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Obama Hammers McCain on Deregulation & Lobbying Claims

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September 20, 2008 3:00 PM

ABC'S David Kerley, Andy Fies, and Sunlen Miller Report: In Daytona, Florida, Barack Obama made it clear he believes he has a winning argument on the economy and continued to hammer John McCain's positions.

At the end of a week of Wall Street bailouts and government negotiations to take over hundreds of billions in bad loans, Obama contends McCain is a newcomer to government regulation of Wall Street.

Speaking before a crowd of 2,500 at an event focused on women’s issues – Obama called McCain out for once suggesting deregulation of the health care industry like the banking industry.

Obama used McCain’s words – and the financial crisis against him – reading a quote from McCain which was published in "Contingencies" magazine last year.

"Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation, McCain said in the magazine in their September/.October 2007 issue.

Today, Obama read back the quote to the crowd and in astonishment said, “So let me get this straight – he wants to run health care like they’ve been running Wall Street. Well, Senator, I know some folks on Main Street who aren’t going to think that’s such a good idea.”

Obama also brought up the back and forth that’s been going on for some time over lobbying –and which presidential candidate would truly stand up to the special interests, mocking McCain for suggesting that lobbyists “wont even get past the front gate” in a McCain White house.

“My question is – who is going to stop them? Those seven lobbyists that are running his campaign? His campaign manager? His campaign chairman? The economic advisor, who got a $40 million golden parachute when she was fired as a CEO? Or maybe the 26 advisors and fundraisers who lobbied for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? I mean, give me a break.”

Senator Obama disputed his association with former Fannie Mae CEO Franklin Raines which the McCain campaign tried to connect him with this week –laughing that it took a letter and an Obama campaign statement from Raines to clear up the misconception of their connection.

“My opponent attacked me for being associated with a Fannie Mae guy who I met once and talked to for maybe 5 minutes – he did a TV ad saying this guy was my advisor. The guy actually had to send out a letter saying, ‘uh, that’s not true. I actually don’t really talk to the guy’.”

Senator Obama told voters in Florida- and specifically women voters - that they can make the difference in this election. Obama told the crowd – many older African Americans - that John McCain is not committed to preserving social security benefits for seniors.

“I know Senator McCain is talking about a “casino culture” on Wall Street – but the fact is, he’s the one who wants to gamble with your life savings,” Obama warned the crowd,

McCain’s campaign was quick to issue a response, calling Obama's statement a scare tactic, “John McCain is one-hundred percent committed to preserving social security benefits for seniors, and Barack Obama knows it – this is a desperate attempt to gain political advantage using scare tactics and deceit. Barack Obama has supported alternative private accounts himself which makes these reckless attacks a perfect demonstration of his willingness to ignore facts in favor of his own self-promotion,” McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said in a statement.

Both campaigns have accused the other of "saying anything and do anything" to win this election.

September 20, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (691)

User Comments

McCain = DISHONORABLE; Palin = SCARY!!!

Posted by: Howard Gallas | Sep 20, 2008 3:21:08 PM

The Republican, and John McCain's formula in particular, for health care should frighten everyone. What they are proposing will eventually lead to doctors not taking health insurance at all...

Posted by: doc | Sep 20, 2008 3:24:19 PM

Right. dead. on.
Of course MCCain is going to throw every rock out now. He has been the deregulator, and this is what happens when you take the brakes off the car. Are we supposed to suddenly believe that McCain was so naive that he was not aware that corporations are just a little bit greedy? Tht he'd learned nothing from the keating scandal?

Posted by: Sebbydad | Sep 20, 2008 3:25:06 PM

McCain is the reason why Jack Abramoff is in jail.

Obama hired Jim Johnson the CEO of Fannie Mae. Jim Johnson took in 25 million dollars and did abusive practices that hurt shareholders.

Obama two months ago was so clueless as to hire the CEO of Fannie Mae Jim Johnson who created this mess partly to head his VP search.


McCain two years ago was calling out fannie mae while Obama two months ago was hiring the CEO.


Obama bought land from Rezko while rezko was under federal investigation for influence peddling by u.s attorney patrick fitzgerald.

Posted by: Sean | Sep 20, 2008 3:28:35 PM

The closer it gets to election day the more desperate Obama becomes. Distortions and outright lies must be the name of the game. Is this the kind of "in your face" talk that he has asked his supporters to do? Scaring voters about social security, and lying about his relationship with Fannie Mae and Franklin Raines will not fly. Give us a little more of "in your face" tactics. The real Obama is emerging for all to see.

