McCain rips Gramm

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

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

wow, Mccain even attacks his own advisers. Even though he made the same comment a week ago.

Who does he trust?

MU Boy, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:15 PM)

McCain said not long ago, that he believed Americans are better off today, than we were 8 years ago!

McCain spoke to our troubles in terms of his solutions for our energy crisis, as a mental placebo.

He, and Gramm are tied at the hip on this.

donna (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:15 PM)

Oops I did it again!

Gottfried (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:15 PM)

McCain offers nothing new to help americans and then to put icing on the cake he surrounds himself with rich people who call regualar americans who are suffering "Whiners".

leslie, indiana (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:16 PM)

John McCain's a regular stand-up comedian ... NOT what we need in the WH!

ujw, ny (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:17 PM)

McCain's been talking into an open mic named Gramm!

donna (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:17 PM)

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)
--------------------

ROTFLMFAO!

Obama '08 (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:18 PM)

Obama is Dr. No? Well, somebody has to say "NO" to ridiculous proposals like:

--gas tax holiday

--off-shore drilling

--45 nuclear power plants

I respect Obama for standing up against these "proposals" that won't work. Obama has plenty of ideas about developing alternative energies and using clean coal. I guess they're over McCain's head.

Beth, TX (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:20 PM)

this is ridiculous, When Obama said he didn't agree with Wes Clarke, McCain and his groupies did not let it die and still blamed him for the comments. Why should the people of America forgive McCain for these comments and the comments made by Charlie Black about how a terrorist attack would benefit McCain? first read should start playing fair and not let this pass.

McIdiot (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:20 PM)

Straight Talk:

Don't blame me for what people around me say.

Rev. Wright Rev. Wright Rev. Wright Rev. Wright Rev. Wright Rev. Wright Rev. Wright Rev. Wright Rev. Wright Rev. Wright Rev. Wright Rev. Wright Rev. Wright Rev. Wright Rev. Wright Rev. Wright

Wesley Clark Wesley Clark Wesley Clark Wesley Clark Wesley Clark Wesley Clark Wesley Clark Wesley Clark Wesley Clark Wesley Clark

Jesse Jackson Jesse Jackson Jesse Jackson Jesse Jackson Jesse Jackson Jesse Jackson Jesse Jackson Jesse Jackson Jesse Jackson Jesse Jackson Jesse Jackson

McMental (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:21 PM)

If Obama denounces one of his surrogates he's throwing them "under the bus" if McCain does the same he "rips" them. The difference in language is that the former paints Obama as cowardly while the latter makes McCain appear tough. I'm starting to believe these folks who claim there is a pro-McCain bias on First Read...which is very disappointing...

Colleen, Ithaca, NY (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:21 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, and another product of nepotism just like 'W')

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

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:21 PM)

How is it possible that the polls still continue to show a close race? McSame could be the worst candidate since Bob Dole.

Bill, Massachusetts (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:22 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)
................................................
Under the bus? Did you hear anything about McCain firing this guy? No!

Charlie (an attack on America would help McCain) Black, Sen Phil ("mental recession") Gramm, Bud (Swiftboaters For Truth)Day, Frankin (Senator Obama, are you a muslim) Graham all on board as McCain surrogates.

Can you imagine what a McCain presidency would be like?

Ira, Freefold, NJ (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:22 PM)

Does anyone else think that this is HUGE? The reason I think that is that a) Gramm is a senior consultant to the McCain campaign and b) Gramm has since stood by his comment. Given that McCain has claimed that he needs "to be educated" about the economy and has deffered questions related to the economy many times to Gramm on the campaign trail, I hope that McCain doesn't get a free pass on this (like he does on everything else). Can you guys imagine what the media would do if a senior consultant for Obama said something like this?

