McCain: I Never Said That I Don’t Know Much About Economics
McCain: I Never Said That I Don’t Know Much About Economics
This week, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is traveling through Colombia, making a push for a free-trade agreement. In an interview with ABC this morning from Cartagena, McCain was asked about his now infamous statement that he doesn’t understand economics well. McCain quickly interrupted the interviewer, denying he ever said this:
Q: You have admitted that you’re not exactly an expert when it comes to the economy and many have said –
McCAIN: I have not. I have not. Actually, I have not. I said that I am stronger on national security issues because of all the time I spent in the military. I’m very strong on the economy. I understand it. I have a lot more experience than my opponent.
Watch it:
In fact, McCain and his advisers have repeatedly admitted that he is weak on economic issues:
– “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should,” McCain said. “I’ve got Greenspan’s book.” [December 2007]
– Seeking to explain his shift 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.” [January 2000]
– Carly Fiorina, a top McCain adviser, acknowledged that McCain has said he knows little about the economy, noting that “he did say it one time, no question, maybe twice.” [6/10/08]
The McCain campaign has conjured up a variety of dodges on the topic. Last January, when Tim Russert asked him about his “I still need to be educated” claim, McCain said, “I don’t know where you got that quote.” Adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin said McCain’s admitted lack of economics knowledge was an example of his “wonderful self-deprecating sense of humor.” Last month, McCain said the media took the comments “out of context.”
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When is the Democratic Party or Obama going to start doing commercials of McCain saying one thing and then denying he ever said it or showing all his flip-flops on major issues? When is Obama going to start running commercials period? It seems to me that he is wasting a lot of valuable time here.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:47 amThis is why they are creating mass deception with their little bits of bickering over military service and Gen. Wesley Clark, they just want to distract us from the fact that the Republicans have NO idea how their going to solve this disaster that is the Bush economy.
Seriously, I mean you can’t give any more tax cuts, were far too deep in debt to China to afford it. There is no point in drilling right now, as it won’t come into production 10-20 years from now. Republicans literally have nothing!
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:49 am“I’ve got Greenspan’s book.”, and I stayed at Holiday Inn Express last night too.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:53 amMcCAIN: I have not. I have not. Actually, I have not. I said that I am stronger on national security issues because of all the time I spent crashing fighter jets. I have a lot more experience crashing fighter jets than my opponent.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:55 amWhat’s the point in even discussing McCain anymore?
Pollsters call people with home phones. We know those are mostly older and more conservative people. Even among these traditionalists, Obama is leading by 12-15%.
McCain is so irrelevant…
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:57 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says: When is Obama going to start running commercials period?
Where do you live? They’ve been playing here in Georgia for about a week now. So have McCain ads. I can’t remember the last time a Republican candidate actually campaigned here…
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:58 amBut unbelievable,
It is soooooo much fun watching the continuous flip flopping of subjects.
And what’s ever more entertaining?
The silence of the right who were rabid little canines during the Kerry/Bush campaigns of ‘04.
You are correct, though, as McSame is irrelevant (that is, unless somehow the turnout for voting in November is low).
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:01 amWhat are the chances that McSame is one of UBS’s 20,000 clients? If he is that sure would tell me a great deal about McInsane’s understanding of economics.
Columbia is the place to find the best deals on nose candy isn’t it? Got to keep that high energy staff humming.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:03 amHe`s old (GOP),he forgets(lies), he a neoconsevative REICH WINGER…………
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:08 amDue to the internet which can pull up almost instantly anything any candidate said, McPutz, you’re
BUSTED!!!!
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:13 amDRxJ Says: But unbelievable, It is soooooo much fun watching the continuous flip flopping of subjects. And what’s ever more entertaining? The silence of the right who were rabid little canines during the Kerry/Bush campaigns of ‘04. You are correct, though, as McSame is irrelevant (that is, unless somehow the turnout for voting in November is low).
Okay, you got me on ‘entertainment factor’ :).
I saw at Huffington Post that even the military is giving more to Obama. How much more over for Grampa could it get?
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:15 amDon’t know much about history
Don’t know much biology
Don’t know much about a science book
Don’t know much about the French I took
But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you vote for me too
What a wonderful world this would be
Don’t know much about geography
Don’t know much trigonometry
Don’t know much about algebra
Don’t know what a slide rule is for
But I know that one and one is two
And if your vote I could get from you
What a wonderful world this would be
Now, I don’t claim to be an “A” student
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:16 amBut I’m trying to be
For maybe by being an “A” student baby
I can win your vote for me
shoeless, you beat me to it. I rewrote some of the lyrics and tried to post it but my computer seemed to burp and I lost my post.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:22 amAWKWARD!
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:26 amCan we all agree that McDepends doesn’t know muc h about ANYTHING and be done with it?
