The wheels are falling off John the Populist, maybe he can spin this as being THE ORIGINAL MAVERICK. He's so maverick he doesn't even bother to know! http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080821/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_houses WASHINGTON - Days after he cracked that being rich in the U.S. meant earning at least $5 million a year, Republican presidential candidate John McCain acknowledged that he wasn't sure how many houses he and his wealthy wife actually own. ADVERTISEMENT "I think — I'll have my staff get to you," McCain responded to a question posed by Politico, according to a story Thursday on the publication's Web site. "It's condominiums where — I'll have them get to you." Later, the McCain campaign told Politico that McCain and his wife, Cindy, have at least four in three states, Arizona, California and Virginia. Newsweek recently estimated the two owned at least seven properties. On the campaign trail, McCain doesn't refer to his wife's wealth, estimated by some at $100 million and based on her late father's Arizona beer distributorship. Democratic rival Barack Obama's campaign has been trying to make their wealth more widely known to blunt criticism that Obama is an elitist out of touch with ordinary Americans. According to her 2006 tax returns, Cindy McCain had a total income of $6 million. She has not released her 2007 returns, which she files separately from her husband. McCain's tax returns showed a total income of $405,409 in 2007. In a forum last week with the Rev. Rick Warren, McCain was asked to define the word "rich" and to give a figure. After promoting his tax policies, McCain said: "I think if you are just talking about income, how about $5 million?" The audience laughed, and he added: "But seriously, I don't think you can — I don't think seriously that — the point is that I'm trying to make here, seriously — and I'm sure that comment will be distorted — but the point is that we want to keep people's taxes low and increase revenues." Obama, asked the same question at the forum, said those making $250,000 and higher are in the top 3 to 4 percent and "doing well." Obama and his wife, Michelle, reported making $4.2 million in 2007.
Yet our comrades who fight in Iraq, they're having their homes foreclosed. If Mccainy was really for the comprehensive Housing Rescue, he would take that wealth an give it to those who need it, instead of pointing fingers. the catholic Bishop of the people, now new president of paraguay, Fernando lugo turned down his annual salary. He said that the money would be better spent on the poor. World leaders should learn from Lugo. We need more men who follow christ's vision of serving the poor, and not infidels who use the word of christ for their own agenda and throw around cute quotes like "beyond the gates of hell".
Another issue the DNC/Obama should pounce on. How in the world can this guy relate to the common man when he believes that once you make $5 you are considered rich and he can't even remember how many houses he has.
Not sure what the big deal is. As for "relating to the common man," candidates for President are not like commoners as a general rule. And why we'd want them to be, I'll never understand. Don't we want someone more competent and successful than average in that office?
Lol. Please tell me you don't relate "career politican" with competent and "married a beer baronness" with successful.
By itself? It's not a big deal. In the context of his current campaign image/strategy, it's certainly at odds. Another point - this is generally the answer that somebody gives every time McCain has a "senior moment", or can't remebmer who's who in the mideast, or says something dumb like reinstating the draft or starting a bunch of other wars, or is caught in a lie. In isolation it doesn't look like a big deal, taken together it's a pattern, and one that's at odds with the straight talk express image he attempts to project. Does this mean Obama hasn't flubbed things on occasion? Sure he has - but his seem to be general mistakes/misspeaks (57 states e.g.) rather than a physical lack of knowledge (most of McCains screw ups)
Of course we want someone more competent and successful than average, but the reality is their policies are going to effect everyone, monetarily successful or not. If you can't at least show some sort of understanding of the plight most Americans are going through and instead call $5 million rich and can't remember the number of houses you have, I think it's something that should be highlighted by the Democrats and should concern all voters not "rich".
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vpmFd25tRqo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vpmFd25tRqo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> I don't care if he owns 20 homes.
McCain was joking about the $5 million. He said so 3 seconds after making that comment. If you think he was being serious, you either have selective hearing or don't understand English. As for Obama, I'd be careful about injecting McCain's houses into this campaign. Didn't Tony Rezko help Obama buy his home?
I can't see the video, but I do care if he knows how many homes he owns, just seems like something you should know.
I wonder how many of those homes he got "good old boy" financing from a convicted felon like Obama did his house
when Gore decides to get on his plane instead of his scooter to travel to brasil, the right wing goes crazy.
Just went back and re-read the answers given by both guys to the "rich" question. McCain should really try out for Dodgeball. He'd be great at it.
