McCain: The Miss Teen South Carolina Of Economics

In his march towards the Republican nomination John McCain has drawn criticism for his lack of fluency when discussing the economy (it is a subject which he has conceded is not his strongest). During some of the debates, particularly when compared with someone more voluble on the topic such as Mitt Romney, McCain's answers have been portrayed by his critics as being vague and lightweight on matters of economic policy.

Well, it now turns out that someone affiliated with Ron Paul (he's still in the race!) has made a mash-up of John McCain and the infamous Miss South Carolina Teen USA, Lauren Caitlin Upton, to highlight the senator's floundering answers. Upton, in case you missed it during the 2007 pageant, gave what can only be described as a train wreck of an answer to the question of why Americans are so bad at geography.

Watch the mash-up.

Comments

[localman]

12:31 AM on 02/18/2008

The real shame of the upcoming elections is that not only does McCain have no clue about the economy apparently neither do Americans in general. With economic disaster on the horizon and polls stating that the economy is the main issue- people consistently and overwhelmingly vote for economic illiterates. Just goes to show that the vast majority of Americans are living in lala land.

[not one of the sheep]

07:57 PM on 02/18/2008

I think you can include the rest of the main candidates in your post also. They are promising to fund the world but apparently think the money to fullfill all these programs will appear by magic. Well, I guess we are in for a ride no matter who gets the nod. Hang on and enjoy or bend over.

[localman]

09:34 PM on 02/18/2008

Agreed.

[JohnFromCensornati]

01:05 PM on 02/17/2008

THE 5% GUY IS STILL IN THE RACE!
How is it that nobody notices that?

[Pyrum]

09:22 PM on 02/16/2008

Thank you so much for pointing out Ron Paul is still in the race! No one else in the media seems to want to acknowledge that.

[unitedstatesofamerica]

03:39 PM on 02/16/2008

I agree with most of the opinion here; it's very funny clip. I don't hate McCain--I think he has integrity and will say what he believes; I just think that his skills and his beliefs would lead the country in the wrong direction.

I think it highlights the way the campaign would play out in the two competing scenarios:

Clinton v. McCain: the memes of "character" and "trustworthiness" become big issues. The real issues are relegated to the backburner, and the election is far closer than it should be--perhaps even a McCain victory. We get Mr. Teen South Carolina as our president.

Obama v. McCain: the "character" memes are relegated to the fringe (the B HUSSAIN O IS A MUSLIMIST EXTREMEIST fringes). The real issues are allowed to take center stage. Obama wins in a landslide because people agree with his positions.

Campaigns are about big, powerful themes. If Clinton runs, the themes are about trust and character. If Obama runs, the themes are about change and competence v. the status quo and a lack of curiosity. The Democrats should clean up in this election. Support Barack Obama!

[lungfish]

02:48 PM on 02/16/2008

heck, these two give carbon molecules a bad name.

But there you have it. That is the future of mankind and we are doomed. We aren't being dumbed down. We are dumb. We have seen the future and its right here on the west coast of South Carolina, just across the boarder from Spain.

"R" is for "Stupid"

[Stirner]

07:53 AM on 02/17/2008

No. Repeat this ONE more time: "Ron Paul IS a Republican candidate". Unlike the media, he knew that McCain lacked knowledge of economics. He proved that by simply by asking McCain a question. Paul will get our people out of Iraq and out of the whole bloody stinking religious cesspool in and around Israel. McCain suggests the possibility that we may be there for another century. Paul does NOT support torture, McCain voted against banning it. Not all "R" is "Stupid" -- but McCain is. Oh, by the by, some "D" is for "Stupid".

[JohnFromCensornati]

01:03 PM on 02/17/2008

I don't see where lungfish said anything about D, but D will be an improvement over R in just about every way.

[jerryfromcalifornia]

01:30 PM on 02/16/2008

Don't pick on Lauren, she's smarter than McCain.

[ElCapitanAmerica]

12:29 PM on 02/16/2008

The video fails to make the point, even though it tries to confuse McCain's answer (who does not compare to Miss Teen) by some horrible editing.

