Originally Posted By DAR <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080821/pl_politico/12685" target="_blank">http://news.yahoo.com/s/politi...co/12685</a> Seven properties. Although since the guy spent around five years living in a dirt hole with a gated bamboo roof you can't really begrudge him this, can you??
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I can't begrudge it to him, but I can raise my eyebrow at a guy with 7 houses and $500 shoes calling another guy "elitist."
Originally Posted By utahjosh What's the point of this story? Some guy just trying to make McCain look bad. Dirty democrats. <a href="http://mb.laughingplace.com/MsgBoard-T-99227-P-2.asp?c=1" target="_blank">http://mb.laughingplace.com/Ms....asp?c=1</a>
Originally Posted By mele <<I think there's different levels of elitism.>> How so? I really don't care how many houses these people own. It's not like we thought he lived in a ramshackle hut somewhere. (Is it possible that he's got a distant relative who does though? Let's find him!)
Originally Posted By jdub And speaking of embarrassing relatives coming out of the woodwork (and/or woods), note the following: <<BOONEVILLE, KY—Barack Obama's once-commanding lead in the polls slipped to two points Monday, continuing a month-long slide that many credit to the recent appearance of the Democratic candidate's heretofore unknown half-brother, Cooter Obama.>> <a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/obamas_hillbilly_half_brother" target="_blank">http://www.theonion.com/conten..._brother</a>
Originally Posted By friendofdd I don't know if being rich makes one elite or not, but I'd like to give it a try. Who would have imagined that people might consider any US Senator, one of 50 in the world, as being elite?
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy I think that the better question to ask is where Sen. McCain got all of his wherewithal. He's largely a member of the trust fund set -- with his wife's trust fund contributing an outsized portion of that wealth.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <Who would have imagined that people might consider any US Senator, one of 50 in the world, as being elite?> Um, I think you're off by about 50, there, friendo. (I've been wanting to use that word since I saw "No Country For Old Men" but never really had the opportunity till now.) Psst - each state gets two - pass it on.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Actually, Senator McCain doesn't own any of the houses.... <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12700.html" target="_blank">http://www.politico.com/news/s...700.html</a> >>John McCain's family owns at least eight properties — not the seven Democrats are alleging or the four McCain's staff identified — according to a Politico analysis of property and tax records, as well as interviews. The presumptive Republican nominee, though, may have some wiggle room in explaining why he couldn't immediately provide an answer when asked by Politico how many houses he and his wife, Cindy, own. Sen. McCain himself does not own any of the properties. They're all owned by Cindy McCain, her dependent children and the trusts and companies they control. Brian Rogers, a McCain spokesman, did not question Politico's analysis, but said his boss's bungling of the how-many-homes question is a nonissue. "Voters care a lot more about candidates' personal ethics than about how many houses or residences or doghouses that John and Cindy McCain own," he said. He questioned efforts by McCain's Democratic rival, Barack Obama, to exploit the issue, given that Obama benefited from a 2005 land deal with the wife of convicted Chicago businessman — and former Obama fundraiser — Tony Rezko that expanded the Obama family's newly purchased $1.65 million homestead. "The reality is that Barack Obama purchased his million-dollar mansion in a shady deal involving a convicted felon, and it raises questions about his ethics and judgment," said Rogers.<<
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I don't know if being rich makes one elite or not, but I'd like to give it a try.*** ROTFL!!!!
Originally Posted By mrkthompsn The point of this story is that Obama focuses on your private property.
Originally Posted By gadzuux Amazingly, this 'house' story has become the top of the news cycle. In this case, the egg is on McCain, and as much as I'm opposed to McCain, I still don't care. I'm getting really impatient with the ridiculousness of the campaign process, even when the stupidity breaks my way. The "highlights" of this political season so far are a series of nonsense issues - flag pins, tire gauges, reverends and pastors, paris and brittney, 3am phone calls, dodging imaginary sniper fire ... what's next is anybody's guess. But it's a sure bet that it won't be substantive in any way. Still, it should be noted that this whole 'house' thing wasn't prompted by the Obama campaign. They pounced on it when it happened, but they didn't originate it.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***I'm getting really impatient with the ridiculousness of the campaign process, even when the stupidity breaks my way.*** Agreed. I think the saddest part is the fact that these are INTELLIGENT, POWERFUL people and you know what? They're not a bunch of petulant babies though we may be lead to think so. No, they're sharp, motivated, cutting edge...you name it. The reason they're doing this is because it WORKS. And the reason it works is because there are a LOT of idiots out there. On both sides. Really, really sad.
Originally Posted By dshyates What I am finding more concerning is that it is appearant that Mrs. McCain handles all their finances and Sen. McCain is a little out of the loop. Making him seem even more detatched from reality. Don't get me wrong, I would marry someone rich and let them handle it, but thats not a quality I'm looking for in a leader of the free world. More of a hands on kinda person.
Originally Posted By Mr X Who says she handles it either? They are worth $100 million, I doubt either of them need to do much more than rely on trusted advisers. Not to say that they don't need to be aware of the asset allocations and what's going on there...but in terms of property it's not like they need to get into specifics beyond "you have XX amount of dollars invested in various properties as XX percentage of your portfolio". And in particular for a Senator, it would make sense for him to stay hands off of her investments anyway lest the appearance of impropriety comes into play. No, I don't see this as an issue (and this is coming from no big fan of McCain of late...but this is beyond the pale sure as he has been).
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <The "highlights" of this political season so far are a series of nonsense issues - flag pins, tire gauges, reverends and pastors, paris and brittney, 3am phone calls, dodging imaginary sniper fire ... what's next is anybody's guess. But it's a sure bet that it won't be substantive in any way.> Bingo. Sad, but right on the money. This really shouldn't be a big deal. But some people are already saying it could be another "Bush (I) at the supermarket checkout counter" deal - something that sort of in the background makes the candidate look out of touch with ordinary Americans, since any ordinary American (then) knew what a supermarket scanner was and (today) knows how many houses they own. Similar also to the (untrue but repeatedly endlessly) charge that Al Gore said he "invented the internet." The election wasn't ABOUT that, per se, but it was sort of always there in the background (or as a late night punchline), feeding a general perception of the guy. How ironic (but perhaps karmically just) if the party that has made past elections about Willie Horton and Boston Harbor, swiftboats and windsurfing, and is trying to make this one about flag pins and fist bumps should be undone in the background by this. Hoist with their own petard.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>since any ordinary American (then) knew what a supermarket scanner was and (today) knows how many houses they own.<< Or USED to own, before the bubble burst anyway.
