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Fairfax, Virginia: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama ridiculed ex-Texas Senator Phil Gramm, a top economic adviser to GOP presidential contender John McCain, on Thursday for branding the country as "a nation of whiners" mired in a "mental recession" that has exaggerated current economic woes.
"It isn't whining to ask government to step in and give families some relief," Obama told a town-hall meeting in a Washington suburb.
"America already has one Dr Phil," Obama said. "We don't need another one when it comes to the economy."
Gramm sought to clarify his comments on Thursday, but said the Obama campaign "is in the category of whiners."
Gramm's remarks also brought a rebuke from McCain, who told reporters in Belleville, Michigan, "I strongly disagree."
"Phil Gramm doesn't speak for me. I speak for me," he said, noting that a recently out-of-work person "isn't suffering from a mental recession."
"America is in great difficulty. And we are experiencing enormous economic challenges, as well as others," McCain said in distancing himself from Gramm's comments Wednesday to The Washington Times.
"You've heard of mental depression. This is mental recession," Gramm told the paper, citing continued - if slowed - domestic economic growth. "We may have a recession. We haven't had one yet."
"We have sort of become a nation of whiners," Gramm said. "You just hear about this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline."
Gramm's clarification attempt
The Washington Times reported that Gramm, a former economics professor and current vice chairman of UBS, a Swiss bank, sought to clarify his comments on Thursday, telling the paper, "When I spoke of whiners ... I was talking about American leaders who whine instead of lead" and "leaders who blame speculators and oil companies for high oil prices and yet have no proposal to produce more energy here at home."
He also said he was referring to "leaders who think we can't compete with even Mexico and believe that we should build a wall around America and go hide under a rock somewhere."
"Certainly too many members of Congress and the Barack Obama campaign fall into the category of whiners," he said, adding: "We don't need whining. We need leadership."
At his Virginia event, Obama moved quickly to use Gramm's remarks to try to portray McCain as insensitive to Americans struggling in a sagging economy.
"It's not just a figment of your imagination," Obama said. "Let's be clear. This economic downturn is not in your head."
Asked if Gramm would be in line for a top post in a McCain administration, the GOP candidate said his former Senate colleague would "be in serious consideration for ambassador to Belarus, but I'm not sure the citizens of Minsk" would accept him.
Obama's comments came at an event highlighting economic challenges for women, part of his effort to lure support from former Hillary Clinton backers, including some still upset that Clinton ended her unsuccessful effort to become the first female presidential nominee of a major party. The former rivals appeared together in New York at a "Women for Obama" breakfast fundraiser.
"I'm grateful for all of you who have come together," Clinton told the audience. "I know you'll be there in November."
Obama heaped praise on his former rival and said, "I know how much we'll need both Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton as a party and a country in the months and years to come."
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| This article on the national political campaigns in the United States is from The New York Times. It was specially selected and prepared by the editors of The New York Times News Service. |
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