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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
When politicians release information late on Friday afternoons, it's because they hope you won't see it over the weekend.
So it was late last Friday when John McCain's campaign co-chairman Phil Gramm quit. A former Texas Senator, Gramm called us a "nation of whiners" and said we are in a "mental recession." Gramm was also serving as an economic advisor to McCain.
McCain distanced himself from the remarks, but the damage was done. Democrats said it's another example of how out-of-touch John McCain is with the average American. McCain had already told us the economy isn't his strong suit. Phil Gramm's comments sort of proved it.
Gramm said he was quitting in order to "end this distraction” – saying it hurt McCain's ability to focus on the issues. What it hurt was John McCain's credibility when he claims to have the answers to our economic problems. Besides, Americans don't like being called whiners.
But that wasn't the only hand grenade from last Friday. That same day another McCain surrogate came out with an absolutely dumb remark of his own. Colonel Bud Day, who was a POW with McCain in Vietnam and is one of McCain's closest friends, defended the Iraq war policy by saying that "the Muslims have said either we kneel, or they're going to kill us." Republicans spent the rest of Friday trying to explain that Col. Day was talking about Islamic extremists, but that's not what he said. And it's a safe bet a lot of Muslims were not amused.
Here’s my question to you: Did Phil Gramm wait too long to resign as co-chairman of John McCain’s campaign?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Kate writes:
It doesn't really matter if he quit the campaign. Come on, the guy wrote McCain's entire economic plan. McCain ran around for months telling everyone what an economic whiz kid Gramm was, and how he relied on his advice. He may be out of the campaign, but he will very much be a part of any future McCain administration. And, if anyone does not simply tremble at the thought of Phil Gramm's economic plan becoming reality, then they have not read it.
Tasha from Houston writes:
Clearly he waited too long, but the plan was to let Gramm and this story fade away with no action. Then comes Bud, sounding like McCain, not knowing who's who and insulting cultures of people. There really wasn't a choice after the campaign blunder last Friday. Friday was supposed to be "bury Obama on foreign policy" day. McCain's campaign needs another shake-up; somebody isn't doing their job effectively.
Martha from Vancouver writes:
The question should be: Why didn't McCain fire him?
T.J. writes:
That's not the point. The point is what was Gramm even doing as a financial adviser to McCain? Considering he works for a company (UBS) that has been a major player in the mortgage meltdown, how was he ever even selected to be a financial guru for the McCain camp? Makes you wonder who else he'll choose to give him advice if he is elected.
Rory writes:
Another example of republican b.s. These crabby old men with their old cronies and their old way of thinking should all just step aside and let the up-and-coming fix the problems they decided to ignore.
Quentin from New York writes:
It doesn't matter. It was only a 'mental resignation'.