John McCain FYI: You Have Seven Houses
It takes a campaign commercial from the Obama camp to remind John McCain how many houses he has. When asked how many his owns, McCain’s response was, “I think–I’ll have my staff get to you. It’s condominiums where–I’ll have them get to you.” His staff was then able to count four. It turns out, the correct answer is seven.
Republicans have had no trouble attacking John Kerry and John Edwards for being Rich, attacking Al Gore for having a big house that uses–get this–electricity, or calling Obama an “elitist” who goes to exotic foreign lands like Hawaii.
Now McCain’s team is going back at Obama, saying:
Does a guy who made more than $4 million last year, just got back from vacation on a private beach in Hawaii and bought his own million-dollar mansion with the help of a convicted felon really want to get into a debate about houses? Does a guy who worries about the price of arugula and thinks regular people ‘cling’ to guns and religion in the face of economic hardship really want to have a debate about who’s in touch with regular Americans?
“The reality is that Barack Obama’s plans to raise taxes and opposition to producing more energy here at home as gas prices skyrocket show he’s completely out of touch with the concerns of average Americans.”
I don’t care if John McCain has an infinite number or houses, as long as one of them isn’t 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
So what mcsame has 7 houses.
There is only one reason it’s an issue when democrats do it.
Just like larry “toe tapper” craig, it’s about the HYPOCRISY.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:18 pm
“…a guy who made more than $4 million last year…”
By John McCain’s own admission, in his world, you don’t even qualify as “rich” until you make $5 million a year!
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/08/18/mccain-s-5-million-mistake.aspx
August 21st, 2008 at 12:24 pm
“…a guy who made more than $4 million last year…”
By John McCain’s own admission, in his world, you don’t even qualify as “rich” until you make $5 million a year!
August 21st, 2008 at 12:25 pm
McCain the Coward is an elitist…
August 21st, 2008 at 12:46 pm
you don’t even qualify as “rich” until you make $5 million a year
How would you define rich?
Some people put more importance on $, some on family, some on fame, some on etc.. Rich is in the eye of the beholder, not the eye of someone that’s envious.
And rich where? I sold a one bedroom house on half an acre in Los angeles. Bought a 4 bedroom house with 30 acres in the wilds of northern washington, invested $$, bought a new truck and still had some $$ left over.
Point is, depending where you live would help define one as rich. Living in Manhattan rich is different than the hills of arkansas.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Funny, I’ve never heard McCain criticize my personal choice in housing and my carbon footprint like Algore or how much money I make and how I choose to live like BHO has. Therefore McCain can live in however many houses he chooses and I don’t care. When Algore walks the talk he spews I’ll quit criticizing him and when BHO quits talking about taxing the rich out of me I’ll not knock his choise of house also and how he fraudulently acquired it.
Algore and BHO are hypocrites.
August 21st, 2008 at 1:04 pm
“How would you define rich?”
Well, what I’d do is remember what I said on national TV yesterday, and then try to avoid contradicting myself a day later.
Rich certainly is in the eye of the beholder, as are most things, but in the topic under discussion it’s pretty apparent to me which kind of rich the old guy is talking about. And McCain said $5 million is rich, and his ad said Barack made $4 million. Ergo, another bunch of Republicans who can’t GPS their way out of a paper bag.
It brings to mind the constant right-wing opining about the wonders of privatization, which takes as its mantra this concept that private enterprise gets things so right, of which we have so many stellar examples, like GM, and Bear Sterns, and Enron, and Worldcom, and Adelphia, and Montgomery Ward, and TWA, and the Franklin National Bank, and Union Carbide, and Hooker Chemical, and the savings and loan failures, and on and on, all the way back to the Stone Age.
Good job, Brownie.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:15 pm
“..he fraudulently acquired it.”
And the ‘fraud’ would be…?
August 21st, 2008 at 2:18 pm
“..he fraudulently acquired it.”
“And the ‘fraud’ would be…?”
Maybe Tony Rezko could give you the same kind of deal he gave Obie.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:22 pm
“Let’s say, 5 million? But seriously, and know the previous comment will obviously be distorted…”
He set you up and you are falling for it.
Also, did you read the McCain campaign spokesperson’s response to this?
