Gramm Quits McCain Campaign

He's talking real economics–not 'campaign econ'

(NEWSER) - When John McCain aide Phil Gramm said America is in a “mental recession,” not a real one, he was speaking with much-needed honesty and accuracy, Amity Shlaes writes in the Washington Post. Gramm has faced an avalanche of bad press for speaking candidly rather than from the perspective of campaign econ, which “says the economy is a certain way because Americans think it is.” More»

Getting back on track may be hard after confusing few days

(NEWSER) - John McCain's insistence on rushing to Washington to involve himself in the bailout process left his campaign reeling, gave critics new ammunition, and widened Barack Obama's poll margins, Bob Drogin reports in the Los Angeles Times. The Arizona senator, who didn't help draft the plan and also skipped voting on another bill, "needs to be a bit more measured," says his former campaign manager. More»

Top McCain adviser in trouble with candidate, claims he was misquoted

(NEWSER) - After Phil Gramm, a ranking economic adviser to John McCain, described America as a “nation of whiners” suffering from a “mental recession,” the campaign trail is lit up over the topic, Time reports:

• From McCain himself, “Phil Gramm does not speak for me. I speak for me.” Asked about the Texan’s future job prospects, “I think Sen. Gramm would be in serious consideration for Ambassador to Belarus.”

Phil Gramm calls US a 'nation of whiners'

(NEWSER) - One of John McCain’s top economic confidantes said yesterday the country is in a “mental recession” and the US has “become a nation of whiners,” constantly “complaining about … America in decline.” The Democratic National Committee moved quickly to condemn Phil Gramm’s remarks—which are likely to hurt efforts, Mike Allen writes on Politico, “to convince working-class Americans that McCain feels their pain.” More»

Healing country is top priority in November, Friedman writes

(NEWSER) - The key issue in the presidential election won’t be national security or Iraq, as many once believed—it will be how to fix our ailing nation at home, writes Thomas Friedman in the New York Times. “We are a country in debt and in decline—not terminal, not irreversible, but in decline,” Friedman notes. What we need is a president who can restore a broken political system. More»