Top McCain Aide: ‘If We Keep Talking About The Economic Crisis, We’re Going To Lose’
Top McCain Aide: ‘If We Keep Talking About The Economic Crisis, We’re Going To Lose’
Last month, when two of Wall Street’s major financial institutions collapsed, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) declared that he “still” believes that “the fundamentals of the economy are strong.” Since then, McCain’s handling of the crisis has at times appeared incoherent — such as flip-flopping on his support of regulation and claiming he would have fired chairman of the SEC, which the president doesn’t have the constitutional authority to do.
As a result, the McCain campaign has issued a new strategy: just don’t talk about the economy and instead attack Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) character — as a top McCain aide explained to the New York Daily News:
“It’s a dangerous road, but we have no choice,” a top McCain strategist told the Daily News. “If we keep talking about the economic crisis, we’re going to lose.”
Indeed, on Saturday, the Washington Post quoted another top McCain adviser acknowledging that McCain needs to shift away from the economy:
“We are looking for a very aggressive last 30 days,” said Greg Strimple, one of McCain’s top advisers. “We are looking forward to turning a page on this financial crisis and getting back to discussing Mr. Obama’s aggressively liberal record and how he will be too risky for Americans.”
Even McCain’s top surrogate Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) last week noted that talking about the economy is bad for McCain, saying that passing the bailout package “will be good for John McCain” because “it will get people back to comparing the two candidates free of a sense of crisis that may make them want to turn against Republicans.”
Aside from his disparate and muddled handling of the financial crisis in the past few weeks, perhaps there is another reason McCain wants to shift the conversation away from the economy: his policies mirror those of the unpopular President Bush. As Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) noted yesterday on ABC’s This Week, McCain “wants to continue the policies we’ve seen in the last eight years.”
In short, at a time when the economy is the number one issue facing voters, McCain’s message to voters is: Stop whining and start focusing on attacking Obama.
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I got news for ya, bubby. Yer gonna lose anyway.
Doggonit, you betcha!
October 6th, 2008 at 10:32 amcall every news outlet, demand reporting on the economy
raise a clamor, let them know that voters are MOST concerned about the failed bush/mccain economic policies
October 6th, 2008 at 10:37 am…’if McCain focuses on financial crisis’? I think they’ve got it backwards.
McCain can’t focus on anything!
He’s changed position in a matter of hours several times in the past few weeks.
‘Failure to Focus’ should be his campaign motto.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:38 amFocus, Johnny. One PO’d Michigan Republican:
“If you are going to end visits to the state by McCain/ Palin, do it. Just don’t formally announce that you are ‘pulling out’ of Michigan, and then come back two days later asking the base core of support to ‘keep working.’ What a slap in the face to all the thousands of people who have been energized by the addition of Sarah Palin to the ticket. I’ve been involved in County Party politics and organization for 40 years, and this is the biggest dumbass stunt I have ever seen…
October 6th, 2008 at 10:41 amHe has given up on our State? What a total and complete crock of crap. Again, I think McCain owes the Republicans and the People of Michigan a HUGE APOLOGY. SOON!” – Jack Waldvogel, Chairman of the Emmet County GOP.
so, Barack and Joe need to keep the economy on the front burner; but the way things look this morning, that won’t be hard to do.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:41 amAnd you’re going to lose if he doesn’t.
Oh, the dilemma…
October 6th, 2008 at 10:41 am“We are looking forward to turning a page on this financial crisis and getting back to discussing Mr. Obama’s aggressively liberal record and how he will be too risky for Americans.”
Obama is a moderate. Just ask any liberal.
McCain has been his own worst enemy in this campaign. His VP pick has been probably the wort ever. His campaign suspension was out right idiotic. And given the chnace to prove he’s a ‘maverick’ (whatever that means), he voted for the bail-out bill. Had he voted against the bill, whch he could have afforded since it passed the Senate so handily, his poll numbers might have improved this week.
McCain is over. Seems McCain is the only one who doesn’t know it yet.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:45 amThe financial crisis is front and center in American minds. McCain would be clueless enough not to understand that.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:45 amwhat’s gonna happen to the market if everyone gets out of it as jim cramer instructed this morning on the TODAY SHOW?
October 6th, 2008 at 10:45 am“If we keep talking about the economic crisis, we’re going to lose.”
Because then people will keep thinking about what we did to cause it (the crisis)…and realize we also have no plan for stopping it.
“We are looking forward to turning a page on this financial crisis and getting back to discussing Mr. Obama’s aggressively liberal record and how he will be too risky for Americans.”