Posted by: georgia | Sep 20, 2008 3:33:19 PM

MaCain more of the same LIES!

Posted by: Lie_Detector | Sep 20, 2008 3:33:32 PM

Nov. 4th - McCain/Palin "Thanks, But No Thanks"

Posted by: Linda | Sep 20, 2008 3:36:13 PM

Wake up America should be a new song. Nothing like blaming the new kid on the block. I have a mortgage with fannie mae now what happens ???? Maybe these government reverse mortgages isn't a good idea.

Posted by: Rose Szymanski | Sep 20, 2008 3:36:25 PM

McCain tried to stop the fannie and freddie crap over two years ago and Obama and the democratic party said he was targeting low income families . BTW not only did he buy land from Rezko while he was under investigation he bought at less than fair market value HMMMMM????

Posted by: reddog0216 | Sep 20, 2008 3:39:13 PM

Thanks but no Thanks to palin/mccain

Posted by: angie | Sep 20, 2008 3:41:16 PM

Come on Rose why does goverment have to protect us from ourselves we want we want now we suffer

Posted by: reddog0216 | Sep 20, 2008 3:41:29 PM

doc, my son's pediatrician stopped taking any new insured people. he got so tired of dealing with it that he stopped. my costs haven't gone up, and i'm tempted to believe his stopping taking insurance might have contained costs. i don't know what the solution is, but government is not the answer.

Posted by: Kitty | Sep 20, 2008 3:43:48 PM

Sean, so that's what you have on Obama?

I that that probably make him the cleanest person in Washington.

Posted by: Jesse | Sep 20, 2008 3:46:03 PM

democrats in congress are to blame for the housing crisis, plain and simple. they forced financial institutions into "spreading the american dream" of home ownership to those who simply couldnt afford it. a typical democratic, idealistic notion. that people some how, would be able to afford these homes. watch glenn beck this upcomming week to hear the names of the ones who started all this mess, dating all the way back to 1992 under the clinton administration.

Posted by: tim | Sep 20, 2008 3:46:05 PM

mccain/palin on nov. 4th. say no to socialism....

Posted by: tim | Sep 20, 2008 3:47:49 PM

For all you Obama supporters please go to the libary of congress and look at the bills he has proposed and where they have gone It is very ead to look up right online than tell me is he a talker or a doer there is nothing of any substance

Posted by: reddog0216 | Sep 20, 2008 3:48:41 PM

Dear concerned citizens of America and Mass Media of the U.S.A.

As a concerned registered independent voter, forensic psychiatrist, disabled American I made my decision to vote after taking into consideration following joint tickets attributes and characteristics.

1. Has the ticket shown adequate calmness, coolness, and connectedness's under pressure to lead our nation [Presidential Temperament]?

2. Has the ticket shown sustained sound "Judgment and Caliber"?

3. Has the ticket shown adequate understanding of depth and degree to address the crucial challenges in their their purpose, policies, and positions [ Honesty, integrity and sincerity]?

4. Has the ticket sufficient "understanding and knowledge" of inside Washington workings [Experience]"?

5. Has the ticket reservoir resilience, wisdom, and vigor to address the present and future f our beloved "Great-grand Nation"?

6. Has the ticket enough joint foreign policy experience and exposure based on " Values, Virtues, Vastness, and " [American moral soul]"?

7. Has their campaign talk, slogans, ads, plans, and programs based on facts and are they free of fear, fiction, frivolous labels, unfair attacks, negativity, and impulsively? [No "imminent danger to national
security and safety"].

8. Has the ticket genuinely kept on message of country first and politics last and avoided copying [Message change"]?

9.Has the ticket message stayed away from Culture divide and war[ Disaster prevention ]?

10. Has the ticket resisted being surrounded, supported and surrogate's by divisiveness, distortion's, and destructive characters, [ Real patriotism VS shiftiness and shameless parrot-ism]?

11. Has the ticket thoughtful, real non-partisan, & non-impulsive plans to address our current economic crisis or political tactics and temperamental statements.

I have personally and professionally concluded that OBAMA-BIDEN ticket will lift and inspire our greatgrand nation back to its greatness within and restore our global standing with the use of maximum, firm
international diplomacy and minimal force if and when indicated {" Peace thru Strenght "}.


