Obama Hits McCain Adviser On "Whiners" Dig

Ill. Senator Responds After Phil Gramm Says U.S. In "Mental Recession" And Is A "Nation Of Whiners"

(CBS/AP)  Democrat Barack Obama ridiculed an economic adviser to Republican rival John McCain on Thursday for dubbing the United States "a nation of whiners" and suggesting the country is in a "mental recession."

Phil Gramm, a former Texas senator who is a vice chairman of the Swiss bank UBS, made the remarks in an interview with The Washington Times. Gramm has a doctorate in economics.

CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante said Gramm's remarks played perfectly into the hands of the Obama campaign's argument that the GOP leaders are out of touch with regular American voters.

"America already has one Dr. Phil. We don't need another one when it comes to the economy," Obama said during a town-hall event focused on helping women advance economically.

Obama drew cheers and laughter with that comment and boos and hisses when he read Gramm's quotes to the crowd. He contrasted them with rising gas and food prices, home foreclosures and job layoffs.

"It's not just a figment of your imagination," Obama said. "Let's be clear. This economic downturn is not in your head."

"It isn't whining to ask government to step in and give families some relief," he said, drawing a standing ovation from the nearly 3,000 people in a high school gymnasium. "And I think it's time we had a president who doesn't deny our problems or blame the American people for them but takes responsibility and provides the leadership to solve them."

The economy is the top issue of voters, and, thus, has become the No. 1 issue in the presidential campaign as each candidate seeks to portray the other as out of touch with the country's struggles and himself as the leader able to pull the nation out of tenuous times.

CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield said the comments couldn't have come at a worse time for McCain.

"You're in the suburb of Detroit - an area with 10 percent unemployment. You're trying to show that you're a Republican but you're not a conventional stereotype Republican, you feel the pain, to coin the phrase of the workers - and your top economic adviser is calling the country a nation of whiners, saying it's all in your head... Not helpful," said Greenfield.

As he sought to differentiate himself from McCain, Obama seized on quotes attributed to Gramm by the Washington newspaper.

"You've heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession," Gramm told the Times. He noted that growth has held up at about 1 percent despite all the publicity over losing jobs to India, China, illegal immigration, housing and credit problems and record oil prices. "We may have a recession; we haven't had one yet."

"We have sort of become a nation of whiners," Gramm said. "You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline" despite a major export boom that is the primary reason that growth continues in the economy, he said.

McCain disavowed Gramm's comments at a campaign event in Belleville, Michigan, reports CBS News' John Bentley.

“Phil Gramm does not speak for me,” McCain said. “I strongly disagree.”

Gramm has often been mentioned as a possible treasury secretary should McCain win the White House. Plante reports that when the McCain was asked about that possibility on Thursday, he joked that Gramm may still get a political appointment - as ambassador to a former Soviet republic.

"I think Sen. Gramm would be in serious consideration for ambassador to Belarus, although I’m not sure the citizens of Minsk would welcome that," he said.

Later on Thursday, Gramm said in an interview that he meant the nation's leaders were whiners, not its citizens, The Washington Post reported, but he declined to retract his comments.

"I'm not going to retract any of it. Every word I said was true," Gramm said.

[vrnnjoseph]

Phil Gramm is responsible for this mortage mess. This people are shameless. I guess over 400,000 lost jobs is all in the American publics head! I bet there will be a special place in Hell for Gramm, Chenny and Bush!!! It will be HOT!!!

[vrnnjoseph]

Remember ERON!!!

[antoniof123]

The compasionate conservate again. Well, if you are dumb enough to fall for it again then you truly deserve what you get.

At this rate the Republicans will be saying we are number one in the western heimisphere as long as you don''t include Canada, Mexico, Brasil, Columbia, and about a 2 dozen other countries here.

God neo cons are dumber than dirt. When will we learn not to trust a conservative in congress.

