Does McCain's contention that "the fundamentals of our economy are strong" have the potential to become the "I voted for it before I voted against it" of the 2008 election? It's got a lot of the same qualities: It's unbelievable on its face, and locks right in with the most damaging narrative about the candidate. And the opposition is pouncing on it.
That's a good ad by the Obama campaign, though I'd like to see the "he just doesn't get it" line somewhere in the spot. At this point, McCain has given them an astonishing amount of ammunition on his own detachment from the country's economic realities: He doesn't know how many homes he has, nor does he believe someone making $500,000 a year is rich, and nor does he realize that the economy is weak and Americans are anxious. Now, of course, John McCain is calling for a 9/11 Commission-style inquiry into Wall Street's abuses. But three years ago, he wanted to privatize Social Security and entrust the country's pension funds to the very leaders he now promises to investigate. Out of touch doesn't begin to describe it. Out of his depth is more like it.