Yours sincerely,

COL. A.M.Khajawall [Ret] MD.
Forensic psychiatrist, Disabled American Veteran and Iraq
Freedom team. Grass roots California leader per Senator McCain's mailings.

Posted by: COL. A.M.Khajawall [Ret] | Sep 20, 2008 3:49:42 PM

Grumpy Old Man and the Pagent Princess

A new comedy from GOP productions

"So funny, it's almost real!"
Gene Siskel

Posted by: Funny Stuff | Sep 20, 2008 3:49:45 PM

If you voted for Bush, how do you know what either candidate will do? I didn't vote for Bush because I thought he was a lame brain panderer. Turns out I was right. Take it from someone who was right on Bush, McCain is more of the same. McCain, last time I checked was still a Republican right?
=================================
Bushinheels/Mealsonwheels '08, change you can deceive in and more of the same.

Posted by: Clowned by the GOP | Sep 20, 2008 3:50:20 PM

Back on May 25, 2006 John McCain spoke “I join as a cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation. If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole. I urge my colleagues to support swift action on this GSE reform legislation………Barack Obama and other Democrats OPPOSED and did nothing. http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/17/mccains-attempt-to-fix-fannie-mae-freddie-mac-in-2005/

Posted by: Ann | Sep 20, 2008 3:50:34 PM

McDe-regulation and scary palin
will win
if you do not
GET OUT THE VOTE. we will be in deep do-do!
Bring grandmoms and GrandDads
drive friends
drive Neighbors
pick up anyone that is regustered Democrat.
We had enough of the Republicans
I am about $250,000 in a hole because of McCain and Bush and the republican rubber stamp comgress.
How much money have you lost??

Posted by: GHM | Sep 20, 2008 3:50:41 PM

McCains temperament got the best of him this week. Or, maybe it was his age. In either case the result was ugly. McCains 0ut-0f-t0uch philosophy on economics and Social Security are disastrous and would have dire consequences to the economy and seniors.
Want evidence? Think Keating Five do-over.

Posted by: John A | Sep 20, 2008 3:52:02 PM

wow. i know its easy for those on the left to talk about how mccain is "against regulation", but cmon now, pay attention to the facts. mccain warned of the freddie and fannie collapse over two years ago. there is such a thing as OVER REGULATING the financial markets, and thats what the republicans are concerned with. that dosent mean they are against government regulation in general!! cmon people, be fair. what leads you liberals to believe that the government is more trust worthy than the free market?! all the mistakes that the government makes (i know, i know, its all the REPUBLICANS faults) and you want to elect a guy who wants the government in charge of everything?! please tell me the logic here??

Posted by: tim | Sep 20, 2008 3:52:55 PM

This Rezko character is absolutely terrifying. Of course we all know that the good ol' boys do each other favors all the time, but they do it inside corporate loopholes. Giving a closet muslim a good deal on a house is particularly frightening especially if he might be president soon

Posted by: McChickens | Sep 20, 2008 3:53:11 PM

Hey! Repugs, stop talking about Obama and Rezko. YOU KNOW THAT DON'T HAVE SQUAT TO DO WITH THIS MESS YOU'VE PUT US IN!

STOP RUNNING AWAY FROM THE ECONOMIC POLICIES THAT GOT US IN TROUBLE!

Posted by: Gerald Shields, Seattle, WA | Sep 20, 2008 3:55:19 PM

McCain/Palin = BRIDGE TO NOWHERE

THANKS, BUT NO THANKS!!!

Posted by: Ed from MA | Sep 20, 2008 3:58:01 PM

Here's a question for you Obama
cheerleaders:
If Obama is really opposed to
lobbyists why did he chose Joe Biden
as his VP?
Was he the only one who didn't know that
Biden's son was a longtime
Washington Lobbyist?
Of course Biden's son quit that position
a few days ago so Obama the hypocrite
could run his negative ad about the
former lobbyists helping to run
John McCain's campaign.
Obama has once again shown poor
judgement by choosing a VP whose son was
a lobbyist when the choice was made.
Hypocrite thy name is Obama!

Posted by: reaganfan | Sep 20, 2008 3:58:09 PM

liberals, please just answer me that one question: why would you want to elect a guy who wants the government in charge of everything versus one that dosent?