[future121]

Phil Gramm, a former Texas senator who is a vice chairman of the Swiss bank UBS, made the remarks in an interview with The Washington Times. Gramm has a doctorate in economics.

UBS isn''t that one of the Banks in trouble financally and under Ferderal investigation. He is McCains adviser! Obama for sure.

[aldon61]

Good ole'' "loophole" Phil Gramm has spoken! Glory Be!
The master of economic deception himself doth proclaim "it''s all in our heads folks". Whew, that''s a relief, now we can relax on go our and spend, spend, spend, nothing to worry about, is there Loophole? Four dollar gas...no problem! $3.50 milk....no problem! Utilities bills out of sight?....no problem! Mortgage forclosures?....NO PROBLEM! Judas H. Priest Phil, take your dam blinders off, our nation is bleeding and you tell us it''s in our heads? If this man is advising McCain, his backers better break it up. The last time this pudding head was listened to was pre-ENRON and pre-Bear-Sterns. If John McCain (who doesn''t know much about economics)has to have an advisor, and if this is an example of who he is turning to for advise, his judgement comes into play. Gramm is a joke! McCain..listen to me, this is NOT a Batman movie; we don''t need Phil Gramm playing The Joker... Bah humbug to both of you! Obama "08".

[nanc12]

''Phil Gramm does not speak for me,'' McCain said.

LOL, no he is just McSame''s chief economic advisor. He tells McSame what to think. He''s the person behind the Enron loophole, and is also the Senator who got the banks de-regulated, thus creating the mortgage crisis. Thank God this moron is finally being exposed!

[mcvet]

Now THIS is funny. The guy that McSame call''s on EVERYTIME he is available doesn''t speak for him. Looking at the picture say''s it all!! ROFLMAO Lobbiest are thrown under the bus one after the other as McSame double talks his way across the country. You HAVE to have rocks in the head to vote for this loser!!

[DCropp]

Which is it?

Senator McCain calls Gramm his TOP economic adviser.

Maybe we should revisit McCain''s budget proposal.

McCain never learned anything from Reagan.
We''ve already spent $1 trillion in Iraq.
McCain talked about a presence in Iraq for 100 years.

Reagan knew Washington needed to focus on issues at home.
He let the Soviet Union bankrupt itself, spending billions in Afghanistan.
Now, McCain wants to spend another trillion in Iraq, billions more in Afghanistan, and billions against Iran.

[nanc12]

You''ve got Gramm saying the lost homes and jobs are figments of our imagination. McLame admitted that offshore drilling wouldn''t help gas prices, but it would be good psychologically. You''ve got Black saying a terrorist attack would be great news for McLame. You''ve got McLame saying ''bomb, bomb Iran,'' ''maybe cigarettes are a great way to kill Iranians,'' and just generally, I don''t know *** I said 2 minutes ago, how do you expect me to remember who I was 8 years ago? LOL this is great.

[larysinclair]

"America already has one Dr. Phil. We don''t need another one when it comes to the economy," Obama said during a town-hall event focused on helping women advance economically.
Am town hall about women advancing economically? Hilarious considering Obama pays 6,000 less to his female staffers than the men on his staff,...If they all went to McCains camp they would make more than the men!! Once again Obama''s hypocrisy is amazing!!

Nobama,...ever!!

[cold777]

Nobama,...ever!!


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Posted by LARYSINCLAIR
======================================================
The desperation is evident........

[danstoned]

Southern White Trash Phil Gramm is a Texasshole, John McCains kind of people.

[fstop100]

This from the guy that talks down to blacks?

[racam_us]

Well, I guess it is good to have something in our heads and not just space like Bush, Graham, and McCain. I have never heard a more un-American comment. I have come to the conclusion that all Republicans are morons.

