McCain’s definition of ‘rich’ illustrated.
By on Aug 18th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
McCain’s definition of ‘rich’ illustrated.
During the Saddleback Church presidential forum on Saturday, when Pastor Rick Warren asked both Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to define where “you move from middle class to rich,” McCain reflexively joked, “How about $5 million?” He then added that “it doesn’t matter really what my definition of rich is.” Noting that “McCain’s answer is just profoundly out-of-touch,” Ezra Klein put together a graph showing just how off-base McCain’s definition is compared to actual income distribution:
Update In New Mexico today, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) mocked McCain's definition, saying that it's "reflected in his policies":
“Which I guess if you’re making $3 million a year, you're middle class,” said Obama, admitting that maybe McCain was joking. But that's reflected in his policies,” Obama continued, “where for people making more than $2.5 million, he's giving folks a $500,000 tax break. And so this is a fundamental difference in this election.”
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I would have no problem what-so-ever with McCain’s “joke” if he and his minions weren’t trying to paint Obama as the “elitist”. Everyday I here or read how Obama is an elitist and out of touch and yet the John and Cindy McCain come off as Thurstan and Lovey Howell.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:18 pmAnd this from the fella who owns so many houses he can’t remember to pay his property taxes…
I guess $5 million looks downright paltry when you’re worth $100 million.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:18 pmMcCain’s definition of rich:
Marry into wealth (it’s easier than earning it yourself!)
August 18th, 2008 at 4:19 pmCan I retype that? Well…you get the point.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:20 pmObama answers questions sincerely, McIIIrd jokes, dodges, ducks, swivels, snivels and the MSM crowns him the ‘Weiner’!!??
August 18th, 2008 at 4:23 pmAll politicians are out of touch with the average American, they did not get there by being average.
In the case of John McSame and Bush they got there by being below average, it was family connections and old money and a lying MSM that got them where they are.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:25 pmIt’s certainly not the first time the MSM has crowned McCain’s Weiner. They are after-all his “base”.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:25 pmFunny how ‘being rich’ can be a moving target, based whether or not you are a kept man, right Johnny Boy?
August 18th, 2008 at 4:29 pmWow, you mean I can make $4.95 million dollars and not be rich???
August 18th, 2008 at 4:30 pmBuckie Boy Says:
All politicians are out of touch with the average American, they did not get there by being average.
In the case of John McSame and Bush they got there by being below average, it was family connections and old money and a lying MSM that got them where they are.
While that’s pretty much true, I’d say the degree of out-of-touch is much greater with the Silver Spoon crew than it is for someone who started his career as a community organizer…
August 18th, 2008 at 4:33 pmI hope Cindy had a prenup and dumps his McAss. Let’s see how much money he has then.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:35 pmRemember when being a millionaire was ‘top of the heap’?
Wealth redistribution has quietly transformed America into the ‘haves’ & ‘have nots’.
As Paris Hilton said to Lindsay Lohen, ‘you’re poor, girl. $10M is poor’.
McPanderer, King of Fears
August 18th, 2008 at 4:37 pmToday on Thom Hartmann, a caller from Orange country, Orange county being very republican and where Saddleback Church is located, said one had to pay $2000 per ticket to be part of the audience.
So much for a fair and balanced audience…. and never mind the supposedly ’silent dome’ McCain was to be in during the Q&A of Obama.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:40 pmI’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Grampy mclame makes retarded “jokes” when he cannot or will not answer a question. only a total assclown would buy into this happy horseshit mclame’s selling.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:49 pmWhile McStain talks about reforming Social Security and Medicare, how about he return what he’s receiving?
He has been on government healthcare his entire life (oh, right, lest we forget his POW days), first through his father-the-admiral, then the Navy and onto Congress, he receives something like $58,000 per year as a disable veteran, and has since his return, his entire education was paid by the government, and now he gets Social Security on top of it all!
Let’s not pretend that McStain’s entire life has been funded by our tax dollars, except, of course, the money he married.
PEACE
August 18th, 2008 at 4:54 pmI would give McCain a pass on this one — it was really a no-win question. I’m sure he was being facetious with his “$5 million” answer. Of course, that would be rich by anybody’s standard, but the line between “rich” and “middle class” likely falls below that point somewhere.
