McCain Claims Gramm ‘Does Not Speak For Me’ On Same Day Gramm Speaks For McCain In Meeting With WSJ
McCain Claims Gramm ‘Does Not Speak For Me’ On Same Day Gramm Speaks For McCain In Meeting With WSJ
In his effort to distance himself from top economic adviser Phil Gramm’s contention that America is a “nation of whiners” complaining about a “mental recession,” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) declared in Michigan today that he “strongly disagrees” with Gramm. “Phil Gramm does not speak for me,” said McCain. Watch it:
But as Politico’s Jonathan Martin points out, McCain’s claim that Gramm doesn’t speak for him is contradicted by the fact that Gramm spoke to the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board on behalf of McCain today. The Washington Post reports:
Speaking today from New York, where he was meeting with the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board on McCain’s economic policies, Gramm said the nation’s economy was initially thought to have grown by an anemic 0.6 percent in the first three months of the year. That was revised up to 0.9 percent, and again to 1.0 percent.
Additionally, McCain has frequently praised Gramm — who Fortune Magazine has labeled “McCain’s econ brain” — as a central beacon for his economic thinking:
- Phil Gramm’s “active participation in my campaign makes a strong statement about our intention to reduce spending and make the tax cuts permanent,” said McCain in an e-mail announcing Gramm as a general co-chair of his campaign. [3/12/07]
- “I love him dearly. On issues of economics and … family values, there’s nobody that I know that’s stronger,” McCain said of Gramm. [1/19/08]
- “I respect no one more in America on issue of economics than I do Phil Gramm,” said McCain after Gramm “vouched” for his conservative credentials. [1/18/08]
As ThinkProgress noted earlier today, when McCain admitted in 2005 that he “still needed to be educated” on economic issues, he reassured the Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Moore by saying that Gramm was “his foremost economic guru.”
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Another day, another billion McCain brain cells dissolve into pudding. He needs a brain scan, pronto.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:14 pmWell just who does speak for McInsane? He doesn’t do such a good job keeping track of his own position on issues, ethnic groups and now birth control. I don’t know what’s worse, whether being unable to remember the positions of his own platform or being unable to articulate his own beliefs on birth control.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:15 pmWhy, the breathless media, of course!
July 10th, 2008 at 7:17 pmHe’s losing the race against dementia.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:18 pmGuido
I’m waiting for some Photoshop artist to incorporate McBush’s stupid grin in a Jack Nicholson Joker inspired portrait of the McJoker.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:19 pmThat’s McDizzy’s way of throwing Gramm off the back of the Straight Talk Express.
Tomorrow, McDizzy will wonder what Gramm’s miffed about….
July 10th, 2008 at 7:20 pmI don’t think McCain wants to be prez. His campaign is a joke.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:21 pmHe knows better than to follow the complete mess Bush is leaving. I seriously doubt that he would even be capable of the job.
Uh oh. Trouble for our concern troll; this thread is about economics AND about McCain. What to do, what to do?
July 10th, 2008 at 7:23 pmOfcourse gramm is right though, there was no recession, and the “slowdown” was largely caused by the same people who complain.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:25 pmDroogie:
Maybe he sees that coming in 2nd in this race as overshadowing his history at Annapolis.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:27 pmMcCain leans very heavily for economic advice on Phil Gramm. Former Senator Gramm and his wife Wendy advocate deregulation and make it possible for the big corporation that are robbing America blind.
They tied the bows for the Enron disaster.
See
July 10th, 2008 at 7:27 pmI don’t think McCain wants to be prez. His campaign is a joke.
He knows better than to follow the complete mess Bush is leaving. I seriously doubt that he would even be capable of the job.
But he loves to gamble – and after Bush’s 2000 jackpot, he figures anyone can get lucky. After Reagan and Bush, he’s seen just how little one needs, to function as president.
If a boob, and a alzheimer’s victim can do it, how hard could it be?
July 10th, 2008 at 7:30 pmPeople who complain cause the economy to slow down….
Hmm, ya know. Just when I thought our GOP groupies couldn’t say anything more insane, they surprise me once again.
This thread is putting their home-schooling to the test.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:31 pmDroogie, I think he wants to be the president because he never got to be the admiral, and he’s not sure if his mom’s really proud of him.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:31 pmIn a perfect world, President Obama would use the FISA spying power to identify people like roger and get them into therapy (paid for by our new national health care system) right after the law breakers of Chimpy’s administration are tried for their crimes.
President Obama with all the power Bush now weilds, ha ha ha, I hope the republiscums will be happy come January 20th.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:33 pmStratRat Says:
Nice try misquoting my words, but many who complain only have themselves to blame, true.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:37 pmOh StratRat, you moved the verbs and nouns and adjectives all around and confused are village idiot.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:40 pmLOL “our” village idiot. Sheesh like this idiot is bringing me down to it’s level…..
July 10th, 2008 at 7:42 pmMcCain will go down in history as the ultimate flip-flopper. He changes his words minute by minute, depending on whom he is addressing– and even then, he rarely remembers what he said yesterday. He is pathetic.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:42 pmmany who complain only have themselves to blame
I like the new Zen rogers… is that why you went to ROZERZE?