[jntlw-2009]

Please check out this link to how Phil Gramm is the architech of the deregulation in he mortgage/banking industry that has caused or allowed our current subprime fiasco to occurr. Of course unscrupulous mortgage lenders are the one who wanted this legislation so they could screw you.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/9/five_ways_wall_street_and_washington

[six-six-seis]

What a joke this Gramm Dork is.

[caliguy55]

This is very reminiscent of Jimmy Carter''s remark before the 1980 elections that the nation''s economy was gripped by a "malaise", which many people believe ultimately led to his failure to win a second term as President of the United States. When Carter made this remark, the GOP jumped all over him. Well, the shoe is now on the other foot, and it''ll be amusing to watch McSame''s attempts to wiggle out of this one. Malaise is defined as: "a general feeling of worry, discontent, or dissatisfaction, often resulting in lethargy." To me, there is no difference between what Carter said and Phil Gramm is now saying as part of McSame''s campaign.

[smiley676]

I have never heard a more un-American comment. I have come to the conclusion that all Republicans are morons.


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Posted by racam_us

Really? Never? Have you been listening to Obama''s former pastor? His wife? Himself?

I agree Gramm''s statements are unnecessary. But he is just an advisor, not the candidate himself. And Obama has made statements that are just as bad or worse.

[cold777]

Gee, I thought BHO wasn''''t going to resort to the "old style attack" campaign. I thought that he was the new uniter? I thought...silly me, I guess I didn''''t think.


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Posted by ritewingman
======================================================
Gee golly, why doesn''t Obama just sit there while Mccain and his goons make these statements, and attack him and do nothing about it? He''ll really look strong keeping silent......what a fool.

[smiley676]

%u201CINSERT ADVISOR NAME HERE... does not speak for me,%u201D McCain said. %u201CI strongly disagree.%u201D

How many times has McLame said this about how many advisors/supporters/groupies...




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Posted by ozilot

But this is exactly what Obama said. He was the first candidate to say that the advisors don''t speak for him and their comments cannot be attributed to him.

Don''t you remember what your candidate has said in the past?

The same rules should apply to both candidates. If you want to start attributing advisers statements to the candidates, I can roll out Obama''s adviser''s statements, that he didn''t want attributed to him.

[cold777]

Hussein Obama couldn''''t wait to jump on this when his wife has said FAR WORSE things. So much for his "bringing change to Washington". What a fraud.


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Posted by ritewingman
======================================================
What did they say that was far worse?

[zerato-2009]

I agree Gramm''''s statements are unnecessary. But he is just an advisor, not the candidate himself. And Obama has made statements that are just as bad or worse.
Posted by smiley676

Gramm is mccains chief economic advisor and architect of the Mccain''s economic plan. As you remember taht mccain said he is not very good on the economy, so he relies on , yes you see now, Gramm.

[smiley676]

Gee golly, why doesn''''t Obama just sit there while Mccain and his goons make these statements, and attack him and do nothing about it? He''''ll really look strong keeping silent......what a fool.


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Posted by cold777

When has McCain EVER attacked Obama?

You need some facts to back up your statements.

[cbullcom]

ritewingman, that is not the same old politics, that is the truth. The same old politics is when people accuse Obama of flip flopping, but then don''t ignore McCains flip flopping. Using class and race to divide, blaming Americans for issue''s that they''ve created. I am not the reason for over $4 a gallon gas. Think before you write or say anything the next time, that way your ignorance won''t be so obvious.

[smiley676]

Gramm is mccains chief economic advisor and architect of the Mccain''''s economic plan. As you remember taht mccain said he is not very good on the economy, so he relies on , yes you see now, Gramm.


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Posted by Zerato

Obama''s advisors said that Obama wouldn''t pull the troops out of Iraq.

Let''s keep into perspective who is actually doing the talking.

[hungryman9]

Looks like Obama''s campaign has been losing ground in the last few weeks. He has turned to the right and made liberals mad. He has been talking down to blacks and making Jesse Jackson mad. Maybe Jessie will cut his n_ts off and all will be fine. Michelle then can get Bill Clinton.

