Confused: McCain Claims "We've Made Progress" On Financial Crisis

On NBC News Thursday night, John McCain claimed that "we've made progress" on negotiating a financial rescue package. McCain suggested that he deserves some of the credit for the "progress" even though a bipartisan deal struck before McCain arrived on Capitol Hill fell apart after he met with House Republicans.

Here's his exact words:

"I think that we've made progress, and I'm confident we will have a deal. How much I had to do with that, I'll let you and others be the judge."

As a reminder, when John McCain landed in Washington, DC, House and Senate leaders from both parties had agreed to a framework for a deal.

Less than two hours after McCain began his meeting with GOP Leader John Boehner, Boehner announced that House Republicans were no longer on board with the deal. Next came the disastrous White House meeting -- which was McCain's idea to begin with.

So we went from having a basic deal in place to having no deal at all.

And McCain calls that progress? He couldn't possibly be more confused.

Here's video:

Comments

[johnny41]

I tried before to express my displeasure with John McCain on another post and it was rejected by Huffington so I'm going to attempt to subdue my anger to make a point. I've worked very hard for 20 years contributing to my 401K, which I'm sure most of you realize is stock based. To set here and watch it be washed away because of some greedy, rich, little man is very upsetting. Thank You

[DocJerome]

I feel your pain.

[ByersL]

We are there with you!

[Icantbelieveher]

There are more than a few of us who have lost money in this mess! It's not the rich who suffer!

[AnthonyVolpe]

The stock market has always gone up in value in any 10-year-period. Stop panicking, leave your money where it is, and let it run its course. Part of the reason the market is tanking is because everyone's seeing the stock market as a microwave oven instead of a crock pot and their panic is causing it to drop in value as they take out their money and buy gold or hide it in mattresses.

Greedy people cause the markets to collapse. Rich people leave their money where it is and let it ride. McCain is only part of the reason the economy's in trouble. A lot of us are to blame for one reason or another. Market regulation and deregulation is one thing. The fact that we have an economy based on what we borrow and owe instead of what we HAVE is the far bigger issue. Since the average American is $3000 in debt (and mostly in debt for frivolous things, not food and bills), we're to blame too.

[rkimball]

why am i not surprised. this coming from the same man that just said the fundementals of our economy are sound.

tell that to millions of investors & baby boomers set to retire.

[birdiegirl123]

Yes YOU made progress with the bailout and the ECONOMY is fundamentally sound. Shut the f@ck up! You have lost contact with the real world. Call your psych stat and get your medications adjusted.

[vinny]

Notice how Williams slid in the Q about where does the money come from??? Q trying to get if McCain was in favor of the partisan House Republican proposal or the bipartisan Senate Banking Committee proposal. Note how the anti-leader dodged the question.

[Icantbelieveher]

McDodge won't even answer where he stands on the bailout until after he sees if it works or doesn't!

He hasn't answered a question without dodging it in years! Honorable my a$$!

[rkfdred]

Obama has been doing exactly what he should be doing - offering important points that need to be in this bail out-if it happens. He has not been trying to grandstand. He has not been trying to tank the deal. No one wants this thing, I sure don't but I'm not sure we have a choice. When McCain came to Washington he backhandedly tried to reaffirm his no regulation policy by wanting to interject this into the plan. I don't blame the democrats for refusing to buy in unless the republicans support it - they are the ones that got us into this with deregulating everything, allowing the greedy CEOs to rape their companies, pick the bones clean and then ask for help. I only have one question - how has McCain shown that he will reach across the aisle? All he's done it side with his conservative republican House friends. The more moderate republicans are in favor of a reasoned bail out. All he's doe is mess things up even more. So much for his claim of leadership. What a joke!!!

[koyak23]

Please someone refill this man's Aricept !!!

[poco767c]

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

HAhAHAHA

[bygollymissmolly]

That's very interesting since yesterday Rasmussen had them tied. That's a pretty big jump in one day.

[jeanrenoir]

McCain is at least as idiotic and disoriented as Palin. Both of them make W look like Dr. IQ.

[ProudLiberalDemocrat]

McCain campaign spokesman, "What Senator McCain meant by progress is they had made progress in deciding whether to have sandwiches or wraps for lunch. As for discussions about economic crisis, John Mcain came to Washington to bang heads and he has successfully banged his own against the wall. So, if Senator McCain seems a bit off his mark this evening, it's because he was performing the hard work for the American people. "

"Further, even though we claimed that Barak Obama had no plan to deal with the economic crisis, we looked at news reports from last week that outlined his points and found it eerily similar to the plan that Senator McCain announced this week. The only difference appears to be that Senator McCain will insist that capital gains tax cuts and deregulation be included in the bailout proposal - apparently, he hasn't learned that these policies are what caused the meltdown and would prefer to double-dow­n."

[AmHope]

Ha ha--I like that last line.

[2stupid4words]

How long will it take Americans to decipher that this man is not playing with a full deck? Grandstanding! The distract-o-meter is registering overload! This man is not a knight in shining armor.We have one man playing president and another trying to make us believe he is presidential material. Maybe our gene pool is actually bankrupt.

[kimbari]

And people have trouble voting for a *black* man....

[psychmaj323]

He has to say that otherwise he has to stick to his word and NOT come to the debate this evening. What a joke this guy is.

[abby4ever]

I just heard Harry Reid live, and for once, he was brilliant. Saying, "We had a d eal but then guess who came to town?!" He just let the implication hang, he didn't articulate it. Namely, that everyone who will be taking hits on W all St reet over the weekend and maybe even beyond (including ordinary people whose pensions are tied up with st ocks and sh ares) all because the d eal that was done br oke down and Wall St reet doesn't like that, can blame the repubs.

And, if they want, Mc Cain in particular!

Take that, McStunt. That's what you get for sticking your big nose into it. You get to be the fall guy and good luck in November!

:]

[berrycooda]

Harry Reid had a deal because as usual, they give everything away and also they are anxious to get finished because it is time for them to start campaigning for themselves.

They had to see this coming but went on their 5 wk vacation anyway.

McCain wants private investors to help. Not just put out the money and let the tax payer pay.

[thinbluetorpedo]

McCain is challenging others to be the judge. Nice. I guess the mind of a person finishing at the bottom of his class would see benefit in issuing such a challenge.

[bayside]

I am disappointed Obama is not standing up ,bet he is working behind the scenes,but I applaude MCCain for saying no bailout.. They made this mess, they profited from this and they need to clean up their own mess. Not us..Yes we will go into a recession, flash we already are because of our irresponsible republican and dems spending us into oblivion with no way out..So lets build it back up without the corruption at the highest levels. Plant your victory gardens, barter services and food, learn new skills and share with others because when you share, you not only feel good, they are grateful and pass that on to others. When you share what you have you get what you need.. If god made us ,then we are all brothers and sisters ..When it all dies down we will rise up better than ever.

[uheardme]

asinine

[TeriMcCarthy]

OMG!!!! The R's will let the nation and the world go down in flames won't they and never accept responsibility for anything.

[eden4barack08]

Responsibility? What the heck is that? Republi cons believe things happen by themselves and fix themselves. Except when they don't, in which case the Dems did it.