John McCain sat down with ABC’s Charlie Gibson last night. Here’s the exchange on whether the economy has hurt McCain’s chance of getting elected.
GIBSON: Does this almost monolithic focus on the economy in the news and in people's minds in recent weeks ...
MCCAIN: I totally understand it.
GIBSON: Hurt your campaign?
MCCAIN: I don't know, Charlie. I think by offering wise solutions and providing mature leadership that it'll redound in my behalf. Look, in my favor. But this is a tough campaign. I'm the underdog. I've always been the underdog from the beginning. I was the underdog in the primaries.
I can remember when you and I were in a debate and I was down at the end. And you were down at the end by precedence of how people thought you were standing. So we're going to be OK. And we're going to be fine.
GIBSON: But you were sort of humming along there in the polls for a while, and then this issue sort of pervaded everything. And it's not, it seems to have coincided with the drop.
MCCAIN: I'm not going to complain about the hand I'm dealt, my friend. We're coming up with solutions. We're trying to give the vision and leadership for the American people. And I'll accept their judgment.
You’re not going to complain about the hand that you’ve been dealt? Are you kidding me? The reason that you’re losing this election by such a large margin isn’t just because of the economic turmoil. It’s because you are to BLAME for the economic turmoil senator. You are to blame. You’ve hurt me and you’ve hurt my family. We’re dealing with the hand you have dealt us.
Are you the only one to blame Senator McCain? Of course not. Are you the only one to blame who is coincidentally running for President of the United States. Yes.
Here’s a sample of what of I’m talking about:
McCain: I Never Really Understood Economics.
McCain said, “The issue of economics is something that I’ve really never understood as well as I should.” (Boston Globe, 12/18/07)
McCain: Americans Have Seen Great Economic Progress Since Bush Took Office.
Since President Bush took office, “I think if you look at the overall record and millions of jobs have been created… you can make an argument that there’s been great progress economically over that period of time,” McCain said. (“Money & Politics,” Bloomberg, 4/17/08)
McCain Says We’re NOT Headed Into a Recession.
McCain said, “I don’t believe we’re headed into a recession. I believe the fundamentals of this economy are strong, and I believe they will remain strong.” (GOP Debate, Myrtle Beach, FNC, 1/10/08)
McCain Dismissed Concerns on Mortgage Crisis and Economy.
While campaigning in Florida, McCain dismissed concerns about the economy. “Even if the economy is the, quote, No. 1 issue, the real issue will remain America’s security,” McCain said. “And if they choose to say, ‘Look, I do not need this guy because he’s not as good on home loan mortgages or whatever it is, I understand about that, I will accept that verdict. I am running because of the transcendental challenge of the 21st century, which is radical Islamic extremism.” (The New York Times, 1/28/08)
McCain’s Economic Plan Helps Corporations, not Working Families.
“McCain offered sweeping rhetoric about the economic plight of working-class Americans…even as he spelled out a tax and spending agenda whose benefits are aimed squarely at spurring corporate growth.” (The Washington Post, 4/16/08)
McCain Offers Massive Tax Cuts for Corporations and the Wealthy.
McCain’s plan offers two massive tax cuts for corporations, slashing tax rates from 35 percent to 25 percent, with 58 percent of the benefits going to the top 1 percent of taxpayers. This is an even larger tax rate cut for the wealthiest taxpayers than Bush gave them. (Reuters, 3/10/08; “Five Easy Pieces and Two Trillion Dollars,” Center for American Progress Action Fund, 3/21/08)
McCain would make employer-paid health premiums part of taxable income, creating a new tax on working families.
He would drive insurance costs up further by promoting high-deductible health savings account plans. (Health08.org Forum, 10/31/07; Kaiser/HRET Employer Health Benefits 2007 Annual Survey; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 9/20/06, 4/5/06)
McCain’s Tax Cuts Would Cut Social Programs Working Families Need.
“McCain cannot pay for his tax cuts without massive reductions in Social Security, Medicare or other key programs that benefit the vast majority of Americans.” (“Five Easy Pieces and Two Trillion Dollars,” Center for American Progress Action Fund, 3/21/08)
McCain Skipped Vote on Economic Stimulus Package Despite Being in Washington.
McCain missed a key vote on economic stimulus legislation to provide rebates to taxpayers—even though he was in Washington, D.C., at the time. “McCain returned to Washington but made an eleventh-hour decision to skip the vote, aides to his campaign said.” (H.R. 5140, Vote #8, 2/6/08; Associated Press, 2/6/08)
McCain Says He Wants Tough Lender Standards—But Votes Against Them.
McCain has called for strict standards and greater transparency for lenders and for cracking down on predatory lenders. But he voted against a measure to discourage predatory lending practices and failed to vote on a bill that would overhaul the mortgage lending practices of the Federal Housing Administration. (McCain’s Remarks on Economic Woes, 3/25/08; St. Petersburg Times, 1/24/08; S. 256, Vote #22, 3/3/05; S. 2338, Vote #432, 12/14/07)
John McCain, while American’s are losing their jobs, their retirements, and their homes, you are talking about Bill Ayers and past associations and trying to instill fear into the electorate in an attempt to change the conversation. Have you ever heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs? Well, let me explain it to you simply. Our basic needs have to be met before we can get distracted by things that you wish to distract us with. We need food, water, and shelter first. Even if some of us currently can meet those needs, we’re thinking about how to sustain them. We’re thinking about people that we know that can’t meet those needs right now. We’re nervous about the future. You’re not talking about the future.
Once again, you’ve dealt your own hand.
Cross-Posted on Filibusted