Posted by: tim | Sep 20, 2008 3:58:26 PM

I know this sounds crazy but think back to the day before 9/11/2001 if someone had told you what would happen the next day would you have belived them? Who is to say that the Radical muslims who sent People here to live amongst us Could not or would not try to get someone elected with perhaps a muslim background with a middle name of hussein? Realistic I dont know but I am not willing to take any chances with my vote

Posted by: reddog0216 | Sep 20, 2008 3:58:40 PM

you're right red dog.. that does sound crazy.. probably because it is.. lol

Posted by: tim | Sep 20, 2008 4:00:24 PM

If you watch the final GOP primary debate in Jan 08, when asked how McCain, the then self-proclaimed fundamental deregulator, would respond to the economic challenges...which were A LOT LESS CHALLENGING than they are today, he said he would rely on those who have always counseled him on economic affairs...namely...Phil Gramm...the author of the Enron Loophole that started all this mess...and Warren Rudman, who ran his campaign in 2004 and was also named Freddie Mac's committee to work with regulators as the committee's independent counsel when Fannie Mae's accounting methods faced serious scrutiny in 2004.

And then we have Rick Davis...for 10 years, Rick Davis served as president of an advocacy group led by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that defended the two companies against increased regulation.

At least 20 McCain fundraisers have lobbied on behalf of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, netting at least $12.3 million in fees over the past nine years.

McCain has also mentioned Gramm as a possible Treasury Sec. Gramm is responsible for the rise of the wild and woolly $62 trillion swaps market that led to this whole mortage meltdown that led to the current crisis.

Posted by: BAC | Sep 20, 2008 4:01:37 PM

Obama = serial liar; Biden = washington insider

Posted by: young_voter | Sep 20, 2008 4:01:58 PM

Hey tim, think again:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040809-9.html

"Expanding Homeownership. The President believes that homeownership is the cornerstone of America's vibrant communities and benefits individual families by building stability and long-term financial security. In June 2002, President Bush issued America's Homeownership Challenge to the real estate and mortgage finance industries to encourage them to join the effort to close the gap that exists between the homeownership rates of minorities and non-minorities. The President also announced the goal of increasing the number of minority homeowners by at least 5.5 million families before the end of the decade. Under his leadership, the overall U.S. homeownership rate in the second quarter of 2004 was at an all time high of 69.2 percent."

Posted by: Cal | Sep 20, 2008 4:02:51 PM

Fact is McCain`s ideology of deregulation for the past 26 years has been discredited by the current financial crisis we find ourselves. His healthcare plan and attempts to privatize social security is under serious question.

Obama has always been a supporter of regulation. Obama has been right and McCain has been wrong.


Wake up America. McCain has no judgment to lead.

Posted by: krista | Sep 20, 2008 4:03:03 PM

John Wayne made his last movie "The Shootist" when he was 69 Years old. John McCain is too old to pretend he can still clean-up Washington after 26 years of trying.

Posted by: doug | Sep 20, 2008 4:04:18 PM

red dog
We can speak for all our self admitted courage-challenged republicans when we say that the idea of electing a president with a middle name like that is totally scary. We can't be sure of who the enemy is anymore! He might be a communist too.

Posted by: McChickens | Sep 20, 2008 4:04:55 PM

Obamas greatest asset is to point fingers this is wrong that is wrong I think we call that a monday morning quaterback

Posted by: reddog0216 | Sep 20, 2008 4:05:16 PM

To Tim, How do you like your Socialism NOW?

If you're poor, sick, or unemployed in America today....tough luck...America is built on Free enterprise

But if you're greedy and corrupt, and want the Gov't to 'GET OUT OF THE WAY', like regulating ANYTHING, and you screw up GLOBALLY, then BIG GOV'T will bail you out...on the backs of US Taxpayers

Free enterprise for the poor....Socialism for the rich.

Posted by: BAC | Sep 20, 2008 4:05:22 PM

with all the negative reports about Palin -- one sided, imbalanced -- it is a wonder that Obama now only leads by 3 points.
I wonder why there was no report to check about Obama's claims: his bi-partisan credential, his clean record. His senate records are missing...

Posted by: amy | Sep 20, 2008 4:06:18 PM

The fact is that the republican party line has been pure hate toward the democratic efforts to provide stability at all economic levels for American citizens ever since the corporate and industrial giants lost control due to their greed in the crash of the market in the late 1920s.

