McCain Claims Lack Of Economics Knowledge Comments Were Taken ‘Out Of Context’
McCain Claims Lack Of Economics Knowledge Comments Were Taken ‘Out Of Context’
During an interview yesterday, Fox News’s Carl Cameron asked Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) if it was a “mistake” for McCain to say he knows little about the economy. But McCain denied that he had made any such suggestion, arguing that his past comments were taken “out of context”:
CAMERON: Realistically, was it a mistake for you to suggest that overall your attentiveness to the economy is subordinated by national security?
MCCAIN: As briefly as possible, when you’re on the back of the bus for hours with the media if they want to take a phrase out of context thats fine, thats one of the penalties you pay.
Watch it (beginning at 1:52):
Taken “out of context?” How many times can McCain be taken out of context? Aside from the fact that when viewed at face value, his comments speak for themselves, McCain has said he knows little about the economy on numerous occasions, as recently as last December:
– Seeking to explain his shift to the left on economic issues, McCain claimed: “I didn’t pay nearly the attention to those issues in the past. I was probably a ’supply-sider’ based on the fact that I really didn’t jump into the issue.” [Jan. 2000]
– “I’m going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.” [Nov. 2005]
– “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should,” but “I’ve got Greenspan’s book.” [Dec. 2007]
In fact, McCain’s interview with Cameron wasn’t the first time he has denied claiming his economic knowledge is sub-par. NBC’s Tim Russert asked him about his “I still need to be educated” on economics claim last January but McCain dodged, saying “I don’t know where you got that quote.” When Russert asked McCain about the same quote three days later, McCain acknowledged he said it, but never claimed he was taken out of context. McCain simply replied, “Am I, am I smart on economics? Yes.”
In reality, the old McCain is right. He doesn’t have a solid grasp on economic issues, a fact illustrated by his continued belief that eliminating earmarks would provide enough money to balance his proposed budget. But there’s one problem, they don’t. Not by a long shot.
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I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.”
A guy who finished 894th out of a class of 899 doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence when he says, “I still need to be educated”
June 10th, 2008 at 9:12 pmregarding economics.
It must be really bad when you have to challenge Obama to debate Iraq in order to avoid talking about the economy.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:13 pmI can’t wait for the McCain/Obama debates and/or townhall meetings.
Either way, McCain is toast.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:18 pmCarley Fiorina - FORMER top adviser to McCain!
June 10th, 2008 at 9:31 pmwow, talk about avoiding the issue!
June 10th, 2008 at 9:33 pmAfter years of talking and acting weird, the Republican Party decided that, in order for John McCain to have a future in politics, he needed to be re-invented as “Maverick John” and not continue with the “Confused John” idea.
“Maverick sounds better than confused,” the rich guys calculated.
So, there it is. Maverick John or Confused John? You decide.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:39 pmThis guy is an idiot, like Reagan was. The Republicans know they’re going to lose, so they sent out this doddering old fart instead of wasting one of their good people.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:43 pmZooey Says:
I can’t wait for the McCain/Obama debates and/or townhall meetings.
Either way, McCain is toast.
In principle, I agree with you. In practice, those “debates” are anything but debate.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:45 pmlivelongandprosper Says:
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In principle, I agree with you. In practice, those “debates” are anything but debate.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
I agree. Normally I put “debate” inside quotation marks. :)
June 10th, 2008 at 10:00 pmI still need to be educated
Yeah, not just on economics, but on EVERYTHING jackass. No wonder he’s such a blithering moron, he gets his “facts” from “a Google”. Wow.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:08 pmThis is my favorite one:
McCain: “I will veto every single beer”
C&L has the video, even the audience was laughing on that one. McCain it’s not Miller Time Yet.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:16 pmFreedom Rebel,
Keith has a great bit on that tonight. Should be coming up now…
June 10th, 2008 at 10:18 pmMcCain: “I was for context before I knew what context was.”
June 10th, 2008 at 10:26 pmIf I’m not mistaken, I believe one of the times McShrub admitted he was clueless on the economy was in a Wall Street Journal editorial. Is that what he means by “out of context”?
June 10th, 2008 at 10:29 pmTaken out of context
June 10th, 2008 at 10:32 pmAnd would that “context” be your ass, Gramps?
drlarrymitchell Says:
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This guy is an idiot, like Reagan was. The Republicans know they’re going to lose, so they sent out this doddering old fart instead of wasting one of their good people.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Since when has the GOP had any “good people” ?
June 10th, 2008 at 10:36 pmdrlarrymitchell Says:
This guy is an idiot, like Reagan was.
Don’t scare me like that.
Reagan was elected, twice for fsck sake.
Like the other idiot, Bush.
LOL
June 10th, 2008 at 10:43 pmHey! He doesn’t need Greenspan’s book.
He’s got the best lobbyists money can buy telling him how to enrich the wealthiest 1.75% of the nation for the next four years.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:46 pmOf course it was taken out of context. McCain was making fun of himself. When he said he had little economic expertise, it was obvious that he was being sarcastic, and using self-deprecating humor.
But he wasn’t lying, either. He really DOESN’T know dirt about macro or micro economics. Nada.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:49 pmHi Billy
June 10th, 2008 at 10:49 pmThat ‘veto beer’ mistake reminds me nothing so much as my old Pat Paulsen for President book, which contains two photos of Pat holding up the peace/V for Victory sign. The on the first photo read:
“Peace. Or at least…”
The second photo of him holding up the peace sign read:
“Two beers.”
He is missed dearly.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:52 pmWriting in Pat Paulsen crosses my mind every 4 years. He paved the way for many of the absurdists
June 10th, 2008 at 11:08 pm#13 Zooey Says:
Freedom Rebel,
Keith has a great bit on that tonight. Should be coming up now
thanks Zooey! Unfortunately I missed it. Hopefully, I can catch a replay of it on youtube..
When I saw the video on C&L I couldn’t stop laughing. He has been on the road so much, I think it is taking it’s toll on him. Of course, I don’t feel one bit sorry for him. He brought this on himself.
Have a good night Zooey!!
June 10th, 2008 at 11:27 pmOld and out of touch he is,with America and what is going on in the world.
June 10th, 2008 at 11:28 pmWhat foreign policy does he know? Vietnam?
he made it clear he doesn’t know jack about the ME.
June 11th, 2008 at 4:06 amSo Billy are we buddies or what?
June 11th, 2008 at 8:00 amIs this the way they’re going to question McCain the entire race? Every question is delivered in a way that provides an easy escape. Obama really has his work cut out for him.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:13 amI’d think rather they’d put forth their best guy and get his face and “message” in front of everybody for the next election.
I believe the sad truth to be, McLame is the best they have.
June 11th, 2008 at 10:55 am