Think Progress

McCain’s list of ‘100 distinguished and experienced economists’ has only 90 names.

By Ali Frick on Oct 10th, 2008 at 4:55 pm

McCain’s list of ‘100 distinguished and experienced economists’ has only 90 names.

Today, the McCain campaign released a list of “100 distinguished and experienced economists” signing onto a statement declaring that “Barack Obama’s economic proposals are wrong for the American economy.” However, as TNR points out, only 90 names appear on the list, not 100. What’s more, a full 11 of those economists are McCain economic advisers. The list of “100″ even includes Douglas Holtz-Eakin, McCain’s chief economic adviser and one of his most visible spokesmen.

UpdateIn interviews with the Huffington Post, many of the economists who have endorsed McCain's economic plan expressed "bewilderment" with McCain's latest plan to buy distressed mortgages at face value. " Several viewed it as a gimmick, driven mostly by political circumstance. Only one pro-McCain economist spoke up in favor of the plan," Huffington Post reports.

Comments
33

Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date

33 Responses to “McCain’s list of ‘100 distinguished and experienced economists’ has only 90 names.”

Buckie Boy Says:

List of 100....er, ah....90 and er...ah...11 we paid to say that...the others are republican operatives....Look, over there a shiny object.
October 10th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Uncle Ho Says:

How many are corporate CEOS or corporate lobbyists?
October 10th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
rogerD Says:

One out of 100 is close enough for these clowns.

They are just trying to get free air time which they are sure to get for the next 24 hours.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Uncle Fester Lurks Says:

Oh the hell with McDinosaur. He claims to put country first over getting elected president but it seems he is willing to tear this country apart with hatred and racism and willing to start a civil war just so he can become president
October 10th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Uncle Ho Says:

clusterphuckTim: FLAGGED IN ADVANCE!
October 10th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Stupidscript Says:

He has already admitted that economics are not his strong suit ... so it's not too hard to recognize that math is also not one of his strong suits. Or thinking straight. Or recognizing nepotism.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Uncle Fester Lurks Says:

Stupidscript Says:

