Coming in 'NYT' on Sunday: Ex-Bush Man Paul O'Neill on McCain's Shortcoming

In an interview for this Sunday's New York Times Magazine, former Bush administration Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill is asked what he thinks of Sen. John McCain's confession that his grasp of economics is faint. "Yeah," he replies. "That's a great place to start from, isn't it?"

Asked about McCain's "straight talk" reputation, O'Neill responds, "I don't want a straight talker. I want a leader."

On his falling out with Vice President Cheney -- O'Neill wrote a book highly critical of certain aspects of the administration -- he says that when they are at the same events the both do their best "to ignore each other." They were both pallbearers as Gerald Ford's funeral and never said a "hello."

Does he feel bitter about serving in the Bush administration? He answers no, but quickly adds: "I'm thankful I got fired when I did, so that I didn't have to be associated with what they subsequently did."

He also admits that he has gotten better tables in New York restaurants because when he makes reservations they may think he is the former Yankee, Paul O'Neill.

Greg Mitchell's new book is So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq.

Comments

[cktirumalai]

About getting a better table in a New York restaurant because you have the same name as a former Yankee ball player: in his earlier years in England T.S. Eliot would be confused with C.S. Lewis: ironic because Lewis disliked modernism, from which Eliot is inseparable. But Eliot really wished to be confused with Joe Lewis, for he had pugilistic skill as a young man in Boston. "What is in a name?" Plenty, if it is a widely recognized one.

[ckdogs]

It is temporarily possible because of the internecine warfare in the Democratic party. Once we have a candidate it will dissipate.

[BillZBubb]

The really sad thing is the corporate media has gotten Mr. "Straight Talk" a lead against both Democrats in the polls. How is that even possible in a sane world?