Think Progress

McCain doesn’t know what his own committee does.

With Wall Street’s financial institutions in turmoil, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) argued in a series of interviews today that his experience on the Senate Commerce Committee meant he knew “how to fix this economy.” “I understand the economy. I was chairman of the Commerce Committee that oversights every part of our economy,” McCain told CNBC’s Squawk Box. Watch it:

But, as the Washington Post points out, the Commerce Committee doesn’t oversee “every part of our economy,” let alone “the very areas now in crisis“:

In fact, it is the Senate Banking Committee that has oversight of “banks, banking and financial institutions; control of prices of commodities, rents and services; federal monetary policy, including the Federal Reserve System; financial aid to commerce and industry and money and credit, including currency and coinage.”

According to its Web site, the Commerce Committee oversees 13 areas, beginning with the Coast Guard, and continuing through “regulation of consumer products and services … except for credit, financial services, and housing” — the very areas now in crisis.

It’s not that surprising that McCain is confused about the Commerce Committee’s economic responsibilities, considering that he freely admits, “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.”




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41 Responses to “McCain doesn’t know what his own committee does.”

  1. Badmoodman Says:

    It’s not that surprising that McCain is confused about the Commerce Committee’s economic responsibilities, considering that he freely admits,

    - - McCain: "STFU, you SPIC!"


  2. Zooey Says:

    Dementia will do that to a guy...


  3. miatch Says:

    please please please, some reporter ask him exactly what his Commerce Committee covers to see if he actually knows.


  4. raynman Says:

    someone tell me how this race can even be close, much less tied?


  5. Mr. Evil Says:

    America, say hello to John McStupid.


  6. JMOHR Says:

    I am sure that the vaunted Democratic party machine has coordinated a message that will be echoed by every party rep or surrogate appearing on a news program to hit at McCain's original admission that he was not well versed on the economy, and not that he is an expert and now that he his commerce committee has the plan to save the economy.

    We will undoubtedly hear the coordinated message that McCain does not even know what his committee does. We will hear that coordinated message that McCain also knows exactly how to fight AQ and capture Bin Laden. AND FINALLY, WE WILL HEAR THE MOCKING COMPARISON TO NIXON'S SECRET PLAN FOR PEACE AND THAT A TRUE PATRIOT WOULD BE DIVULGING THESE SECRETS NOW.


  7. Count Istvan Says:

    What DOES McCain know?


  8. stateofthedivision Says:

    I'd like to see his attendance record at the Commerce Committee's meetings.

    If he's attended regularly, I have to question how much he paid attention.

    Either that, or the Rove spin machine is working to make John look economically experienced.

    However, as National Security = Energy,
    and Energy = Economy,
    Economy = National Security.

    We know John McCain doesn't know squat about the economy, thus he's clueless on our security. Chew on that, Karl!


  9. tokin librul Says:

    Every time I think that McC(umst)ain just is too dumb, confuses, privileged, irrational, and crazy to be Preznint,

    I remember the last 8 years, and i shiver in the very warm center of my soul...


  10. RantingTommy Says:

    Hasn't this country had enough of being led by a horse's ass?



  11. katy Says:

    he doesn't know that "oversight" is not a verb...


  12. spencers mom Says:

    Thanks, Katy, you beat me to it!

    After 8 years with a primate who can't speak English, do we want an old fart who doesn't know oversees from oversights?

    I bet McStain thinks that copyrights are copywritten, or wroted.

    Bag of rocks. Very, very old rocks.

    PEACE


  13. superid Says:

    Every time McCain opens his mouth he makes a gaffe or tells a lie but never gets called on it. If people really knew what doddering fool he is, he would lose handily.


  14. Wayne Says:

    When he was chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs, he didn't know a damn thing about Indians either.

    Having McCain head any of these committees is like putting Senator Imhoff the Global Warming denier as chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

    Oh, wait, the Republicans did put him there....

    Enough said.....


  15. Doc Rock Says:

    Not to mention how many sessions McAbsent missed in the last twelve months.


  16. AngryOne Says:

    As the meltdown on Wall Street continues, American voters would do well to regard John McCain and his Republican Party with suspicion when it comes to the resuscitating the economy. But McCain's acknowledged ignorance on economic issues, happy talk about strong "fundamentals," ties to lobbyists and disturbing involvement in the 1980's savings and loan disaster aren't the only reasons voters should flock to Barack Obama for solutions to the mushrooming financial crisis. As history has proven time and again, Wall Street and the economy overall simply do better under Democratic presidents.

    For the details, see:
    "The Record: Wall Street, Economy Do Better Under Democrats."


  17. Wayne Says:

    satirev, my observations show me that the Republican Party is very similar to a septic tank.
    The biggest pieces always float to the top. =D


  18. Wayne Says:

    satirev Says:

    Indeed, they do, Wayne and we’re seeing the “fluffy floaters” right now! :):) Hi to Jane for me!

    Jane would be Wayne S's spouse. But if she posts I will say hi =)


  19. Game of Life Says:

    Consumer Products?

    Well how's the tomatoes, jalapeños, dog food and lead, mcchimpy? Are they safe?

    No wonder this committee is screwed up. mcchimpy's oversight, mcchimpy's lead.