I’m sure many Americans wish they could fu(king “TURN A PAGE” on this financial crisis too, you jacka$$. Unfortunately not every American is worth 100 million dollars, has 7 houses, and health care paid for by the taxpayers like Johnny Boy.
And by the way, even though he’s got my vote, Obama is NO liberal. What would be risky for Americans is for them to assume a retard (Palin) and a basket case (McCain) can run the country.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:47 amoh yea – did anyone catch 60 minutes last night?
60 Minutes – Wall Street’s Shadow Market
http://www.crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/60-minutes-wall-streets-shadow-market
October 6th, 2008 at 10:48 amIf that’s the case, just do the country a favor and concede. Let the healing begin.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:48 amThis was in last Friday’s L.A. Times:
“SEC chairman: Articles in Section A on Sept. 19 and 20 about the financial rescue plan said the president could not fire the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The statute governing the SEC does not explicitly give the president the authority to fire the commission’s members. However, federal courts have held that the president can remove members of independent commissions like the SEC “for cause,” including “inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.” The president can also demote the chairman of the SEC without removing him or her from the commission.”
October 6th, 2008 at 10:49 amIts a small point, but helpful to know if you want to be accurate.
just announced on stephanie:
the dow is down 505pts, and falling…
is that my answer?
October 6th, 2008 at 10:49 amdaveincolorado Says: so, Barack and Joe need to keep the economy on the front burner; but the way things look this morning, that won’t be hard to do.
Exactly! Like McCain can make us stop talking about the economy when things are NO different today than they were last week before the bail-out of Wall Street. Just as they will be no different a week from now, or a month from now.
McCain is delusional to think people are going to stop talking about how bad they have it just becuse he says so.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:49 amThat pitbull Pallid over the weekend unleashed on the campaign trail is the worst in American Politics. I cannot believe this woman. She is reprehensible.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:49 amZooey Says: The financial crisis is front and center in American minds. McCain would be clueless enough not to understand that.
– - The McCain campaign will launch an aggressive campaign this morning touting a manned to mission to Mars. McCain will flash his maverick cred once again as he urges Americans to put ‘Country First’ as in, “First To Mars.”
October 6th, 2008 at 10:50 amThe market is crashing.
The Chimperor sez: Mission Accomplished.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:53 amliberal traitor Says: I’m sure many Americans wish they could fu(king “TURN A PAGE” on this financial crisis too, you jacka$$. Unfortunately not every American is worth 100 million dollars, has 7 houses, and health care paid for by the taxpayers like Johnny Boy.
Have you read the Rolling Stone article on McCain yet? I was glad to see some actual journalism in this campaign.
The writer compared McCain to Bush, from the accurate analogy of a rich boy born with a silver spoon in his mouth but failed upwards despite being a selfish and incompetent brat, with one caveat – that Georg Bush is a better pilot. LOL
October 6th, 2008 at 10:53 amunbelievable Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
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liberal traitor Says: I’m sure many Americans wish they could fu(king “TURN A PAGE” on this financial crisis too, you jacka$$. Unfortunately not every American is worth 100 million dollars, has 7 houses, and health care paid for by the taxpayers like Johnny Boy.
Have you read the Rolling Stone article on McCain yet? I was glad to see some actual journalism in this campaign.
The writer compared McCain to Bush, from the accurate a n a l o g y of a rich boy born with a silver spoon in his mouth but failed upwards despite being a selfish and incompetent brat, with one caveat – that Georg Bush is a better pilot. LOL
October 6th, 2008 at 10:55 amBe sure to check out the new 13 minute Keating Economics film by the Obama campaign today at 12 noon eastern time!!!
http://www.keatingeconomics.com/
October 6th, 2008 at 10:57 amHave you read the Rolling Stone article on McCain yet?
– - Long, but worth reading, especially if you like having the crap scared out of you. McCain resembles Bush a LOT more than just their voting symbiosis suggests.
October 6th, 2008 at 10:58 amCongress is going to start holdng hearings this week to explore the reasons for the market collapse. Guess they aren’t capitulating to McCain’s “page turning on the economy”…
October 6th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Hmmm…the McCain campaign already figured out that they couldn’t push the Iraq issue and win, since so many Americans are against our presence there. They’ve figured out that they can’t tie McCain to Bush’s record, since Bush’s record is in the toilet. Now they see the economy as a losing issue for McCain.
So what CAN they talk about?
