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Kaine on McCain's House Gaffe: "He Couldn't Count High Enough"
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ShareAugust 21, 2008 9:30 AM
ABC News' Teddy Davis and Hope Ditto report: Obama V.P. prospect and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine mocked Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Thursday for not knowing exactly how many houses he owns.
"I understand that Sen. McCain was asked yesterday this question, 'how many houses do you own?,' and he couldn't answer that question. He couldn’t count high enough apparently to even know how many houses he owns," said Kaine.
Time Magazine's The Page has the video. Watch it here.
Kaine, who made his remarks on CNN's "American Morning," was referring to an interview that the presumptive Republican nominee gave to Politico on Wednesday when the Arizona senator was uncertain how many houses he and his wife, Cindy, own.
"I think -- I'll have my staff get to you," McCain told Politico in Las Cruces, N.M. "It's condominiums where -- I'll have them get to you."
The correct answer, McCain's staff told Politico, is at least four, located in Arizona, California and Virginia. Newsweek estimated this summer that the potential first couple owns at least seven properties.
UPDATE I: McCain Camp Counterpunches with Rezko:
While campaigning in Virginia on Thursday, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., joined Kaine in mocking McCain for not knowing how many houses he owned.
Read a full report from ABC's Jake Tapper.
The McCain campaign responded to Obama's criticism by invoking, among other things, his ties to convicted land developer Tony Rezko as well as the handsome sum he made last year from book sales.
"Does a guy who made more than $4 million last year, just got back from vacation on a private beach in Hawaii and bought his own million-dollar mansion with the help of a convicted felon really want to get into a debate about houses?" asked McCain spokesman Brian Rogers. "Does a guy who worries about the price of arugula and thinks regular people 'cling' to guns and religion in the face of economic hardship really want to have a debate about who’s in touch with regular Americans?"
"The reality," he added, "is that Barack Obama’s plans to raise taxes and opposition to producing more energy here at home as gas prices skyrocket show he’s completely out of touch with the concerns of average Americans."
UPDATE II: Obama Ad Hits McCain on His 7 Houses:
Quickly seizing on McCain's Politico interview in which he did not know how many houses he owns, the Obama campaign launched a national cable television ad on Thursday which brings up the Arizona senator's recent gaffe, identfies him as owning 7 houses, and paints him as being out of touch with the country's economic struggles.
August 21, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Romney, Mitt, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (1486)
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Ha ha ha. Obama's such an elitist!
Message to Democrats: Do not let this go. Hit McCain with this over, and over and over. Then hit him again. You know Rove would do it to us. Forget the issues. Throw the public some red meat. That's what wins elections. Taking the high road does not work. Just ask John Kerry.
Posted by: SpaceCat | Aug 21, 2008 9:46:11 AM
Well, if you don't know how many homes you own, how can you think you can run the United States of America? John McCain is the biggest insult to intelligant people I have ever seen.As a Republican I am sad that we have nothing better than John McCain to run against the Dems.
Posted by: willing | Aug 21, 2008 9:46:38 AM
this gaffe is ENOUGH to win an election. ADS PLEASE.
Posted by: johnosahon | Aug 21, 2008 9:48:44 AM
It does get confusing after the first 5 million, everything is one big blur!
Posted by: DAVID NH | Aug 21, 2008 9:48:48 AM
McCain says he does not know how many houses he owns while many are having to foreclose on the only one they own.
Posted by: No Draft | Aug 21, 2008 9:51:19 AM
That's funny! I can't decide if it is a sign of having way too much money or dementia when you don't know how many homes you own. Unless of course, Cindy is buying and selling homes at a great rate and not letting him know.
Posted by: Catherine | Aug 21, 2008 9:56:27 AM
Good comeback, Tim Kaine ! I hope Obama chooses you to be VP
Posted by: southamco | Aug 21, 2008 9:56:53 AM
Would be an issue if people didn't connect with McCain. This will be another backfire for the dems.
Posted by: Paul | Aug 21, 2008 9:57:27 AM
Many people who have money to invest do not know what they are investing in. They hire others to invest there money and it could be in stocks, futures, land. It can even change from month to month.
Posted by: MIchael | Aug 21, 2008 9:58:42 AM
Huh?!? "I'll have my staff get back to you." May be one of the funniest of all of his gaffes.
Posted by: awmahn | Aug 21, 2008 9:59:09 AM
At least he knows how many brothers he has... and where they live..
Posted by: Dan | Aug 21, 2008 9:59:23 AM
Does Kaine understand how poorly his answer reflects on him. Mocking our leaders is pathetic. If we want our society to suceed we must stop this immediately. Violently disagree on the issues, fine - but mocking him??
Posted by: lawfin | Aug 21, 2008 10:01:26 AM
Man, is that scary/funny. I do pretty well, and my taxes may go up because of my tax bracket. But my business depends on the economy thriving. I don't mind a President that is wealthy, but come on.
The real fear is that he forgot. I see McCain in the White House lawn in his bathrobe yelling at the Secret Service. "You kids get off my lawn!!!"
Posted by: awmahn | Aug 21, 2008 10:02:09 AM
McCain fogets how many homes and Obama
forgets how his homes were financed.
Wow let rename this campaign "WeareScrewed08"
Posted by: mark | Aug 21, 2008 10:05:09 AM
I VOTE "NONE OF THE ABOVE"
if Obama and MCCain are the BEST we can do as a nation...we're screwed.
Posted by: Darren | Aug 21, 2008 10:05:10 AM
The same people who claimed Obama is an elitist get their feathers ruffled when people point out how McCain fits that bill. It's the same garbage that was pulled in 2000, when Bush was portrayed as an 'everyman'. He was a wealthy trust fund baby who didn't have the brain power to run a business.
Posted by: ted | Aug 21, 2008 10:05:26 AM
The real question to the politicians should be how did you get the financing for your real estate portfolio. Democrats can't honestly answer since they must depend on special loan rates that are unavailable to others, cash hidden in a freezer, and sub-market prices for real estate purchases through sham transactions.
Posted by: Robert Smith | Aug 21, 2008 10:05:26 AM
Typical Liberal play: Class warfare. This coming from a governor whose only claim to fame in VA is coming up with a tax hike disguised as $1,000.00 traffic tickets to VA residents only.
Posted by: R$ | Aug 21, 2008 10:05:30 AM
Kaine sounds completely stupid with this statement. McCaine probably didn't want to answer the question because it is irrelevent. Since when did it become a crime to have investments? I'm sure Obama can tell you all about his investments with the land deal. And about not answering questions - I want the files open from the University that are being blocked - you know the files with Obama's dealings with Ayers?
Kaine sounds like a school child. Right along with Obama. Whaaa
Posted by: Sarah | Aug 21, 2008 10:05:38 AM
As usual petty comments are the only comeback from the Dems. Obama cannot remember how many states in the US - and everyone thinks that fine. McCain doesn't remember he and his wife own 4 residences - seriously, is that a vital issue? Hardly a sign of age, rather one of not bothering with unimportant issues.
Posted by: Nona | Aug 21, 2008 10:05:56 AM
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