“I wouldn’t start talking about housing if I were Obama, when he purchased land from a convicted felon.”
When will Democrats learn to stop falling for these ruses? McCain’s campaign members are poker faced geniuses, he’s accomplishing a modest margin of competition in what should be a blow out year. Hubris is a dangerous thing.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Since Rezko didn’t help Obama buy the house, how could he help me?
The deal for the house was on the up and up.
Checked out and verified.
More smears from the wacky right.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Jani, do you really have room to talk, crowded as you are in a roomful of all the felons with whom Republicans do business on a daily basis?
Thanks for fighting the smear, Boogieman.
Really, Jani, if you want to stay with your party of the loud-mouthed Religious Right, you should observe the Judeo-Christian 10 Commandments they’re fighting to place in every public venue across the land. (Unfortunately, even if they could accomplish this it wouldn’t help them.)
August 21st, 2008 at 2:54 pm
If you fail to see the technique they are cleverly using that would explain the difficulty of Obama to campaign. This election has moved on beyond Bush and such referrals to the prevailing Republicans look weak, this has very much become a personal election between Obama and McCain.
I also wouldn’t suggest attacking the religious right at this moment because whether you disdain their inherent irrationality or not they do compose enough of a population to decide elections. It is groups like those growing suspicious that are keeping the race within the margin of error.
And I’m not a Republican, I’m an amused outside observer. I think both parties are insane because a rational candidate could never win in the United States. Even someone as honest as Nader can’t top 3% despite his popularity (or notoriety). Elections aren’t about the truth, they are about who does the best job of misleading the opponent. And so far McCain’s group have had a very rapid response recently, that certainly can change but only if Obama decides to change course and present reasons why his vision of America will work like he did in the primary instead of trying to disown all of those principles and attacking his opponent. Its a matter of social psychology, not believability. Like Alan says, Republicans typically do a better job of convincing the population they have a more optimistic outlook and demonizing their opponents and that is why it takes something on the proportion of a Bush Sr. screw up against a mirthful Clinton for the Democrats to succeed. And if you don’t count LBJ winning in 1964 by waving the bloody shirt, no Democrat has won a solid majority in an election since Roosevelt in 1944. They usually have been nailbiting clinchers, whether it was Truman, Kennedy, Carter, and though Clinton easily outpaced Bush and Dole he still never gained a majority.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:25 pm
private enterprise gets things so right, of which we have so many stellar examples, like GM, and Bear Sterns, and Enron, and Worldcom, and Adelphia, and…
I would list all the successful non-government businesses but I don’t have the time.
If the government didn’t get involved, the businesses you listed (plus others) would have gone out of business. If the company provided a good or service that was in demand, someone else would start their own business doing the same thing, except hopefully successfully. The government propped up the very businesses that shouldn’t be propped up, failing businesses. Ever see a restaurant in your neighborhood go out of business, ever see a new restaurant take its place?
A p[rivate business has to make a profit or they go out of business. Government entities don’t have to, they can simply increase taxes to cover up fraud/waste/incompetence that would force a private business to go out of business.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:45 pm
you should observe the Judeo-Christian 10 Commandments they’re fighting to place in every public venue across the land. (Unfortunately, even if they could accomplish this it wouldn’t help them.)
The flaw in your argument is how many non-church/religious buildings don’t have the 10 commandments in them. McDonalds? Home depot? 7-11? Starbucks?
If it was all about placing them in every venue like you say, they are not doing a very good job even in private businesses.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:49 pm
“I don’t care if John McCain has an infinite number or houses, as long as one of them isn’t 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.”
Well said, Alan.
RC said~
“By John McCain’s own admission, in his world, you don’t even qualify as “rich” until you make $5 million a year!”
I’m still having a hard time grasping McCain’s definition of “rich”. I mean really… A million dollars in one year won’t make you “rich”, but I do believe that if you earn 2.5mil or more annually then you should have earned the “rich” label.
RC also said~
““How would you define rich?”
Well, what I’d do is remember what I said on national TV yesterday, and then try to avoid contradicting myself a day later.”
Ha! LOL, man.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:22 pm
“And I’m not a Republican, I’m an amused outside observer.”
