McCain: 7 houses, 13 cars

[General Zod]

LOL Sauce.

(CNN) — Democrats eager to portray John McCain as out of touch with average Americans and as a flip-flopper seized on a report Sunday the Arizona senator and his wife, Cindy, own more than a dozen cars — including several foreign-made automobiles.

A Newsweek article published on the magazine's Web Site Sunday said registration records show the McCains currently own 13 cars — two of which are foreign-made: a Honda and a Volkswagen. That appears to contradict the Republican presidential nominee's past statements he only buys cars made in America. (Cindy McCain also drives a Lexus and daughter Meghan owns a Toyota Prius, but neither are registered to the McCains.)

Newsweek also reported Barack Obama owns one car: a Ford Escape Hybrid.

In a quickly-arranged conference call organized by the Democratic National Committee, United Auto Worker Union President Ron Gettelfinger — an Obama supporter — said the registration records show McCain is not being truthful with Americans and undermining autoworkers.

"The last thing we need is a presidential candidate who undermines autoworkers, and these days it seems that John McCain is doing just exactly that," he said. "When he's in the Midwest, he tells voters he supports the industry, when he is in other states he brags about buying a foreign car, as he did with the Prius." (It is not clear if McCain or his daughter bought the Prius)

Gettelfinger also pointed to comments McCain made in an interview with Detroit TV station WXYZ, saying, "I've bought American literally all my life and I'm proud."

"That's really a nice campaign line," Gettelfinger said of the comments. "But it turns out that John McCain wasn't being straight with the people of Detroit, or the state of Michigan, or our country as a matter of effect," adding later, "The American auto industry and the American voters deserve a president who will be straight with them.”

For the record, Honda has four major automobile and engine plants in the United States employing more than 25,000 Americans, according to its Web site. Volkswagen is scheduled to open a plant in Tennessee in 2011 that is expected to employ 2,000 people, the AP reported in July.

Brian Rogers, a spokesman for McCain, said "Barack Obama is more interested in childish political attacks than confronting the reality that his plans to raise taxes and close off trade will kill our American auto industry and the jobs of hardworking folks in Michigan and all around our nation."

Rogers also said McCain was referring to his own car in the WXYZ interview: "He drives a Cadillac today and has always driven American cars," Rogers said.

Newsweek's report comes a month after McCain now-infamously could not name how many houses he owned in an interview with Politico. The publication later reported he owns at least eight properties.

It's really a minor issue, but it's hilarious that McSame would brag about buying all American yet own foreign made cars. And 13 cars? Holy fuck. What does he possibly need all those cars for? It's not like he can make the same argument about the 7 houses where he's renting them out.

[Einhander Sn0m4n]

And that is why we get silly nonsense like this idea that every time McCain speaks, you Jingle Your Keys! Yes, I plan on doing it each time I see Gigantocheeks McWarmonger say anything.

[Stargate Nerd]

It's really a minor issue, but it's hilarious that McSame would brag about buying all American yet own foreign made cars. .

Are they necessarily foreign made though? As the article states Honda operates four plants in the US. His Honda could have very well been assembled in the US.

And while I don't know where the Prius is manufactured, Toyota also operates plants in the US.

[General Zod]

It's really a minor issue, but it's hilarious that McSame would brag about buying all American yet own foreign made cars. .

Are they necessarily foreign made though? As the article states Honda operates four plants in the US. His Honda could have very well been assembled in the US.

And while I don't know where the Prius is manufactured, Toyota also operates plants in the US.

If the model is owned by a foreign company, then it doesn't really matter where they're assembled. I guarantee the profits won't be flowing back into the US economy. At least not to nearly the degree if it were an American owned.

[Kanastrous]

If the model is owned by a foreign company, then it doesn't really matter where they're assembled.

So in every significant way, foreign-owned/foreign assembled = foreign owned/US-assembled?

Are the wages and benefits injected into the US economy by workers in foreign-owned US plants that insignificant?

[The Spartan]

If the model is owned by a foreign company, then it doesn't really matter where they're assembled.

So in every significant way, foreign-owned/foreign assembled = foreign owned/US-assembled?

Are the wages and benefits injected into the US economy by workers in foreign-owned US plants that insignificant?

The point that Zod is trying to make, I think, is that whenever someone in America says, "Buy American," about a automobile they're almost certainly meaning from American auto companies, regardless of where that particular vehicle is made and, as such, it is hypocritical for McDouche to insist that we "buy American" to save American auto companies when he doesn't necessarily do so himself.

