McCain's preemptive strike

Posted: Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:24 AM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
We'll have more on Obama's and Clinton's economic speeches later today, but below is McCain's preemptive attack, sent out earlier. Notice, the campaign includes both Obama AND Clinton this time.

By the way, intriguing stuff when Obama took the podium after NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced him. Obama was effusive in his praise for Bloomberg, but said the reason he bought breakfast that morning is because he expects "payback." "I'm no dummy," Obama said, adding, "There are a lot of good steakhouses in New York." METAPHOR ALERT? By payback does he just mean a steak?

Also, anyone else notice Obama used the "R" word. "As most experts know, our economy is in a recession," Obama said.

That's been the subject of debate. The definition of a recession, as CNBC's Maria Bartiromo pointed out on Meet the Press this past Sunday, is two consecutive quarters of negative growth. That hasn't happened yet, and whatever it's labeled, everyone agrees the economy is at least in a slowdown or downturn.

Here's McCain's criticism/pre-emptive reaction to Clinton and Obama's speeches:
“On Tuesday, I addressed the housing crisis and its devastating impact on our financial markets and the household budgets of millions of hardworking Americans. The fact is that there are about 4 million homeowners in danger of losing their homes. We have a responsibility to take action to help those among them who are deserving homeowners, and as I said this week, I am committed to considering any and all proposals to do so. Any action must further look to the future to make certain this never happens again.

“As I said on Tuesday, I believe the role of government is to help the truly needy, prevent systemic economic risk, and enact reforms that prevent the kind of crisis we are currently experiencing from ever happening again. Those reforms should focus on improving transparency and accountability in our capital markets -- both of which were lacking in the lead-up to the current situation.

“This is a complex problem that deserves a careful, balanced approach that helps the homeowners in trouble, not big banks and speculators that acted irresponsibly. I again call on our lending institutions, where possible, to step up and help Americans who are hurting in this crisis.”

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Comments

[[By payback does he just mean a steak?]]

Or could it be that Obama was just joking? And the media types love to call other people "paranoid conspiracy theorists." Geez.

Houston (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:22 PM)

McCain has no "pie in the sky" or any other ideas on the economy. Time and again he admits to ignorance and total reliance on advisers. How does he then propose to judge the adviser's advice?

We've already seen the Bush model of a Delegator in Chief, proud of his ignorance, making decisions with absolutely no clue as to how to evaluate what he's being fed.

The model we need is a delegator with the kind of solid grounding and broad knowlege in many spheres that allows INFORMED evaluation of expert advice. You know, more like Captain Picard on the Enterprise and less like Homer Simpson.

We don't need McSame.

No McMore of the Same, CO (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:34 PM)

I've always wondered who these "some experts" and "most experts" are. A talking moron like Katie Couric will say "Most experts believe XYZ.". Does anyone have any idea who these "most experts" are?

Teddy Lipske, Barton, MS (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:41 PM)

Of the issues we have before us health care (government driven) is the least of our concerns. Anyone that feels this is an issue, ask your representative to REQUIRE health INSURANCE companies become non-profit centers paying workers at least one-tenth of what the highest paid officer (or other employee) gets paid. Or require that the INSURANCE companies pay out at least 90% of the premiums paid to them. Most Health Care Providers spend about 30-40% of their income filling out paperwork for those insurance companies.

As to which candidate is the best: The Democrats will not get to elect their best candidate, the superdelegates will. The Republicans will not get to elect the best candidate, they only get whomever the money guys allow. Until we modify this system to allow only POPULAR vote without the delegates and remove the primaries, we will only get what they want us to have.

Dave, AZ. (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:48 PM)

A "concerned racist" [[Stepbrother Abongo “Roy” Obama ]] and other crap

Hey what about the worst guilt-by-association thing you can throw at Obama: his cousin is Chicken Dick Cheney!!! Oh, the scandal!!!!

Houston (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:55 PM)

When I CAPITALIZE things...my arguments are BETTER!

WHEN I TYPE IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, MY IDEAS ARE UNSTOPPABLE!

CAPITAL KING (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:56 PM)

Illinidiva [[I guess if you consider the truly needy people who were stupid enough to think that they could buy $500K houses on their $50K/ year salaries, then Obama is for helping the truly needy.]]

If you think the truly needy are investment banks whose big swindles got them in trouble, the McCain will be helping the truly needy like our current "compassionate conservative" prez id doing.

Houston (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:59 PM)

I am really sick of all of the whining from Florida and Michigan. You broke the rules; plain and simple. You knowingly marched forward against the set rules flipping the bird to everyone as you did it. You spit in the eye of national tradition and rules. Now you want to whine because everyone is sticking to there principles (except for the Clinton's...but what do we really expect?).

It also shows how self-centered and egotistical these states and lawmakers are when people are posting about it on articles that have nothing to do with them. I'm sure there is a story about some poor soul dying in Iraq somewhere on the msnbc webpage with a comment about how "unfairly" Florida and Michigan are being treated.

