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Obama: McCain's Economic Message Out of Touch

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September 14, 2008 8:21 AM

ABC News' Tahman Bradley Reports: Sen. Barack Obama took aim at Sen. John McCain's economic message, saying his presidential rival does not have a vision for moving the economy forward.

Obama, D-Ill., told ABC's Chris Cuomo, "You would be hard-pressed to explain to me what John McCain's economic vision is about how he's gonna get this economy back on track. That, I believe, is somebody who is out of touch with what is -- should be the central question of this election."

Watch the entire Cuomo interview with Obama Monday on "Good Morning America".

With the campaigns trading barbs over a host of issues that go beyond the candidates' records and positions, anticipation for the upcoming presidential debates has grown. In the early part of the summer, McCain, R-Ariz., proposed weekly town hall meetings with Obama so that the candidates could debate their policy positions. Obama was accused by the McCain campaign of ducking the substantive meetings. Asked why he doesn't pick up the phone and agree to the meetings, Obama called the town hall proposal a "gimmick."

"This whole thing about town halls I think is a little bit of a gimmick," he told Cuomo.

"The reason that we're not talking about the issues doesn't have to do with the fact that we didn't have town halls. The reason that we're not talking about the issues is because John McCain has shown a lack of interest in talking about the issues. That's how their campaign's been run."

September 14, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (138)

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McCain doesn't want to talk about the issues because he has no plan to improve the economy so instead it's all about bashing Obama.

Posted by: Angela | Sep 14, 2008 8:32:23 AM

Could you please try to be unbiased on these blogs? Did you people take journalism class in school? Just asking because I took it in high school and could do a better job.

Posted by: Neal grant | Sep 14, 2008 8:37:52 AM

And exactly what is Obamas plan to "stir" the economy? A few more Government programs or institutions backed by the government with absolutely no oversite? As I look at scandal after scandal, the ponsi scheme of social security, medicare and prescription drug plans all zapping us with so much debt that the current advertised 10 trillion will look like pocket change one day.
I am very wary of voting for anyone who wants to "give" me something that is not theirs to give.

Posted by: david | Sep 14, 2008 9:03:28 AM

Out of touch is an understatement. Even Alan Greenspan has criticized McCain's irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthy few.

What McCain fails to see is that the economy is the backbone of any nation's might. A weak economy leads to a weak military. That is what caused the collapse of the USSR, not Reagan's lofty speeches.

Posted by: El_Pajaro | Sep 14, 2008 9:09:09 AM

Have we not endured enough in the last 8 years? I cannot believe there are people still defending the current policies that would be maintained by the Republican ticket. If we continue to cut taxes of the wealthy and borrow more from China, do you seriously think there won't be consequences? It's this type of short term thinking that got us into the housing crisis. Furthermore, the lack of regulation and bail outs in the banking industry will eventually lead to a DEPRESSION, not a recession. Even Buffet has pulled out of backing deposits not insured by the FDIC. We can't afford another 4-8 years of the same agenda!

Posted by: Charlotte | Sep 14, 2008 9:31:31 AM

As usual, a biased blog/reporting. Neither candidate has a plan on the economy. What is even worse, no reporters are asking for specifics. Who, What, When, Where and How? McCain would reform the government and cut taxes. Obama would cut taxes on 91-95 percent of the population, (figure changed this week and no one reported on it), and grow the government. Neither will create jobs and improve the economy. Obama has had 94 chances to cut taxes and 94 times, he voted to increase taxes on all Americans. Please ask for specifics and do your jobs. A middle school journalist could do a better job then you "professionals".

Posted by: Megan | Sep 14, 2008 9:37:02 AM

Where is Ron Paul when we need him? Oh ya republican primary voters are morons disinterested in our financial health and lovers of war.

Posted by: Bringonthedepression | Sep 14, 2008 10:00:52 AM

Neal Grant, if you can be a better journalist than the journalist whose work you take time to read in ABC News, why don't you try applying for the job? You might just make a great name for yourself! I just hope that when you finally become a correspondent, you will right with prejudice!

Posted by: susie | Sep 14, 2008 10:01:51 AM

Correction to my previous blog to Neal Grant

*I hope you will write without prejudice

Posted by: susie | Sep 14, 2008 10:03:09 AM

"You would be hard-pressed to explain to me what John McCain's economic vision is"

Actually McCain's economic vision is very clear. It is to redistribute income and wealth upward from working people and the poor to the haves and have mores like him and Cindy.