Well, if McCain is truly a maverick for reform, and truly represents change, they could talk about specific failures of the past eight years, why they failed, and what McCain plans to do differently.
But McCain won’t do that. He will fling around the words “maverick”, “reform”, and “change” randomly and liberally, hoping they will stick somehow. And he’ll spend the rest of his time smearing McCain and doing everything he can to ramp up the fear in the American populace.
We deserve better. And I believe Americans are waking up to realize that.
October 6th, 2008 at 11:01 amMcCain should be all over this financial crash.
After all, crashing is one of the few things he does well…
October 6th, 2008 at 11:02 am“If we keep talking about the economic crisis, we’re going to lose.”
I thought the crisis was over when McCain un-suspended his campaign…
October 6th, 2008 at 11:02 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
So what CAN they talk about?
October 6th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Ayers, Jeremiah, and Obama’s secret Muslimhood.
October 6th, 2008 at 11:03 amI posted the link to that Rolling Stone article a couple days ago. Here it is again –> http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/23316912/makebelieve_maverick/print
And this one from The Economist is equally important –> http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12342127
(I wonder if Failin’ Palin read either one of these since she “reads it all”)
October 6th, 2008 at 11:03 ammisshusseinmolly Says: Well, if McCain is truly a maverick for reform, and truly represents change, they could talk about specific failures of the past eight years, why they failed, and what McCain plans to do differently.
He’s tried that already too. It was his “What Obama said” tactic. I think that was when he was highest in the polls, actually…
October 6th, 2008 at 11:07 amTime for McCain to suspend his campaign and cancel the debate: The stock market is down and the economy is in shambles. Please McCain do suspend the campaign and hurry back to DC to screw things up real bad.
October 6th, 2008 at 11:07 amSo I guess McWorse will suspend his campaign permenently!
October 6th, 2008 at 11:08 amIf people gave a damn about forcing Ayers into the Obama socket, they would have cared a long time ago.
The McCain camp would like for wedge issues to decide the election. Republican policies that have the economy in the tail spin have tested their patience and no longer afford them that opportunity.
Children across this country are worrying if they’ll have a future. Their parents are taking notice. Retirees are worrying if their pensions or 401(k) will hold up. Older people are finding that they’re unable to retire or find work, the combined result of age discrimination and health care costs to companies. People with conditions young and old need affordable (if not free) and quality health care.
The GOP takes pride in failing to understand that government is not for the rich. Our founders never intended so.
October 6th, 2008 at 11:11 amUnfortunately, the people who should be reading the Rolling Stone article (those voting for McCain) won’t. Just like they didn’t see Fahrenheit 9/11, or read any of the atonement books by former Bush stooges.
30% of America will always be addicted to the Republican kool-aid.
October 6th, 2008 at 11:12 amFinancial pundits agree allowing Lehman to fail was a huge mistake. My guess is they didn’t want it to look like Bush was saving cousin George Herbert Walker and brother Jeb, both on Lehman’s payroll. Did the feds act to optimize the economy or the Bush political name?
Also, the bankruptcy gives Jeb and Walker a chance at that $2.5 billion in set aside bonus money.
October 6th, 2008 at 11:15 amAside from his disparate and muddled handling of the financial crisis in the past few weeks, perhaps there is another reason McCain wants to shift the conversation away from the economy:
The Dow is plummeting, foreign banks are collapsing, and McBush wants to “turn the page on the economy”. Boy that sounds like a winning strategy to me.
October 6th, 2008 at 11:17 amSo, I guess we now know how well the bail-out package, that most of us opposed, is working:
October 6th, 2008 at 11:17 am
unbelievable Says:
30% of America will always be addicted to the Republican kool-aid.
They are the 30% of people in this country who have poor ego strength and need an authority figure to tell them how to think and how to act. John Dean describes them in depth in “Conservatives Without Conscience”.
October 6th, 2008 at 11:20 amMcIIIrd’s scare tactics are too late to make a difference now, with 29 days left.
He’ll alienate the few indies who were still considering him a viable candidate. I still wanna see him explode on tuesday night if Obama gets in his grille. (Obama, to McIIIrd… John, why can’t you look me in the eye when you’re making these accusations?)
October 6th, 2008 at 11:23 amThe MSM needs to cover this:
October 6th, 2008 at 11:24 am
un ~ and will appoint better economic advisers…
Anyone other than the lobbyists McIIIrd surrounds himself with would be better…
October 6th, 2008 at 11:25 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says: They are the 30% of people in this country who have poor ego strength and need an authority figure to tell them how to think and how to act. John Dean describes them in depth in “Conservatives Without Conscience”.