He is as clueless as Dubya, but even older.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:26 amMccain had an honorable career in the military, not the economy.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:27 amIt’s one thing to clarify a past statement that has been misinterpreted by the media and/or others. If that was the case with McCain’s various statements about his lack of understanding economics, he could just say so.
Denying he ever made statements that exist on tape or in print is just plain stupid. In this internet age, almost every word he utters is recorded. And it will be thrown back at him.
On the other hand, perhaps he just doesn’t remember what he says from one day to the next. If that’s the case, perhaps he should google himself at least daily to brief himself on what he said the day before. Or get one of his staffers to do it if he doesn’t understand the “internets” all that well.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:27 am“The best thing about Alzheimer’s is you get to hide your own Easter eggs.” –John McCain, September 1999
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:27 amO cmon guys… give him a break.
Its summer! Flipflops are in season!
:)
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:28 amDRxJ Says
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:01 am
The silence of the right who were rabid little canines during the Kerry/Bush campaigns of ‘04.
______________________________________________________________
You’re right. I remember a lot of wingnuts who exhibited a great deal of righteous indignation over Kerry’s “flip-flopping” in 2004. They did everything they could to make this a major issue, complete with sandals as a symbol.
Now there’s nothing from that corner except crickets chirping. Flip-flopping as an issue is apparently out of vogue. Either that, or IOKIYAR.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:30 amrozerze Says: Mccain had an honorable career in the military, not the economy.
Then he should be running for General and not President. The President needs to know about the economy, as it is one of the more important aspects of his job.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:31 amunbelievable Says:
give me a break, as if the one-term senator is more qualified.Any politician lacks deep understanding of things.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:39 amrozerze Says
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:27 am
Mccain had an honorable career in the military, not the economy.
______________________________________________________
Fine, then let him be honest about it. Instead of saying “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should,” one minute and “I’m very strong on the economy. I understand it,” the next.
It’s the flip-flopping that’s more alarming than the lack of economics knowledge (that, and treating the American people like we’re idiots). Not all presidents are professional economists, but we expect them to be up front with what they know and what they don’t.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:40 amfriendsofronmexico
rozerze
FLAGGED.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:43 amI don’t know what you guys are watching but I see attacks on Obama every day about his flip flopping on campaign financing. Look at friends here. If you guys think we can forget about the election, it’s a done deal, we are doomed.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:44 amBush said he got a ‘C’ in Econ 101, but actually flunked.
McChurian, on the other hand, never even attended Econ classes.
Johnny boy, you’ve got to put more ‘Flip’ in your ‘Flop’.
When Hate Radio starts dissing their own candidate it’s over, McChump. Stay in Columbia. Go back to Baghdad. You’re toast.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:45 amBut you’ll still defend the failures of a one term governor of Texas who went awol during Viet Nam, was barely a C student who failed at every thing he tried.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
…treating the American people like we’re idiots).
McCain is just playing to the Republican base.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:50 amShayne Says:
——————————————————————————–
rozerze Says:
unbelievable Says:
give me a break, as if the one-term senator is more qualified.Any politician lacks deep understanding of things.
But you’ll still defend the failures of a one term governor of Texas who went awol during Viet Nam, was barely a C student who failed at every thing he tried.
Yeah, Bush’s foriegn policy experience consisted of drinking tequila, screwing Mexican whores, and snorting Columbian cocaine.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:54 amInform yourself. He is not a one term senator. Nothing prepares you specifically for the office of the president. You are inaugurated with a willingness to settle in with an agenda in respect to the office. It’s nice to know, regardless, that he was a senior lecturer at Chicago law, a community organizer, Harvard and Columbia-educated, and president of the Harvard law review. Among his personal qualities are collaborative skills and better judgment than McSame.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:54 amFirst attempt at a reply to rozerze went to moderation. Second attempt at #32 was successful.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:56 amAnd the Mexican whores say he wasn’t very competent at that either.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:58 amWhile we’re talking about reworked song lyrics, how about “McCain” to the tune of JJ Cale’s “Cocaine”?
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:58 amAny takers?
Poor ol’ Rog2, it can’t get anything right; The comment that no politician has a deep understanding of anything says we are all doomed, as anyone running for ANY office is a politician.
Let’s just pack it all up and go home, K?
Heh heh
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:01 amWill this get moderated? I hope this crud means that trolls will be banned by IP.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:01 amfriendsofronmexico Says:
Try to stay on topic dipshit, then you won’t get deleted mmkay?
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:08 amrozerze Says:
Mccain had an honorable career in the military, not the economy.
Great. So he should get a job in the Pentagon.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:20 amfriendsofronmexico Says:
So anyone who disagrees with the liberal/democratic thought gets flagged and banned??
No, but trolls just seeking attention by posting inflammatory and irrelevant comments get flagged and, one hopes, banned.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:21 amWOW!!! So now they’re going to just lie out of their butts?!?!