Posted by: CaptainVideo | Sep 14, 2008 10:07:10 AM

MCCAIN IS NOT ONLY OUT OF TOUCH-----HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU EXPECT A ---D ----STUDENT TO SOLVE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS-------ASK YOURSELF--WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED HIM CLASS PRESIDENT----WE HAVE TO GET REAL ON SERIOUS PROBLEMS-----26 YEARS IN GOVERNMENT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HE IS EINSTEIN----WHAT A JOKE--AND WHAT A DISGRACE FOR ALL THE LIES HE HAS TOLD.

Posted by: rodney | Sep 14, 2008 10:07:10 AM

Eight years of Bush/Cheney's devastating foreign policy followed by four year of McCain/Palin's devastating economic policy is a bit scary.

Obama/Biden '08

Posted by: newz4i | Sep 14, 2008 10:07:40 AM

Let's not forget what Obama has been listening to for the past 20 years.

Malcolm X's statement on Black Liberation Theory:
"Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community ... Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy."

Posted by: 777 | Sep 14, 2008 10:35:12 AM

how can some people believe that Obama's a muslim?? I would hope after decades of decades of rasism this country would change and change is what we need. I think McCain is just tryin to steal Obama's mantra by claiming to be of change "yeah sure you want change, when you finally woke up and realized that's what majarity of the country is for." McCain doesn't realize and can't relate to real Americans, because real everyday americans can't afford 9 homes must less are lucky if they get to own 1!!! McCain and Palin are rich snobs and in secret probably racist.I hope majority of this country realizes this because if they do then,McCain will see how out of touch this 74yr old is!! and the Democrats will win!most of the people in this country are not rich they are poor and middle class so if they come out and vote for someone who supports the workin class then will win. people who actually have to work, to survive and need thier jobs, and helathcare that they can't afford to loss, and live from pay check to pay check these are everyday americans.That's what those rich republicans can't relate to. most republicans come from money and don't understand what it's like to work for your money and have to work for a living.I am a true blue democrat and hope that all the democrats come out and vote for our guy
Obama!!!!

Posted by: jenn | Sep 14, 2008 10:41:02 AM

As much as McCain lies,I am wondering if he is telling the truth about his prison days.
His first wife who says that McCain left her because she gotten involved in an accident, got shorter 5 inches and had no money, so he went after money in Cindy. What kind of a sicko is he? He left his wife -I am wondering why wouldnt he have sold out all his prisoners mate?

Posted by: NoLIAR | Sep 14, 2008 10:55:23 AM

The links below shows Picture of Lou Dobbs patronizing Racist vendor selling Waffles boxes with racial stereotype of Obama'

Please see the Waffle box in Lou's hands at the Values Voter Summit in the pictures below.

Sources: Ben Smith of Politico.com and the New York times allso wrote about the event.
See Links below:
http://images.politico.com/global/waffe2.jpg http://images.politico.com/global/obamawaffle2.jpg http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/washington/AP-Obama-Waffles.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Sol

Posted by: Sol | Sep 14, 2008 10:56:07 AM

The media is winning this election, they can be proud of themselves. Someone ask Obama a tough question. I challenge anyone to find video of an Obama interview where the media asked him a tough question and pressed him. Watch ABC's Gibson go after Palin and watch the View go after McCain with such anger and relentless questions and then show me a video of anyone at ABC asking Obama anything other than a softball or if they did ask a semi-difficult question, they immediately back off as he changes the subject.

Journalism in America is a joke. ABC should be ashamed of how much they are in the tank for Obama

Posted by: Todd | Sep 14, 2008 11:00:20 AM

Posted by: ES | Sep 14, 2008 11:01:40 AM

Mccain does not want to talk about the issues. He has the gimmicks attacks and smears. A reporter will asks a question and mccain will answer. "Reform", "town hall meeting", "drill drill",

I wonder how mccain is going to mobilize the republicans that caused the mess to reform themselves.

Posted by: Economic warrior | Sep 14, 2008 11:02:02 AM

I guess the Democrats and the media all agree that racism is wrong, I commend them for that. However, it appears that the Democrats and media are fine with sexism and age discrimination. Notice that the term Democrats and media are synonomous. Like pb & jelly.

Posted by: Todd | Sep 14, 2008 11:03:24 AM

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