Too bad they aren’t very good at picking said authority figure. It got us 8 years of Bush.
October 6th, 2008 at 11:26 amRUCerious Says: Anyone other than the lobbyists McIIIrd surrounds himself with would be better…
Good point… :)
October 6th, 2008 at 11:28 amMcCain could start campaining on his mavrick record like:
October 6th, 2008 at 11:41 amHow he went against his party with the immigration bill with Ted K. (oh yea he flipped on that one)
Or how he was against bush’s tax cuts. (oh he flipped on that
one too)
Or how he was against torture. (oh yea he flipped on that too)
Never mind.
Stop focusing on the economy it is a definite loss for McCain come election day. Try asking the idiot how he stole two elections in a row. That’s the best McCain can do at this point.
Remember the idiot tap dancing in front of the White House when McCain was nominated republican candidate for president?
October 6th, 2008 at 11:58 amThe selfish idiot was chanting: “McCain will not win! If I could declare martial law and postpone the elections NOW THAT WOULD BE GREAT!”
October 6th, 2008 at 11:58 am
mccain couldn’t win this race if he single-handedly took out a middle-eastern terrorist strike force and defused a dirty bomb with his teeth on the washington mall.
thanks to his hard-charging (stillborn) rescue of the bailout everyone hates, even if he hauled bin laden up the capitol steps in chains, absolutely no one would think that it’s not another one of his hail mary campaign stunts. he’d never get credit for it.
that’s what happens when you lose all credibility, which up until now was the best thing mccain had going for him.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:06 pmMcCain is right as Americans just might remember the famous KEATING 5 in which McCain and other Senators brought down the US Economy. Cindy is a smart woman because she knew it was important to run a fair campaign in hopes this information didn’t come out again. Thanks to bimbo Sarah who was only 15 years old when her running mate John McCain and friends make one of the biggest crime to the US Economy since today. John McCain doesn’t want to let the American people know he did it again while smiling all the time.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:29 pmUpon hearing these remarks by his campain aids, McCain objected, “My campaign aids don’t speak for me. I have no connection with my campaign. Besides I suspended my campaign. Somebody get my campaign headquarters on the phone and tell them to stop campaigning. I don’t have time to deal with this. I have a campaign to run!”
October 6th, 2008 at 12:30 pmHow can you be a serious contender in a Presidential election and not talk about the economy in any election year but especially this year. The electorate will see through this latest McCain folly.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:45 pmMore on Keating 5:
http://washingtonindependent.com/4447/keating-firm-raises-50k-for-mccain
Obama needs to include this in his Keating Economics film.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:57 pmlurker Says:
McCain could start campaining on his mavrick record like:
How he went against his party with the immigration bill with Ted K. (oh yea he flipped on that one)
Or how he was against bush’s tax cuts. (oh he flipped on that
one too)
Or how he was against torture. (oh yea he flipped on that too)
Never mind.
Actually, if anyone took a serious look at McCain’s voting record you will see right away that he talked the talk, but didn’t walk the walk when it came to voting. For most of his career he has had close to a 90% voting record with Republican issues. Very rarely did he actually vote against his party.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:02 pmOBAMA BY A LANDSLIDE!
October 6th, 2008 at 1:14 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins
October 6th, 2008 at 1:18 pmI was trying to be funny because all the talking heads use
these as examples of him being a mavrick when he wasn’t.
Did I need to put a snark on/off thingy there?
With the Dow down over 800 points today, what other topic is there to talk about? Every thing else will sound like fingernails on a chalkboard.
October 6th, 2008 at 2:57 pmIf he doesn’t talk about the economy he’ll loose.
So let’s hope he doesn’t.
Obama will probably go up double digit over McLamebrain (fundamentals of economy are fine) this week especially if he attacks Obama’s character. Who needs that kind of discussion when the economy is going to hell by the day.
Why did McCain sell that house anyway???
October 6th, 2008 at 3:29 pmAll this histrionic terrorist!!! booga-booga, race-baiting, and Heather-esque rumor-mongering combined with NOT talking about the economy (which is a crisis of historic magnitude) is some certifiable chit.
October 7th, 2008 at 2:36 amThis was fun with the veep debate – let’s see how this goes today http://www.unfuse.com/decisions/79-Presidential-Debate-2-Obama-Vs-McCain/finalize
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