[zerato-2009]

%u201CINSERT ADVISOR NAME HERE... does not speak for me,%u201D McCain said. %u201CI strongly disagree.%u201D
Posted by ozilot

Seemingly obama''s supporters speak for obama and mccains''s speak for themselves. A bit of hypocrisy

[smiley676]

What a coward and piece of revolting garbage.


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Posted by diatreme

Name calling again. No facts, just names

[zerato-2009]

When has McCain EVER attacked Obama?

You need some facts to back up your statements.
Posted by smiley676

Every time he speaks. Obviously you get your info through other sources and not by listening to mccain.

[cold777]

Looks like Obama''''s campaign has been losing ground in the last few weeks. He has turned to the right and made liberals mad. He has been talking down to blacks and making Jesse Jackson mad. Maybe Jessie will cut his n_ts off and all will be fine. Michelle then can get Bill Clinton.


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Posted by hungrymama
======================================================
....and do you really believe that liberals and African-Americans won''t vote for Obama anymore? They are going to vote for Mccain? LOL! Too funny......

[whitemale08]

I hope you Republicans and so called "white working class blue collar Reagan Democrats" see all of the loving treatment from John McCain who says the answer to the failing economy is "Shut Up and Stop Whinning".

Good Luck.

[larysinclair]

Jesse Jackson can''t "cut his n-ts off",...Michelle already did and she has them in her purse!!!!!!!

[smiley676]

Seemingly obama''''s supporters speak for obama and mccains''''s speak for themselves. A bit of hypocrisy


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Posted by Zerato

Obama has said the same thing about a number of his advisors and supporters.

Obama plays by a different set of rules than other candidates. He can say an advisor doesn''t speak for him and that is okay. When another candidate tries that, it doesn''t work.

Obama can say rural whites are bitter. But if anyone else ever grouped a race of people together that way, he/she would be called a racist.

Obama''s wife cannot be questioned on her words, while other candidates'' spouses can.

A different set of rules will make Obama the winner and America the loser.

[walt1944-2009]

Former congressman Phil Gramm has accused us all of being a nation of "whiners" and that we are all in a "mental recession" instead of a financial one.

In essence, the senile old buzzard claims this entire recession is "IMAGINARY", including the loss of 400,000 jobs, gasoline prices at a national average of $4.50/gallon and going UP, out of control prices for everything else, and a dollar that isn''t worth the paper it''s printed on!

Apparently Gramm, who also must be a steady user of Geritol, would rather we all be like his friend, Karl Rove, and defy everything that we think is wrong with this country, starting with answering subpeonas and testifying to Congress.

Gramm, who supposedly has a doctorate in Economics (it must be Ferengi Economics) is a big shot at the Swiss Bank, therefore makes more money in a week than we could in a year, and he is probably paid in Euros, NOT the worthless dollar.

Still, it is rumored that because of his comments, Gramm will soon be a featured guest on the Rush Limbaugh show where they can both compare bank book balances, and blabber about how mentally derelict the people of the USSA are.

Limbaugh''s producers plan to name that program "THE GONG SHOW"!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!!
sig heil, TOTALLY MORE OF THE SAME, McCain!!!!!!!!!

[zerato-2009]

Obama''''s advisors said that Obama wouldn''''t pull the troops out of Iraq.

Let''''s keep into perspective who is actually doing the talking.
Posted by smiley676

You are just making things up now, Phil gramm telling us we are imaging a recession and high oil prices and mortgage foreclosures, while he instituted procedures to cause these same things. Chief economic advisor phil gramm of teh mccain campaign.

[johnny1285]

PHIL GRAMM WAS EXACTLY RIGHT... NO ONE REALIZES HOW GOOD WE DO HAVE IT IN THIS COUNTRY EVEN WHEN TIMES ARE ECONOMICALLY TOUGH.

