of action and change. And it’s not increases in taxes, which is — which Senator Obama and Senator Clinton want.
VIERA: So, Senator, you do not believe we are better off, by any means, than we were eight years ago?
MCCAIN: Oh, no. No.
COOPER: Senator McCain, are Americans better off than they were eight years ago? MCCAIN: I think you could argue that Americans overall are better off, because we have had a pretty good prosperous time, with low unemployment and low inflation and a lot of good things have happened. A lot of jobs have been created.
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McCain:
my friends, are you better off than you were 8 years ago?
didn’t think so
I will continue the Bush voodoo economics when elected my friends.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:38 pmI am Not going to look at any more McInsane stories for the rest of the week/weekend! The ludicrous innane disconnects that come out of this man’s mouth are unbelievable. I actually pity his handlers and wonder how they manage to stay close to sane! For the love of Mercy, who are the Republican’s going to trot out as a Vice-President, Charlie Manson? That ticket would make about as much sense as McMadman getting the nod in the first place.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:42 pmImpeach Cheney and Bush and Save the Constitution!
Abu Ben Hussein Leporello.
Flippity floppity…McBush does the hoppity.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:44 pmThe geezer just doesn’t have a clue, does he.
Keep talkin’ John – you’re exposing your ineptitude more each day.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:46 pmWe know 4,052 that damn sure aren’t better off (Iraq). They’re dead thanks to the criminals in the WH. Factor in loved ones and who knows how much THAT jumps.
Add another 29,829 wounded. Factor in THEIR loved ones….
May Bush and all those who enabled this – and continue to cheer from the safety of their living rooms – rot in Hell.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:47 pmMcCain: “No, Americans are not better off. But they’ve become accustomed to having miserable lives, so they will barely notice it when I put the screws to the middle class in order to pay off the rich yet again…”
April 25th, 2008 at 3:48 pmI think McNutzi just forgot which party he belongs to. Either that or he is saving the “everything is wonderful” flip for the Sunday morning (cartoon) news shows.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:48 pmJust wait a few days and sometime during that period, he will adopt a stance that you can support.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:59 pmThis senile idiot is an insult to old farts everywhere.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:00 pmMcCan’tmakeuphismind
April 25th, 2008 at 4:00 pmKinda like his non support of the GI Bill, he’s too busy to actually DO anything to stop it, but he’ll get around to it, soon…
April 25th, 2008 at 4:07 pmHey! Wrong thread, dammit!…, but John Sidney McCain III, grandson of Admiral John McCain, and son of Admiral John McCain Jr. will certainly be for and against, something, at some point in time, and he’ll let us know when that isn’t.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:10 pmI’m beginning to wonder if he even remembers what he says from one interview to the next. There’s something wrong with him.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:10 pmHave the masses not learned anything in the last 7 1/2 years? This frickin lunatic is obviously either out of his damn mind or just succumbing to alzheimers. The thought of a McDunce regime scares the hell out of me.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:22 pmL. Hussein Annie Says:
This senile idiot is an insult to old farts everywhere.
This old fart agrees with Annie ;)
April 25th, 2008 at 4:23 pmAmerica is worse off because of these policies, and I am glad to have them.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:23 pmThe man has been in the senate for like 25 years. Why is he STILL clueless about the economy and the military?
April 25th, 2008 at 4:24 pmOn one hand, we should strive to be accurate in our assessments and avoid unrealistic optimism that could mask serious problems.
But, not unlike complaining about the weather (which often times isn’t that bad), we have decided that all optimism or favorable assessments are somehow naive. Pollyanna-ish.
- wikipedia.
Apparently, McCain has been beaten up about his ‘better off’ comment and has now chosen to fall in line.
If we were in an actual recession when Bush took over in 2000-01 and now we are only in a suggested recession (we have yet to meet the threshold for an actual recession), how are we so confident that we are worse off?
There are many different measures for prosperity. McCain should polish off the pair he has, and stand up for what he thinks, instead of shuddering at the thought of someone mistaking him for a pollyanna. More leadership; less pandering.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:25 pmbackup Says:
LEADERSHIP from McSame? HE can’t even be bothered to vote in the Senate. That’s as funny as begging him to pander less.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:31 pmKeep swilling the koolaid.
Remember how the Bush people smeared the dickens out of McCain and his family in 2000? I wonder if this affects his attitude.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:39 pmPerry – I doubt ol’ Grampy McSenile can remember back that far.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:44 pmMcMy McFriends McI McKnow McIt McSeem McAs McIf McI McAm McA McPanderer, Mcthats McBecause McI, McMy McFriends, McAm McAll McThings McTo McAll McThe McPeople McOf McAmerica, McMy McFriends.
