jdkeepsmiling

Join Date 12/2004

Hmmmmm.... Is It 6 Or 7 Houses I Own?

Yesterday, John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee was asked a pretty simple question in a forum sponsored by Politico. He was asked how many houses he owned. Now I can assure that many Americans could answer this before the guy was even finished asking it... it would be a simple 1. Many could also answer 0, but that is an entirely different blog. John McCain thought for a second and then said that he did not know how many homes he owned, and that he would have his staff get back to the reporter who asked the question.

Now I cannot think of a single thing that would put McCain more out of touch with the average American then not knowing how many homes he owns. Imagine the internal process(In thought bubble...Well there in the Virginia House then Florida and Colorado...oh yeah, the beach house in Malibu...wait am I forgetting somewhere..well I guess I don't know.) Rough. Life. Man. Well it turns out the man that has your best interest's at heart as a Middle-Class American has 7 homes worth about $13 million dollars. Looks like the latest layoff's at General Motors have not hurt him.

In related news, the Obama campaign, in probably the fastest turn around in presidential advertising history, had an ad up TODAY criticizing the comment. Presented below just because it is amazing they got it up so fast. Thoughts and comments please.

mccain houses democrat

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

+1048

Yes, because Obama has only one home which is definitely middle-class right?

If Obama wants to talk about homes, lets go for it. How about the deals he did with Rezco, how about the sweetheart deals he got as a politician, or how about democrats connection to Countrywide?

Yep, Obama just couldn't be morein touch with Americans could he?

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Actually John McCain doesn't own any houses. He's homeless. His wife owns four homes that she shares with her hubby but she also owns three other properties.

I don't know that ad seems kind of divisive to me. I thought Obama was above that kind of petty politics. Newsflash - Obama is politics as usual. He is playing the game just like they all play the game. lol - when will the pod people see that their leader is just a politician, no different than the rest of them?

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Now I cannot think of a single thing that would put McCain more out of touch with the average American then not knowing how many homes he owns.

And you think Obama's 4 million dollar house makes him more in touch?

Surrreeee! Let me go take a look at MY 4 million dollar house. Yea right!

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Obama will not hide the fact that he has a larger than average home. This is entirely different than having seven separate homes. I understand vacation homes and other places around the country, especially if you have a lot of money. Both candidates have exactly that, money. However, I think the issue people should be looking at is that there is a situation that needs to be dealt with for the benefit of millions of Americans. The housing issue is a huge concern for the people and the economy...and it may not be one of my top concerns at the moment, but I respect a candidate who acknowledges the situation and plans to react accordingly. The funny thing is...both candidates will actually do this. They have mentioned plans to help truly struggling homeowners while keeping assistance away from those who acted irresponsibly and now want to be bailed out. I don't understand how their personal housing has come into the picture as somehow relevent...but that's negative ad tactics for ya...going on both sides.

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Years ago, McCain made a promise, as a result of some controversy or the other, to keep his wife's finances and properties separate from his own. As wealthy as she is, and as many companies as she owned, it was felt that the wise thing to do was for him to not even know what she owns, to help prevent conflict of interest situations. As a result, he had no idea how many homes she owned. If the question had been "how many homes do you own" it would have been an easy answer, but the question was "how many questions do you and your wife own" (may be worded slightly differently)

It should also be noted that they don't live in all of these. One is used for an elderly relative who apparently needed a place and live, another purchased for one of her children to stay in, and most are rental/investment properies, just like many others have. From what I understand, McCain himself only lives in two--one in his home state of Arizona, and one in DC.

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The main point anyone should take from this silly "debate" is that neither candidate is an average American (whatever that means). They're both of the monied class (regardless of how they actually came into that money), and any attempt by either of them to pass themselves off as anti-elite, or whatever euphemism they're using (I believe 'in-touch' is in vogue right now), is absurd at best.

Unfortunately, we can't exactly blame the candidates themselves, since the American public eats this garbage up, and they're just doing whatever they think will get them elected. The sooner Americans can leave this populist nonsense behind, the better off we'll all be.

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The thing is, once you get to the point where you can run for President, you name alone is worth millions and it's not that hard to earn a lot of cash. So in that way, the candidate will not be average in terms of income.

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Since when is deferring the question to your staff forgetfulness? Obama and his supporters seem to take delight in spin and outright distortion. Any objective person that heard McCain can see that for themselves.

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First of all McCains wife works in real estate and purchases many homes for investment purposes, therefore it is hard to say at a given moment just how many homes she has purchased at that exact moment...as she buys and sells.....that is why McCain who was being honest when he said he would have to have his investment dept get back with you on that one....another example of Obama grabbing at straws to bring down the man who is showing the world just what a poor excuse for president Obama would be...wake up people and just look at how he did Hilary Clinton....letting her think she was a probable choice for vp and then going the other way.....Clinton when running against Obama said over and over he is not experience to be president...did you all forget the tv ad about the phone call at 3am in the morning....do you really want Obama on the other end....and now here she is telling her voters to switch to Obama....so does that mean she lied to all of us or just tells us what sounds good at the moment....well so much for backing Obama...he just handed Hilary her head on a platter once again...a true Muslim act!!!

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Anthony R

Join Date 01/2003

+59

One can only hope that this is the best attack they can come up with.

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Obama will not hide the fact that he has a larger than average home. This is entirely different than having seven separate homes.

ONe of which is used by an elderly aunt to live in. Why did Obama not use some of his money for a house for his brother living on $1/month?

There are a lot of stories in the naked city, and Obama is losing on this one.

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We can't really say why Obama wouldn't help his brother in that situation, but it is obviously a personal monetary and family situation. McCain has multiple homes and puts them to use how he sees fit, and I find nothing wrong with that. I was merely stating that they have completely different situations which really have no bearing on the issues the rest of the nation faces; and yet they are arguing and picking at each other about it. It's tactics like this with both sides of the campaign that really get me sick of this whole process.

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I was merely stating that they have completely different situations which really have no bearing on the issues the rest of the nation faces; and yet they are arguing and picking at each other about it. It's tactics like this with both sides of the campaign that really get me sick of this whole process.

On that I totally agree. I just think that going down that path is a mistake on Obama's part - PR wise.

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I also understand this to be a part of a Prenuptial agreement?

DNC is only standing on a house of cards on this issue.

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I have enough trouble keeping one house clean. Heh.

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And you think Obama's 4 million dollar house makes him more in touch?

Surrreeee! Let me go take a look at MY 4 million dollar house. Yea right!

Just to get this right, because I know how sticky you conservatives are about the truth and history, McCain's people even said it was a million dollar home. And let me tell you I live in Wisconsin and have actually gone shopping with Chicago friends for homes in Chicago, it doesnt take much to be a million dollar home. Maybe 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2000 SQ FT. decent sized yard(maybe .5 acre) I wouldnt call that upper class either my friend. In the right neigborhood the home and lot could even get much smaller.

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There are a lot of stories in the naked city, and Obama is losing on this one.

I disagree it make for a great sound byte. "AHH I have a bunch of homes but I really dont know how many I have." Plays very well to the middle class.....Even some of my republican friends I have talked to admitted that this looks and sounds very bad. Unfortunately we shouldnt have to listen to it but McCain has made this type of attack apart of his campaign. Obama has not started these types of attacks, preferring instead to invoke "Let's talk about the issues." I cant tell you how many times I have heard that from him. Obama only responds in kind when attacked in a negative way. he did the same thing against Clinton in the Primarys.

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