Posted by: trapspam honeypot | Sep 20, 2008 4:06:31 PM

Obama....lacks substance...lacks character...lacks experience...you
liberals can vote for him if you must...but my vote will not be wasted on the black devil!

Posted by: Ed | Sep 20, 2008 4:06:41 PM

Hey I am not saying he is I am just not willing to take that chance.I have seen our world change over my years.

Posted by: reddog0216 | Sep 20, 2008 4:08:05 PM

Hey I believe we should all grab our personal weapons and met in the streets to settle this mess.

Posted by: YoMamma | Sep 20, 2008 4:11:02 PM

Politico reports that at least 20 McCain fundraisers have lobbied for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, pocketing at least $12.3 million over the last nine years. For example -
• Aquiles Suarez, listed as an economic adviser to the McCain campaign in a July 2007 McCain press release, was formerly the director of government and industry relations for Fannie Mae. The Senate Lobbying Database says Suarez oversaw the lending giant’s $47,510,000 lobbying campaign from 2003 to 2006.
• The lobbying firm of Charlie Black, one of McCain’s top aides, made at least $820,000 working for Freddie Mac from 1999 to 2004.
• The McCain campaign’s vice-chair Wayne Berman and its congressional liaison John Green made $1.14 million working on behalf of Fannie Mae for lobbying firm Ogilvy Government Relations. Green made an additional $180,000 from Freddie Mac.
• Arther B. Culvahouse Jr., the VP vetter who helped John McCain select Sarah Palin, earned $80,000 from Fannie Mae in 2003 and 2004, while working for lobbying and law firm O’Melveny & Myers LLP.
Still want to talk about Raines?

Posted by: Larry Linn | Sep 20, 2008 4:11:26 PM

To use part of ReaganFan's line: Here's a question for the Neo-con cheerleaders (I'd say conservative but being a conservative myself...I know that they aren't).

I'm sure you know that in at least the last 100 years of American History the Republican's have driven the economy into the ground and the Democrats have had to fix it. Coolidge-Hoover's Depression...fixed by FDR. Eisenhower's Recession...fixed by JFK. Regan-Bush Recession...fixed by Clinton. I could point you to the OMB graph that shows record deficits for Republican presidents and the improvement by Democrats.

So my question is...when are you gonna vote for a Democrat? Because you will! You'll either vote for one now or wait 4 years from now and vote for one then...from the Breadlines. Your choice...just wondering if you really, really want to risk your children and your livelihoods to the incarnation of Hebert Hoover - John McCain.

Posted by: SWMissouri | Sep 20, 2008 4:11:42 PM

There is no rich in a socialist way of living only food lines and hospital waits doctors who dont care because they are going to get paid the same wheter they are a top surgeon or just a surgeon ask someone from canada how there healtcare system is they come here if they can afford to I wonder why?

Posted by: reddog0216 | Sep 20, 2008 4:12:54 PM

mccain, do you prefer boxers or briefs?

mccain: Depends

Posted by: pt | Sep 20, 2008 4:15:07 PM

SWMissouri - UHM Check your facts the regan era was one of our greatest and if you look for the worst stock market crashes On slick willies watch number 10

Posted by: reddog0216 | Sep 20, 2008 4:16:09 PM

McCain/Palin Nov 4. "Thanks, but no Thanks.

Posted by: Vanessa | Sep 20, 2008 4:16:37 PM

ENOUGH OF REPUBLICAN LIES AND CORRUPTION.

ENOUGH OF 8 YEARS ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY.

IT IS CLEAR: GOD IS NOT ON REPUBLICANS'S SIDE.

WE NEED DEMOCRATS BACK FOR YEARS OF GREAT TIMES TO COME

Posted by: VOTER | Sep 20, 2008 4:17:44 PM

hehe lol @ you Cal...

i will remember to bring some facts w/me if we ever should discuss/argue about anything...

man what a slap down!! wooohooo!

now tim , you were saying?

also, i was wondering if any republicans here posting would care to commenct on chuck hagels' take on the two republican choices to fix what could be argued to be the worst financial crisis this country has seen since the depression?

chuck says "not presidential material" and i heartily agree.

Posted by: bah | Sep 20, 2008 4:17:56 PM

Of course Obama never said he wanted to actually socialize hospitals, like public schools, he just wants to make healthcare affordable to everyone. -But who can take the chance? We'd rather trust that the rich will somehow take care of us.

