MSNBC.com-

 

McCain not sure how many houses he and wife own

 

Campaign says candidate and wife have at least four homes

 

The Associated Press

updated 1:05 p.m. ET, Thurs., Aug. 21, 2008

 

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.

 

"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.

 

Democratic candidate Barack Obama used the remark to jab at McCain for his views on the U.S. economy. Campaigning in Chester, Virginia, Obama told voters, "I guess if you think being rich means you've got to make $5 million and if you don't know how many houses you have, it's not surprising you might think the economy is fundamentally strong."

 

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.

 

Obama's campaign has been trying to make the McCains' wealth more widely known to blunt criticism that Obama is an elitist out of touch with ordinary Americans.

 

Obama and his wife own one house, the family home in Chicago, his campaign said. They bought it in 2005 for $1.65 million after getting advice from Chicago businessman Antonin "Tony" Rezko, an Obama friend and contributor who was convicted in June on more than a dozen felonies in a corruption scandal. The case had no connection to Obama, and Obama has said it was a mistake to work with Rezko on buying the house.

 

In response to Obama's criticism Thursday, McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers asked: "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? 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?"

 

In the 2004 campaign, Republicans tried to use wealth as a dig against Democratic candidate John Kerry even though President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were multimillionaires themselves. In 2005, Kerry reported a net worth between $165 million and $235 million, most of it controlled by his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry.

 

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.

 

Link

But Obama's clearly the elitist of the group. :thumbup

I love two of the responses from McCain: 1. He spent five years in a house as a POW in Vietnam...and 2. This is an attack on Cindy! I thought wives were off limits.

 

McCain is gaffe prone. That's why they've kept him further and further from the press.

Obama already has a devastating ad against McCain about this.

I love two of the responses from McCain: 1. He spent five years in a house as a POW in Vietnam...and 2. This is an attack on Cindy! I thought wives were off limits.

 

McCain is gaffe prone. That's why they've kept him further and further from the press.

It would be nice as well if the public would be consistent with their disdain for the wealthy.

 

In 2004, it was a similar situation, as Kerry was successfully painted as an 'out-of-touch' elitist, who was pretty wealthy due to his having married a wealthy heiress.

 

This situation SHOULD be identical, but I am sure that McCain will somehow wriggle out of it, like with seemingly everything else.

 

I also don't understand why the attack on John Edwards for his $300 haircut (which I will admit is really excessive) was really successful, but nobody has questioned McCain on his $550 Ferrigamo shoes.

This is such a stupid attack ad. Obama and the DNC are really annoying to me...

Did you happen to think the McCain campaign's attack on Obama as being a celebrity was stupid, too?

When I vote in November, I'm going to base my vote on how many houses the candidate owns.

Did you happen to think the McCain campaign's attack on Obama as being a celebrity was stupid, too?

Yes, and I also said that was stupid. attack ads should attack their policies not if they are a good orator or they own homes... its stupid.

Unfortunately attack ads seem to work, which is too bad. However, it has gotten to the point where Obama's team really needed to counter the many attack ads McCain's campaign has thrown at them, because they seem to be having an effect on the polls somewhat.

 

I do wish that we could get to the issues though. I sincerely doubt it will happen, especially since we are getting ever closer to October, when things REALLY tend to get ugly.

This is still tame compared to 2004 or even the Democrat primary.

Did you happen to think the McCain campaign's attack on Obama as being a celebrity was stupid, too?

Yes, and I also said that was stupid. attack ads should attack their policies not if they are a good orator or they own homes... its stupid.

 

I think any educated, thoughtful person dislikes attack ads that are not based on policy. But, unfortunately, it seems like McCain's attacks on Obama (the stupid ones) have worked somewhat as the race is closer than it's ever been. As a result, Obama can't sit by while McCain goes off on him - he's got to be on the offensive himself.

This is still tame compared to 2004 or even the Democrat primary.

Very true. However, it's still early.

 

The predictions made by several pundits during the Democratic primary (that McCain would basically take over Clinton's attacks) have turned out to be 100% accurate.

This is such a stupid attack ad. Obama and the DNC are really annoying to me...

I have to disagree.

 

The Republicans are the ones who have been fighting dirty. They have clearly decided to apply the Hillary Clinton approach but don't seem to realize that it didn't work for her.

I dont care if it is a "good strategy" to come back it is still a stupid ad. He doesn't know how many houses he has? well its 7!

 

horrible horrible horrible. :banghead

This is such a stupid attack ad. Obama and the DNC are really annoying to me...

I have to disagree.

 

The Republicans are the ones who have been fighting dirty. They have clearly decided to apply the Hillary Clinton approach but don't seem to realize that it didn't work for her.

I dont care if it is a "good strategy" to come back it is still a stupid ad. He doesn't know how many houses he has? well its 7!

 

horrible horrible horrible. :banghead

Who needs 7 houses anyway?

I love two of the responses from McCain: 1. He spent five years in a house as a POW in Vietnam...and 2. This is an attack on Cindy! I thought wives were off limits.

 

McCain is gaffe prone. That's why they've kept him further and further from the press.

It would be nice as well if the public would be consistent with their disdain for the wealthy.

 

In 2004, it was a similar situation, as Kerry was successfully painted as an 'out-of-touch' elitist, who was pretty wealthy due to his having married a wealthy heiress.

 

This situation SHOULD be identical, but I am sure that McCain will somehow wriggle out of it, like with seemingly everything else.

 

I also don't understand why the attack on John Edwards for his $300 haircut (which I will admit is really excessive) was really successful, but nobody has questioned McCain on his $550 Ferrigamo shoes.

 

 

$550 shoes are not that extreme, IMO.

I love two of the responses from McCain: 1. He spent five years in a house as a POW in Vietnam...and 2. This is an attack on Cindy! I thought wives were off limits.