GO TO IRAQ TO FIND OUT WHAT A TRULY NEEDY PEOPLE LIVE LIKE.

AMERICA --IS-- TURNING INTO A BUNCH OF WHINERS.

;)

[smiley676]

Every time he speaks. Obviously you get your info through other sources and not by listening to mccain.


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Posted by Zerato

Actually, and I''ve said this before, so I resent your comment. I take the time to read every speech the candidates make. I watch the news and then I go to the source.

McCain doesn''t attack Obama. He criticizes some of Obama''s policies, but that is what campaigning is all about.

[homespunlady]

Just ANOTHER example of how OUT OF TOUCH the NEOCONS are with EVERYONE ELSE.
Here are a few MORE:
ROVE - telling congress to "shove it" because HE''S ABOVE THE LAW!
Bush - "relishing" signing the Wiretapping SPY ON AMERICANS BILL.
and that''s just TODAY!

[johnny1285]

"Seemingly obama''''s supporters speak for obama and mccains''''s speak for themselves. A bit of hypocrisy"

EXACTLY...

;)

[mrmazerati]

The price of gas and loss of jobs is not imaginary. Gramm is out of touch.

[getrealnow2]

Is Obama now wearing that flag since he wants to be my president?

Is Obama now not going to the racist church now that he wants to be my president?

Is Obama now putting his hand on his heart during the pledge unlike he used to now that he wants to be my president?

Is Obama now surrounding himself with America''s flag now that he wants to be my president?

This guy Obama kind of a new guy, not the left wing hate America guy he was just couple years ago I guess.

[smiley676]

You are just making things up now, Phil gramm telling us we are imaging a recession and high oil prices and mortgage foreclosures, while he instituted procedures to cause these same things. Chief economic advisor phil gramm of teh mccain campaign.


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Posted by Zerato

No I''m not. Did you just start following the campaign yesterday?

[hungryman9]

....and do you really believe that liberals and African-Americans won''''t vote for Obama anymore? They are going to vote for Mccain? LOL! Too funny......
Posted by cold777
**************************
It don''t matter, they are out numbered anyway. Not enough blacks to put him in office and most people are moderate, not liberal or conservative. Obama is beat at his own game.

[xxunknown]

Eh, cut his nuts off.

[rgrxx175]

maybe mccain could pay my mental bills,

[smiley676]

Samantha Power and Kahl

Are both Obama advisors who said that he wouldn''t just pull the troops out as promised.

[whitemale08]

Home foreclosures since the Great Depression

$4.50 gas from $1.15 in 2000

Food costs are in hyper-inflation.

Record employment at WalMart, Burger King, Warehouses.

Record automobile repossesions.

9.5 trillion dollar debt.

Bernanke anounces "downside risks to the financial system"

Economic meltdown...

but we''re just Whinners.

193 days till FREEDOM from OIL !!!

Untill then SIEG HEIL BUSH !!!

[rgrxx175]

is mccain going to cut the mental taxes for the rich?

[smiley676]

Not enough blacks to put him in office and most people are moderate, not liberal or conservative. Obama is beat at his own game.


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Posted by hungrymama

You''re right there aren''t enough blacks. The only way for Obama to win is for whites to vote for him.

So, if Obama becomes president, it''s proof that whites aren''t as racist as Al Sharpton would like everyone to believe.

[zerato-2009]

Actually, and I''''ve said this before, so I resent your comment. I take the time to read every speech the candidates make. I watch the news and then I go to the source.

McCain doesn''''t attack Obama. He criticizes some of Obama''''s policies, but that is what campaigning is all about.
Posted by smiley676

Mccain does attack obama. It must be waht you mean by attack. It seems your definition is a physical attack. While the normal defintion in politics is to go after the person''s issues rather tahn standing on his own position on the issues.

Mccain is a very negative politician. His talking points are negative. He is not campaigning on his own merits but agaisnt obama. Taht is negative and taht is attack politics.