Posted by: McChickens | Sep 20, 2008 4:18:05 PM

Careful Voter you said GOD thats a republican word

Posted by: reddog0216 | Sep 20, 2008 4:18:48 PM

01-20-09 The END of an ERROR...

Posted by: pt | Sep 20, 2008 4:18:58 PM

This is a fun site if you want to see the lobbysists working on McCain's campaign,

http://www.mccainslobbyists.com/

Click around the top tabs...it's a real who's who of K Street influence peddlers.

I know his spokespeople have said none of them are CURRENTLY lobbying...but don't you wonder WHY they would give up very lucrative lobbying contracts to work on a campaign for someone who's flailing against everyhting these people have done and how they have made their own fortunes...and where they will go AFTER the campaign? LOL

Posted by: BAC | Sep 20, 2008 4:19:08 PM

It all comes down to whether or not you think we should continue the bush policies. If you think the war should continue indefinitely, while we spend $10,000,000,000 a month, and you think that bush has done well with the economy then mc-more-war is your man. If you think that it's time we start to get out of iraq and do some positive things for the average American instead of just the top 1% then vote for Obama.

Posted by: pt | Sep 20, 2008 4:19:58 PM

Hello everyone;

I'm voting for Mccain/Palin.

Posted by: cons3rvative | Sep 20, 2008 4:20:45 PM

STOP McCain and Palin!!!

Check the link and Spread the word:
http://www.cafepress.com/MarcsPlace.30059444

Marc

Posted by: Marc G | Sep 20, 2008 4:21:18 PM

McCain has been on both sides of every issue every other week. I can't keep up with him. I just give up. He even changed the message of his campaign to match Obama's hot message of change. McCain is just plain McCrazy. He and Simple Sarah will never get to lead this country. GOP- forgetaboutit.

P.S. Mccain, not Obama, has the deepest roots with Fannie and Freddie lobbyists. His connection to Phil Gramm should tell you McLame had all his fingers in this current crisis. Here's the link to the Fannie Freddy info:

http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/09/9663_mccain_fannie_freddie.html

Posted by: JollyJoe | Sep 20, 2008 4:21:40 PM

Col. Khajawall--Thanks.

You've been holding steady in the blogs to the American pragmatist/idealist tune for many months now. Like the unseen rudder of a ship, folks like you are keeping the direction of public discourse ineluctably drawn to our better natures, and thus make us all more able to see in the light of optmism and reason that wholesome tradtion, decency, integrity and strong character are much better represented by Obama than McCain. I salute you.

Obama/Biden 2008-2016.

Posted by: Vincent | Sep 20, 2008 4:21:49 PM

Not sure if any of you remember, but back in the late 80's we had a Savings & Loan problem. It was later called the Keating 5 -- 5 Senators were involved. Guess who one of the Keating 5 were? You guessed it John McCain - Google Keating 5 and read about it. Do we want that type of potential behavior again?

Posted by: Sara | Sep 20, 2008 4:21:58 PM

I'm still trying to figure out why mccain confused the Packers with the Steelers in July while speaking to a Pittsburgh crowd. He said he used the names of the famous Steelers Defensive line of the 1970's while being interrogated, too bad these guys weren't even playing when mccain was being interrogated. He is either going senile or he was trying to pull one over on the Pittsburgh crowd, either way this is BAD news for mc-more-war. You can check out the article by going into google and typing "mccain steelers" and picking the first link.
Obama 2008!!!

Posted by: pt | Sep 20, 2008 4:27:18 PM

i can't believe you all are still talking about issues why bother i bet mccain will change partys next.its the only thing he hasn't done.obama- biden

Posted by: frank | Sep 20, 2008 4:28:44 PM

If we put our entire financial structure under federal control we should also do the same with airlines, railroads,utilities(including the entire electric grid),auto industry, insurance,etc. No need for state regulators.Sounds pure stupid but maybe this is what the liberals would like to see happen. Our federal government in control of everything.

Posted by: William | Sep 20, 2008 4:29:35 PM

Obama and uncle Rev.Wright...Obama and Ayers...Obama and Sinclair....Obama and Rezko....just say no to racism. Just say no to drugs! Just say no to corruption and Illinois style dirty politics. Just say no to hating and God damning America! SAY NO TO OBAMA!!!