If anything, the mere fact that MSNBC and CNN don't have this story on their Politics front page is a real indication of how willing THEY are to help McCain cover-up that he is lacking as a politician and his campaign's lack of message discipline. Each and every "mistake" McCain or his campaign make, the media is there to either not cover it or to gloss things over and even provide context for viewers...but when Obama or his campign err, the media is there to pounce like hungry beasts. We all know that keeping this race as close as possible is crucial for these media outlets to attract viewers and thus revenue, but the irresponsibility of the media thus far in the general election is starting to come off unprofessional and inethical at the core. Please, MSNBC and others, STOP PROTECTING MCCAIN!!!! America deserves better!!

STW, Katy, TX (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:23 PM)

I hope Obama keeps up the pressure on this one.

I'm am still reacting with a big "WOW" that Gramm was so incredibly tone deaf, even though it reminds me of Charlie Black's "tell me what you really think" comment. It is very revealing in the attitude toward average Americans and their struggles, and this IS one of McCain's leading economics guys.

If McCain doesn't believe this, he really needs to consider getting someone on his economic team that thinks the tough times are not just psychological. How can an economics guy craft a plan to deal with something he thinks is just all in people's heads?!? This could be an "under the bus moment" for Gramm if the story has legs.

Marihelen TX (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:23 PM)

Not only did he not condemn this "butcher of economies" but he's talking of giving the hack a cabinet position??

This is the beginning of the end for the McCain Campaign...His window of shaking this has closed, and his poor judgement of who he works with is going to haunt him to the day he meets his maker.

McCain has a boy's club in place...very similar to the Bush cronies. They have no place in washington anymore and the candystore should be closed.

Obama if you are listening...barack, my friend...Push the issue of transparency in washington and lead us to a government that is for the people...not for a priveleged few. Push to get all non classified deals done in the open where we can see em.

GP Chicago (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:23 PM)

Sounds like a "Bad Cop" "Good Cop" routine. McCain, like Obama, have to play the "Wuss In Chief", otherwise the press goes nuts.

KPI-MI (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:24 PM)

McCain can spin as much as he likes, but Gramm is speaking an economic perspective that McCain has long supported. This is classic Republican elitism: the people are whining, let them eat cake. Some bread, circuses, and flag pins will stop them from thinking about how lousy their situation really is.

I hope the people at MSNBC spend a lot of time mulling over Gramm's comments, for they are 1000 times more important than Jesse Jackson's balls.

Concerned Citizen (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:24 PM)

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

Bingo!!!!!! Nice touch and comment.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:25 PM)

OK, Senator McCain! So, is it alright to whine again? I feel so much more confident in your economic abilities now that you've totally repudiated the guy you brought in specifically to help you with these issues! I'm looking forward to the 'psychological' benefits of your economic solutions, because as Gramm says it is all in my head.

Hoo boy

ben, va (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:25 PM)

Well, good for him. But who's to say that he's not patting him on the back in private for more free publicity?

****************
"We need stronger efforts to create more efficient vehicles and a better attitude towards smaller cars. To many people are driving SUVs when they need is a small sedan.
S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 1:10 PM)"

Sorry, small children with large car seats and all their gear do NOT fit in a small sedan. I'll bet there are a lot of young mothers out there who feel the same way (regardless of what they currently drive).

I'm all for better MPG standards but let's not go insane here. Why can't we improve standards across the board instead of telling everyone to cram their families into a Prius?

MI Chick (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:26 PM)

Oh what a great news days, huh? McFossil will probably "blow his top" by the end of today(one can only hope to see that infamous temper during this election cycle.
Where are all the "Democrats for McCain" today? Seem rather quiet these days. Having second thoughts????

Diane from Illinois (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:27 PM)

Just yesterday McCain brought up bitter gate again. The irony is too good. I pray the MSM don't let him off the hook. This is the guy advising McCain on the economy. I say this is worth 2-4% in the polls for the next 3 weeks.

A Charles McBush (Sent Thursday, July 10, 2008 3:29 PM)

<< Previous

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1193180