AFP/Alfredo Estrella
America may wish that John McCain was the national landlord: if he was, perhaps he'd forget how many properties he has and forget to charge rent. McCain fell into the biggest trap and candidate could fall into this week. When asked how many homes he owns, his mouth dropped and he didn't know. He had no clue.. The embarrassing moment is helping solidy the silent campaign against McCain: He's old and he's out of touch. Obama, reeling from a horrible summer of slumping polls and reckless foreign policy comments, trounced on McCain's forgetfulness over the home count. While both McCain and Obama are wealthy, there is something about forgetting the amount of homes someone owns. In the year 2000, George W. Bush was asked names of world leaders. He was clueless.. In 2008, McCain was asked an even simpler questions.. This one hits "home" harder. In 2000, America thought of Bush as their kind of guy .. America didn't know those foreign leader names, either. But Bush wore a cowboy hat, had a ranch, and symbolized a tough American. In 2008, McCain may know world leaders, he may have been to Georgia (not the state) more times than he could count on two hands, but not knowing a basic simple aspect of his own personal economics? That hurts. And it hurts even more when America finds out one of the homes he owns is a 'servant's quarters.' If McCain picks Romney, the elitism and snobbery will be full steam ahead. Romney is a little reminiscent of an old 1950s slick vitamin salesman.. or a door to door insurance salesman.. Good with words, never a messed hair, and awfully rich.
McCain was a war hero.. He was a symbol of American pride and strength.. But in 2008, he appears to be more like Abe Simpson. But even Abe probably knows how many homes he owns. If McCain loses this year, he could look back to these hot dog days of August and remember his gaffe. And maybe sell a few houses....

Labels: Campaign 2008, Election, News, Politics, Schmuck of the Week