McCain Adviser Says McCain, Palin Unprepared To Run Major Company

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Republicans

Top McCain adviser Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett Packard, today said both Sarah Palin and John McCain lack the experience necessary to run a major company.

As Huffington Post first reported, Fiorina was asked on St. Louis KTRS Radio if she believes Palin "has the experience to run a major company, like Hewlett Packard."

"No, I don't," Fiorina replied. "But you know what? That's not what she's running for."

Asked about the comment later on MSNBC, Fiorina made a similar statement about the man at the top of the Republican ticket.

"Well, I don't think John McCain could run a major corporation," Fiorina said.

She continued: "I don't think Barack Obama could run a major corporation. I don't think Joe Biden could run a major corporation. But on the other hand, a major corporation is not the same as being the president or vice president of the United States. It is a fallacy to suggest that the country is like a company. So, of course, to run a business you have to have a lifetime of experience in business. But that's not what Sarah Palin, John McCain, Barack Obama or Joe Biden are doing."

Fiorina's is the second statement from a McCain adviser today that the campaign likely wishes it could take back. Earlier, economic advisor Douglas Holtz-Eakin suggested that McCain helped create the BlackBerry communications device, a comment later dismissed as a "boneheaded joke" by a McCain aide.

"If John McCain's top economic advisor doesn't think he can run a corporation, how on Earth can he run the largest economy in the world in the midst of a financial crisis?" Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement. "Apparently even the people who run his campaign agree that the economy is an issue John McCain doesn't understand as well as he should."

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by hugochavez9 September 18, 2008 6:50 PM EDT: And the devil came here yesterday.

Yesterday, the devil came here. Right here. Right here. And it smells of sulfur still today, this table that I am now standing in front of.

Yesterday, ladies and gentlemen, from this rostrum, the president of the United States, the gentleman to whom I refer as the devil, came here, talking as if he owned the world. Truly. As the owner of the world.; Reply to this comment


by biasedpress September 18, 2008 5:56 PM EDT: Because of Obamas radical left, racist ties, and associates, Obama would be denied a job with the FBI upon a backround check.

How is it this dangerous emptysuit could be our next president?; Reply to this comment


by biasedpress September 18, 2008 5:42 PM EDT: QUESTION FOR THOSE KEEPING IT REAL.

Could the follwing potentially be in conflict with the National Security of the United States?

A U.S. president who has a documented history of radical left, communist ideologue mentors, friends, and associates, some of whom are racist, and separatist. A man who while sitting in the pews of a racially polarizing, politically left church made a NON NEGOTIABLE COMMITMENT to, NOT the United States, but to Africa.

Is this a conflict of interest for a sitting U.S.President?

How can it not be?; Reply to this comment


by ipublius September 17, 2008 6:43 PM EDT: Maybe if Alaska does secede from the Union, Palin & McCain can run that country. These neo-Confererate Busheviks deserve some reward for continuing to carry water for the Bushevik Party.; Reply to this comment


by missglo September 17, 2008 3:24 PM EDT: Is this news, the American People has known this from the begining. He can''t snow us.; Reply to this comment


by ubu2008 September 17, 2008 10:01 AM EDT: Obama and his friends are panicing are ignoring the facts that John McCain wasn''t out of touch, he was on point. John McCain co-wrote legislation in 2005

I join as a cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation. If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.

John McCain, May 26, 2006

John saw this comming and begged for congress to act.

Obama/Biden have done nothing but lie and MSM doesn''''t even remember the John McCain efforts to protect the taxpayer.

CBS & OBAMA working hand in hand to recreate history!!!; Reply to this comment


by armanvaldar September 17, 2008 7:52 AM EDT: But this woman is correct...Palin is not qualified to run a major corporation, nor is she qualified to be vice president. Simple fact and the GOP can spin the facts as they wish. Why will not they not let the press near Ms. Palin?; Reply to this comment


by amnstymccain September 17, 2008 7:20 AM EDT: America for Americans! Obama 2008! Mexico for Mexican illegals and Amnesty Juan Mccain! No Amnesty for illegal lawbreaking hispanics! Obama / Biden 2008!; Reply to this comment


by amnstymccain September 17, 2008 7:18 AM EDT: Anyone other than Amnesty Mccain! Atleast Obama''s supporters don''t say that he can''t run a business. Amnesty Mccain needs to move to mexico so he can live with his people!; Reply to this comment


by amnstymccain September 17, 2008 7:16 AM EDT: Obama 2008! Lets all send a message to Amnesty Juan Mccain that we will NOT TOLERATE AMNESTY for illegal mexicans! Obama 2008!; Reply to this comment