Despite McCain, Phil Gramm's right

Former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm, co-chairman of John McCain's presidential campaign and a leading candidate for Secretary of the Treasury in a McCain administration, stated his opinion that America was a bunch of whiners and complainers. He said the country is not close to a recession, much less a depression, and that the economy is actually quite strong, and the press and Americans should quit bellyaching.

Gramm is right, of course, but politically incorrect. Politicians have to have a crisis to solve in order to sell their program. The crisis of the moment is the U.S. economy. When John McCain got word what his old Senator buddy Gramm had said, he immediately blasted it, pointing out that if you're unemployed or your company shut down, you're in a full blown crisis.

Obama has been bleating "recession" ever since he announced his candidacy. The American public believes it, and blames Bush and the Republicans. To show that his independent, maverick streak is intact, McCain has to follow suit.

This is dangerous, in my opinion, because there is a solid third of American voters who think Bush is doing a good job, and most are leery of McCain to start with. When he blasts their hero Bush, he repels his natural base, rather than attracting it.

There is a disturbing pattern in both McCain and Obama, of throwing those closest to them under the bus to make themselves look good. McCain has done it now with Gramm, longtime aide Michael Murphy and evangelist John Hagee. Obama has done with his white grandmother, his 20-year pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright, his successor Rev. Otis Moss and his old Weatherman neighbors Bernadette Dorn and her husband.

This lack of loyalty and stepping on-and-over whoever you have to, in the name of getting elected, is very disturbing and disquieting. Many people think the President of the United States is better than that--or should be. There's a lot of character and principle shown, when you stand by an old friend who has erred.

You look slick and untrustworthy when you don't. Are McCain and Obama listening?