McCain rips Gramm

Posted: Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:46 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: 2008, McCain

From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro
McCain slammed economic adviser Phil Gramm for his “mental recession” and “nation of whiners” comment. He said he didn’t agree with him and even proposed a position in a McCain administration -- ambassador to Belarus, “though I’m not sure the citizens of Minsk would welcome that,” McCain said.

VIDEO: A Race for the White House panel reacts to controversial comments about the U.S. made by McCain economic advisor Phil Gramm and how it will affect Sen. John McCain's presidential race.

“I don’t agree with Sen. Gramm,” McCain said at a news conference this afternoon. “I believe that the person here in Michigan who just lost their job, isn’t suffering from a ‘mental recession.’ The mother here who is trying to get enough money to feed her children, isn’t ‘whining.’”

“Phil Gramm doesn’t speak for me, I speak for me. I strongly disagree,” McCain continued, speaking of the man who some speculated could be Treasury Secretary in a McCain administration.

McCain has used the word “psychological” to describe on the country’s problems, leaving some to connect dots. But McCain rebuffed that and Obama’s mocking criticism, calling Gramm a “Dr. Phil” that’s not needed for this economy.

“You’re talking about Dr. Phil,” McCain said, adding about Obama, “He’s Dr. No. He’s Dr. No on energy. McCain then ticked off the energy proposals in which he and Obama disagree on implementing. “My response is I speak for me. … He’s Dr. No.”

On Gramm having been described as one of the top economic advisers or the potential for him serving in a McCain cabinet, McCain had other ideas.

"I think Sen. Gramm would be in serious consideration for ambassador of Belarus,” McCain said, “though I’m not sure the citizens of Minsk would welcome that.

The U.S. ambassador to Belarus actually had to "temporarily" vacate her post in Minsk in March over what Belarus said were new U.S. economic sanctions against the country -- something which U.S. officials deny even exist.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

That headline is all wrong - I need to see the words UNDER THE BUS. That is the phrase that is en vogue this year.

Please correct this ASAP! :)

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:52 PM)

I know you are, but what am I? Infinity!

Pee Wee (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:52 PM)

Gentlemen, start your buses. Those who are thrown under are to remain silent until after the election

Charles, Ohio (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:54 PM)

He still amazes me. This guy is so out of touch. How do you poke jokes at such a serious comment. "'I think Sen. Gramm would be in serious consideration for ambassador of Belarus,' McCain said, 'though I’m not sure the citizens of Minsk would welcome that."

Foreign policy will never be his stake to claim since he continues to talk down to other countries. McCain and all his people need to be shipped to the Anarctic to keep the penguins company. Matter of fact, with all the tuxedoes walking around them, they'll probably think they were at a party.

BM (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:55 PM)

I feel for all the house speculators who did what I choose not to do max out the value of my house and take more debt than I can handle waaaaa aaaaaa aaaa whats wrong not as rich as the TV makes you feel tough luck nobody did me a favor ignoring income for a morgate whats a matter the bottem falling out what did you listen to the TV for save your money and buy thiing when you can afford it not on a credit card ,but I had to have that PLASMA TV oh I needed that giant car dedede let me help bail you out

kenn (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:55 PM)

It is laughable that Obamatots are raging over the use of the word "psychological" . They're drank the koolaid and fallen beholden to a man who runs around preaching "hope and change" with no plans to go with it, but are told "just believe in me." Is there not something psychologial in Obama's brainswashing technique?

NObama (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:55 PM)

McCain, he is your economic advisor. he is not surrogate. Gramm's comment is a reflection of you since he makes your policies and has an intricate role in your campaign. McCain has said multiple times that the problem of the middle class is psychological and the economy is slowed, but not in a recession. Gramm's comment reflects McCains's.

voter (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:56 PM)

Maybe BITTER is a better word better of the two eveils what a system

kenn (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:56 PM)

I think the old man has finally lost it. Where are his handlers? He's out there on stage talking crazy. Go McFluffy Go!!

Kate, Atlanta (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:57 PM)

"Phil Gramm doesn’t speak for me, I speak for me. I strongly disagree."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Tsk, tsk, tsk.

That's not enough this year Senator McCain. You must "reject" AND "denounce".

How could you be such close friends with Senator Gramm ALL THESE YEARS and not know that he held these RADICAL views? Do you really expect us to believe that in all the years you have known him, he NEVER made a comment like this before? What about that "Enron loophole" Senator Gramm engineered? You didn't know about that either, huh? I'll bet you've even had your KIDS around him too!

Sad the way that the "guilt by association" game comes back around so quickly, eh?

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:57 PM)

“Phil Gramm doesn’t speak for me, I speak for me. I strongly disagree..."

