McCain: Obama Socialist? "I Don't Know"

In an interview with the Kansas City Star, John McCain says Barack Obama was labeled as having the "most extreme" record in the Senate.

"Extreme? You really think hes an extremist? I mean, he's clearly a liberal," interviewer Dave Helling asks.

"That's his voting record," McCain responds. "All I said was his voting record, and that is more to the left than the announced Socialist in the United States Senate, Bernie Sanders of Vermont."

"Do you think hes a socialist, Barack Obama?" Helling asks.

McCain responds with a with a shrug, "I don't know."

Watch the video.

Comments

[mark227]

I'll answer the question....YES he is a socialist.

NOUN:

1. Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.
2. The stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.

Sounds like Obama. especially 2.

[laocoon]

Whereas on the other hand YOU would never tax me to assuage your fears of a terrorist attack. Or is it just that you and your brand of government know best what I should be afraid of and how my money should be spent.

[Bettysdad]

So Obama wants the govt to own Google?

[who38]

Doesn't the dictatorship of the proletariat mean that the people rule?

[pennst1143]

how can all of you be so sure what obama may or may not be when he changes his positions every two weeks. . . it doesn't look like obama even knows what his own views are

[moderate1]

Why would this bother all of you? You all love socialism. I'm surprised you don't consider this a compliment.

[Kenji]

And Trotsky. We all love Trotsky, don't forget!
Automats and aeroplanes, too.

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

"You all..." What a moron. Obviously not a moderate from reading your other comments but instead you are clearly a troll.

[Kenji]

Down with the Mensheviks!

[vinny]

socialism and neoconservatism, aka fascism, are both communitarian political philosophies... so its funny, as in weird, that republicans want to socialize what people think, yet want to rape the land and colonize the foreign peoples, and then they rail against socialism... it's a fundamentally bankrupt way of life...

a liberal democracy, however, puts its faith in the individual.... (1) do no harm to others, and (2) help the disadvantaged... those are the exact principles of the liberal democrat...

obama, btw, has pissed off a lot of democrats lately precisely because of his socialist policymaking... so the question is an apt one... executive funding of faith-based programs is a socialist-type policy...

[RedWhiteandBrooklyn]

Socialism? You mean like when you make predatory loans to people whom you know can't pay them back, then bundle those loans into dubious finalcial bundles that you knowingly sell to investors as "grade A" when you know they're worthless, and then, when the "free market" implodes, you get the government to cover your losses, all the while keeping every cent of the billion your little shell game made for you.... THAT kind of socialism?

[barbarianatthegate]

Back in the late 80's and early 90's when the Japanese economy went into the tank, suicide among the CEO's of their failed companies was practically commonplace. More recently, the Chinese authorities within weeks found, tried, and executed the person who was responsible for the poisoning of all those pet food products. That's called assigning responsibility.
Here in the good ol' U S of A, however, if you are the CEO who oversaw the multi-trillion dollar collapse of Fannie Mae, you get to go on the PBS News Hour and field softball questions, all while you're counting the millions of dollars that you've squirreled away in a secret bank account in Lichtenstein.
Jefferson said that revolution might be necessary every twenty years or so to preserve our democracy. By his count and mine, we are long overdue.

[martinchill]

[irony]

There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with free enterprise
Don't try to make me feel guilty
I'm so tired of hearing you cry

There's nothing wrong with making some profit
If you ask me I'll say it's just fine
There's nothing wrong with wanting to live nice
I'm so tired of hearing you whine

About the revolution
Bringin' down the rich
When was the last time you dug a ditch, baby!

If it ain't one thing
Then it's the other
Any cause that crosses your path
Your heart bleeds for anyone's brother
I've got to tell you you're a pain in the ass

You criticize with plenty of vigor
You rationalize everything that you do
With catchy phrases and heavy quotations
And everybody is crazy but you

You're just a middle class, socialist brat
From a suburban family and you never really had to work
And you tell me that we've got to get back
To the struggling masses (whoever they are)

You talk, talk, talk about suffering and pain
Your mouth is bigger than your entire brain
What the hell do you know about suffering and pain . . .

There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism

[/irony]

[barackobama4prez]

Sounds like "As far as I know" response to if he's a Muslim.

[malrubius]

Bernie Sanders for President.

[donkat]

MC is so pathetic - he's really desperate.

[shel3364]

This is as bad, if not worse than, "as far as I know".

People really want this guy running the county?? Really??

[LillianB]

Well, all the things John McCain doesn't know don't make him more of an acceptable candidate in my eyes.....

[Vantunow]

At least he didn't say, "As far as I know".....

[Agnim]

Dems never seem to see an election defeat that they are not eager to snatch from the jaws of victory.

From the outset, PRAGMATIC Obama, the Uniter, has been appealing to;
Democrats
Independents
Republicans.

The so-called 'progressives', who are using the Republicans' talking points, are aiding Republican nonsensical propaganda about Obama 'moving to the center', etc.

It's childish divisions of Americans at a time when Obama seeks to appeal to ALL Americans.

With friends like the ever-complaining 'progressives', Obama needs no more enemies.

Dems never seem to see an election defeat that they are not eager to snatch from the jaws of victory.

[schicklett3]

JOhn McCain dosen't know anything. Period!
Ask him about the economy, the failing US dollar, the high energy rates, the job losses, mortgage crisis, education, etc. etc. You'll get the same answer. ;)

[Georgianna]

So sad.

[incontempt]

The corporatist in you , mcpain...prevents you from answering that question just as the birthcontrol/vaigra question did less then a week ago.

[BadgersBite]

If Berine Sanders is a Socialist - than I'm for Socialism - listening to him makes me want to move to Vermont !!

[VOTER]

Well said.

[spacemandewey]

Amen!!