In an interview with the Washington Times, McCain's top economic adviser Phil Gramm tells America to suck it up and stop complaining about the economy:

"You've heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession," he said, noting 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," he 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.


Gramm, whose extensive ties to Enron proved problematic during the firm's implosion several years ago, was serving as a lobbyist for the international banking and subprime mortgage giant UBS until April. As Mother Jones documented, Gramm played a key role in the subprime meltdown during his time in the Senate.

Just yesterday, McCain himself said "I would imagine that we are" in a recession. But he and Gramm are still on the same page: in April McCain said "a lot of our problems today are psychological."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/10/mccain-adviser-americans_n_111857.html

Isnt that nice,
and here I thought it was real!

Hmmm... Oil prices are certainly rippling through our economy, but things aren't nearly as bad as I thought they'd be after the Bear Stearns thing. Still, there's some truth to psychology playing a role in a recession. If we all get scared and stop living, things will surely slow down further.

I just saw this on NBC Evening News. I couldn't believe it. McCain did say "Phil Gramm does not speak for me, only I speak for me."

I also thought it was funny as they showed Obama's view on Gramm's statement. His reaction was "We don't need another Dr. Phil in this world, we already got one." He also stated, "Maybe he thinks the high gas prices are just part of our imagination."

I honestly think you would have to be a blind man to not be able to see that we are in a recession. I mean seriously, how high does everything have to get before everyone gets it?

But McCain said the same thing in April,

Transcript:

CAVUTO: I think you know, Senator, we’ve been in and out another all time high for oil and gas prices today. Oil hovering around 113, 114 dollars a barrel. Many are sort of jumping on your proposal to nix the federal gas tax — a little north of 18 cents — throughout the summer. Are you afraid though, by the time we get to the summer, we’ll be up that much and more in gas prices?

MCCAIN: I’m very concerned about it, Neil. And obviously the way it’s been going up is just terrible. But I think psychologically — and a lot of our problems today, as you know, are psychological — the confidence, trust, the uncertainty about our economic future, ability to keep our own home. This might give them a little psychological boost.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/19/mccain-a-lot-of-our-problems-today-are-psychological/

AND, he shows a consistent thought process about this,

In January, McCain said the problems with the economy are in our heads: “A lot of this is psychological. A lot of it’s psychological. Because I agree the fundamentals of our economy is still strong.”

And in April, McCain said, “[A] lot of our problems today are psychological.” He said he intended to give voters “a little psychological boost,” in lieu of a meaningful policy.

And in June, McCain said he’s still focused on the “psychological impact” of various policies.

For that matter, let’s not forget that McCain’s policy record reflects this elitist thinking. Because McCain believes our systemic economic problems are psychological, it leads him to oppose minimum-wage increases, and support hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts for the very wealthy.

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/16154.html

Well Gramm might not be speaking for him, but they are both speaking the same language!

I don't care what happens. I don't want MCcain in the White house as the next President, I'm sorry to those who might feel different lee about that, I just do not.

I mean it's clear John MCcain is a right out another Bush and that's the sad part.

Also something we do not need either is another Bush in the white house.

This man,

Gramm, whose extensive ties to Enron proved problematic during the firm's implosion several years ago, was serving as a lobbyist for the international banking and subprime mortgage giant UBS until April. As Mother Jones documented, Gramm played a key role in the subprime meltdown during his time in the Senate.


Is John McCains economic advisor, and will probably be his Sec of Treasury if elected!

2+2 still equal 4, Right?

Does anyone remeber ENRON?

Phil Gramms wife recieved a high paying cushy job with ENRON as a direct result of his Lobbying for them.

Yea he is right it is in my head....it is that little voice that keeps say I can't believe gas is this F$*& High

why are we not surprised buy that statement. hell grahams a rich man. he has no idea what i means to live from paycheck to pay check.

He is only mad because the mental delusions are not working his way..lol Bush pretty much wore out the brainwashing his whole time in office. People are waking up from the hypnosis and realizing they helped a madman take this country down the drain.

People are losing their houses, gas is now almost more than food in a month, food prices are going up from the cost of fuel, public service prices are going up, rent seems to be on a rise, etc... Sure the rich are not feeling these pinches but us everyday folks are pretty bruised from them.

name any politician who knows anything about living from paycheck to paycheck. McCain struggled by on $400K last year, gave about 30% to various charities; Obama could barely make ends meet on $1.6 mil, and gave none to charity because his 1% mortgage kept him so broke.


heck, any economist of any value will admit that consumer sentiment is the largest mover in the economy. Psycological outlook does a whole lot more than any gov't program or policy ever did. Just listen to the news, every thing is based on fear...oil prices, food prices, kinda like the news media is a bunch of chicken littles

Like this?

June 27, 2008.

John McCain, in Calif, being driven from John Wayne airport to a fundraiser.
He takes a quick call from Martin Wisckol of the Orange County Register.

WISCKOL: I'd like to ask you a couple questions suggested by voters here. They're not reporter-type questions.

McCAIN: Sure. It'd be a pleasure.

WISCKOL: When was the last time you pumped your own gas and how much did it cost? 


McCAIN: Oh, I don't remember. Now there's Secret Service protection. But I've done it for many, many years. I don't recall and frankly, I don't see how it matters.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/06/28/mccain-gas-prices-unaware/

Duh,,,
Im John McConfused!
Tax-payers buy my gas! Secret service pumps it!

It's a Psychological thing. Just ask Phil!!!

Your exactly right

He is saying "we know your getting screwed (without a kiss or foreplay first) but MAN UP and take it like a MAN"

I'd love to give Mc Cain food stamps and see how far he can stretch them to the next month!

The windows in my Limo are tinted.
I cant see the signs!!!