by Mark Silva
With the Bush White House loath to acknowledge any recession, Republican Sen. John McCain has suggested that Americans know a problem when they see one - call it whatever you like. And today he very publicly and tacitly conceded the debate about are we or aren't we in one.
"I would imagine that, technically, there is some question amongst economists about that, but the fact is Americans are hurting, they are hurting badly,'' McCain said in an interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe this morning. "Eighty some percent of the American people think the country is on the wrong track, approval ratings of Congress - I saw one poll, 12 percent, the lowest in 40 years... And meanwhile, what's the answer? Go out on a Fourth of July recess without passing a housing bill.
"If we're technically in a recession or not, I would imagine that we are,'' McCain said. "but the major thing is that Americans are hurting and Americans don't like it and they think America is in the wrong direction.''
McCain has acknowledged before that if it looks like a recession and walks like a recession, it's probably a recession. But the senior senator from Arizona, like the current occupant of the White House, has been reluctant to use the word. It appeared nowhere in his speech on the economy yesterday.
Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois has been talking about it for some time now.
"Now, as most experts agree, our economy is in a recession,'' Obama said in a speech at the Cooper Union in New York on March 27. "To renew our economy - and to ensure that we are not doomed to repeat a cycle of bubble and bust again and again - we need to address not only the immediate crisis in the housing market, we also need to create a 21st Century regulatory framework and pursue a bold opportunity agenda for the American people.''
On Morning Joe, McCain was asked about Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate for president, possibly cutting into his vote in November - as polls have suggested Barr might do. McCain maintained he's not worried.
"I'm confident that at the end of the day that Republicans and Democrats and independents and Libertarians and vegetarians will vote for me,'' he said with a chuckle at his own joke. "We've got a lot of work to do. I'm the underdog... I'm confident we're going to win... but I have no illusions aobut the size of the challenge we face, and that's why I'm working so hard.''
McCain was asked what he might to do "counteract'' that speech that Obama plans to deliver to a mile-high baseball stadium full of supporters in Denver during the Democratic National Convention at the end of August. MSNBC's Joe Scarborough suggested a cameo with an Elvis costume and a jet backpack.
"Remember, it was the fight,'' replied McCain, somewhat slowly but then pointedly rummaging through his memory. "Tyson-Holifield, where the guy parachuted in and hit the ropes... Maybe I could do that - only not hit the ropes, just land and do that.
"I'm sure that Sen. Obama will give a great speech,'' McCain said. "He is very eloquent and he has motivated many, many millions of people.
"I respect him and admire him,'' McCain said of Obama. "There are just stark differences. And I think the american people will make a judgment at the end of the day on who's best to keep america prosperous and safe, and I think I can prevail there.''
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Comments
This is a man who 3 months ago thought all was cheery. This is the man who said the housing crisis was speculators yet not once has mentioned speculators a problem in the oil crisis. He said America is addicted to oil, yet now uses the mood of the country to push the republicans desire to drill for more. Great idea...feed the addiction...don't erase it. How many economic advisers did it take to explain the economy and it's problems to him? Another republican who says there is no problem....can't see it from my house.
Posted by: bill "Hussein" r. | July 8, 2008 11:21 AM
If McCain has the guts to parachute into Obama's stadium speech, I'll vote for him. Can he manage to do without crashing the plane is what I ask.
Posted by: DD | July 8, 2008 11:39 AM
How low can you go to show up on something like "Morning Joe"...
Posted by: lochnessmonster | July 8, 2008 11:42 AM
This is a man that hasn't pandered to an interest group bent on collectivism and forced dues-paying union membership without free and fair employee-choice elections.
Posted by: McCainocrat | July 8, 2008 11:49 AM
Since that time, when he thought everything was cheery, " bill "Hussein" r ", Senator "Questionable Conduct " McCain has had a chance to mentor with the Commander-in-Chief of Economics and he has informed him, that it is a slight bubble that we have encountered!! It looks like a mushroom cloud, to me, on the economic horizon and Iraq didn't put it there, not directly anyway. The war and occupation of Iraq may have destroyed our economy , certainly not, the Iraqi people or what's left of them !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | July 8, 2008 11:51 AM
Mile-High Stadium isn't a baseball stadium, it's a football Stadium. Not trying to be nit-picky, just thought I'd let you know.
Keep up the great work!