Lovely. I wondered where the superior, I’m-so-above-American-politics snickering was coming from. Which is always incredibly helpful to people who actually care about the country and would prefer to find common ground, rather than promote divisiveness.
It sounds like you’d prefer watching real life as if it were a movie, not actually engaging in anything so messy as “real life,” “voting your conscience,” or “making a difference.”
I didn’t realize you were posting for intellectual masturbation purposes. I’ll shut the door now and leave you to wank in peace.
August 21st, 2008 at 5:11 pm
John McCain didn’t know how many houses he has because of abortion. I don’t know how they tie together, but someone will try…
August 21st, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Sarah:
I’m just keeping a watch on Alan. He’s a good man but lately he’s been sliding, I can’t think a dozen years of listening to Joseph Goebbel’s favorite apprentice can be good for your psychological state indefinitely. I do care about my country and that means looking for the flaws in all potential leaders, the Republicans were caught with their pants down because they didn’t bother to vet Bush. I think that would be why they are so much more skeptical of McCain and the remaining representatives, whereas Democrats seem to making a last Bonzai style push to finally wrest control. I just hope they don’t fall into the same trap because they seem to have much more difficulty regaining lost seats, it pretty much takes an act of unbelievable stupidity like the Bush non-response to Katrina to jar people to reality.
August 21st, 2008 at 5:59 pm
The Republicans were in trouble long before Bush’s advent. The trouble began to brew when the line between religion and politics began to blur in the late ’80s. It went from a moderately conservative ideology, to jihad-lite, thanks to Falwell and Robertson and their ilk.
By the time 1994 rolled around, the Neocons had complete control of the party (they’d already had it with old-school, moderate Republicans like Bush I and Dole, and they began to like the taste of blood they sampled during Clinton’s terms).
I would agree Katrina was one of the more obvious mistakes that the populace couldn’t ignore…But by then it was too late. He’d already been re-elected by people who hadn’t seen other beacons of hopelessness– unfunded mandates like No Child Left Behind, Mission Accomplished, tax-credit checks during a time of war, the missing WMDs…
The Neocons are not skeptical of McCain because of Bush’s failed administration — from what I heard on Fox, they preferred Neocons Romney & Huckabee during the primaries, and they resemble Bush more than McCain — they are also skeptical of him because he had a track record of thinking for himself, of reaching across party lines, and for bucking his own GOP.
They thoroughly vetted, and got exactly what they wanted out of Bush– an anti-intellectual patsy who would do whatever he was told by Cheney and Rove. The GOP is skeptical of McCain because he didn’t seem to be as pliable as Bush, but I fear that’s probably not the case anymore.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:20 pm
[...] of Wonkette. This way, when asked, you won’t have to have your staff get back to the questioner about what you [...]
August 21st, 2008 at 8:30 pm
“John McCain didn’t know how many houses he has because of abortion. I don’t know how they tie together, but someone will try…”
Aha! now I see the devious liberal conspiracy behind all this!
August 21st, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Again, the issue isn’t how many house he owns - it’sthe fact that he was unable to answer that question. More proof of my suspected Dementia diagnosis.
August 21st, 2008 at 9:40 pm
When asked how many houses he owns, McCain said, “I think–I’ll have my staff get to you. It’s condominiums where–I’ll have them get to you.”
Wow, he has so many he can’t count them all? And he calls Obama an elitist.
August 21st, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Hey Cheryl, did you ever get your computer issue resolved (whatever it was)?
And, to tell the truth, I really think McCain is getting a little soft in the head. How the hell do you not know how many residences you own? What day is it John? Can you handle that?
“If the government didn’t get involved, the businesses you listed (plus others) would have gone out of business.”
Yeah, that’s tough. But them’s the breaks.
“A private business has to make a profit or they go out of business.”
Except that’s not always the case, except in the case of the local family-owned deli.
“Government entities…can simply increase taxes to cover up fraud/waste/incompetence…”
Or they can simply continue mortgaging the country as Georgie has done, because Americans want everything, and they don’t want to pay for it.
