Why McCain Goes Easy on Fannie and the CRA

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Jeaccusia of AL 9:47PM April 07, 2010

Mr. Pethokoukis:
No one suggests the obvious -- that McCain's PR guys are sabotaging his campaign!
How can you believe otherwise when on one of his latest national commercials which need to be hard hitting against Obama is him saying something like, "The last four years haven't been very good, but I intend to make the next four years much better.
How much worse could a single sentence possibly have been. Running aginst Bush after bragging he voted with him over 90% of the time is not a commercial for McCain, it's a commercial for Obama -- who jumped on it immediately.
No professional ad man is that stupid, this was sabotage.
Tony Schiavo

Anthony P. Schiavo of PA 9:56PM October 28, 2008

Some will do anything to get elected or keep office. Look at polls or public opinion then spin it the right way. Just a few examples.
"This is Bush's economy"
Really? When markets were booming, housing pricess soaring, I never heard that. Of couse not. Most 401k, pension plans (unions) benefitted from a booming markets,and that is a strong part of Dems voting base. We'll only take credit for allowing more of America to participate in the dream of owning a home no matter how bad the lending practices are or how qualified the borrower is. If it goes bad,we'll blame the GOP and get votes
"This is Bush's War"
Really? I didn't hear that after 9/11 when or even after we invaded Iraq. Only after the war began going bad.
"Nevermind that most of us Dems (Biden, Clinton, Pelosi etc.) voted for the war, we were mislead about WMDs".
Really? If we had found WMDs, nothing would have changed concerning the different middle east factions fighting for control. I think it had more to do with making sure you we are the right side of mass opinion. When everyone was waving flags you couldn't take the chance of loosing future votes if the war went well.
"Obama was against the war"
Really? He had no vote at the time (no skin in the game)so he didn't need to worry about future votes.
Obama "If I am elected, within the 1st month in office I will begin working on binging troops home"
Really? Does that statement mean anything? (Today I will begin a campaign to end injustice throughtout the world.I might not complete it for a 1000 years, but my statement cannot be refuted if I do anything at all.) But until then, and now that I am accountable for my stance, I will vote like almost everyone else for continuing to fund the war because I do need those voters who care about the safety and stength of our military, Isreal, and what Iran, Syria, etc. might do if we leave too early.
Obama "I'm not your typical politician. I will work for the poor and middle class to provide jobs and lower taxes, improve education, and make our country a country to be proud of again and repected througout the world"
Oh Really? Why didn't you start here in Chicago, IL. We have one of the highest tax rates in the country, our public school system ranks as on of the lowest in the country (although we have a yearly budget of 20M, $10,500 per student) and many of the politicians here are either being accused of crimes, getting their family members jobs despite qualifications, awarding contracts to friends, or awarding jobs for campaign work. Oh I forgot you needed them to get your career started.
Exactly, what did you do here?
I could go on but I have been out of work for a time and need to get back to my search. I should have been on McCain's canpaign, but i might be a little to truthful for that.
Also, although I don't agree with the choice you have made,I would like to apologize to any real prositutes who work for a living and actually provide a service

Lawrence Anthony of IL 1:33PM October 28, 2008

I was truly embarrassed by the way McCain allowed himself to be "handled" by Mr Obama in the last (2nd) debate.
Why doesn't he say the things you state in your blog, indeed?
What is he waiting for? November 9th? It will be too late then...ACORN will have parked their buses filled with 2 and 3 times voting constituents, Barnie and his boyfriend will have left the backroom where they write regulatory guidance that amounts to no regulation, just long enough to cast their vote for Obama, and we will descend into an even more fetid level of "change"...

roland of NY 1:26PM October 09, 2008

You're right. McCain CANNOT make that argument for historical reasons.
McCain has stated too many times that Pres. Roosevelt was his hero. During Roosevelt's administration, the FHA was created and instituted the practice of redlining.
Redlining, combined with the systemic racism that pervaded our country, further prevented Blacks from owning or maintaining homes.
And predatory lending was merely a reverse method of redlining since they underwrote mortgages and insurance at way higher rates for properties in areas where no one wanted to live except those who were already there anyway. It was a way of keeping minorities in ghetto-type neighborhoods and making a whole lot of money while doing it.
And you know Obama knows this history since it was his signature fight in Illinois. McCain doesn't stand a chance in this argument.

Peaceful Living of PA 1:52PM October 07, 2008

Obama's convincing me, and you nuts are just helping.
McCain's supporters always cite Obama's inexperience yet proclaim he caused the meltdown! And in a Republican controlled government!
How can you credibly call the Angry Old Man a nice guy?
Nobody says the Repubs look weak, as you claim! The Repubs have been very strong and gotten everything they wanted for the last eight years. And the result ain't pretty.
Next you'll be saying the guy who voted 95% with Bush is a maverick! Puh-lease.

zorg of 12:55PM October 07, 2008

His problem is he is a Republican again... Remember when "Maverick" was the darling of the media as he stumped against Romney and others on the right? He was against closing the border... FOR amnesty (ah yes, with some 'pre-conditions' to be sure...) Some say he is now afraid to press the CRA LOAN issues because the race card will be played.
Reagan stood tall against Big Government and offered a "hand up, not a hand out" and took on Welfare in spite of racial overtones and won our hearts and heads - the Press didn't think so but that just lets you know you're going in the correct direction. There is only one color in this mess - GREEDY GREEN.
BOTH these political parties are killing us! But it certainly seems when you take a close look at the motive trail the side that was trying to stave off disaster was on the Right... not the Left. To be sure big bonus CEOs, COOs & CFOs need some jail time as does anyone that falsified a loan document for personal gain.
Greed flowed on Wall Street AND on Main Street.
John? You want my vote - stand in there and tell it straight.

Owen Shoemaker of CA 3:00AM October 07, 2008

...let's not be too dogmatic my right wing friends. You may have a point about fannie and freddie but what about the deregulation legislation Phil Graham snuck into end-of-the year budget legislation in '99 that allowed for credit default swaps and other brilliant tools to make greedy moneymen make more money out of nothing? Hasn't deregulation basically been the mantra of Republicans for decades? And on top of that, Bush has spent more money with his wars and increased the size of government bureaucracy with the DHS than any president before him by far. He's done more than anyone to create inflation (also called the hidden tax). And he's also undermined the greatest institutions of this country with corruption in the Justice Department, reduced transparency in the Executive Office, and election fraud which all together I would argue has undermined the public's confidence and make this crisis even worse. In the end, there's plenty of blame to go around. The crisis is too big to make partisan blame legitimate.
Where do we go from here? Well, I'd rather vote for the smartest, best educated guy who inspires people to serve their country, has led a more moral and ethically sound life, has the respect of our ally's, and promises to reinvest in this county's future. That's why I'll vote for Obama.
P.S. You'll get your way in the end. Obama won't be able to carry out his initiatives until he balances the budget, ends the war and get's Republican spending in check. By then, he'll have to run for a second term and you'll have crushed another great leader. It'll be like Clinton all over again.

Ryan of CA 2:19AM October 07, 2008

Perhaps McCain doesn't want Obama to bring up the Keating 5.

susan of CA 12:33AM October 07, 2008

McCain is on a losing path that will end with Senator Obama as President Obama. I can't wait to see the last of McCain's old grumpy mug and Palin's barracuda pit bull attack dog smirk. These two have no business near the presidency. Republicans have shredded the constitution, phonied up a war with dreadful consequences, and left the country bankrupt. I think we have had quite enough of them.

Vicki of LA 10:19PM October 06, 2008