April 14, 2008
McCain On Obama's Comments: "Elitist"
John McCain called Barack Obama's small town comments "elitist" today during a Q&A session with The Associated Press. McCain also stressed the importance of selecting a younger running mate to combat perceptions that his age is an issue, reports NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy.
On Obama
Q: Do you think the senator is an elitist?
McCain: "Oh I don't know, I think those comments are elitist. I think that anybody who disparages people who are hardworking, honest, dedicated people who have cherished the second amendment and the right to hunt and the right to observe that and their values and their culture that they value and they've grown up with and sometimes in the case of generations and saying that's because they're unhappy with their economic conditions? I think that's a fundamental contradiction of what I believe America's all about, that I tried to describe in my remarks.
"These are the people that produced a generation that made the world safe for democracy. These are the people that today their sons and daughters are in harms way, defending this nation. These are the people that have fundamental cultural, spiritual and other values that in my view have very little to do with their economic condition but has everything to do what Tocqueville said America was all about two hundred years ago and is the same today."
Q: If those remarks were elitist, which you say they are, does that make him an elitist?
McCain: "I don't know because I don't know him very well. I don't know Senator Obama very well. I can only look at his remarks and I've seen them now several times and say that those are certainly not the vision that I have of America and its strength and its greatness and what its fundamental values and beliefs are."
Q: You served with him for a couple years. Did you ever see elitist behavior?
McCain: "I know that the positions on many of the issues that he has taken – I don't know if you would call it elitist – but certainly are fundamentally different than mine. I am less government, less regulation, lower taxes, etcetera, etcetera. Ranging from national security to domestic issues we are very different. That's why the American people will have the opportunity with either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama to see some stark contrasts in our vision for the future of America. And I look forward to that debate, I look forward to having that discussion all across America."
"I wish it wasn't so – I wish the debate wasn't so protracted, but certainly I look forward to it."
On Age
Q: Does your age put an extra significance on your running mate choice?
McCain: "I think certainly in the eyes of the media that it does."
Interviewer: "Of course, I just asked the question."
McCain: "I think it's something that's important Ron, but just two points. One is that history shows that as important as the running mate is that people generally vote – primarily their decision is made by who's at the top of the ticket, and second of all it's sometimes a situation where your criteria, no matter what the other factors are, in my view really should be someone who is clearly qualified in the respect they share your principles, your values and your priorities. One of the hardest things for a President of the United States to do is set those priorities. And so that would be the criteria that I have, but certainly it will be an important selection, it should always be an important selection, and it may be viewed by some as more important in my case."
Posted at 12:21 PM
Comments
It Takes Real Chutzpah for a Guy Who Owns Eight Houses (McCain) to Call Barack Obama an "Elitist"
The McCain campaign is managed by a cadre of Washington-insider special interest lobbyists. He and his current wife are estimated to be worth about $100 million. He reportedly owns eight houses. His let-them-eat-cake economic policies are based on George Bush's failed radical conservative "you're on your own buddy" philosophy. One after another he supported trade agreements that protect the rights of corporations, but ignore the rights of labor, and have devastated one Pennsylvania community after another. He gets most of his campaign cash from the wealthiest corporate interests around. And he has the gall to call Barack Obama an "elitist"?
FromHPost | 04.14.08 01:11 PM
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Um HELLOOO. Idiotic reporter once again missed a golden opportunity to ask McCain about HIS elitism (tax cuts for the rich, corporate welfare for starters).
This story (as the commenter above me adequately portrays) about Obama being elitist is such crap. And the media falls into it like lemmings. What a friggin mess. Does ANYONE in the media think clearly anymore?
Ethan | 04.14.08 01:32 PM
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McCain did not call Obama an elitist. Why don't you actually read the article?
By the way, Ohio and Michigan were hard hit, not Pennsylvania.
bio mom | 04.14.08 02:43 PM
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McCain: "Oh I don't know, I think those comments are elitist.
What part of "I think those comments are elitist" don't you understand?
Biomom proves once again her inability to properly process the English language. What is it about you GOPers? And don't gimme some BS about "oh he didn't call Obama an elitist" he said those comments are elitist (which they are not) and so he cannot hedge that.
Go to PA and tell those folks that they haven't been hard hit by this insane GOP economy to their faces. You won't. B/c you'd probably get a whole bunch of dirty looks or worse.
Shoot, 81% of the country thinks we're on the wrong track.
EVERYONE has been hit by the disaster that is GWB and his Korporate Krony Klub.
Ethan | 04.14.08 03:17 PM
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Elitism is a state of mind. Barack Obama does not identify with his country, nor does he feel much in common with most of its citizens. He does not understand their religious faith, nor their believe in Second Amendment rights. To him, these are falsehoods that have come about only through a lack of belief in government (run by himself) to solve people's problems. He is the epitome of an elitist.
Jon | 04.14.08 09:35 PM
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I do believe that 15 years on the stump and in impoverished neighborhoods brings a reality that most people don't get a chance to feel. One only needs to come to Parts of Detroit and see the disinfranchised. Obama has no time for elitism and it is an insult to insinuate such a proposterous idiology on this gentleman. Let't stay the course elect this fine gentleman into office then we will see change for the better. Do not be affraid but trust your gut.
Eric | 05.02.08 10:54 AM
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