I have an idea. Since we here in PA are having a primary soon, why don't we move our 2012 primary up to the same day. Granted its against the rules, nonsensical and against national tradition and values; but who cares! Pennsylvanians feel that we are more important than all of those things and everyone else! And if you don't listen to our ridiculous demands, we will whine and complain and call you un-American.

So come on 2012 Presidential hopefuls! Pennsylvania wants to hear what you have to say!

Rich, Pittsburgh PA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:07 PM)

Who cares what the technical definition of a recession is, or whether the expert economists call it a recession or not? Those of us trying to make it from one paycheck to the next know a recession when it hits. Obama knows it from talking to both the economists and regular people paying too much for gas and groceries while our salaries lag behind inflation.
McHandMeMyCane knows zilch about economics - used the term "systemic risk" in his speech the other day but I'm sure he doesn't know what that is (which also proves he can't even write his own speeches). Hillary's proposal for the mortgage crisis falls way short of soving the real problem. Same is true of health care. Hillary thinks forcing people to buy insurance will solve the problem; Obama understands that a huge part of getting everyone affordable health care is to first get the cost of care under control, so we're not paying hospitals $150 apiece for bandages. Of these three candidates, only Obama gets it - he will solve problems at their root causes, not just put expensive band aids on them.

KJ, CR, IA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:07 PM)

Four years ago, I became disabled and divorced all at the same time. My income is very minimal.

Other than a small reserve in the bank, the ONLY ASSET I have in this world is the equity in my home.

I haven't done anything wrong.
I've made all my house payments.
I've made them all on time.

I need to sell my home and move at this time.

...But my house is worth about $50K LESS than it was last year!!!! I've esentially LOST $50,000!

Hey, I don't feel sorry for some of the folks that are being foreclosed upon. I don't feel bad for the banks either... But why should I, someone who's followed ALL the rules, get screwed???

Something needs to be done to prevent an allout housing crash--where many innocent, hardworking Americans will be deeply hurt.

Jmp, Northern MN (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:10 PM)

“However, what is not necessary is a multi-billion dollar bailout for big banks and speculators, as Senators Clinton and Obama have proposed. There is a tendency for liberals to seek big government programs that sock it to American taxpayers while failing to solve the very real problems we face."

I've been following the developments of the mortgage crisis, and it seems to me it's the Republicans in our current administration (and not Clinton or Obama) that are proposing to bailout the "big banks" and there's been no proposal by this (Republican) administration to bailout the homeowners who are facing foreclosure. Can we call this out for what it is? Pandering to the public to their faces and then stabbing them crudely in the back.

It's a shame we have to deal with McCain going around spewing all these lies and our Democratic candidates don't have the time or inclination to call him out on these things because they're too busy attacking each other.

To be fair, Obama is just counter attacking all the baseless attacks by the Clinton campaign, but there are still too many of these personal attacks going on and ultimately we might see another Republican in office for the next 4 years. "Shame on you, Senator Clinton!" You should step down when you know mathematically it's impossible to win without disenfranchising a whole generation of voters who overwhelmingly have come out in support for Obama. First time registers and first time voters who will never participate in our Democratic process ever again if you, Senator Clinton decide to steal the nomination by pressing the super delegates, or as you tried to say before, steal Obama's pledged delegates. Yes they are free to make up their minds, but that decision has already been made when they were appointed to be delegates for Obama or yourself. To say that they have the right to vote for YOU after we voters appointed them to vote for Obama at the convention is completely INSANE! SHAME ON YOU, HILLARY!

Michael, Seattle, WA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:11 PM)

The Democratic Party reminds me of Nero with a fiddle.

John B, Redwood City, CA. (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:16 PM)

Hmm. I guess I didn't read this post carefully enough, and neither did Illinidiva. It's McCain that said he wants to help the "truly needy" and that Obama and Clinton want to bail out banks. And if you believe any of that, there's a guy in Brooklyn with a bridge for sale.

Houston (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:19 PM)

I know that now that Senator Clinton and Obama are discussing issues of importance to all americans, we can now make a better choice. McCain will now have to go along with the discussion that the democrats will shape, this is good because John will continue to look like a 'Johnny come lately' every news cycle.
The republicans thought that now that it is over for their party, they would skate into the general against whomever and beat them over the head with patriotism and moral victory speeches.
With the two democratic senators shaping the debate, the republicans will have to play catch up to get out in front of the news stories and will have a very hard time getting first face time on the news programs.
With the percentage of partisans on both sides of the dems campaign that said they would jump ship and vote for McCain if their dem candidate does not get the nod, these smaller issues like framing the debate, getting more news time, and focusing on an issue oriented campaign should win it for the donkey party, who ever is the nominee.
Whoever runs against the elephants, Clinton or Obama, it will be a very close race in the general election.

John Alexander,PA (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 2:20 PM)

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