McCain and that economics quote Update: NYT link pulled off McCain’s front page
posted at 11:06 am on January 25, 2008 by Bryan
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I don’t mean to turn today into “Bash McCain Day” at Hot Air. However, during the Florida debate he said something that deserves some follow-up. Here’s the clip from last night’s debate.
And here’s the quote:
On a broader range of economic issues, though, Mr. McCain readily departs from Reaganomics. His philosophy is best described as a work in progress. He is refreshingly blunt when he tell me: “I’m going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.”
Here’s a similar one.
McCain stood before a line graph showing the increase of the alternative-minimum tax, a low-budget campaign’s alternative to the PowerPoint presentation Mitt Romney uses when talking about economic policy, a subject on McCain has said he feels he unknowledgeable that
filling the void would be a priority when selecting a vice-presidential nominee.Like Mike Huckabee, who joked recently that he “may not be the expert that some people are on foreign policy, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night,” McCain suggested to reporters Monday that American consumer culture offered a short cut to expertise. “The issue
of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should,” McCain said. “I’ve got Greenspan’s book.”
He said it. He may not remember saying it, but he said it.
Update: By the way…
Update: Hmm. There’s something…missing.
Oh, found it here. Just click on More News on the front page and scroll down a bit.
Perhaps the McCain campaign is catching a whiff of why this endorsement might be a problem.
So how could he fix this? I can think of three things. First, get rid of Juan Hernandez and repudiate his policies. Second, repudiate the NYT endorsement, loudly and clearly. Third, announce that unlike last year, he’ll show up at CPAC this year and reconcile with conservatives. Those three moves would go a long way toward mending fences, whether he actually wants to build any fences or not.
After he’s done all that, he might want to think about dumping sugar daddy Soros too.
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Shortly after the debate McCain was seen rolling two silver balls around in his right hand !
Did anyone notice the Huckabee and his wife were just standing around on the stage after the debate with not a single other person near them to talk to? The guy is WIERD !!!
jake-the-goose on January 25, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Quote the Rush….
SHUT UP!
-Wasteland Man.
P.S. I Do NOT endorse McCain for the Nominee.
WastelandMan on January 25, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Why should this day be different from any other day?
CK MacLeod on January 25, 2008 at 11:10 AM
That stuck out to me too when I heard it.
Geronimo on January 25, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Well, he was fifth from the bottom of his class in Annapolis, but his dad was an Admiral, so those lousy grades didn’t hold him back.
At least he was willing to let Ted Kennedy and all those bright Harvard leftos write the entire Shamnesty bill and then he stuck his name on it after they were done.
So we see that McCain understands his limitations; too bad he’s also a brain-damaged lying hack for the Dems.
TexasJew on January 25, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Am I losing my mind? What happened to the Mitt whisper post? How weird that it was partially about something being pulled off the NBC site.
MayBee on January 25, 2008 at 11:15 AM
It’s coming. I think I tripped over Allah’s post in publishing this, which is my bad.
Bryan on January 25, 2008 at 11:18 AM
McCain’s Legacy of Great Quotes:
“I believe my party has gone astray. I think the Democratic Party is a fine party, and I have no problems with it, in their views and their philosophy.“ - John McCain
“But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations.“ - John McCain
“No drilling in ANWR, nor in the Everglades, nor off the coast of Florida… To think that drilling in ANWR is the solution to our incredible energy needs is frankly, is not keeping in the reality of what’s there, and what it would take to get it out“ - John McCain
“I always have a glass of ethanol before breakfast every morning“ - John McCain
“I think we can set up a program where amnesty is extended to a certain number of people, Amnesty has to be an important part…“ - John McCain, 2003
“I’m going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.“ - John McCain
Poptech on January 25, 2008 at 11:18 AM
yea, I saw it too, where is it now?
ctmom on January 25, 2008 at 11:18 AM
Wow.
Geronimo on January 25, 2008 at 11:20 AM
What McCain have a problem with past things he’s said? The guy is such a classic.
“It was NOT amnesty.”
“I don’t know where you got that quote from.”
“This bill will take the money out of politics.”
“I think the fence is least effective. But I’ll build the g-d–n fence if they want it.”
LOL. John McCain is hilarious, he should be a stand up comedian. That line about Sly Stallone last night had me ROTFLMAO.
joncoltonis on January 25, 2008 at 11:20 AM
*sigh* I better get used to it tho…:-(
But really, who is it that has the power to turn economics anyway…nt the POTUS. No matter what, Congress ultimately has the power for that. But yeah, McCain’s been in Washington long enough to where he really can’t say “I don’t know much” about that…
In any event: McCain 08!
JetBoy on January 25, 2008 at 11:21 AM
I don’t think the quote is a big deal, regardless if he remembers/admits to saying it.
Do any of the candidates, or 95% of politicians for that matter, actually understand economics well enough to decide on policy? Of course not. Economists who study it for a living can’t agree on policy on a wide range of issues, and it’s very hard for them to make accurate predictions. Economics is a very complicated science.