 

McCain is gaffe prone. That's why they've kept him further and further from the press.

It would be nice as well if the public would be consistent with their disdain for the wealthy.

 

In 2004, it was a similar situation, as Kerry was successfully painted as an 'out-of-touch' elitist, who was pretty wealthy due to his having married a wealthy heiress.

 

This situation SHOULD be identical, but I am sure that McCain will somehow wriggle out of it, like with seemingly everything else.

 

I also don't understand why the attack on John Edwards for his $300 haircut (which I will admit is really excessive) was really successful, but nobody has questioned McCain on his $550 Ferrigamo shoes.

 

 

$550 shoes are not that extreme, IMO.

Are you sure? That's a lot of cash.

Did you happen to think the McCain campaign's attack on Obama as being a celebrity was stupid, too?

Yes, and I also said that was stupid. attack ads should attack their policies not if they are a good orator or they own homes... its stupid.

Um that ad attacks one of the few stances on policy that Obama actually has, and that's his very likely dramatic increase in taxation.

I love two of the responses from McCain: 1. He spent five years in a house as a POW in Vietnam...and 2. This is an attack on Cindy! I thought wives were off limits.

 

McCain is gaffe prone. That's why they've kept him further and further from the press.

It would be nice as well if the public would be consistent with their disdain for the wealthy.

 

In 2004, it was a similar situation, as Kerry was successfully painted as an 'out-of-touch' elitist, who was pretty wealthy due to his having married a wealthy heiress.

 

This situation SHOULD be identical, but I am sure that McCain will somehow wriggle out of it, like with seemingly everything else.

 

I also don't understand why the attack on John Edwards for his $300 haircut (which I will admit is really excessive) was really successful, but nobody has questioned McCain on his $550 Ferrigamo shoes.

 

 

$550 shoes are not that extreme, IMO.

Are you sure? That's a lot of cash.

 

 

It's a lot, but IMO a watch and shoes are the two most important (and only) accessories for a man. I'm not rich but i've spent over $200 on shoes before. I think that's pretty common?

 

That said, McCain is an elitist though. :lol

OK, but that's less than half of what he spent on his shoes alone.

 

It's also funny, because right now there is a banner ad for McCain at the top of this page, criticizing Congressional pork-barrel spending of $3 million on the research of bear DNA. Ironically, McCain voted FOR the bill containing that spending.

He has no consistent resume whatsoever.

God forbid the man is able to afford seven houses. He may not even live in all of them- they may be investments, etc. Is this really the best Dems can come with?

 

We live in a capitalistic society where we all strive to get to the point where we own so much materials that we need someone else to manage it for us. This shows Obama's true Marxist nature- he's angry McCain has made himself into something.

 

Anyway... whatever. McCain not knowing he owns seven houses vs. Rezko, Wright, Flager, Aires, Fericon, America being mean, bitter Americans, Iran being a small and weak country, etc. It goes on and on. These are real issues that concern the American voters. This is a weak comeback attempt from Obama camp to counter McCain's relentless attack.

 

Now, look who knows if the American people will buy it? Only time will tell. The good news here for those rooting for Obama is that he is finally going on the offensive and putting McCain on the defensive.

McCain not knowing he owns seven houses vs. Rezko, Wright, Flager, Aires, Fericon,

Who the hell is 'Flager'?

 

Obama was never implicated whatsoever in Tony Rezko's problems, so I don't see how that's valid.

 

Obama's only connection to Bill Aires was the two of them serving together on the board of directors for some firm. Besides, Aires has never been charged with any crime in connection to the Weather Underground.

 

It's also spelled 'Farrakhan', and Obama has no connection to him of significance. Just another smear.

 

Meanwhile, McCain's top economic advisor, Phil Gramm, called America a 'nation of whiners', and used his Senate position to advance the business interests that resulted in the housing crisis and the recent oil price explosion.

America is a nation of whiners. Political correctness is destroying our society. You cant mention God anymore(well, if you are a Christian anyway...I am, and very proud of it...if I want to show my faith then damn it I will, no soccer mom with too much time on her hands who is afraid Jebediah down the street might get angry is going to change that). The vast majority of "african-americans" have never set foot on the continent. Parents cant smack the smirk off of little Timmy's face when he messes up. You mention any minority as a suspect in a police report and it's profiling. Every kid gets a trophy, even if they are just awful. Cant play dodgeball, as some of the weaker kids might get hurt. Well, what is the incentive for Americans to even improve themselves anymore? The second someone says something bad about them they run and tell someone and try to make it all better. Why would a kid strive to be better in sports if he knows he is going to get a trophy no matter what? We have lost our edge as a society, and the sissification has to end somewhere(and I hope my blasting of "african-american" didn't offend anyone, but it is just the most ridiculous term in the vast majority of instances, if you came here from Malawi or Morocco-fine, you are an "african-american", more specifically a Malawian-American or Moroccan-America". If your ancestors came from Malawi, but you are a 3rd generation American, then you are just an American...and no person from Morocco will ever be called an "african-american"). I blame white people for this. We make everything worse by trying to make it better, we are just a meddlesome race. Rant over(I have always wanted to go to Malawi to see if the people really are the friendliest on earth, plus African tribal culture fascinates me).

Wholly sh*t... this jimmy is the complete opposite of the old jimmy. Have the two jimmys every met?

McCain not knowing he owns seven houses vs. Rezko, Wright, Flager, Aires, Fericon, America being mean, bitter Americans, Iran being a small and weak country, etc. It goes on and on. These are real issues that concern the American voters because I wholeheartedly support McCain and think personal unsubstantiated six-degree linked attacks on Obama are the most important thing to consider but are smears when thrown back at McCain.

 

Fixed.