He has already admitted that economics are not his strong suit … so it’s not too hard to recognize that math is also not one of his strong suits. Or thinking straight. Or recognizing nepotism.
``````````````````````````````````````````````
John McCain is clueless on the economy but he has America's most knowledgeable energy expert in Sarah Palin as his VP AND no doubtedly will hire Phil "Deregulator" Gramms as his treasury secretary. If this unholy trinity does not strike fear into the hearts of Joe Six Pack...
October 10th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Max-1 Says:

.

That's like David Letterman only giving us a top 8...

.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
celtic cynic Says:

90 out of 100, eh? Close enough for government work, eh?

Looks like John McC skipped or slept through such interesting classes as Logic, Basic Math, Civics & Honesty, Accounting, Accountability at the Naval Academy.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
livelongandprosper Says:

You know what really puts me in a state of bewilderment? I see random people interviewed on the street and they say "I don't know about Obama's foreign policy experience." or "I don't really know who Obama is." It is obvious that these people don't care to know about Obama because they don't really know McCain. Please let the polls be correct THIS TIME.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
spencers mom Says:

McStain must be in on that Rove Secret Math! Of course, that worked out so well for the GOP in 2006...

OT, but reading Nate Silver's description of the Palin rally in Ohio today, I thought he was kidding when he described smoke machines and the bus pulling onto the stage, all to the song "Eye of the Tiger" but it wasn't snark:

http://www.wlwt.com/video/17686606/index.html

Of course, I can't and won't listen to the speech, but check out the first minute or so. BTW, they're still dragging that poor baby onto the stage every possible chance they get. Disgusting.

PEACE
October 10th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Hemlock for Gadflies Says:

As Prof B points out on his blog, there are 21,053 economists in the American Economic Association, publisher of the American Economic Review, the leading economics journal in the world. And none of these characters -- the 67 of them who are left after you subtract the dozen the Huffington Post finds now reject McCain's economic plan -- are endorsing McCain's plan; they're simply rejecting what they take to be Obama's.

67 out of 21,053. That's some ringing endorsement!
October 10th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
celtic cynic Says:

Slightly OT, but I'll ask anyhow: The Alaska report on Palins' shenanigans was supposed to be released today. Has anyone seen anything on this?
October 10th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
CheeseFlap Says:

Oh desperation
I submit for your embrace
This last puff of dust
October 10th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
RUCerious Says:

One out of a hundred. About the same as his chances of winning this election.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
livelongandprosper Says:

And I'm sick of the term "Joe Six Pack". Is that supposed to mean %100 of the men in the US? It seems to me to refer to A) slovenly men that pick up a six pack to watch NASCAR or B) men in gyms with a six pack for abs. This only accounts for what about %10.

And also this "Hockey Mom" BS. Hockey is a Canadian sport (my apologies for those in the great minority that are hockey moms in the US). Even a "Baseball Mom" would make more sense. I suppose it's another swipe at people who send their kids to dance class or music lessons or anything that could add value to the nation as a whole. Part of the dumbing down I guess.

Hell, who out there really wants a good smart lawyer to be president! F()CK F()CK F()CK.

I need a beer.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
spencers mom Says:

CheeseFlap, nice haiku!

PEACE
October 10th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
NeoII Says:

Only elite media would actually count such a long list. You are shameful in your truth-telling.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Badger Says:

Celtic,

Here's a site with Updates about Troopergate:

http://community.adn.com/adn/node/132527

I guess there have been No Recomendations released as of now, But....(from the link)

All I can say is that any 263 page report with 1,000 pages of supporting docs can't be a good thing for princess palin - period.

Had there been nothing to discover, there is no way it would be so lengthy. The delay here is going to be their decision to recommend it to criminal investigations. Not a good thing for McCain/Palin. Anyone want to comment on why she has no personal appearances/rallies for today?
October 10th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
misshusseinmolly Says:

"What’s more, a full 11 of those economists are McCain economic advisers."
________________________________________________________

In true "trust but verify" fashion, I'd check out the other 79 names on the list as well.

Haven't we been down this road before? I seem to recall McCain making claims about how economists support his plans by flashing around a list in the past. Oh yeah -- here it is:

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/09/many-of-mccains-300-economists-dont-actually-support-his-full-economic-agenda/

McCain doesn't seem to have as many economists this time.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
livelongandprosper Says:

Anyone want to comment on why she has no personal appearances/rallies for today?

She left her hockey mom face in Cincinnati?
October 10th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
misshusseinmolly Says:

livelongandprosper Says
October 10th, 2008 at 5:23 pm

And I’m sick of the term “Joe Six Pack”.
_____________________________________________________________

Me too. It always seems to be used when referring to the "average American" -- but it seems to me that one could find a moniker for the average American without implying that alcohol is such a high priority for them.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
ralph the wonder llama Says:

I wonder if, among the signatories, one could find the eminent economists Michael J. Fox and Geri Halliwell, aka Ginger Spice?

After all, it was good enough for the Oregon Petition denying global warming, right?
October 10th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
John Henry Says:

These 26

Michael J. Boskin, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Todd Buchholz, Enso Capital Management
John Cogan, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Ted Covey, Prosperity Caucus
Christopher DeMuth, American Enterprise Institute
Isaac Ehrlich, SUNY at Buffalo
Paul Evans, Ohio State University
Martin Feldstein, Harvard University
Kristin J. Forbes, MIT
Earl Grinols, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Michael C. Jensen, Harvard Business School
Steven N. Kaplan, University of Chicago
Larry Lindsey, The Lindsey Group
Burton Malkiel, Princeton University
Allan H. Meltzer, Carnegie Mellon University
Jim Miller, Director, Office of Management and Budget, 1985-88
June O'Neill, Baruch College, City University of New York
Lydia Ortega, San Jose State University
Barry Poulson, University of Colorado
Edward C. Prescott, University of Minnesota
Mark Rush, University of Florida
Thomas R. Saving, Texas A&M University
Beryl W. Sprinkel, B.W. Sprinkel Economics
Robert Tamura, Clemson University
Richard Vedder, Ohio University
William B. Walstad, University of Nebraska at Lincoln

also signed this

February 2003

Text of a Letter to the President

The Honorable George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Bush:

We enthusiastically endorse your economic growth and jobs proposal. It is fiscally responsible and it will create more employment, economic growth, and opportunities for all Americans. Moreover, it will improve corporate accountability and strengthen the nation's international competitiveness.

Sincerely,
October 10th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
bigeugene Says:

McCain's economic policy is like a Three Stooges episode.
October 10th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
49erDem Says:

There are also another 10 from "thinktanks" like Hoover, Cato and American Enterprise. This is a big "so what?" Any college student studying economics in America will tell you that every department has at least one "supply-side" true believer and most departments are dominated by them.
October 10th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
WaltTheMan Says:

Thomas R. Saving, Texas A&M University is a medicare scrooge. He also participated in the Bush SS privatization scam. Not an Aggie to be trusted.
October 10th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
celtic cynic Says:

Thanks for the link @ #19, Badger. Looks like no news as of 6:30 ET.
October 10th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
tarazan Says:

Sarah Palin provided two economic advisers:

1.Husband Todd.
2.Pastor Muthee,(the witch hunter..)
October 10th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Anonymouse Says:

As an economist, I feel completely comfortable in admitting that Economics (as taught and practiced today) is a religion, and a fundamentalist one, at that.
October 10th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
the Lone Voice of Reason Says:

Fuzzy math again? Hmmm, I wonder where he got that idea from?
October 10th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
slacker_george Says:

90 for 100? Now that's leveraging we can believe in!
October 11th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Since2oo6 Says:

Bedava Porno izle,

Ohh Thanks :)
March 31st, 2009 at 10:13 am

McCain’s list of ‘100 distinguished and experienced economists’ has only 90 names.

McCain’s list of ‘100 distinguished and experienced economists’ has only 90 names.

33 Responses to “McCain’s list of ‘100 distinguished and experienced economists’ has only 90 names.”

Blogroll