Posted by: Ed | Sep 20, 2008 4:29:45 PM

reddog0216...you must be 2...I actually lived during the Reagan-Bush years. Yeah they were good for the Yuppies as they "Casino Cultured" their way through debt...that caught up to America in the yearly 1990's under Bush I's term when there was a massive Recession that devastated most of the country. Sound familiar. That's how "Slick Willie" as you put it got into office and Bush I became a Jimmy Carter. By the way Bill Clinton set on the most prosperous years in recent American History as far as the economy went.

Also the greatest crash of Wall Street in the last 30 years...or since the great depression occurred in 1987...under Reagan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Monday_(1987)

I know Republican's don't like facts...but 1987 was 6 years prior to Clinton taking office.

Posted by: SWMissouri | Sep 20, 2008 4:30:22 PM

I WILL TAKE CARE OF MICHELLE WHEN OBAMA IS GONE. CINDY SEEMS TOO STUCK UP FOR MY SYTLE! I WANNA HAVE FUN AND LET IT ALL LOOSE. YYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA BABY
OBAMA-MICHELLE/BIDEN 2008 BABY!

Posted by: HORNY W-MAN | Sep 20, 2008 4:33:21 PM


SORRY I cannot read the above post-font is way too small! Please work on it.

Posted by: jack | Sep 20, 2008 4:33:44 PM

Those of you who call yourselves "fiscal conservatives" believe government should spend money responsibly: No more borrowing from China to pay our bills, no more deficit spending putting us and our children trillions of dollars in debt, no more wasteful and pointless wars-of-choice (rather than of necessity) in the wrong country that make us less safe, no more lobbyists running our government, no more "bridges to nowhere". That makes me a fiscal conservative too, and that's why I support the presidential candidate who stands for fiscally responsible government: Barack Obama.

Posted by: Staton Rabin | Sep 20, 2008 4:35:06 PM

Posted by: reddog0216 | Sep 20, 2008 4:35:10 PM

i can understand why rich people want to support mccain/palin ,they want NO CHANGE because they are making boatloads of tax free cash now ,stashing it in swiss bank accounts and offshore banks. why would they do anything but vote solid lockstep republican.

i can see why some retirees might be scared of obama and his tax policies , but only the rich ones who can afford to pay should be worried . the majority of retirees will finally see a much needed break in their rx costs , health care ,general quality of day to day life etc.

it wont happen over night of course ,this country is in a huge mess. but let the republicans stay in charge and it will get a whole lot messier . well not for the elite ,they just go to canada ,europe or south america and lay low on their fat stashes of cash. they could care less what happens here as long as the profits are coming in.

thats exactly why all the facts (or lies) about change wont sway them one itty bitty bit ,they dont want any change to begin with ,unless its a change that brings in more tax free profits.

its a good thing they are such a minority ,but watch out . after the public beating the republicans are taking lately there wont be many republicans around i bet but there WILL be quite a few ersatz/wold in sheeps clothing type republican lurking around ,reminds me of that democrat turncoat ronald reagan . watch out they will be coming out of the woodwork with the slogan of the day being " I AM NOT A REPUBLICAN..."

rofl!!! LOSERS!!!

Posted by: bah | Sep 20, 2008 4:37:28 PM

In the past 20 years, Obama has recieved the second largest amount of campaign money from the greedy executives of these bombed economic institutions.

Posted by: KJones | Sep 20, 2008 4:37:35 PM

ed - you said it perfectly! you left out two names though. obama/blagoivich, obama/jones! illinois politics is an example of what obama is talking about bringing to the nation!

Posted by: timmaaa7 | Sep 20, 2008 4:38:02 PM

No actually The reason Bush1 did not get re-elected was for his no new taxes speech. Facts you need to check I am not talking about a single day crash I am talking a much broader spectrum try this for factDate Started: 1/15/2000
Date Ended: 10/9/2002

Total Days: 999
Starting DJIA: 11,792.98
Ending DJIA: 7,286.27
Total Loss: -37.8%

Posted by: reddog0216 | Sep 20, 2008 4:38:21 PM

Did someone mention Rev Wright? Yikes! There is nothing scarier than a radical pastor. He could possibly undermine the morals of the entire country!

Posted by: McChickens | Sep 20, 2008 4:40:18 PM

important error in the article:
The quote from john mccain is from Sept 2008 NOT 2007, which makes it much more damaging.

"Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation"

Posted by: ben | Sep 20, 2008 4:40:43 PM

kitty: why do you think your doctor stopped taking insurance - because there are a ton of them that all pay nothing to doctors. that is what mccain is basically proposing - turning health insurance into dental or vision insurance, which barely cover anything. he's going to do that to medicare - to the sickest group in the country, who have fixed incomes in general. do you know what it costs to stay one night in a hospital?

you're right though - if there was no insurance around it would help keep costs down. i know it would take 5-10% off of my overhead instantly if i stopped.

Posted by: doc | Sep 20, 2008 4:41:06 PM

"His campaign chairman? The economic adviser, who got a $40 million golden parachute when she was fired as a CEO?"...He's absolutely right on this one! He's talking about Carly Fiorina. She was one of the greedy incompetents that helped run Lucent Technologies into the ground. She left just before the implosion, cashing in her stock before it collapsed and went to HP. There she almost ruined that company before the Board of Directors removed her.

Posted by: NubTail | Sep 20, 2008 4:43:18 PM

John McCain obviously DID NOT learn his lesson from the SAVINGS AND LOAN SCANDAL, HE WAS INVOLVED IN, IN THE 80's , which left the US taxpayers with a debt $2 TRILLION DOLLARS.
It was deregulation of the markets that lead to the SAVINGS AND LOAN CRISIS, and even though John McCain knew ALL THIS, he was right in the middle of all of it, he still continued, since the 80's, to call for even MORE, AND MORE deregulation, John McCain, even just a couple weeks ago, called himself the "DE-regulator".
It is obvious that John McCain, learned NOTHING at all from the $2 TRILLION DOLLAR disaster of the 80's! Which left the American taxpayers with a $2 TRILLION DOLLAR DEBT, (which we are still paying off with our tax dollars NOW)
John McCain obviously learned nothing from seeing the SAVINGS AND LOANS CRISIS in the 80's, and it was his DE-REGULATION attitude, and his voting over, and over for MORE, and MORE deregulation, and it was also other republicans voting over, and over for MORE deregulation which has lead us right into this $700 BILLION DOLLAR CRISIS again!!!

John McCain has shown that he is an idiot!!!!

Posted by: paula | Sep 20, 2008 4:43:21 PM

John McCain obviously DID NOT learn his lesson from the SAVINGS AND LOAN SCANDAL, HE WAS INVOLVED IN, IN THE 80's , which left the US taxpayers with a debt $2 TRILLION DOLLARS.
It was deregulation of the markets that lead to the SAVINGS AND LOAN CRISIS, and even though John McCain knew ALL THIS, he was right in the middle of all of it, he still continued, since the 80's, to call for even MORE, AND MORE deregulation, John McCain, even just a couple weeks ago, called himself the "DE-regulator".
It is obvious that John McCain, learned NOTHING at all from the $2 TRILLION DOLLAR disaster of the 80's! Which left the American taxpayers with a $2 TRILLION DOLLAR DEBT, (which we are still paying off with our tax dollars NOW)
John McCain obviously learned nothing from seeing the SAVINGS AND LOANS CRISIS in the 80's, and it was his DE-REGULATION attitude, and his voting over, and over for MORE, and MORE deregulation, and it was also other republicans voting over, and over for MORE deregulation which has lead us right into this $700 BILLION DOLLAR CRISIS again!!!

John McCain has shown that he is an idiot!!!!

Posted by: paula | Sep 20, 2008 4:43:22 PM

Jesse wrote: democrats in congress are to blame for the housing crisis, plain and simple. they forced financial institutions into "spreading the american dream" of home ownership to those who simply couldnt afford it. a typical democratic, idealistic notion. that people some how, would be able to afford these homes. watch glenn beck this upcomming week to hear the names of the ones who started all this mess, dating all the way back to 1992 under the clinton administration.
----------------------------------------
II’d like to get some of the stuff that’s in your pipe! The only thing that’s plain and simple about the housing crisis is your simplistic view. Come on, you can’t be serious. The Democrats in Congress are to blame for the housing crisis? The crisis was caused by deregulation. And which party, going way back to Ronald Reagan, has been in love with deregulating everything? It sure wasn’t the Democrats! And the chief among those who championed deregulation is Senator John McCain. Now he’s backpedaling so fast it makes my head spin. And by the way, if I were going to get an impartial view of anything, I sure wouldn’t expect it from Glenn Beck!