Gramm fades to black

Posted: Friday, July 11, 2008 5:18 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
Republican sources say they do not expect the McCain campaign to "strip" Phil Gramm of his "volunteer designation" as a co chair with the McCain campaign. At least not now.

However, other surrogates on economic policy will be "driving the policy" for McCain, sources said. Already prominent business executives Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina along with former Congressional Budget Office head Doug Holz-Eakin will speak on these issues and deal with reporters.

Gramm will not have a public role, but remains a "trusted friend of the campaign."

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Comments

Gramm need to resign

tsk (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:23 PM)

Gramm should know by now that telling the truth is never a good idea.

Dan Blocker (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:24 PM)

I'm all for Ms. Fiorina, since she brought up an important women's issue........insurance coverage for birth control. McCain needs to quit rubbing his chin and looking duped and answer that particular issue. WIll he lie like everything else and just up and say he supports it just as much as Viagra? Or will he man up and admit he's voted against it already?

laughaday (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:25 PM)

This combined with Gramm’s recent comments showed McCain “is totally out of touch” on the economy, she claimed. People in places like Michigan “are not hallucinating when they lose their jobs…when they can’t pay the mortgage…this is not psychological,” said Stabenow..............

-First Read

******************************************

Hallucinating!!!!

Gramms 'mental', and McCain's 'psychological' gaffes are going to inspire 'a thousand points of laughter', with which to mock the repubs this summer.

donna (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:25 PM)

Well, c'mon MSNBC, FOX, CNN...lets see this on the lead news for the next 3 weeks. I dare you to harp on this the way you harped on Rev Wright. I mean, he is a "trusted friend of the campaign" and a close advisor...surely he has more influence on a candidate than, say...a rev that had NO connection to a campaign other than association.

No? I didnt think so. Cowards.

DV, CA (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:26 PM)

So who exactly are the paid staff on his campaign? I certainly don't agree with an all volunteer campaign, it lacks some integrity and ergo accountability. Gramm is a twit, plain and simple. This campaign is as rudderless as the guy it represents. Someone earlier mentioned this and it bears repeating:

The Republican Party is morally bankrupt. They ran to the religious right and snowed them into voting for them and have sat there in Washington and literally thumbed their noses for 71/2 years. I shudder to think what our country would look like if Bush has been a divider instead of a uniter.

Enron Loophole is not the same thing as Arthur Andersen regulations for Enron.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:26 PM)

Is this some kind of a racist statement against Obama?!?

Elijah Rooenkan (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:27 PM)

Out with the Trash, in with the refuge!!

Haha they just keep giving more gifts

GP chicago (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:27 PM)

So much for throwing Gramm under the bus. So much for making him ambassador to Belarus. So much for he does not speak for me. He will remain a trusted member of the campaign. He will not be fired or asked to resign. He will not be asked not to be a surrogate for McCain. No harm, no foul according to the McCain campaign.

McCain has now shown himself to be a liar and a hipocrite. He has no honor. He has no shame. He will do anything to become President.

This move shows he is totally out of touch with the average American and has complete disdain for the problems we all face.

Shame on you Senator!

Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:29 PM)

We need a President that feels compassion for all Americans, especially people of color. One that won't be afraid to cry, even in public. One that won't just listen to women, but will obey them too. We need, Barack Obama.

Geena Goldberg, Houston (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:30 PM)

Kelly,

Were you going for a pun w/Black?

McCain has lost a ton of staffers since he drop kicked the 'Junta Helpers' out of sight.

Gramm's got a 'get out of gaffe free' card, like Black did over his 'the terrorists could sure help our campaign', loud mouth malfunction.

donna (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:32 PM)

The press will let McCain off the hook again in 5,4,3,2,1...

What no follow up on his role in McCain's economic plan?

My question would be "Will you continue to see Gramm's advice on the economy?"

I will say Obama should be working this more. Maybe he thinks it's summer & no one's listening. But another zinger like yesterday and McCain's retooling will need retooling.

A Charles McBushs Ambassador to Belarus (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:32 PM)

With "trusted friend[s]" like these...

I'm waiting patiently for the media to hold McCain accountable for every one of his surrogates' ill-advised statements, the way they persist in doing so to Obama. Oh, wait- John McCain asserted in a response to Gramm's statement that "No one speaks for me". Care to extend that same courtesy to Senator Obama, Senator McCain?

Thought so.

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:33 PM)

Yes, please keep Gramm on as a "trusted friend." He is welcome to make any comments any time.

Obama '08

Beth, TX (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:34 PM)

Didn't McCain tell Obama to fire Clark for insulting his military experience? Now Gramm insults the entire nation and he remains a "trusted friend of the campaign". Sounds a little hypocritical. I would expect nothing less(or more for that matter).

ken montana (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:36 PM)

oh goody. Carly Fiorina will run the economic policy. The person who was fired from HP and believes outsourcing our jobs is good for our economy. Good choice. From one loser to the next.

voter (Sent Friday, July 11, 2008 5:41 PM)

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