I don’t care if one candidate knows less about economics than another, or even if they know nothing at all. I only care about which policy they and their advisors endorse, and then I can decide for myself whether I agree with those policies.
tneloms on January 25, 2008 at 11:24 AM
I thought not understanding economics was a Democrat trait.
Oh yeah, it’s McCain, who voted against Bush’s tax cuts.
Same difference.
fogw on January 25, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Whyever not?
RushBaby on January 25, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Perhaps…but remember, he did end up voting for the tax cuts…and the main realon he voted against them first, was because they weren’t “permanent”. Which makes sense…
JetBoy on January 25, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Russert fully understood the implications on conservatives of announcing the Times endorsements during the debate– help Rudy and hurt McCain. He/they must believe that only McCain can beat Hillary, and are operating on that assumption.
JiangxiDad on January 25, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Candidate who Understands Economics = Mitt Romney
McCain definitely doesn’t understand economics:
- McCain sponsored and voted for an enormous 282% tax increase on cigarettes in 1998
- McCain was one of only two Republican to vote against the $1.35 trillion tax cut in 2001
- McCain was one of only two Republicans to twice vote against permanent repeal of the death tax in 2002
- McCain was one of only three Republican to twice vote against the $350 billion tax cut in 2003
Tax on Energy:
- The EPA Estimates Sen. McCain’s Plan Would Hike Gas Taxes By 68 Cents Per Gallon
- The EPA Estimates Sen. McCain’s Plan Would Reduce United States GDP By As Much As $5.2 Trillion
Poptech on January 25, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Agree. First thing on my to-do list today.
JiangxiDad on January 25, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Not entirely. McCain also believed that the tax cuts would disproportionately benefit “the rich.” He used the Democrats’ talking point against those cuts more than once.
Bryan on January 25, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Oh but if Mitt would do an ad using these and at the bottom say..”nuff said”.
kcd on January 25, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Happy “Bash McCain” day, you all!
John McCain has been in the Senate forever. Am I the only one who finds it disturbing that a man who votes on issues that deal with economic policy and/or have economic consequences admits he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer when it comes to knowing about the economy? Just by osmosis, the man should have already received his PhD in economics!
highhopes on January 25, 2008 at 11:35 AM
You’ve obviously begun dating Jessica Simpson.
MayBee on January 25, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Every day should be Bash McCain Day.
That son of a gun has been bashing Conservatives for half a dozen years.
EJDolbow on January 25, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Yeah, that makes sense. Lets see, do I want more money on my paycheck for a few years or do I want less money for-ever?! /sarc
By the way, his pitiful excuse about voting against the tax cuts was” we needed to get spending under control first”. So, let me get this straight, they can’t control their spending, so I don’t deserve to keep more of my paycheck!!??
kcd on January 25, 2008 at 11:43 AM
My favorite part of the NYT editorial…
One could have, in theory, written the same exact piece endorsing a Democratic candidate. I guess I am more amazed that the Times didn’t make this a front page “news” story instead of an editorial, for once.
Wineaholic on January 25, 2008 at 11:44 AM
One thing I don’t get…If a Republican ever says something that the Democrats say, it’s automatically touting “Democrat talking points”…
Yes, McCain did question whether the rich were disproportionally benefiting, but I believe his main concern was that were no spending limits either. What all this really proves is that McCain would rather cut spending (and has a great record of trying to do just that) and that right there would translate into lower taxes.
JetBoy on January 25, 2008 at 11:45 AM
My McCain Snicker-of-the-night Moment:
“… and I worked with Joe Lieberman, one of my favorite (BIG GRIN) Democrats….”
uh huh…uh huh….
Always Right on January 25, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Even if he had wasn’t a class warfare hustler, there’s still his assault on the First Amendment, Amnesty for Illegals (fiscally conservative, of course), Gang of 14, and his vitriolic personal assault on Don Rumsfeld.
McCain gets the nod, I stay home. Period.
pistolero on January 25, 2008 at 11:50 AM
[JetBoy on January 25, 2008 at 11:28 AM]
I thought the reason he voted against them first was because the cuts were too targeted towards the rich (aka those who pay them) and the reason you note was reason that replaced the first reason. Have I been misinformed?
Dusty on January 25, 2008 at 11:51 AM
What’s so wrong with controlling spending? Eh…Like I said, McCain did eventually vote for the Bush tax cuts.
(Am I the only former FredHead in the McCain camp ’round here?) So ronery…
JetBoy on January 25, 2008 at 11:53 AM
So he voted AGAINST them before he voted to extend them……………..how Kerryesque.
omnipotent on January 25, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Jetboy, I think you are the only Fredhead to go with McCain.
I liked McCain when he ran against Bush, but since then he has made a lot of questionable decisions that changed my mind about him. I have to admit that immigration was the biggest thing. I think that all this “McCain bashing” is leftover hatred of his stance on immigration… fueled with some of the quotes given above. Also the fact that he still doesn’t get why we were so against his ‘it’s not amnesty’ bill leads me to believe that he will simply push his ideas and bills through and the people’s objections be damned.
