QUIT YOUR WHINING
Dr. Phil Gramm knows what ails America
July 11, 2008
Here are a few permissible ways a presidential campaign can describe American voters: hardworking, decent, caring.
And here's one that won't cut it: whiners.
John McCain found himself in a difficult spot Thursday, confronted with a mini-tempest involving one of his economic advisors, former Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas. In an interview with the Washington Times, Gramm said: "We have sort of become a nation of whiners."
He also downplayed concerns about the economy. "You've heard of a mental depression; this is a mental recession," he said.
Barack Obama, who has had his own troubles with incautious campaign surrogates, seized on the remarks. Speaking at a school in Fairfax, Va., he said the nation needed a candidate who accepted that the country was in a downturn.
"Phil Gramm said we're merely in a 'mental recession' -- that's what he said," Obama noted as the audience booed. "I guess what he meant was
is a figment of your imagination."
He mentioned Gramm's "nation of whiners" line -- a comment that made the crowd hiss. "Now, I want you to know, America already has one Dr. Phil. We don't need another one."
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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-trailgramm11-2008jul11,0,370415.story?track=rss