DNC Hits McCain For $5 Million Remark, Day After Obama

Democratic operatives were quick to jump on the one major McCain slip up from Saturday's Saddleback forum: the off-the-cuff remark that $5 million was the line of demarcation for distinguishing the rich.

On Monday, Barack Obama had a sharp attack line at his disposal, painting his Republican opponent as out of touch on modern economics.

"Maybe he was joking," said the Senator, before adding that, under McCain's definition, those making under $3 million would be "middle class."

On Tuesday, the Democratic National Committee followed suit, releasing a highly personalized web ad criticizing McCain on the matter. Titled "Five Million," the spot paints the presumptive Republican nominee as not just blissfully unaware of what constitutes wealth but an out-of-touch elitist in his own right. For good measure, the DNC threw in a clip of McCain's former top economic adviser, ex-Sen. Phil Gramm, calling America a nation of whiners.

The spot, like all of these web ads, will have an impact only to the extent that it gets free media coverage. And this one may lack the defining charge or image (like the McCain campaign mocking Obama as a self-delusional Moses) to allow it to go viral. But it's worth reporting strictly because McCain's $5 million remark -- which he almost instantaneously predicted his opponents would use to make electoral hay - has now founds its way into a succession of political attacks. Perhaps more is in the offing.

Comments

[OldKnute]

Rich in America?

5 Million?

Most in America would be happy if they had a secure JOB.
Most would be happy if they could afford Healthcare,,, and their Employers would too.
Most would be happy if we could break the ties with BIG Oil that is threatening our National Security and depleting our treasury and our wallets.
Most would be happy is their elderly parent were secure.
Most would like their children to receive at least a FAIR shot at a good education.
More yet would appreciate it college did not mean YEARS of indebtedness for their children or selling their HOPE to pay for it.
Most would be happy if TAXES,, from paychecks were to BUILD AMERICA,,, Not inflation, fuel bills, electric costs, deficit spending, Government waste, sweetheart deals to Backwater, KBR, Halliburton, out of control defense spending and support of a NEEDLESS WAR.

The Rich in America?

Everyone that is getting FAT sucking off the pockets of the American Public.

As they say,,, follow the MONEY!

Why?

Because it SHOWS what/who McCain is pandering too.

McCain out of touch???

Has he bought a hotdog in the last 20 years? Filled a tank with gas? Had a tooth removed? Paid for his own Insurance? Paid for a childs’ broken arm? Seen the cost of MILK? Been to a Pharmacy? Rode a public BUS? Past through security at an Airport,, NOT the VIP line,, the line the rest of us go through?

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[ThePeacemakers]

Joking,ok...but did the moderator come back to get a straight answer from Mr. Straight Talk Express?
What was his answer to the question?

That's the real story.

[ThePeacemakers]

Phil123...
I forgot my manners and should not have called you dumb. But it's frustrating beyond belief the misinformation.
And, hey, there's a big mess waiting for the next President. The current administration is wanting the fed gov. to be as broke as possible so there's that to deal with.

[MidSection]

McCain was kidding when he said this onstage.....he even joked that this would be distorted against him.....and what do you know? What about a joke don't liberals get these days. pretty funny.

[santamonica39]

no, he wasn't kidding. He just realized after he said it that he would be hit for it, so he commented that it would be 'taken the wrong way'. If he felt that way, why didn't he give a different number? Why didn't he revise it? Bottom line is that the republican agenda favors those making $5 million and more. Eeven people making $500K a year would be much better off under the democrats. The republicans are the party of the SUPER rich.

[Phil123]

So if I understand this correctly, there is some actual number above which is "rich" and below which is "not rich." And Obama knows that number, and McCain does not. OK, I see.

BTW, since politicians always talk about taxing "the rich," one interpretation of this is that McCain considers that class to start at a higher threshold than does Obama.

And in fact, in a version of "tax the rich" that Obama was talking about last Fall, when he got pinned down to a number, "the rich" turned out to be families making more than $70,000.

With a trillion in new spending, where do you think Obama is going to get the money? From "the rich" (meaning "the really rich")? From "big oil?" Wrong. From you.