Posted by: Ahsan | July 8, 2008 12:14 PM
Posted by: McCainocrat | July 8, 2008 11:49 AM
You right. He always stands wirth management and against common workers. He believes in lower wages, less benefits and less government aid for the lower income workers. He believes that the wealthy are the only ones who matter, and that everyone else should sacrifce for them.
McCainocrat, you should remind everyone as often as you can that Mccain is the workers enemy. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Union worker | July 8, 2008 12:15 PM
November can't come soon enough to put McCain in the White House and end Obama's hard-left push to transform America into a weaker, socialist nation. Does Comrade Obama even believe in individual property rights anymore? Obama is a smug, smirking con man and trojan horse for hard-left hate in America. Nothing more.
Posted by: Trevor | July 8, 2008 12:18 PM
Who called out all of the ghouls, from Hoover's ghost to Reagan's, with all of the commie, pink-o, socialist name-calling. That is one tired tune, ladies and gentlemen, with which you are trying to scare the voters!! I thought that boogyman was laid to rest when President Reagan slew that boogyman !! I guess PR can carry you only so far II Continue to sing that nonsensical song, "Obama-haters", it's lost its voodoo!!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | July 8, 2008 12:39 PM
McCain's American Dream respects individual worker choice in secret-ballot elections. Not being the shill of the special interest called Organized Labor does not make him the enemy of the workers whose choice he is committed to protecting. In fact, his protection of their rights against EFCA proves he is the true protector of the real American Dream in this race.
Posted by: McCainocrat | July 8, 2008 12:42 PM
"McCain was asked what he might to do "counteract'' that speech that Obama plans to deliver. MSNBC's Joe Scarborough suggested a cameo with an Elvis costume and a jet backpack."
That's funny Scarborough.
McCain already knows how to wear an Elvis costume:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rOF-j1L0vE
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Posted by: John E | July 8, 2008 1:06 PM
McCain's American Dream respects individual worker choice in secret-ballot elections. Not being the shill of the special interest called Organized Labor does not make him the enemy of the workers whose choice he is committed to protecting. In fact, his protection of their rights against EFCA proves he is the true protector of the real American Dream in this race.
Posted by: McCainocrat | July 8, 2008 12:42 PM
Pleeeeease....you and John McBush are scaring the kids.
John McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, and yet he said "I'm the only one the special interests don't give any money to."
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gEROVh8zK4
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Posted by: John E | July 8, 2008 1:14 PM
Make him pay cash at the next fill-up of the jet. See if that sorts out his confusion over the economy.
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport☮ | July 8, 2008 2:44 PM
"MCCAIN SPEAKS"
I GOT JOKES YES I DO, I GOT JOKES HOW ABOUT YOU!
RECESSION, DEPRESSION, I'M 72 YEARS OF AGE, ON A 100% $58,000 DISABILITY AND AM WORTH OVER 100 MILLION DOLLARS WITH A PRENUPT.
I GOT JOKES YES I DO, I GOT JOKES, HOW ABOUT YOU! BROKE AMERICA! FORECLOSED AMERICA!
RECESSION/DEPRESSION, CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT BUT ME AND CINDY ARE DOING JUST FINE!
"BITTE EIN BUD" DEPRESSION OR RECESSION, THE ECONOMY IS A "WORK IN GOP PROGRESS"
Posted by: Roger Morris | July 8, 2008 2:54 PM
McCain has said over and over he doesn't know anything about the economy nor does he care to learn. It's that lack of curiosity that scares me--we're almost done with 8 years with a president who resists new knowledge and look where that's gotten us.
Posted by: Cheryl Hussein | July 8, 2008 3:06 PM
My comment is to your proofreaders: the words "american" and "america" are proper nouns, and, as such should be capitalized.
Posted by: knarahs | July 8, 2008 3:33 PM
Just filled my 4 cylinder car with petrol and it passed the $40 mark. There was a time, not too long ago when $25 would have filled the tank. No recession - tell that to my ?#!?.
And while you're at it McCain, why not have your wife throw in a case of beer with each fill-up. That might alleviate some of the anger or at least numb it.
Posted by: the truth | July 8, 2008 3:57 PM
Yep, The economy is so bad, even the McCain's are affected. I hear that Cindy may only put 10 times the median US household annual income on her credit card this month. Cut backs like that really hurt.
Posted by: AmEx | July 9, 2008 9:32 AM