If he doesn't speak for you, you should stop having him speak for you. Get it?

Surrogates like Gramm and Black make Samantha Powers look like a saint. These guys are evil incarnate.

Obama 08

3L, Boulder, CO (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:57 PM)

Okay NBC family. This is too easy. McCain is contidcting his own words with regard to Gramm and the economy. Will you make Tim Russert proud by showing McCain his own quotes on the subject thereby providing the public with real information or give him another free pass and have Tim spinning in his grave. God rest his soul.

steve lynchburg,va (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:58 PM)

McCain just can't stop from bumbling and stumbling... So now his Economic Brain doesn't speak for him on economy related manners. Is he going to resign? Will any in the media ask for his resignation? Will anyone ask McCain to pledge that he won't seek his counsel if elected like Tim Russert made Obama pledge about his former pastor? Of course not. This story won't even make it through the weekend. This should be the nail in McCain's political coffin but the media will continue to ressurect their Maverick. Think what would have happened if Obama made these same missteps that McCain has made. He would be toast.

C.K. Steele Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:58 PM)

McFlop are you going to let Gramm go as you told Obama he should do with General Clark, even though Clark was only stating a fact.

jen GR (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 2:59 PM)

Gee...what a shock, McCain doesn't agree with Sen. Gramm. He disagrees with his old friend, chief economic advisor, the man who developed the McCain economic plan, the man who would be a vital part of the McCain presidency.

Did I miss the part where McCain fired him? No, he's still part of the McCain capmaign staff.

Another example of exemplary judgement by a man who would be President

Ira, Freefold, NJ (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:00 PM)

This is an excellent opportunity for the MSM to talk about what we in the Netroots have know for months. Gramm helped build the mortgage crisis we are having right now. McCain doesn't know anything about economics, and takes all his cues from Gramm. When are the MSM going to report Gramm's complicity in the current supprime crisis?

"Gramm’s role in the swift and dramatic recent restructuring of the nation’s investment houses and practices didn’t stop there.

A year after the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act repealed the old regulations, Swiss Bank UBS gobbled up brokerage house Paine Weber. Two years later, Gramm settled in as a vice chairman of UBS’s new investment banking arm.

Later, he became a major player in its government affairs operation. According to federal lobbying disclosure records, Gramm lobbied Congress, the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department about banking and mortgage issues in 2005 and 2006.

During those years, the mortgage industry pressed Congress to roll back strong state rules that sought to stem the rise of predatory tactics used by lenders and brokers to place homeowners in high-cost mortgages.

For his work, Gramm and two other lobbyists collected $750,000 in fees from UBS’s American subsidiary. In the past year, UBS has written down more than $18 billion in exposure to subprime loans and other risky securities and is considering cutting as many as 8,000 jobs. (from Politico.com)"

Peg, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:00 PM)

Senator Obama isn't against all of McCain's energy suggestions, just his dumb ones.

Any idea that prolongs our addiction to oil is dumb. Every expert agrees that we cannot drill our way out of this mess, so the intelligent solutions need to rely on conservation and alternatives. Since this is what the Democrats have been clamoring about for decades, the Republicans cannot get behind a 'Democratic' solution.

I'd rather have a smart leader taking this country in the direction that I want it to go, than an 'experienced' leader who will be driving it off of a cliff.

Vote for the smartest candidate in the race, a real leader (and no that's not McCain, who graduated 894 out of 899 -- not by a long shot)

Vote Democratic 2008 -- don't let the corporations and their Republican stooges win again.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:00 PM)

While McCain is name-calling and his advisor is denying - Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are going under. Check the stock market.
McCain and his team do not have a clue as to the desperate situation brewing in our economy.

We need to elect Senator Obama for serious Change (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:01 PM)

"Huh, you young... [stammer, stammer]! See I can make doctor jokes too! Now I'm going to go take a nap.

"Hey you kids, get off my damned lawn!"

(By the way, John, throwing a guy under the bus usually doesn't involve offering him employment. And nice diplomatic move, too, implying to the people of Belarus that their country is only suitable for sending someone out of punishment.)

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:01 PM)

Well
Another foot in mouth moment for the McPuddles campaign, I wonder how many of these he will get until people sart understanding that they are sying what they really mean.

Jack Canton, Ohio (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:02 PM)

McCain, your economic adviser, Phil Gramm is responsible for the economic problems in the United States. After the Great Depression, President Roosevelt and Congress took action to prevent anything like that from happening again in this nation and Gramm is responsible for removing those safeguards. Gramm has absolutly no regards for the citizens of the United States of America that once paid his salary.

He is a traitor to the nation. When you disrupt the economy, therefore, destablizes the nation and threatens the national security. When you willingly do things that has an adverse effect on the citizens of this country, that is treason.

