John McCain doesn't know how much gas costs
Considering all of the press that has been inked (or typed) regarding both John McCain's and Barrack Obama's various plans for the ailing automotive industry in America, you may think that the two hopeful presidential candidates would be in tune with the plight of the average driver who fills his or her tank. Or not. It seems that Republican John McCain is not aware of how much a gallon of gas costs. In fact, he says, "I don't recall, and frankly, I don't see how it matters." We have no intention of pushing any sort of political agenda, and this writer in particular is not attempting to back either politician with this writing, but the question begs to be asked: how in the world could somebody living in the United States not know how much gas costs today? Every time the news is turned on or the internet is fired up, citizens are bombarded with constant reminders that gas has crested the $4 a gallon mark. It must take a really busy man to be completely unaware of the price of gasoline these days.Update: McCain apparently knew the price of gas when he gave a speech on June 18. See here.
[Source: Auto Observer]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Neil 2:28PM (6/30/2008)
Talk about out of touch with the common citizen ... wow! Did he really say "I don't see how it matters"?
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Unknown 2:40PM (6/30/2008)
Does Obama know?
or does the only thing he knows is that he would like higher ones?
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/06/11/obama-id-like-higher-gas-prices-just-not-so-quickly/
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meme 2:43PM (6/30/2008)
Well, I'm not surprised... I mean, when asked whether he uses a mac or PC, he said... honest to God, you can't make this stuff up...
"Neither. I am an illiterate who has to rely on my wife for all of the assistance I can get."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R9wnMVZE_Q
Personally, I find that a lot more embarrassing than not knowing the price of gas. At least when it comes to gasoline, he has the excuse of the fact that his wife is loaded, so I doubt he ever has to fill it himself. But not being ashamed of being completely computer illiterate in this day in age... there's no excuse for that. Even Ted "Tubes" Stevens uses a computer.
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Lou Grinzo 2:42PM (6/30/2008)
I agree it's hard to understand how someone could not know this particular price, but I think even more revealing is that McCain and his campaign didn't realize that he was highly likely to be asked this question. Someone remind me again--which candidate is the newbie, and which one is the seasoned politician?
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meme 2:47PM (6/30/2008)
Unknown: the actual Obama quote was, “I think that I would have preferred a gradual adjustment. The fact that this is such a shock to American pocketbooks is not a good thing.”
Let me be the first here to second that remark.
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BrianM 3:17PM (6/30/2008)
Uhh... I have no idea how much gas costs right now either... couldn't tell you the last time I bought any gas either. I bought diesel a few times this past week (2200 mile road-trip/vacation), but I don't pay much attention to that price either. I mean, really, I'm still going to fill the tank up no matter what the price is so I don't bother myself with the stress and aggravation of following prices. I know it's about $5/gallon ~ but that's about as close as I care to follow.
It Doesn't matter to me what the price is. I live in Wyoming and HAVE to drive/fill up to sustain my life. It's either that or move (which we are planning to do, but that isn't a quick and easy thing), so for the time being it doesn't matter. Fuel could be $15/gallon and I'd still be doing the same thing... just cutting out the long road trips for vacation.
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Dave 3:16PM (6/30/2008)
In what region? Geographically it's a hell of a difference from one place to the other. This is a bullshit question and article...although McCAin was stupid to say it does not matter unless he was attacking the speaker.
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jpm100 3:29PM (6/30/2008)
McCain was answering a two-part question:
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WICKSOL: When was the last time you pumped your own gas and how much did it cost?
MCCAIN: Oh, I don’t remember. Now there’s Secret Service protection. But I’ve done it for many, many years. I don’t recall and frankly, I don’t see how it matters.
Later in the interview, McCain says:
MCCAIN: I’ve been on the campaign trail for so long I don’t remember when I last filled up my own gas tank, but I certainly did for many, many, many years and I understand the difficulties and challenges that it poses for the people of California and my home state of Arizona.
==========
McCain was answering the first part of the question about when was the last time he pumped gas. Considering he's been on the campaign trail for over a year as well as Obama I doubt either know accurately.
This has been seriously debunked including a quote a few weeks earlier where McCain knew the price of gas.
from here:http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2008/2008-06-18-01.asp
"The price of a gallon of gas in America stands at more than four dollars. Yesterday, a barrel of oil cost about 134 dollarsm" said McCain. "And various oil ministers and investment firms have confidently informed us that soon we can expect to pay 200 dollars for every barrel, and as much as seven dollars for every gallon of gas."
I don't doubt this site has leanings, its disappointing that shear partisan hackery made it to an article.
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Serge 3:22PM (6/30/2008)
Dave: the "national average" would suffice.
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George W. Bush 3:26PM (6/30/2008)
Dang it; I don't know either. Me and my friends have so much money that it really does not matter one dang bit. We just wish you poor liberal losers would stop making fun of us. If we still had that old congress we'd pass a law and have homeland security come after your starving butts.
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Hank 3:29PM (6/30/2008)
Seriously, when do you think was the last time any presidential candidate pumped his/her own gas? Out of touch are those who think fuel prices touch these guys' lives.
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Keith_Indy 4:30PM (6/30/2008)
As jpm100 stated, McCain was saying that his knowledge of what the price was "the last time he pumped it" doesn't have any bearing on whether he is qualified to be President. He obviously knows the cost of gas now.
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Paul 3:31PM (6/30/2008)
Uhh, jpm, would you stop spreading this truth nonsense! Can't you see people here are busy mindlessly bashing based on unconfirmed "reporting." Come on! Stop spoiling the party!
BTW, Jeremy, at least you posted the first decent picture of a Republican candidate on this site. Congrats for that...
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OhmExcited 3:33PM (6/30/2008)
I agree. This article is inaccurate reporting.
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Bill 3:34PM (6/30/2008)
Most recent presidential candidates are multi-millionaires trying to convince Joe Voter that they're "just regular folks" like him.
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david 3:49PM (6/30/2008)
I'm sure McCain knows roughly how much a gallon of gas costs, but I will admit, his response to the question was just weird. You'd think he would have a better response than that.
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Mike Z 3:46PM (6/30/2008)
Thanks jpm100
I recommend ABG publish a correction of this post.
ABG, You need to watch the review process guys, the quality of reporting is going down.
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jmspearman 3:50PM (6/30/2008)
I agree with meme, and I'm shocked that the story hasn't gotten more play, but indeed John McCain admits from his own mouth that he doesn't know how to use a computer.
He also talks about how he doesn't seem to understand economics very well, which means he doesn't understand how the markets function. Just watch Ron Paul grilling him during the Tim Russert debate. This is much worse than knowing or not knowing the price of gas past or present.
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stevejust 4:01PM (6/30/2008)
I don't like McCain much, but I agree with JPM and the calls for a retraction, correction or clarification of this blog posting. I'd actually clicked on this to say I just heard John McCain mention that gas prices were over $5.00 a gallon in Santa Barbara only a few days ago. So it's not that he doesn't know there's a problem. He wants a federal tax holiday, after all, which is one of the most colossally ignorant things I've ever heard of.
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Tim 4:05PM (6/30/2008)
Politicians exist to help their friends and themselves...
We are NOT their friends!
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