Lord save the presidential candidates from their allies, Chapter Two. Last week, it was Barack Obama who saw his carefully crafted speech on patriotism overshadowed because backer Wesley Clark had made a controversial statement about John McCain getting shot down as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. Today, it was McCain's turn to watch as his recent effort to show he understands the economic hard times many Americans are experiencing got stepped on by an old friend and top advisor. In an interview with the Washington Times , former Sen. Phil Gramm termed the current economic slowdown "a mental recession." He added: "We may have a recession; we haven't had one yet." And then he showed why his own presidential bid in 1996 quickly crashed and burned, calling the United States "a nation of whiners." Obama, campaigning in Virginia, recognized the gift that had been handed him. Referencing the "mental recession" remark, he said Gramm "didn’t say this, but I guess what he meant was, ‘It’s a figment of your imagination, these high gas prices.’ " He continued: "Sen. Gramm then deemed the United States, and I quote ‘a nation of whiners.' " Milking the moment for all it was worth as his crowd both laughed and booed, Obama delivered a punchline that gave the cable networks one of the day's prime soundbites: "I want all of you to know that America already has one Dr. Phil, we don’t need another one." McCain distanced himself from his bl ...
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Lord save the presidential candidates from their allies, Chapter Two. Last week, it was Barack Obama who saw his carefully crafted speech on patriotism overshadowed because backer Wesley Clark had made a controversial statement about John McCain getting shot down as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. Today, it was McCain's turn to watch as his recent effort to show he understands the economic hard times many Americans are experiencing got stepped on by an old friend and top advisor. In an interview with the Washington Times , former Sen. Phil Gramm termed the current economic slowdown "a mental recession." He added: "We may have a recession; we haven't had one yet." And then he showed why his own presidential bid in 1996 quickly crashed and burned, calling the United States "a nation of whiners." Obama, campaigning in Virginia, recognized the gift that had been handed him. Referencing the "mental recession" remark, he said Gramm "didn’t say this, but I guess what he meant was, ‘It’s a figment of your imagination, these high gas prices.’ " He continued: "Sen. Gramm then deemed the United States, and I quote ‘a nation of whiners.' " Milking the moment for all it was worth as his crowd both laughed and booed, Obama delivered a punchline that gave the cable networks one of the day's prime soundbites: "I want all of you to know that America already has one Dr. Phil, we don’t need another one." McCain distanced himself from his bl ...