Donna A. Reuter, Bremerton, WA (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:02 PM)

McCain is a total IDIOT! He couldn't tell the difference between his a** and a hole in the ground! Why would he keep Gramm on if the guy holds these views? I guess the fact that my husband has been looking for a job for a year is all in my head... and if so, can someone wake me up before we get added to the "mortgage crisis" statistic? Or is that a fantasy too? Anyone who votes for McCain deserves exactly what they get.

jonymc (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:02 PM)

OK, everyone just stop piling on McCain!!

Just because he cannot control his surrogate and chief economic advisor is no reason to hold him accountable...

Just because he wants to provide us with some psychological relief from our economic problems is no reason to call him out of touch...

At least he is not promising us "Change" and "Hope" like that other guy...

We're All With Stupid... (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:02 PM)

"Phil Gramm doesn't speak for me, I speak for me."

Yet he previously deferred questions on the economy to Phil Gramm.

Then he refers to a nuclear disaster at the same time he is pushing nuclear power. I don't have a problem with nuclear power but this was just stupid.

steve lynchburg,va (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:03 PM)

......and he tries to change the topic to energy making ridiculous allegations he knows aren't true.

Did he fire the future ambassador to a country we don't even have realtions with? Look for the update!

Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:03 PM)

//Phil Gramm doesn’t speak for me, I speak for me. I strongly disagree//
See..when it was about Rev.Wright ,its all guilt by association for Obama..and for McCain, Phil is not his mouth piece..

Double standards..eh..

BAMA DRAMA (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:04 PM)

Why didn't you post McCain's entire statement? The guy was asked about Gramm's comments and he goes off about Iran and energy and nuclear never answering the question specificly, but do you report that he sounded crazy, illogical, and nutty? No, of course not, I would appreciate it just once if you guys would play the entire clip. It would do MSNBC, CNN, and everyone else good to show complete clips without editing, then maybe the american people could make a good decision, but it seems as if it is impossible for you guys not to manipulate what is said in some way. What a bunch of irresponsible reporting. Show the whole thing or don't talk about it. It is not funny, it is not cute, McCain sounds crazy and we should know that he is unsure of himself when dealing with issues, but everyone keeps giving him a pass on absolutly everything.

tina,ar (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:04 PM)

If you REALLY disagree with 'Foreclosure Phil' Gramm

DUMP THE CHUMP !!

Actions speak louder than words

Phil Gramm almost singlehandedly sparked the foreclosure melt down

He sneaked provisions into a bill designed to de-regulate the financial industry.

He's a paid employee of UBS, a Swiss financial conglomerate and a bagman for the finance industry

Why is he McCain's economic guru ?
Would he be working for consumer interests or the banking industry's interests ?

Take a guess......

John McCain has flip flopped on the Bush tax cuts...
He opposed them before he supported them

Originally he admitted that these cut were tilted disporportionally for the rich

Now, he says they're 'good for the economy'

Which one is it, John ?
Oh, and where's my 'gas tax' rebate ?
Have you gotten started on that yet ?

John McCain, More of the same

John McCain, Bush's 3rd term

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:05 PM)

McCain and Obama still need to get good VP's, and there is a great weekly online poll for 2008 Vice President at http://www.votenic.com so See What America Thinks.

Brandon, Meridian, ID (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:05 PM)

Why is it when McBush is asked about anything of substance, he refuses to talk about it or he makes a stupid joke and then laughs.Someone needs to tell him he is not acting or talking presidential,but he is fashioning himself more and more like Bush. People wake up we have one village in Texas that is missing an idiot,lets not do that to Arizona.

Connie Sturgeon, Logansport,, Indiana (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:05 PM)

McCain is really, really good about going off subject. He never answered the vet's question at the town hall and now he's bringing up Obama as Dr. No in response to Dr. Phil.

Isn't Dr. No just a little bit old?

jeaniebeanie in Maryland (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:07 PM)

McCain sounds absolutely silly in his response. Dr. No...his campaign is full of Bush elites who's policies are identical to the current administration. It's time the media question his stances on the economy, medicare, veteran's benefits, birth control, Iraq, and health care. Time to get some straight answers from McSame. I'm so tired of the never ending chorus of tabloid campaign coverage while McCain makes critical errors every single day.

CJ (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:07 PM)

There's McSame's temper again.

We DO NOT need a hot head in charge of the nukes

Temper, temper (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:08 PM)

This is getting good!!!!! Dr. Phil vs Dr. NO.
One of these Doctors need to check McCain's pulse and if it is on beat with the heart of America......Oh no......DOA

ID,GA (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:08 PM)

McCain really needs to practice less straight talk, as it gives away too many negative qualities he now seems to possess.