[Kanastrous]

If the model is owned by a foreign company, then it doesn't really matter where they're assembled.

So in every significant way, foreign-owned/foreign assembled = foreign owned/US-assembled?

Are the wages and benefits injected into the US economy by workers in foreign-owned US plants that insignificant?

The point that Zod is trying to make, I think, is that whenever someone in America says, "Buy American," about a automobile they're almost certainly meaning from American auto companies, regardless of where that particular vehicle is made and, as such, it is hypocritical for McDouche to insist that we "buy American" to save American auto companies when he doesn't necessarily do so himself.

Sure, I get Zod's point there. The hypocrisy is industrial-grade (and hopefully American-made).

I was wondering about the actual economic angle of it, though.

[The Spartan]

Oh. Well, I don't have any data on it, but last I heard, the Toyota plant they opened here in Texas was giving comparable pay and better benefits than the union run shops in Detroit.

Keep in mind that that was a couple years back so, keep a few grains of salt handy.

But at any rate, I can't imagine employing several thousand people with relatively high paying manufacturing jobs isn't going to be significantly better than those same people working at Home Depot or Walmart, etc.

[General Zod]

Sure, I get Zod's point there. The hypocrisy is industrial-grade (and hopefully American-made).

I was wondering about the actual economic angle of it, though.

It generally saves companies money to put up manufacturing plants in countries you sell your product to afaik. Since exporting is somewhat cost prohibitive for certain items, like vehicles.

[Kanastrous]

Sure, I get Zod's point there. The hypocrisy is industrial-grade (and hopefully American-made).

I was wondering about the actual economic angle of it, though.

It generally saves companies money to put up manufacturing plants in countries you sell your product to afaik. Since exporting is somewhat cost prohibitive for certain items, like vehicles.

Sure. I was more interested in the significance of the economic benefits of having the foreign-owned plant there, for the workers and community where it's located. It seemed as though you were dismissing those benefits, but I guess you weren't.

[Max]

Mccain is obviously a man of the people. Screw that elitist one car one home Obama.

[Thanas]

In the age of global shareholding, I doubt one can really say a company is american-owned anyway.

That said, 7 houses and 13 cars? How elitist. I remember the big stink made about Gore living in one mansion. Where are those guys now?

[Alyrium Denryle]

In the age of global shareholding, I doubt one can really say a company is american-owned anyway.

That said, 7 houses and 13 cars? How elitist. I remember the big stink made about Gore living in one mansion. Where are those guys now?

He has one mansion that doubles as an office building

[Thanas]

In the age of global shareholding, I doubt one can really say a company is american-owned anyway.

That said, 7 houses and 13 cars? How elitist. I remember the big stink made about Gore living in one mansion. Where are those guys now?

He has one mansion that doubles as an office building

I know.

[Admiral Valdemar]

I don't even know why this is news. So he's an overpaid old geezer who married into money. Doesn't say shit about his policies which is all that interests me. And we already know what to expect from him in that department. He's a hypocrite and senile. Whoop.

I'd not care one iota if Obama had this much wealth if he was the best damn president ever seen. In fact, it'd be a reward if nothing else.

[General Zod]

I don't even know why this is news. So he's an overpaid old geezer who married into money. Doesn't say shit about his policies which is all that interests me. And we already know what to expect from him in that department. He's a hypocrite and senile. Whoop.

I'd not care one iota if Obama had this much wealth if he was the best damn president ever seen. In fact, it'd be a reward if nothing else.

It's mostly the "I always buy American" flip flop that makes it amusing more than anything else. Not major news per se, but another nugget for the pile.

[CaptJodan]

I don't even know why this is news. So he's an overpaid old geezer who married into money. Doesn't say shit about his policies which is all that interests me. And we already know what to expect from him in that department. He's a hypocrite and senile. Whoop.

I'd not care one iota if Obama had this much wealth if he was the best damn president ever seen. In fact, it'd be a reward if nothing else.

Exposing hypocrisy is fun, as is general uncovering of lies that really is a full time job when it comes to McCain's campaign. I agree it has shit all to do about how this country is run, but people in glass houses and all that...

[Illuminatus Primus]

I don't even know why this is news. So he's an overpaid old geezer who married into money. Doesn't say shit about his policies which is all that interests me. And we already know what to expect from him in that department. He's a hypocrite and senile. Whoop.

I'd not care one iota if Obama had this much wealth if he was the best damn president ever seen. In fact, it'd be a reward if nothing else.

