McCain Makes No Mention Of "Middle Class" -- Again

Obama spokesman Bill Burton writes:

According to the transcript, mentions of "middle class"

Obama: 4

McCain: ZERO*

* That's a repeat from the first debate. John McCain has now gone through both debates without mentioning the middle class.

True indeed, though to be fair, McCain did mention "middle income" Americans and "working" families.

UPDATE: Sam Stein has a more thorough word count, which broke down roughly into issues vs. "my friends":

"Tuesday night's presidential campaign lasted 90 minutes and touched on a wide-range of topics. So what did each candidate spend his time discussing? A look at the words uttered during the affair underscores that Barack Obama was more focused on economic issues, the middle class, health care, change, and energy. The Illinois Democrat even talked about foreign policy topics such as Iran, Afghanistan and terrorism more than McCain. One area of focus that McCain hit at more: his 'friends.'"

Here is a list compiled by a Democratic source. The following are the number of times each word or phrase was uttered mentioned during the debate:

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MIDDLE CLASS
Obama: 4
McCain: 0

"MY FRIENDS"
Obama: 0
McCain: 19

"AFGHANISTAN"
Obama: 7
McCain: 2

"DEFICIT"
Obama: 2
McCain: 0

"HOMEOWNER"
Obama: 3
McCain: 0

"HEALTH CARE"
Obama: 18
McCain: 6

"CHANGE"
Obama: 13
McCain: 4

"ENERGY"
Obama: 20
McCain: 6

"TERROR/IST/ISM"
Obama: 6
McCain: 2

"IRAN"
Obama: 10
McCain: 6

"PAKISTAN"
Obama: 11
McCain: 8

"BIN LADEN"
Obama: 2
McCain: 1

"9/11"
Obama: 2
McCain: 0

"TROOPS"
Obama: 7
McCain: 2

"DEBT"
Obama: 5
McCain: 1

"TRUST"
Obama: 6
McCain 3

"FUNDAMENTAL"
Obama: 9
McCain: 6

Comments

[Chillinout]

Someone should count the times each said "I" and "we."

[notthistime]

of course he didn't.

[nopolitricks]

When will middle class republicans realize that if you do not 7 figures in your bank account. REPUBLICAN TAX CUTS DO NOT APPLY TO YOU !!!!! Every republican at city, county, state and federal level all run on a tax cut platform. Then when elected they screw us everytime. Mcain says... "Check the record". Well I say....
...Check the record.

[GerryS]

"my fellow prisoners"- this is the middle class in Pappy's muddled mind.

[BabsfromKansas]

My friends, my answer to the problem of the American economy is a simple one: we should all marry rich, independently wealthy but miserable businesswomen who will finance your every whim and put up with your constant abuse. At the moment of conception. And, as I used to say back in my days as a prisoner of war, God bless America.

[jusion]

"Middle income" Americans and "working" families need jobs. Jobs are in short supply. China is offering companies tax-free incentive to bring their companies there and employ Chinese workers. Obama wants to tax businesses more and give the money to the poor and middle class. If you're into the Democrat's age-old class warfare schemes and get a good feeling knowing "the rich" are getting it put to them good, even though you won't see it yourself, vote Obama and the Dems.

[BabsfromKansas]

The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the middle class gets smaller.

[darthdarcy]

Well there almost is no middle class any more anyway..!

The average American no longer is middle class...but below middle class and that's been true for sometime now..!

The Republicans and Conservatives hate the middle class it's a threat to them and their stranglehold on our government...!

[Shiba Inu149]

By McCains standard there is no middle class, therefore no need to mention them. In his mind there is only the elite (those who make $5 million or more) and the workers who are here to serve him and his friends.

[luxe]

McCain says the American people will not have to make sacrifices... He says we can "do it all"... but what of the spending freeze? It would apply to everyone except Veterans, the Department of Defense, and recipients of entitlements programs (his age group is the largest recipient). So being the elderly Vietnam veteran war hawk he is¦ I guess he is just helping those like him.
I suppose he could still put forth his health care policy since his health care lobbyists will actually make money after taxing employer-sponsored health care for the first time in our nation's history while giving us $5,000 to families/$2,500 to individuals to go out into the market and buying further diminished health plans. And McCain talk about a redistribution of wealth with Obama's proposed tax table! This is the most regressive tax proposal I've heard of for some time now.
And McCain wants to question character-- alright. He screwed around during his naval academy days driving around in a Corvette convertible being a drunk, picking up loose women-- he was never gifted academically like Obama who chose to help impoverished communities after he graduated from his Ivy League institutions. No, he has always been chummier with Wall Street.
McCain, you don't have the prescription to cure the crises that the middle class has to face -- after all these years of increasing deregulation to help the rich get richer, it's a little hard to believe you care about the little guy now.

[midwestgayguy]

I'm going to make my own bumper sticker..
"That One" '08

[35Echo]

"Class War Fair" Vote Obama/Geopet '08

[luxe]

If what you meant to write is "Class Warfare," it doesn't shock me at all that you're a McCain/Palin Supporter. I also think it's funny that you would register with the HuffPo just to write insipid comments on a progressive forum just to make your voting bloc look even more inane and out-of-touch on the issues. Please, join your "cronies"on the FoxNews web posts with your other name-calling and baseless sloganeering .

[luxe]

The thing that bothered me most was his belief that health care is a "responsibility" and NOT a Right. OF COURSE people would like to insure themselves, their families¦ and yes, the small business owners would also like to provide for their employees. I talk to small business owners all the time about getting them started on group health plans¦ but when they see their share of the burden, they know they can't afford it and make payroll at the same time.
I've seen my parents go long stretches of time without health insurance. I remember taking my mom to the ER, waiting 9 hours so she could find out what was wrong with her (she had shingles). Saying it is the responsibility of individuals and then commodifying the health care system-- it's perverse. Everyone wants to have that protection"it's not a matter of people just being too lazy to get it or not prioritizing it in their budgets. My dad had a stroke years ago and would have to pay $4000 a month FOR HIMSELF if he wanted the minimal coverage ($2M lifetime limit, no coverage on nervous system-related illnesses).
He professes to loving this country¦ but by not promoting the ideals of LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as the unalienable RIGHT of every Citizen¦ he just proves how out-of-touch he is with the suffering of the average American.

[IllinoisTexan43]

Why is it that republicans and independents take McCain at his word when he says "I know how to fix this and I know how to fix that" with no specifics. Just vague promises. But it's always Sen. Obama who must bear the onus with having to come up with ALL the details ALL the time. C'mon guys, your prejudices are obvious.

[TSPEY]

McCain represents his constituents (wealthy, corporations) to a golf tee...

America"s Healthcare Crisis: Alaskan Perspective¦

http://tspey.wordpress.com/

[chascates]

The GOP have been eliminating the middle class for the past two decades. In McCain's world you're either one of his class or one of the help.

[justobserve]

Middle clas is to McCain "that one" so he is afraid of the virus!