Congressional Republicans Have No Opinion On McCain Mortgage Plan

How seriously are Republican members of Congress treating John McCain's new $300 billion proposal for the government to buy up troubled mortgages?

On Thursday afternoon, the Huffington Post reached out to roughly two dozen press offices for Republican members of the Senate Banking and House Financial Services committees, not one of which was ready to talk about the GOP presidential candidate's proposal in even the broadest terms.

"I don't think he's worked his way through it at this point," said a spokesperson for Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling. It proved to be a common theme.

Sen. Judd Gregg "hasn't weighed in on that yet," his spokeswoman acknowledged, offering to provide a response later.

"I have not heard him say anything about it [McCain's plan]," said a press officer for New Jersey Rep. Scott Garrett, who sits on the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.

Of course, it's easy to see why members of Congress might approach the plan with caution. Unveiled in somewhat surprising fashion during Tuesday night's presidential debate, McCain's announcement quickly set some conservative pundits on edge -- including the editors of the National Review, who called the plan "a full bailout for lenders."

Since then, while McCain operatives have attempted to cement the specifics of the plan, it's still not clear whether the plan is even legal. On ABC News Thursday night, McCain admitted his plan might require "new money" outside of the $700 billion provided by the recent economic rescue package.

Meanwhile, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have both railed against the specifics of McCain's proposal, which had been compared to past initiatives from both Democratic figures. Calling the comparison "offensive," a Clinton staffer echoed the National Review by saying McCain's plan would "[bail] out and rewarding irresponsible bank and mortgage lenders, while sticking taxpayers with the bill."

Several GOP offices said they would pass along their boss's view on McCain's plan later. We'll update this story with their their responses if we receive them.

Comments

[huffingtonhidesourposts]

Hffington is socialists guys...

We have to use tinyurl because Hffington tries to hide the truth and the free speech they espouse.

http://tinyurl.com/438qgx

Tinyurl is one of the biggest and safest URLs in America! Don't accept lies.

[arizonabay]

This is realy the old "A Chicken in every pot" promise.

[deliriousgod]

so this 'Plan' is exactly the worst possible abuse that everyone was screaming at their congressmen's voicemail that they were afraid would happen and McCain worked his feverish little rat-brain into a frenzy and came up with everything that no one wants to see? The very secenario the Congress and Senate worked for a week to avoid smelling like is what he rolled around in? Gawdd. And he's got mouthbreathers lining up to go to rallies muttering about McCain's their man to save them from socialists taking over their country?

[pjburns11]

Behold the hypocrisy.

McCain Already Scheming to Play Bush-Style Politics

http://thetruthburns.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/mccain-already-scheming-to-play-bush-style-politics/

[kelvinstinks]

Other republicans are running for their life to get away from McCain. They need to be reelected. And we thought they would only be running from Bush. How interesting, what a divided party.

[deliriousgod]

ITS ALIVE !!!!!

[Cynth]

"On ABC News Thursday night, McCain admitted his plan might require "new money" outside of the $700 billion provided by the recent economic rescue package."

Funny, since he was so sure about this being covered under the rescue package. Smells like bait & switch.

[Lakshmi0000]

It''s not fair, I do not want to bail anyone else out of their mistakes. I am poor and I have never lived above my means. I knew better not to buy a home that I could not afford.

[hellinahandbasket415]

I agree...
People need to take personal responsibility too.
SO many people went out & shopped for million dollar homes and they were making less than $50k a year...YOU CANT AFFORD A MILLION DOLLAR HOME IF YOU'RE $950K SHORT OF BEING A MILLIONAIRRE! But, alas, they did. Now it's the big bad wolf named "Bank" or "Broker" who duped these poor people into buying above their means. I'm NOT saying predatory lending didn't happen...but it's a consumer responsibility as well.

[TessyRenberg]

Education is the key here. We must ALL take responsibility for that, because lack of it allows people to be swallowed up by these schemes. We must reverse the culture of selfishness.

[Whinger]

Remember, McCain will say whatever sounds nice to win votes, but not being a man of honor he can't be trusted, that, and his so called motgage plan is ill considered and falls short of what is needed!

[christianmama4change]

i have a feeling republican congressmen are not responding to these questions because McCain didn't think it through before spewing it out. He is behaving erratically again!!! Retracting sentences from the plan and then announcing the sentences had been included in error! huh? It now looks as though his plan violates the TARP law against financial institutions benefiting from the bailout. What is McCain thinking????

[dadw5boys]

McCain can't think for his self !!!

That plan was floated weeks ago as a possible last resort to save the economy.

[bluguy8]

he's taking some of cindy's happy pills--so what does he know .thats why he's so eratic

[CaptainVideo]

McCain's response to the financial crisis is to run around like a chicken with its head cut off.

[heartsick]

McCain is just not smart enough to understand the implications of what he says. McCain has no business being a candidate for POTUS. If you or I had graduated fifth from the bottom of a class of 899, we would be lucky to have gotten a midnight shift security job. The Peter Principle (going beyond one's ability to understand and function) applied to McCain before he got out of high school.

[evgolightly]

That's why McCain has to talk about Ayers ... whenever he tries to help the economy he makes a fool of himself.

Then again, he's making a fool of himself with the Ayers thing too ....

[majorteddy]

I've got better plan. Wait until the first blizzard of winter and then go pee a hole in the snow, durin the blizzard, and you will accomplish a lot more and have $300 Billion left over.

[AlaskasRevenge]

A letter to John McCain,

Mr. McCain, you have been weighed in the balances and your time is up. The decisions you have made regarding your campaign have been without regard to the American people. You have put yourself first and country last. Your once respected campaign rallies have now become hate rallies. You have allowed Sarah Palin to hi-jack your campaign rallies and turn them into forums for hate. This has opened the old wounds of racism and fear that continues to plaque the south. The south is one part of the country where you are above 50% in the polls. You nor your running mate are talking about real issues for the American people. The more you push division and hate you will be pushed down in the polls. The hands of God will not let you pass. The American people in this time of our history are not looking for messages filled with hate. Since you are not willing to take back the control you have given to Sarah Palin, you are heading for a political disaster that will be in the history books. Your time is up.

[Cay]

Here's McCain's thought process on this plan:

1. I need a maverick move.
2. What should I call it? Maybe "the American McCain Resurgence Plan."
3. Oh, it should be something about the economy.
4. WTF, let's go with mortgages.
5. " Sarah, make up a mortgage plan for tonight's debate."

[AlaskasRevenge]

Little Ashley sat on her mother"s lap and started crying.


With big tears rolling down her soft cheek she asked:


"Mommy, Why did Cindy and John lie to us?"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60k9IZ1LRC0

http://mudflats.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/palin-2006-vetting.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2BA_9QJRrE

[justoverit333]

Cay that was priceless.
McFool strikes again.

[MrKINOKO]

McCain :" And if I keep saying Republican code words like 'SURGE', and toss them into my plans name...Barbie and I can slide anything past our rabid hordes! I know ! 'The American reSURGEnce plan'! Now....if I can just figure out how to work in Bill Ayers and....I got it ! 'The Reverend Wright anti-religious rantings bill' ! Cindy...call Hannity right now and tell him we'll be on his show tonite ! "

[McChimp]

yet another election year gimmick like the gas tax holiday and offshore oil drilling

[LAB11]

Gimmicks at least pander to the taxpayer. This scheme just panders to the banks and sticks it to the taxpayer.