Oh Wait, the MsM would NEVER call them on it so why not?
Jus…WOW
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:26 amAnd McCain was so arrogant as to say Obama can’t be trusted? McCain proves over & over, on a daily basis, that he goes back on his word, and that it is certainly he who cannot be trusted.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:27 amA basic point for trolls: This is a PRIVATE site, First Amendment protection does not apply to such sites. Free Republic does the SAME thing you rant on about to liberal comments; cut those who don’t agree. Main reason for cutting comments here is profanity!
Now, on to McCain. He is able to deny comments he has made simply because he knows FOX will not challenge him, MSNBC and sites such as this are not viewed by his supporters and misinformation is rarely corrected by CNN.
The caution here, for Obama and his campaign, is to bring out statements such as these and simply ask: “Why do you say one thing then deny you ever said it.” or “Why do you say it is out of context when there is a full few minutes of context already available and you STILL deny you ever said something?No turpitude, no invective. Simply ask. Then await an answer.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:28 amrozerze Says: give me a break, as if the one-term senator is more qualified.Any politician lacks deep understanding of things.
This is precisely where you fail to understand the importance of having a President with a brain. Instead of reognizing that we need a man or woman of exceptional intellect running the show, you call smart people ‘elitist’ and instead vote for the cocaine addict simply because you’d like to have a beer with him.
You see how well that “strategery” worked now, don’t you? Vote for the smart person this time. He’s far more than a one term Senator.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:31 amfriendsofronmexico Says:
I thought the First Amendment was popular with the left.
Yes, but knuckledragging, slopeheaded, wingnut, propaganda spewing, RNC drones are not.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:36 amYou know as much about the left as you know about picking a president. You have a right to speak and we have a right to not listen to your stupidity. Get it?
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:36 amCal Malenky, here’s my rendition for your enjoyment:
If you wanna hang tough you’ve got to make up stuff: McCain.
If you wanna bomb Iran, because you can: McCain.
He don’t know, he don’t know, he don’t know: McCain.
If you got bad news, distractions you use: McCain.
When your time’s almost done but you wanna run: McCain.
He don’t know, he don’t know, he don’t know: McCain.
If your issues are gone and you wanna ride on: McCain.
Don’t look to the facts, they won’t win you jack: McCain.
He don’t know, he don’t know, he don’t know: McCain.
He don’t know, he don’t know, he don’t know: McCain.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:46 amMore contradiction from McCain’s Straight Talk Express…
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:52 amThis fraud can’t answer any question for himself. He always has to slam his opponent in every answer to every question. He was not asked for a comparison, but what does he know about the economy. Shut up already about your opponent. What do you know and does it qualify you to be President. The obvious answer is that you are not qualified. End of discussion. Go pay your back taxes.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:54 amCan’t remember eh McInsane?
Just another Midol moment…
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:56 amPerhaps there are 2 John McCains residing in his head. He certainly seems to have contradictory opinions on just about every issue important to the American people. Simple pandering or something organic?
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:34 pmPlease. Just one time when a reporter asks McCain a question and McCain denies ever saying somethng.: Just one time can the reporter pull out a portable video device and offer to play the tape ?
You can get a portable DVD player for about $50 now a days.
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:25 pmAfter seeing PLC’s excellent McCain song, I realized mine needed a lot of work. So, here is the revised version:
Don’t know much about the economy
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:09 pmCan’t remember my own history
Don’t know how I crashed like a kook
Don’t know how I got caught by the Gooks
Don’t know how my imprisonment
Is relevant to being President
Don’t know the difference in Iraqi clans
But I know I want to bomb Iran
Don’t know why I hugged Dubya Bush
Don’t know why even kissed his tush
But I do know that if I fool you
And I know if you vote for me too
What a blundering Prez I will be
#33 Cal Malenky -
Just a first attempt:
If you wanna win - you’ve got to flip flop; mccain
If you want to get down, down on the ground mccain
he lies, he lies, he lies, mccain
if you got bad news, you wanna kick them blues, mccain
when the election is done and he wants to run, mccain
he lies, he lies, he lies; mccain
his mind is gone, but he wants to run mccain
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:15 pmdon’t forget this fact he can’t get it back; mccain
he lies, he lies, he lies; mccain
New to the site. What does “IOKIYAR” mean?
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:18 pmAlso new - I was wondering the same thing.
And thanks for all the laughs, great entertainment.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:46 pmInnocent Bystander Says:
Perhaps there are 2 John McCains residing in his head. He certainly seems to have contradictory opinions on just about every issue important to the American people. Simple pandering or something organic?
I do organic gardening. It takes lots of manure.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:58 pmseafront
Its OK if you are republiscum.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:12 pmHow do they get away with this??
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:07 pm