from ThinkProgress:
Gramm: Unlike The Rest Of Americans, McCain Supporters Aren’t ‘Economically Illiterate’ ‘Whiners’»In a July interview with the Washington Times, former senator Phil Gramm infamously decried the “constant whining” of the American people when it comes to the economy, saying it was nothing more than a “mental recession”:
“We have sort of become a nation of whiners,” he said. “You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline” despite a major export boom that is the primary reason that growth continues in the economy, he said.
“We’ve never been more dominant; we’ve never had more natural advantages than we have today,” he said. “We have benefited greatly” from the globalization of the economy in the last 30 years.
Gramm, known as Sen. John McCain’s “econ brain,” was swiftly criticized. Today, Gramm stood by his comments that America was a nation of whiners, but made an exception for McCain supporters. From his remarks to supporters at a Financial Services Roundtable in Minnesota:
If you’re sitting here today, you’re not economically illiterate and you’re not a whiner, so I’m not worried about who you’re going to vote for.
When asked about his involvement in the McCain campaign, Gramm simply replied today, “I’m a supporter.” But he may actually be involved in a more active capacity. Recently, he was spotted with the campaign’s top advisers. He is also reportedly still serving as an adviser and a surrogate, speaking for the campaign.
Maybe McCain’s wealthy supporters aren’t whining because they’re set to receive millions in tax cuts under the senator’s plans.
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/02/gramm-whiners-supporters/