by Damozel | Let's ask him!
Throughout the past eight years, and as recently as last December, McCain has acknowledged on a number of occasions that he knows very little about the economy:
– Seeking to explain his shift to the left on economic issues, McCain claimed: “I didn’t pay nearly the attention to those issues in the past. I was probably a ’supply-sider’ based on the fact that I really didn’t jump into the issue.” [Jan. 2000]
– “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.” [Nov. 2005]
– “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should,” but “I’ve got Greenspan’s book.” [Dec. 2007] (Think Progress)
Note that Think Progress has thoughtfully provided links to the original sources.
Now he's trying to argue that he didn't actually say what everyone knows he said. That's kind of weird. As Steve Benen says at Crooks and Liars, 'Even one of his top campaign advisors has admitted that McCain has made these comments. Why deny what is plainly true?'
I'd have suggested he'd do better to say that he's now read that book of Greenspan's and has taken a few night school courses, and is therefore now is well qualified to solve our current dire predicament. That would be marginally more persuasive than arguing that he didn't say what the record plainly shows he said.
But no. The 'It was true then, but it's not now' argument wouldn't work either. The Carpetbagger Report illustrates why:
McCain told an audience earlier this year, “Every time in history we have raised taxes it has cut revenues.” As a matter of reality, McCain was talking gibberish.
A few days prior, at a Republican debate, 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.” He then reversed course, said the fundamentals of the economy aren’t strong, and inexplicably blamed government spending for creating an economic decline that he didn’t believe existed
He also recently told a national television audience that he’s “glad” when interest rates fall, and “wishes interest rates were zero,” which really doesn’t make any sense.
Since then, McCain has badly flubbed economic tests on energy, the deficit, poverty, and Social Security.
Steve Benen is reluctant just to call him a liar. 'Why would McCain appear on national television and say something he knows to be false? Given his emphasis, especially lately, on honesty in the campaign, why take the risk by lying like this?' I'm not reluctant to call him a liar. It appears he is lying.
There is another explanation, of course: that he simply doesn't remember. Hey, it worked for Reagan.
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Which is all the more reason he needs to select a economic minded person as his VP, such as Mitt Romney.
Acknowledging a weeknes can actually be a strength of a true leader.
Posted by: freadom | July 03, 2008 at 11:04 PM