Luckedout on January 25, 2008 at 12:05 PM
That, plus the guy was almost Kerry’s VP! And now he’s the leading candidate for the Republican nomination? I feel like Leiberman, all of a sudden.
Vanceone on January 25, 2008 at 12:10 PM
“I still need to be educated…” -J. McCain.
Let us hope that the lesson is: second-time presidential loser.
profitsbeard on January 25, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Wrong JetBoy, McCain tried to cover all the bases on this one. But if you go back and listen to/read the statements he made during the tax cut debate you will find a whole lot of dem talking points coming out of McAmnesty’s mouth (as usual). For starters:
“I cannot in good concience, support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us at the expense of middle-class Americans who need tax relief.” -John McCain, in 2001
That quote could have easily come out of the mouth of Teddy Kennedy or Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid or John Kerry or John Edwards or Hillary Clinton. It probably has come out of each of their mouths at one time or another - word for word.
“The issue
of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should,” McCain said. “I’ve got Greenspan’s book.”
-John McCain
How true.
Zetterson on January 25, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Jetboy, you would do better to admit McCain’s penchant for liberal positions and try to excuse them as being “maverick” in nature.
csdeven on January 25, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Nothing wrong with controlling spending, but a conservative would have voted for tax cuts, period. By the way, I am a Fredhead as well.
kcd on January 25, 2008 at 12:29 PM
For great insight into “Why McCain?”….please read THIS from RedState.
JetBoy on January 25, 2008 at 12:48 PM
If McCain gets the elephant howdah, I’m staying home.
The DhimmiNannyFeatocrats should take the full rap for the country’s ineluctible slide into Nannydhimmifeatitude.
The hideous muddy RINOs have bogged us down enough, starting with the current RINO-in-Chief!
Mojamaiko on January 25, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Dear Johnny Mc,
Here’s a little info on the economy & TERRORISM…..
yes…said in the same breath….
& what I’d like to know is
IS THIS A PROBLEM????? http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24610
signed: dead lowly musician if sharia is instituted in U.S.!
lobosan5 on January 25, 2008 at 12:51 PM
And I don’t know sh** about economics either, but I saved a bundle on car insurance.
whitetop on January 25, 2008 at 12:53 PM
This is the John Mc. we’ve grown to know and NOT love in AZ. He sounds like Edwards in this quote. Listen up Conservatives; McCain is not your friend, he’s entirely too interested in the opinion of the Liberal elite and NYTimes, and he’s just old enough to be a bit looney and eccentric. I don’t care if you pick Mitt or Rudy, but McCain is not an option for a fiscal conservative.
DrW on January 25, 2008 at 1:36 PM
Dude, both you and McCain must be realizing right about now that its impossible to sell McAmnesty to conservatives.
Zetterson on January 25, 2008 at 1:36 PM
He’s posting this on the others too.
kcd on January 25, 2008 at 1:58 PM
This is from the Paulnuts, but it’s funny nevertheless.
John McCain and Miss Teen SC on economics.
Buy Danish on January 25, 2008 at 2:39 PM
John, want a lesson in economics? Go to an emergency room on any night after 9 pm. in Los Angeles or San Diego. That sucking sound is our tax dollars being used to give free medical care to illegal immigrants…now go to the schools in the LA, Santa Ana or San Diego, and listen…that sucking sound is the sound of our tax dollars being used to educate illegal immigrants children…now go down to the post office, hear that sound? That sucking sound is the money being shipped back to Mexico, after being earned here and not taxed, then not being spent here.
John, walk out of your office, every border state and near border state is the same.
There is your economic lesson…
right2bright on January 25, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Baloney. The Prez has much power over regulations. He can eliminate so much waste and restrictions that the economy would explode. He doesn’t, but we all know why: Power and pandering.
McCain is unfit for the office. Bill Richardson’s more qualified.
fossten on January 25, 2008 at 3:29 PM
From 5th from the last in his class to Commander-in-Chief does not correlate. Plus, getting the support of every RINO in Congress and endorsement of the New York Times should end this charade.
volsense on January 25, 2008 at 3:47 PM
In my mind (yes, I know, its a vast wasteland) the only cadidate who understands economics is Mitt. He is the one who has run businesses and he was the one who rescued the Olympics and he was governor of Taxachusettes. It was always a race who could be the biggest taxed state; Minnesota or Massachusettes. How do I know. I live in MN and our governor Pawlenty has been fighting these libs tooth and nail. So, I can understand how some of Mitt’s positions can be read wrong. There is talk that Pawlenty might be a VP pick for someone. Then they’ll attack him for his ‘liberal’ governance. What’s that saying that’s been thrown around here? If you wrestle with pigs, you’re going to get dirty and the pigs like it.
cjs1943 on January 25, 2008 at 4:17 PM
HAAAA!!!HAAAA!!!
kcd on January 25, 2008 at 4:35 PM