It is stupid, but the idea that Obama should be smeared for pointing out McCain's hypocrisy is ridiculous. McCain INVITES scrutiny because he is running purely on "real (read: white) American" bullshit cultural populism and directly and deliberately lied to pander on this issue.

[Ypoknons]

It generally saves companies money to put up manufacturing plants in countries you sell your product to afaik. Since exporting is somewhat cost prohibitive for certain items, like vehicles.

It's not so much that the actual shipping cost is prohibitive, but more that there are monetary incentives for companies to open plants, usually tax-wise. Also, it provides a nice natural currency hedge. If you exposure to the USD is high, then selling cars in USD and paying labor in USD lowers your exchange risk.

[Darth Wong]

I don't even know why this is news. So he's an overpaid old geezer who married into money. Doesn't say shit about his policies which is all that interests me. And we already know what to expect from him in that department. He's a hypocrite and senile. Whoop.

I'd not care one iota if Obama had this much wealth if he was the best damn president ever seen. In fact, it'd be a reward if nothing else.

The fact that he's a hypocrite and an idiot may not be news to you and me, but specific examples of that hypocrisy are nevertheless important for political purposes, especially when they involve political hot-button issues like the devastation of the rust belt.

[Hotfoot]

I doubt the people that need to be reacting negatively to this ad are going to. Chances are they're just going to rationalize it away with the reasoning, "Well, he's got 11 American cars, that's good enough in my book. Besides, he probably doesn't even drive the foreign ones."

This is a modest slap in the face, at worst, a little white lie. This isn't going to turn the voters from McCain who are set on voting for him.

What needs to happen is a BIG lie, a huge lie, a lie that is unlikely to happen between now and Election Day.

[Darth Wong]

I doubt the people that need to be reacting negatively to this ad are going to. Chances are they're just going to rationalize it away with the reasoning, "Well, he's got 11 American cars, that's good enough in my book. Besides, he probably doesn't even drive the foreign ones."

This is a modest slap in the face, at worst, a little white lie. This isn't going to turn the voters from McCain who are set on voting for him.

What needs to happen is a BIG lie, a huge lie, a lie that is unlikely to happen between now and Election Day.

He's made plenty of huge lies, like saying that he always knew Iraq was going to be a long and difficult war (before the invasion, he said it would not be difficult at all), or saying that he is against deregulation (he supported it for his entire political career until this financial crisis blew up in his face).

If the last 7 years have taught us anything, it's that the right-wing support base of the Republican Party has no problem with lies. They would rather vote for a moron and a liar who finished at the bottom of his class but claims to share their "cultural values" than for an intelligent, competent man who eats arugula rather than bacon-fried chicken. As I said before, it's all demographic narcissism.

[Ma Deuce]

In the age of global shareholding, I doubt one can really say a company is american-owned anyway.

Last I checked the majority of their shares are still American owned, especially Chrysler, which has gone private, and Ford, which is 40% owned by the Ford Family. In any case, all are incorporated in the US, so that's where most of their corporate taxes go.

Oh. Well, I don't have any data on it, but last I heard, the Toyota plant they opened here in Texas was giving comparable pay and better benefits than the union run shops in Detroit.

Only when you factor in bonuses (Detroit isn't giving any at the moment by virtue of being in the red), and the fact that the UAW recently allowed it's employers to bring on new hires at around half the previous wages: existing workers get to keep their $27/hr+ salaries, substantially more than most Toyota line workers make. Additionally, over a third of Toyota's line workers are actually temps, who make only 60% the wages of the full-timers, even less when you include benefits.

[Surlethe]

Brian Rogers, a spokesman for McCain, said "Barack Obama is more interested in childish political attacks than confronting the reality that his plans to raise taxes and close off trade will kill our American auto industry and the jobs of hardworking folks in Michigan and all around our nation."

Jesus. The McCain campaign can't open its mouth without lying. Obama's not going to raise taxes, and he's not going to cut off trade, and that has nothing to do with the Obama camp's charges of hypocrisy.

[General Zod]

Brian Rogers, a spokesman for McCain, said "Barack Obama is more interested in childish political attacks than confronting the reality that his plans to raise taxes and close off trade will kill our American auto industry and the jobs of hardworking folks in Michigan and all around our nation."

Jesus. The McCain campaign can't open its mouth without lying. Obama's not going to raise taxes, and he's not going to cut off trade, and that has nothing to do with the Obama camp's charges of hypocrisy.

Well, Obama does plan on raising taxes actually. BUT his tax plan is for people who earn more than $250k to get an increase, as opposed to what McSame usually tries claiming.