    I don't see how Sen. Obama following around mcchimpy to his so-called "townhall meetings" would help mcchimpy unless he wants credit for Sen. Obama crowds.


  20. Game of Life Says:

    satirev@16

    Just think how his whole administration would look.

    Obama\Biden 08


  21. helenahandbasket Says:

    McCain appears to be in the process of a complete metamorphosis into GrandPa Simpson.


  22. Game of Life Says:

    OT

    expect "tar baby" "niggly" "spear" all sort of racial slurs from the repugs. straight out of the 1600s.

    Then they will lie and say they didn't mean it that way, it's an old American saying.


  23. Buckie Boy Says:

    He says he knows how to fix the economy but he is not telling unless you elect Shara Pal.....Him president.

    Only an idiot would believe that....oh, that's right...the Reichwingers love their liars.

    If he knows how to fix it...he is going to take it his grave with him.

    Which won't be very long to happen.


  24. DallasNE Says:

    McCain is really beginning to look like a dunce with all of his false claims that keep blowing up in his face.


  25. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    C'mon, guys! You can't blame McSame for not knowing what his committee regulates. After all he hasn't even been in the Senate for five months, it's probably been twice that long since he attended one of them stupid committee meetings.

    So just cool it. Or you're going to piss the old coot off.
    (w/apologies to robbez)


  26. PatrioticLiberalChristian Says:

    Only one answer to all of this, "ENOUGH!". Obama should use this powerful word in all his speeches and on signs, bumper stickers, t-shirts etc along with "Change We Can Believe In".

    McCain says he supports the troops but votes against benefits for veterans -> ENOUGH! We need Change We Can Believe In.

    McCain says he is against Americans torturing but votes against a bill to specifically ban waterboarding -> ENOUGH! We need Change We Can Believe In.

    Etc -> ENOUGH! We need Change We Can Believe In.


  27. Cal Malenky Says:

    Like Bush, he thinks that just saying something makes it true. "I know how to win wars", "I know how to fix the economy"
    Thank you, my friendz. No questions. Look at that shiny thing over there.
    The camera pans to Sarah Palin.


  28. sectionop92 Says:

    "What was that? I was just checking the 'figure' of the next Mrs. John McCain."


  29. desertflower1 Says:

    Why SHOULD he know what he's supposed to do on that committee? HE NEVER GOES TO WORK!Wants the glory...none of the work..McSame.


  30. MapleStreet Says:

    I take the opposite tack. McCain is on this committee. He is highly cognizant. And thus he fully participated in Graham Rudman, McCain Feingold, Keating 5, and his relative running the failed bank.


  31. drago Says:

    Bush = REPUBLICAN
    McCain = REPUBLICAN
    McCain = Bush

    Why is that so hard for so many Republicans to understand? Are they stupid or ignorant - or both? sheesh.


  32. Laszlo Panaflex Says:

    I was chairman of the Commerce Committee that oversights every part of our economy

    We ought to see that on a loop until everyone has memorized him saying it, juxtaposed against all those shots of pit traders agonizing as their portfolios went up in smoke.


  33. Jess Wonderin Says:

    So, OK Johnnie, just what did your Committee do?? Seems under your "chairman(ship) of the Commerce Committee that oversights every part of our economy" it went to hell . . . were you waiting for it to get bad enough to then DO SOMETHING???

    Still waiting . . and what about all the "transparency" stuff . . . another thing we need to WAIT for????


  34. drago Says:

    Have you heard? He was a POW. And in case you didn't notice, it TOTALLY F * CKED UP HIS BRAIN!


  35. the Lone Voice of Reason Says:

    How can he run anything with the bare education he has? This is the difference between a Harvard grad and the bottom of the academy barrel "I was a POW" offering the GOP gives. Don't worry McCan't, Rove and the 134 lobbyists will tell you how to run the country into the ground further.


  36. Alecto Says:

    Can someone please put the pieces together.
    John McCain insistance that the economy is "Fundamentally Strong" in the time of major economic downturn just shows that John McCain is "FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG" for this country.


  37. Eyeball Kid Says:

    It's difficult to say whether the voting public will turn away from McBomb-Bomb because we are now in the Age of Stupid. Corporate America is doing a damned good job of turning everyone into a "low information" citizen. All McCain has to do is make some bald-faced lie about his expertise on the economy, and 70% of the electorate never gets to hear that he's talking out of his ass.

    Soon we'll be hearing official reports that Hurricane Ike's damage was minimal and that the Houston-Galveston area's already functioning normally. Nevermind the fact that FEMA has imposed a tight media blackout. Never mind that towns were wiped clean and bodies are everywhere. But that's okay in the Age of Stupid.


  38. Geek_Gal Says:

    Let's see: McCain doesn't know what his own committee does and Palin doesn't know what the Vice-President does.

    And we want these two knuckleheads to run our government?


  39. jancoop Says:

    Raynman said it perfectly...how could this contest ever be a tie/close? Is there poll-fixing going on or are we in Alice In Wonderland? I just can't believe anyone in their right mind would even consider Grampie! He doesn't give a crap what he puts out there--and the media is just now coming out of their coma and talking about it. He's a disaster.


  40. jancoop Says:

    Grampie McCain is delusional!



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