One wonders if people then are saying "crazy uncle" Paul is the right man for the economy. The irony!

[WeHadEnough]

01:00 PM on 02/16/2008

I agree with the bad editing. I did get the clear impression that McLame is lost on the economy. I'll have to see it uncut to see what was left out of his statement.

[Birdman]

05:12 PM on 02/16/2008

Not that I'm defending McCain but as long as he knows her knows nothign about the economy, he will not try to screw it up, and leave it to the experts. Where you run into trouble is when someone who knows nothing, about anyhting, (GW) fails to realize he knows nothing, and screws up everything.

[Pyrum]

12:02 AM on 02/17/2008

Ron Paul IS the right man for the economy. He's the only one who seems to understand how our foreign policies undermine our economy and how printing fiat currency, backed by nothing but thin air, leads to inflation that outpaces wage increases.

[ptarantino]

12:10 PM on 02/16/2008

This is great, shows that you don't have to worry too much about McCain being a strong opponent.

Obama should bring Dr.Paul into the mix as the head, our a major shapper of his finance team.

[JohnFromCensornati]

01:10 PM on 02/17/2008

Now, there's an idea I like!
wRong Paul (R-TX) as Secretary of Defense for Obama.
What would the Nazi skinheads do?

[zendem1]

11:42 AM on 02/16/2008

Hoover, Harding, Reagan. Those three stooges didn't understand economics either.

[ChristianEcon.com]

01:22 PM on 02/16/2008

Hoover, Coolidge, Harding, Reagan, Ron Paul--all freemarket advocates.

Too bad we didn't show them all the door early, like we have with candidates this year.

[JMEB]

10:31 AM on 02/16/2008

This. Was. HILARIOUS.

A message that needs to be heard: MCCAIN FAILED ECONOMICS. His "strength" will be keeping us in Iraq for a hundred years.

[43P04T34]

09:13 AM on 02/16/2008

In fairness to John McCain, he has admitted that he doesn't understand economics

( excuse me, BWWWHHHHAAAAAAAHHHHHAAA HHHHAAAA )

at all.

So, John, in fairness to the people of the US, would you kindly admit all the other things that you don't understand, things like The Constitution, History, Foreign Policy, Domestic Policy, Government, etc. ?

[Lalo]

08:28 AM on 02/16/2008

this is a stupid video, doesn't make a point at all

[JMEB]

10:32 AM on 02/16/2008

Let me guess - economics "isn't your strong suit" either.

[Lalo]

11:46 AM on 02/16/2008

No, Professor. Neither is silly character assasinations. But I know you majored in both, so it's okay

[Pyrum]

09:17 PM on 02/16/2008

It makes the point that McCain is a bumbling idiot when it comes to the economy. How could anyone miss the point?

[ljsfolly]

08:27 AM on 02/16/2008

When all the republican men were running for the white house it was like the keystone kops with them running into each other then bouncing another direction. Now Huck and McCain have dialed down the energy level to where you goota really have serious coffee or energy drinks with a bunch of cafeine to keep you awake. If you try to pay attention to McCain he will confuse you or spend so long explaining something until you forget what he was talking about. The rest of the time he's talking you ave to keep a score card to know how many times he changes positions and on what. I wonder if someone should check to see if he wants to be like reagan so much he already (?) has the disease that Ronnie got and his mind and reality are going rapidly.

[not one of the sheep]

08:13 AM on 02/16/2008

The saddest part is you can plug in any of the last three candidates repuke or dumb into that role and come up with the same thing. None of them have a clue. They're all too busy promising the sky and kissing their parties fringe kooks butts on both ends to give a crap about anything else. Shake 'em up, reach into the box and grab one because they are all the same but make sure you wash your hands afterwards to get the stench of BS and greed off.

[lungfish]

05:40 AM on 02/16/2008

heck, these two give carbon molecules a bad name.

But there you have it. That is the future of mankind and we are doomed. We aren't being dumbed down. We are dumb. We have seen the future and its right here on the west coast of South Carolina, just across the boarder from Spain.

"R" is for "Stupid"