I’ve got one for you rozerze… “those who carry water for the McBush, often end up all wet”
Think on it…
July 10th, 2008 at 7:42 pmlivelongandprosper Says:
It seems you are the only idiot around here.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:45 pmI can’t believe how indecisive, how pandering, how flip-flopping McCain is — he changes his point of view minute to minute, day to day. And I can’t even vote in the U.S.!! Please, Americans, recognize McCain for what he is– a pandering liar. Did any of you see his videotaped meeting where he took credit for others’ proposals, and said all veterans’ groups adore him?? He is an absolute liar. And some of you trust this liar?
July 10th, 2008 at 7:46 pmHey rozerze, I like the way you think.
Tell us, which of these economic indicators scream “Great Economy”?
The Stock Market
Foreclosure Rates
Home Values
Employment Figures
Value of the Dollar
Inflation
Wage Stagnation
National Savings Rate
What exactly can you point to, in hard figures, that says this is a healthy economy?
I know, this can be a tough question for you, because I asked for hard figures rather than name-calling, but give it a whirl.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:52 pmdasm Says:
McCain will go down in history as the ultimate flip-flopper.
– - Nope, you guys are missing the more insidious aspect of McCain. He’s not a flip-flopper but resides in some bizarre world of duality where he’ll espouse alternate views simultaneously. It’s brilliant politics since most people hear what they want to hear. Wait 5 minutes and McCain will tell you what you want to hear.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:55 pmPhil Gramm is a POS.
‘Forclosure Phil’ Gramm: How John McCain’s Closest Economic Advisor Helped Engineer the Morgage Crisis
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/90937/
July 10th, 2008 at 7:58 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
Hey rozerze, I like the way you think.
Tell us, which of these economic indicators scream “Great Economy”?
Oh, man, I’ve gotta make popcorn. This should be good.
(I probably have time to go to the store, walking backwards, and buy the popcorn before rooger responds to this one.)
July 10th, 2008 at 8:00 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
hey ralph lama, are you going to ask anything relative to what I said?.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:02 pmThis is how mcchimpy would run the US. Pathetic!
July 10th, 2008 at 8:05 pmShorter rozerze: Duh
July 10th, 2008 at 8:08 pmrozerze Says:
Damn, the popcorn’s not ready and rozerze has already posted his complete non-response.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:10 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
No one made any claims about a health economy, your question is stupid.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:15 pmWOW!!!! Rog2 just outdid his own self with that last one. This self-medication just ain’t workin’ too well.
Or maybe he has no clue what a recession is.
But you did make me laugh, thanks Rog.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:21 pmYou forgot one ralph. The auto industry.
Chrysler is as good as gone and, judging by the lack of any sign that Detroit is innovating designs for the inevitable new paradigm, one can assume that Ford and GM have no intention of trying to compete in the American market.
After 35 years of dragging their heels they are offered a “new playing field”, and to all appearances they are going to go down clinging to their “America builds big, fast, cars” mentality. It appears that the last generation of American passenger cars will be museum pieces before they leave the factory.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:30 pmrogerdodger: No one made any claims about a health economy, your question is stupid.
Less than one hour previously, rogerdodger: Ofcourse gramm is right though, there was no recession, and the “slowdown” was largely caused by the same people who complain.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:31 pmAs ThinkProgress noted earlier today, when McCain admitted in 2005 that he “still needed to be educated” on economic issues, he reassured the Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Moore by saying that Gramm was “his foremost economic guru.”
Update:
John McCain just issued this statement, “No, my friends. In 2005 the Wall Street Journal misquoted me. I said that Phil Gramm was a foremost economic poo poo.”
July 10th, 2008 at 8:35 pmWe need an immediate Constitutional Amendment.
Any person who’s brain is embodied by another person is exempt from holding any public office.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:43 pmThanks, roz. You really lived up to my expectations with your performance here today.
(ralph applauds, sarcastically)
July 10th, 2008 at 9:21 pmZoo, I don’t do this often, but I’m giving you a full-on LOL.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:23 pmflip flop
flip flop
One of several dozen from McCain
July 10th, 2008 at 9:24 pmSo does that mean McCain is reversing his position that the US economic problems are psychological, or just that he doesn’t want to call the American public whiny…. even though that’s what he believes?
July 10th, 2008 at 9:25 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
July 10th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
**blush**
July 10th, 2008 at 10:58 pmDear Phil,
You shouldn’t be so hard on whiners. Sometimes being a whiner can be a good thing. For example, in your case…
If you had complained to someone, anyone, or everyone, your parents, teachers, big brother, etc., about the “mental recession” you experienced when you were younger, you could have gotten some help in curing that problem. Someone could have given you moral guidance, religious principles, ethical concepts, emphasized intelligence, taught you honesty and cleanliness and so forth.
But because you didn’t whine, Phil, you’re stuck with the reputation of being a half-witted Texas thug. So see, whining has its place.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:16 amPretty darn soon McCain will be claiming that John McCain doesn’t speak for him. Sadly, half the time that would be true because he is on both sides of every issue from time to time. Seriously, this is a pretty darn funny claim McCain is making here.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:23 am.
Is Senator McWhinny complaining about his steward, Whinny Gramm?
.
July 11th, 2008 at 1:37 am