McVote McBellicose McStraight McIn Mc08
April 25th, 2008 at 4:54 pmDear American public, I’m 68,and if I get like McNuts,please put me in a home where I would belong.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:56 pmMcBy McThe McWay, McWhere McIs McNasty McTempers McFlag McLapel McPin?
April 25th, 2008 at 5:05 pmsorry about the typos– an unfortunate consequence of trying to wax large on a subject whilst keeping an eye on the clock so that SOMEONE is left to listen (or rather, read). :D
April 25th, 2008 at 5:08 pmIn Martin County, Kentucky this week, John McCain added another one his “Forgotten Places” to the growing list of places his campaign would now like to forget. With a straight face, McCain told the residents of the economically devastated region that eBay represents their economic future. And he did so by appropriating the words of Meg Whitman, who just happens to be not only McCain’s national campaign co-chair, but the former CEO of eBay.
For the details, see:
April 25th, 2008 at 5:14 pm“McCain’s Answer for Poverty? eBay!”
So McSame says we are NOT better off now than 8 years ago
April 25th, 2008 at 5:14 pm(no sh!t, Sherlock) — but does that prevent him from embracing the Bush economic policies and tax cuts? NO!
Psychological? No, just psycho. Logical has left town.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:23 pmWhen did the American Govt become a Monarchy? How can you blame all the problem’s with America on one man in democratic Govt? You can’t, and McCain didn’t! Another pathetic attempt by Toilet Paper to O’Reilly a Story up. Try again !
April 25th, 2008 at 5:24 pmTime to send McStrain for a laxative and a brain MRI.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:25 pmAnd to think all of this WAR for Oil could have been avoided if Rep. would have only done negotiations instead of WAR.
Fair Trade could have played in and we would not have 4,000 dead troops or pay $4.00 a gallon of gas (Northern California is paying 4.12), now would we?
Not to mention we would have, oh I don’t know, a smaller Debt with more money going to what is really needed…
I’m a bitter Californian, god dammit!
April 25th, 2008 at 5:30 pm31 – you’re right – it took the whole GOP and a bunch of Righty dittoheads to make this mess.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:43 pm#32 wright_god…
“When did the American Govt become a Monarchy?”
It started with Reagan but was fully realized with Bush.
“How can you blame all the problem’s with America on one man in democratic Govt? ”
Quite right! The blame for America’s problems belong to EVERYONE in the GOP and all their God-fearing reactionary ignornant irrational faith-based supporters, like yourself.
Thanks for pointing out that Amerioca’s problems are partly your fault. I’ll add your forthcoming apology to the ‘pending’ pile.
“You can’t, and McCain didn’t!”
WE didn’t, and McCain pretty-much did!But don’t worry about the facts, McCain won’t. He’s YOUR candidate and he’ll ben in complete denial about whast he said today, tomorrow. And then all will be better!
“Another pathetic attempt by Toilet Paper to O’Reilly a Story up. Try again !”
WHAT? If you are going to finish with insane rambling utterly devoid of even the leaqst of grammtical rules, the least you could do is invoke Hitler and Stalin!
“Try Again”
Right back at ya, and…”God Bless” :D
April 25th, 2008 at 5:53 pmThe bottom line is that McSame does not care if American’s are better off. He just wants to be President so he can play war again.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:55 pmOf course we’re not better off under Bush… we used to have trees…
April 25th, 2008 at 6:38 pm“When did the American Govt become a Monarchy?”
It’s spelled Moronarchy… sheeesh….
April 25th, 2008 at 6:40 pmAnyone who was paying attention twenty years ago would have seen that our economic troubles began with Ronald Reagan – people don’t like to admit that, but when you look at the record, it’s plain to see. H. Bush couldn’t follow through on it as well because he was so obviously out of touch with the average joe in contrast with Reagan who had the dubious charisma that allowed people to think he was on their side as he began to pull the rug from under them.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:49 pmClinton inherited a huge deficit and troubled economy, but he managed to turn it around (to the apparent horror of republicans). W wasted no time in screwing things up — we were headed into recession within his first hundred days. Instead of applying remedies that worked, he applied tax cuts for the wealthy–Reagan’s “trickle down”– everyone now knows that Reagan’s trickle down, is actually “p!ss on you.”
I don’t buy that this is a contradiction. You can acknowledge that there has been economic progress in some respects, but also acknowledge that we are in a recession and people are not better off because of it. Every one of these answers that McCain gives provides the caveat about how things are not good; even if you go back to his comment from the California debate, way back when he was in the middle of a tough campaign from the GOP nomination, he was providing that caveat.
April 26th, 2008 at 2:07 amI wish he would make up his mind so I know how to feel about the Bush economy.
April 26th, 2008 at 7:16 amThese candidates are not really interested in winning in the traditional sense. McCain, Clinton, Obama – it’s all about who can play the corporate game better than the other. That’s what elections have been reduced to. It’s all about posturing and perception. Very pathetic.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:50 am