For instance, for most candidates, showing a little sense of humor is usually a good thing. In McCain's case, it isn't - because his jokes usually involve people dying from U.S. actions.

Now this latest one... Maybe a senator can get away with insulting another country while joking, but a presidential candidate can't. It simply don't think its good diplomacy to single out another country as a fitting place to punitively "exile" our governmental misfits like Phil Graham.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:09 PM)

The chickens are coming home to Roost.

John Griswell, Austin, Tx (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:09 PM)

Get out the bus! Grim Phil Gramm under one wheel, Charlie Black under the other wheel. By the way, where is Charlie Black. Still on vacation or planning an assult on America.

McOld is not an expert on the economy. He certainly is not an expert on Social Security. What is his expertise? Killing Iranians via bombing or cigerettes. He was heroic during the Viet Nam war. But look at his voting record on veterans. Bush gave McOld credit but he voted against a medical plan for veterans. Keep an eye on this fellow. Dementia is creeping in. That is a fact.

Ron Indiana (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:09 PM)

Dear John, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEse. GET YOUR STORIES STRAIGHT, AND HOW ABOUT AN ANSWER TO THAT PESKY VIAGRA QUESTION. OR IS BIRTH CONTROL FOR WOMEN NOT MUCH OF A CONCERN FOR YOU OR YOUR SUPPORTERS? GIVEN THEIR AGE ICAN SEE WHY VIAGRA IS MORE IMPORTANT, AND SHOULD BE COVERED. YOU REALLY ARE MCPIG.

LENI,WESTLAND,MICHIGAN (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:10 PM)

McHypocrit comes out. Obama is responsible for Wes Clark who has no official position in the Obama campaign, but McCain's top economic advisor, who wrote McCain's economic plans, doesn't speak for McCain? This is the guy who writes the economic parts of the speaches McCain struggles to read off the teleprompters, and he doesn't speak for McCain? If that is the case, then McCain has no business attacking Obama for anything said by anyone but Obama himself.

Here is my favorite kindergarten rant of the campaign so far:

“You’re talking about Dr. Phil,” McCain said, adding about Obama, “He’s Dr. No. He’s Dr. No on energy. McCain then ticked off the energy proposals in which he and Obama disagree on implementing. “My response is I speak for me. … He’s Dr. No.”

Second childhood is decending on this man.

JWHICK, American Fork, UT (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:10 PM)

Good. Gramm is a friggin' idiot for saying that stuff. Thoughts:

http://www.thepajamapundit.com/2008/07/we-have-become-nation-of-whiners.html

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:10 PM)

McWishy-washy says drilling would have a psychological effect on Americans. ok, so in other words, Americans are stupid--not whiners! I'd prefer being called a whiner by Dr. Phil than having McNutbag call me stupid!

psssst (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:10 PM)

Well, McSame, if you don't agree with him, then FIRE him- simple as that!

OBAMA/BIDEN, 2008!

K "Whiner"J, Dallas, TX (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:10 PM)

72 year old man out of his league. Maybe he will give a major speech tonight and fill us all in as we are not able to ride the express

tj, dallas (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:11 PM)

Unfortunately there aren’t any GULAGS to send Phil Gramm to; so since GITMO still is there that’s a better punishment.
Btw: I think Dr Phil’s Phd has gone to his head. Now that’s cocky and elitist. No wonder McCain knows very little about the economy.

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:12 PM)

I believe on one of the occaisions when John McCain downplayed his expertise on the economy, he held up the role of Phil Gramm in his campaign as filling in that gap. I believe Tim Russert exposed MCain's efforts to cover up his admitted shortcomings. Now that Tim has passed away, will NBC forget his example? After all, John McCain in 1996 chaired Phil Gramm's campaign to be President.

ricky (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:12 PM)

Gramm stated the economic problems we face are simply in the minds of Americans and that we are a bunch of whiners. McCain stated that the economic woes of the country are more psychological as would be any results (immediate) from drilling for oil.

Sorry, too late McCain. You are not only out of touch with the American people but you are out of touch with reality.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:12 PM)

And the hits just keep on coming...

Is it too late for the Repubs to pick a replacement at their convention in Sept?

LMAOROF

Lyn, KCMO (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:13 PM)

OOOOOh, Dr. No. Scary. Maybe next McCain can tell us about how dangerous SPECTRE has become.

Using a forty year old reference is pretty weak, but I guess it isn't as old as McCain so that's a start.

strawmanmunny,lexington,KY (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:14 PM)

"slammed" economic advisor? Ah, MSNBC is jumping through the hoops today trying to do damage control for McCain. Nice job, guys. Your check is in the mail.

Erin, Albany, NY (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:15 PM)

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