We got into this discussion during the fairly recent SCHIP debate. What is considered rich in one area may be considered just getting by in another, purely because the cost of living can vary widely from place to place. If I had an income of $100,000, I’d be wealthier than I have ever been, and I’d certainly feel rich, but if I had that income while living in New York or San Francisco, I’d probably need it just to pay basic expenses.
Over a decade ago, we had a congressman here in North Carolina who complained that his congressional salary (a low six-figure amount) was insufficient for him — that it wasn’t even a middle class salary. When his somewhat amazed interviewer asked him what he considered middle class, he answered back that would be between $350,000 and $700,000 a year. Needless to say, his perspective didn’t impress his constituents, and he only served one term before he was defeated by a somewhat more realistic candidate.
McCain doesn’t really fall into the same category as this obviously out-of-touch guy. A flippant response to a question that had no good answer really isn’t the same thing as if McCain complained that his own six-figure salary was “lower class”.
McCain is truly out of touch on many other issues — we really look silly hammering him on this one.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:57 pmZed Lefflin Says:
“Its Rodeo Drive or 5th Avenue for people like Obama, Nancy, Harry and me, thank you very much.”
spoken like a true south beach queen.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:00 pmZed Lefflin Says:
Its Rodeo Drive or 5th Avenue for people like Obama, Nancy, Harry and me, thank you very much.
Hey, I’ve shopped on 5th Ave before many times! Of course, my purchases came out of a food push cart and not Tiffany’s…does that mean it was an elitist hot dog?
August 18th, 2008 at 5:19 pmThe problem, dear Zed, is that you’re changing the definition of “elitist”.
Se, the American Heritage Dictionary defines “elitism” as The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financial resources.
What you have described is not “elitism”. One may be among the “elite” (and a Senator certainly is that) and still be devoted to equality and justice for all citizens, regardless of their socioeconomic status. This concept may be difficult for you to grasp, but such people do exist. Admittedly, it helps a member of the “elite” to embrace this view if he’s risen to that elite position by virtue of his own hard work and talents, rather than on the backs of his high-achieving forebears. And it could be argued, and argued very persuasively I think, that such a position is the absolute polar opposite of “elitism”.
Now, I know the Right isn’t overly concerned with things like “definitions” and “facts”, but the truth is, dear Zed, if you’re going to aspire to hold a reasonable conversation with someone, a common understanding of the language used is critical.
Try to keep this in mind.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:26 pmWhen one marries an heiress, owns a jet, has ten homes, wears $500 shoes, how can we expect him to relate to middle-income families?
August 18th, 2008 at 5:27 pmModern Republican presidents are quite out of touch with the average American.
McCain is an ‘elitist’ but it has nothing to do with his income and everything to do with his sense of entitlement. McCain believes that he is special and deserves to rule despite a lifetime of mediocre acheivement.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:28 pmHis wealth by marriage was just another one of those things he ‘deserved’ for being born John McCain.
On the other hand, when you are raised by a single parent, aided by your grandparents, earn a scholarship to college, pay off student loans for the balance – you are the elitist.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:29 pmSo sayeth the repugnicans — it must be true.
Bozo The Neoclown Says:
“only a total assclown would buy into this happy horseshit mclame’s selling.”
unfortunately, there are approx 62 million “assclowns” in this country (see results of 2004 presidential election).
August 18th, 2008 at 5:40 pmActually, if you work out the math, there are only 7000 families who qualify as rich if the 5 million number is accecpted as the entry level. The bad part is that 40% of that number are politicians.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:42 pmWhen you hear McCain defining what “rich” means…you seriously can’t believe he has advisors.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:50 pmWhen s tiny majority of families control the political process, you no longer have a democracy: you have an oligarchy. THAT is the goal of the Republican party.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:06 pmGood to know, Zed.
And don’t bogart whatever you’re smokin’, dude. Seems pretty potent.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:58 pm.
McCain’s Mansions = McMansions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek3jAkx9m10
.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:40 amThe chart shows that Barack identified $150,000 as “rich” but I dont believe that is correct, I thought he indicated that a household income of $150,000 was middle class is that not so?
August 19th, 2008 at 9:00 am