However, I will point out that “govt waste” is also in the eye of the beholder, and the rhetoric about “pork” is to a great extent just crap, because it’s ok to build a new park in my hometown, but I sure as heck don’t want to pay for one on the other side of the country.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:28 am
Are you an American? I thought media was suppose to be bias when it came to politics. I am a proud American Army Veteran. You are so hateful towards Senator McCain and are giving Barack Hussein Obama a free ride. I always enjoyed Fox News because of the fairness. You are so out of line. Would you die for this country? I would without thinking twice. I now have Multiple Sclerosis and am still trying to re-enlist in the Military. I am not a Republican or Democrat, I AM AN AMERICAN. What does Senator McCain’s homes have to do with anything. You want to play unfair, how about Obama who bought his home from a crook for below market value. Would kill blotched abortions. He doesn’t honor his white heritage,he avoids it at all cost. Obama fumbles his words through his speeches. I’m tired of him calling me an ordinary person. Obama is so fake and UNAMERICAN. McCain is far from perfect, but McCain loves this country and the people in it. He has committed his whole adult life to the United States of America. He is a true American Hero. What and Who is Barack Hussein Obama?
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:43 am
McCain may be soft in the head according to the Dems and the Obie supporters here but why is Obie afraid to take him on one-on-one in a townhall meeting or debate? Huh, why? If McCain is that weak Obie should be able to steamroll him. And yet Obie is chicken. And weaker than the alleged soft head as evidenced by the showdown at Saddleback.
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:25 am
Sgt Mac:
If you think we’re giving Obama a free ride, check out the right wing site. You’ll be happy there because they really trash Obama. They out-hate us 90 to 1.
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:24 am
Again, the issue isn’t how many house he owns - it’sthe fact that he was unable to answer that question. More proof of my suspected Dementia diagnosis.
How many houses does he own?
And please don’t list the properties that belong to his wife as stated in their pre-nuptials.
Oops, exposed the flaw in your argument didn’t I??
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
R.C.
Not sure the points you were trying to make. I was trying to explain that failing businesses got propped up, the free market would have let the failing businesses fail.
Or they can simply continue mortgaging the country as Georgie has done, because Americans want everything, and they don’t want to pay for it.
Yeah, americans are greedy. Our poor live a couple levels above what is middle class in most of the countries on this planet.
However, I will point out that “govt waste” is also in the eye of the beholder, and the rhetoric about “pork” is to a great extent just crap, because it’s ok to build a new park in my hometown, but I sure as heck don’t want to pay for one on the other side of the country.
government waste is based on facts, not on the eye of the beholder. I’ll agree that pork projects are in the eye of the beholder.
Government waste could be described as “the big dig” in boston. Years behind schedule, millions and millions over budget.
In los angeles after the northridge quake, part of the repairs on the 10 freeway were given to a private company. The work was done before their promised time and under budget. Kinda like why do charter schools do a better job educating than regular government funded schools? No teacher unions, a teacher isn’t doing their job up to expectations they are fired. When there is a profit to be made, efforts are made to eliminate waste & fraud.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Republicans couldn’t stand the fact that Bill Clinton was the embodiment everything they stood for, (bootstraps), AND he was a Democrat!
I have no doubt they would have LOVED him if he were a Republican, especially if he had said, “I didn’t need no stinkn welfare!”.
Obama, REALLY embodies the American dream, after the same fashion.
For many it is a testimony to what is right with America, to others it is simply a source of resentment: someone who had as few or less advantages as them and yet rose to the level of the privileged.
For a black man who did better than me with the same or less? UNFORGIVABLE for some.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
What a coincidence! My house uses electricity just like Al Gore’s. But mine doesn’t need its own coal-fired power plant.
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Republicans couldn’t stand the fact that Bill Clinton was the embodiment everything they stood for, (bootstraps), AND he was a Democrat!
I have no doubt they would have LOVED him if he were a Republican, especially if he had said, “I didn’t need no stinkn welfare!”.
True. He didn’t do much for the special interest groups on the left.
He bombed iraq, attacked bosnia/kosovo using the no-bids halliburton. Signed the defense of marriage act and enacted the military don’t ask don’t tell.
Obama is no where close to the same.
I don’t believe anyone on the right is jealous of his success, they don’t want someone so far left (unlike clinton) in charge of the country.
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:44 pm