[Changeizgood]

Look phil123
You could take a lesson in honesty. You don't have to lie to get your point across. People have the sense to make sound solutions, if the stuff told to them is truthful.

You lied because he said seniors making 70,000 or lower would not be taxed.

I guess you just got that mixed up. I don't, I have all his speeches for class reference when he's elected. This has been one beautiful respectful, campaign of integrity and truth.

Barack On!

[ThePeacemakers]

Phil123 - why don't you visit obama's website...it's spelled out there. Also:
From the Aug. 14 Wall Street Journal....YOU DUMB TOOL !!!

"Sen. Obama believes that one of the principal problems facing the economy today is the lack of discretionary income for middle-class wage earners. That's why his plan would not raise any taxes on couples making less than $250,000 a year, nor on any single person with income under $200,000 -- not income taxes, capital gains taxes, dividend or payroll taxes.

In contrast, Sen. McCain's tax plan largely leaves the middle class behind. His one and only middle-class tax cut -- a slow phase-in of a bigger dependent exemption -- would provide no benefit whatsoever to 101 million families who do not have children or other dependents, or who have a low income..."

"..Sen. Obama would pay for this tax cut by cutting spending -- including responsibly ending the war in Iraq, reducing excessive payments to private plans in Medicare, limiting payments for high-income farmers, reducing subsidies for banks that make student loans, reforming earmarks, ending no-bid contracts, and eliminating other wasteful and unnecessary programs...

[PioneerKing]

McCain's buddies in the main stream media will not air this ad.

[AZBunny]

1 in 1,000 make over 5million??? is that correct??? That sounds like a lot.

[leftoflennon]

AWESOME !!!

[BrighterStar]

The only way for this attack on McCain to work is if his words are taken out of context. If all of what he said was played most people would agree with him. The funny thing is that he said those on the left would probably take his statement out of context and use it against him. He knows full well the dishonesty of his political opponents.

[WisePiper]

"If all of what he said was played most people would..." would finally recognize what an incompetent, self-absorbed, dangerous, amoral figure this supposed hero really is. Start paying attention.

[santamonica39]

hmm.. taken out of context. You mean like how the republicans edited Michelle Obama when she said it was "the first time I am REALLY proud of my country" and they edited out the "really" party. You mean like that?

[Gidster]

Where have you been? Have you not been paying attention? You ditto heads are all the same Point out a Republicans foibles and it's an attack, While libel and slandering the Democrat somehow is the truth....No one buys this BS anymore

[GetReal08]

Did you see the post

McCain Puts Oil First - Not Country!

Now that stick'in it to him!

[RedneckDem]

This is precisely the type of attack ad the dems should be running. McCain gives you so much to attack on the issues that you needn't have to go to the "personal issues" gutter to seriuosly get under his skin.

A nice touch to this ad would have been the transcript of McCain admitting not knowing much about the economy...

[liberaldemdave]

We'll all be living in 21st Century "Hoovervilles" if this man is elected!

[ShamusNYC]

Um, why is the DNC using the Fox footage for this? It was on all the networks - maybe even PBS...

[Changeizgood]

They use it to tie him to the most notorious right wing rag tag stations, that spin spin spin.

Now who's head is dizzy?

I bet fox wishes the internet wasn't invented now.
Ha!

[Gidster]

If he has his way Net Neutrality will be a thing of the past!

[TrumanHugh]

Why NOT use that bastion of right-wing propaganda to make their point?? It ads a hint of authenticity if the GOPers see it coming from their mothership. It's perfect!!

And to all the complaining McCainites: where's YOUR sense of humor?!

[Faith101]

I got a feeling a lot of moderate republicans are keeping their powder dry, I want to see more of them come out in support of Obama. I know they exist. Some are probably sitting senators or prominant pass public officials. We need someone to rock McCain back on his heels out of disbelief. Do this person exist for us?

[texasweed]

If Republicans love our country so much, why are they so corrupt?

[enlighteninglad]

That's a really good question. Of course, the brainwashed don't see it that way. Probably don't even know Ted Stevens was indicted.

[Gidster]

Because profits trump patriotism every time