Some breaking quotes via TPM...McCain's chief economic adviser, Phil Gramm (also vice chairman of UBS and the guy most expect to be McCain's Sec. of Treasury) in an interview with the Washington Times, said the following:
"You've heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession," he said, noting that growth has held up at about 1 percent despite all the publicity over losing jobs to India, China, illegal immigration, housing and credit problems and record oil prices. "We may have a recession; we haven't had one yet."
That's right folks, this is all in the minds of the American people. There's no real economic pain being felt. But in case you're complaining about such pain, Gramm has more choice words for you:
"We have sort of become a nation of whiners," he said. "You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline" despite a major export boom that is the primary reason that growth continues in the economy, he said.
Catch that? We're a bunch of whiners. Call the waaaaaa-mbulance. Put us in the basement and we've have a whine cellar. There's no real economic pain being felt in America, it's just in our minds. And of course, it's the liberal media's fault:
Mr. Gramm said the constant drubbing of the media on the economy's problems is one reason people have lost confidence. Various surveys show that consumer confidence has fallen precipitously this year to the lowest levels in two to three decades, with most analysts attributing that to record high gasoline prices over $4 a gallon and big drops in the value of homes, which are consumers' biggest assets.
"Misery sells newspapers," Mr. Gramm said. "Thank God the economy is not as bad as you read in the newspaper every day."
Think this is just limited to Mr. Gramm? John McCain himself said in April that a lot of our problems are "psychological":
Now, for those who accuse me of just writing rah-rah diaries about Obama, let me say this: one of my big frustrations about the Obama camp has been their inability to pounce on a story and push it into the media narrative.
How often do we hear of campaign calls and the candidate himself attacking the myriad of openings McCain and his camp have given? I mean, the amount of whoppers McCain has said that have been given passes by the media have been incredible. But for all our (yes, I'll say it) whining about the MSM and the infamous Chuck Todd "referendum on Obama" quote, I'm going to place the blame also at the feet of Obama himself.
It's time for an aggressive surrogate strategy. The media says it's all about Obama? Well, force them to attach some scrutiny to McCain. The media went ape-shit when Obama used the word "refine."
Now here we have John McCain's chief economic adviser accusing the American people of being "whiners," imagining a recession in their minds, and being influenced by the media, with nary a mention of the real pain they're actually feeling.
Obama and company, this is breaking news and you need to be all over it. DKos, let's take up the charge and email it to every conceivable blogger and news outlet. If Obama's not going to get it into the bloodstream, then you and I will.
This is a perfect opportunity to press the economic advantage that Obama has and to crush McCain in key states like Ohio and Michigan. Let's do this people.
IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID.
UPDATE: Some good news, this got picked up by Politico, which says Dems are working to get widespread attention to them (let's all pile on).
DNC responds with statement entitled, "Out of Touch Much, Phil?":
What John McCain, George Bush Phil Gramm just don't understand is that the American people aren't whining about the state of the economy, they are suffering under the weight of it -- the weight of eight years of Bush-enomics that John McCain and Phil Gramm have vowed to continue. How dare John McCain and his advisers so callously dismiss the challenges the American people face. no wonder voters feel John McCain is out of touch, he and his campaign don't even understand the everyday issues Americans are dealing with.
I really like the "how dare" frame and hope to see that.
McCain's camp responds:
"Mr. Gramm was simply saying that we are laying out the economic plan this week. The plan is comprehensive, providing immediate near-term relief for Americans hurting today as well as longer-term solutions to get our economy back on track, secure our energy future and deliver jobs, prosperity and opportunity for the next generation. We’re laying out that plan this week with an emphasis on the critical importance of job creation, and it’s been a great success so far."
Um, no, that's not AT ALL what he said, and shows what a weak position the McCain camp is to respond to this. THIS IS WHY WE PILE ON.
Another juicy quote I missed from the original article:
Phil Gramm, a former Texas senator who is now vice chairman of UBS, the giant Swiss bank, said he expects Mr. McCain to inherit a sluggish economy if he wins the presidency, weighed down above all by the conviction of many Americans that economic conditions are the worst in two or three decades and that America is in decline.
So, what's weighing down the U.S. isn't actually our economic conditions, but the conviction of the American people that conditions are bad. In other words, Americans are to blame, not actual conditions. C'mon now, this whole thing is a gift that fell into our laps. Let's use it.
UPDATE 2: DIGG the story HERE
Also, First Read picked it up, but it's just a blip for now.
UPDATE 3: Finally on ThePage, McCain "repudiates" Gramm (not nearly enough):
Campaign says economics adviser Phil Gramm’s comments about the economy are "not representative of McCain’s views."
Obama camp pounces: "The American people know that our economic problems aren’t just in their heads. They don’t need psychological relief – they need real relief...."
UPDATE 4: Full Obama campaign quote:
"One of Senator McCain's top economic advisors may think that when people are struggling with lost jobs, stagnant wages, and the rising costs of everything from gas to groceries, it's merely a 'mental recession'. And Senator McCain may think it's sufficient to offer energy proposals that he admits will have mainly 'psychological' benefits. But the American people know that our economic problems aren't just in their heads. They don't need psychological relief - they need real relief - and that's what Barack Obama will provide as President."
UPDATE 5: Obama just talked about this in his townhall! His quote: "American already has one Dr. Phil!" He SLAMMED McCain on it. Great stuff.
UPDATE 6: McCain just tossed out Gramm in a big way, saying he'd make an "excellent ambassador to Belarus, but I don't know if the people of Minsk would have him." Ouch! Nice try John, he was one of your biggest advisers.
Added this video during which McCain highlights Gramm as one of his main advisers (thanks tommytutone):
UPDATE 7: Obama's response: