’)
John McCain is not like us.
When you have seven homes, that’s a lot of garages to fill. After the fuss over the number of residences owned by the two presidential nominees, NEWSWEEK looked into the candidates’ cars. And based on public vehicle-registration records, here’s the score. John and Cindy McCain: 13. Barack and Michelle Obama: one.
Not surprising. Bet all 13 are gas-guzzlers. Obamas probably have a fuel efficient car.
From that article:
Obama’s lone vehicle also is a green machine, a 2008 Ford Escape hybrid. He bought it last year to replace the family’s Chrysler 300C, a Hemi-powered sedan. Obama ditched the 300C, once 50 Cent’s preferred ride, after taking heat for driving a guzzler while haranguing Detroit about building more fuel-efficient cars.
McCain’s personal ride, a 2004 Cadillac CTS, is no gas sipper, but it should make Detroit happy because it’s made by General Motors. “I’ve bought American literally all my life and I’m proud,” McCain said in the interview with Detroit’s WXYZ-TV. But the rest of his fleet is not all-American. There’s a 2005 Volkswagen convertible in the garage along with a 2001 Honda sedan. Otherwise, there’s a 2007 half-ton Ford pickup truck, which might come in handy on the Sedona ranch; a vintage 1960 Willys Jeep; a 2008 Jeep Wrangler; a 2000 Lincoln; and a 2001 GMC SUV. The McCains also own three 2000 NEV Gem electric vehicles, which are bubble-shaped cars popular in retirement communities.
Only the Cadillac is registered in the candidate’s name. Cindy McCain’s name is on 11 vehicles, though not the one she actually drives. That car, a Lexus, is registered to her family’s beer-distributor business and is outfitted with personalized plates that read MS BUD.
Great minds, as they say, think alike. For some time now I’ve been waiting for somebody to make the comparison to Thurston and Lovey.
It’s perfect. In one episode Mr. Howell says to his wife that he married her because she’s an heiress!
What I love is that the media loves to hype the fact that McCain gave 28% of his income (re:salary) to charity while the Obama’s only gave 8%. Funny, they forgot to count Cindy McCain in the picture yet they lumped the Obama’s together. I guess when your wife is a multi-millionaire you can afford to give 28% of your salary, especially when your salary is 1/100th of your spouses wealth.
As noted above, John McCain owns exactly one car — a five-year-old Cadillac. I find myself curious just how the Obamas get around — they’re a two-career, two-house family with just a single vehicle? How does Barack get around DC? How does Michelle get around Chicago?
Inquiring minds want to know…
J.
Mary, you lose.
The McCains also own three 2000 NEV Gem electric vehicles, which are bubble-shaped cars popular in retirement communities.
J.
Lets say the Obamas have another car. That’s still 11 less than the McCains. I love the arguments about how since all this stuff is in Cindy’s name, it doesn’t count. Does she drive around solo and make him walk.
Also, kudos for their retirement community car. I hope they get a lot of use out of it the next few years somewhere in Arizona and nowhere near DC.
But the Obamas DON’T have another car. The article you cite specifically says they own just the new hybrid SUV. Are you saying you can’t trust your own source?
John and Cindy McCain keep their finances separate, legally.
And just what does this have to do with any real issues, anyway? Obama buys a great big gas-guzzling rear-wheel drive muscle car, then when he starts getting embarrassed about his beast, he does the PC thing and gets himself a nice, PC, American-made hybrid. McCain gets a Caddy (with front-wheel drive) and keeps it for five years.
Cadillac STS mileage (2003 estimste — best I can find): 18 city, 27 highway.
Chrysler 300 mileage (2008 Estimate — Obama’s not specified): 15 city, 23 highway.
Who bought the gas guzzler here?
J.
Um, can John McCain even drive a car? Does he really drive around DC himself, or does he have a driver? Just curious…
With 7 houses, having 13 cars sure doesn’t surprise me. I liked the earlier comment – gotta have that many cars to fill all those garages.
And when he told that Detroit station, “I’ve bought American all my life…” did he FORGET that he’s got the VW and the Honda? Maybe he should have said that Cindy hasn’t always bought American… Wonder why “buying American” isn’t important to her?
I wouldn’t be surprised if michelle had a company car … you know, just like regular Americans
I wonder if Ms. Obama’s employer hooked her up with a company car after that million dollar ear mark was secured by Senator Obama?
SFC B, Jay’s personal bi…er, I mean, echo chamber.
Baseball, hot dogs, Apple pie and Chevrolet.
What’s the next fake outrage that will end up helping McCain? Too many pictures of Jesus in all his houses? Too many hunting rifles? Bowling balls?
You guys are good sports, but it’s like you want people to snicker at some of your silliness.
Obama got caught talking like he’s above the average American to a group of people who undoubtedly think they are above the average American and he got caught saying it in about the worst of all possible places.
If you catch McCain doing that you might have a decent story with some legs, instead of one that’s kept on ice until a slow Sunday news day.
Hey….Obama may have a green hybrid now….but that is because last year he got busted for being a hypocrit for driving a V8 Hemi powered Chrysler and preaching about gas-guzzlers……
It’s amazing how many things being thrown at John McCain now were said (and were true) about John Kerry four years ago.
One major difference, though: John Kerry turned his three months of Vietnam experience to coast through life, never achieving anything else of note. John McCain built on it and built a long record of other achievements.
It’s almost like McCain IS all the things John Kerry tried to say he was, tried to convince folks he was, wanted to be but never was.
And that just KILLS those who poured their hearts into Kerry four years ago.
J.
Inquiring minds want to know…
Public transportation. I suppose an elitist ultra con such as yourself would never have heard of it.
McCain has more money, houses and cars than you … but is he ready to lead?
It’s amazing how Republicans are suddenly interested in “real issues” once it’s apparent McCain is the real elitist in this election
“It’s amazing how many things being thrown at John McCain now were said (and were true) about John Kerry four years ago.”
And, Jay Tea, I’ll bet that when your conservative friends were throwing like this at Kerry you were telling them:
And just what does this have to do with any real issues, anyway?
And as for this:
One major difference, though: John Kerry turned his three months of Vietnam experience to coast through life, never achieving anything else of note. John McCain built on it and built a long record of other achievements.
Right. What exactly did John McCain build, besides a career in the Senate? I guess spending your life as a US Senator is only an accomplishment if you’re a Republican.
And just what does this have to do with any real issues, anyway?
On second, thought, Jay Tea, maybe Jay Tea can answer that question for you:
http://wizbangblog.com/content/2005/05/09/john-kerry-outs.php
Idiot.
Honestly, how the heck does a family of four, living in the suburbs of a major American city, manage with only one vehicle when both parents work? My wife and I have three cars and a motorcycle between the two of us. Looking through my address book I can’t find a single family which doesn’t have at least two vehicles. The McCain’s having a baker’s dozen of vehicles at least makes sense; they’re stinking rich. The Obama’s having only one makes zero sense. Does the Senator or his wife not drive themselves? Does the family car remain in Chicago when he’s in DC? If so, how does he get around for work? If not who drives Mrs. Obama? I don’t see any reference to any of the Obamas using public transportation a la Nader. So, how do they manage two careers and two children with only one vehicle?
And Jay Tea, I love those quotation marks:
Three cheers for the candidate who’s really “for the little guy,” and watch for further stories — not only are there hints that this is a multi-part story, they also have tales from Gigolo John’s love life and his first multimillionaire heiress wife.
http://wizbangblog.com/content/2004/07/20/cash-and-kerry.php
Furthermore the story seems to show another John McCain lie. He said he only purchased American cars, yet, I believe 2 of these cars are foreign.
Let’s be fair!
At least some of those cars are for the servants.
Oliver, your own article clearly states that McCain has exactly one car in his name — a five-year-old Cadillac. Interesting how “cars registered to Cindy McCain” becomes “cars owned by John and Cindy McCain,” then “Cars bought by John McCain” when you want to push your agenda.
Fafaroo, you flatter me tremendously with your research. But you lack the context — I talked about those things because those were practically the ONLY things in John Kerry’s past worth noting. I gave Kerry credit for leading the investigation into BCCI, but apart from that, the guy had NO records of accomplishments to run on.
Kind of like Obama, come to think of it.
McCain, though, actually DID STUFF since Viet Nam. He went on to command a training squadron, and turned it around. He has a serious, substantial legislative record of positions taken, bills authored and sponsored, laws passed. He has stuff he can point to and say “this is what I did.”
Kind of NOT like Obama, come to think of it
Obama, like Kerry, has exactly one good achievement that I can see: the law requiring that police interrogations in capital cases be recorded. That such a law didn’t exist before amazes me, and I give him full credit for pushing that through — especially in the face of resistance from police unions.
Before that? Nothing. Since then? Nothing. At least, nothing of real substance, that required much effort or put him at much political risk.
J.
John is conveniently unhitched from Cindy when it comes to houses, cars and making tax returns public. Yes: I know Cindy files separately, but lets see a Democratic candidate try to pass off an excuse like that and try to get away with it.
I won’t complain too hard about this though: this is second=tier stuff and the lies of McPalin rightfully deserve a higher billing.
Also, without conceding anything (I have to get ready for work), I find it an encouraging sign that some McCain defenders are still wistfully running against Kerry
Remember when Jay was arguing that Kerry shouldn’t be considered an ultra-wealthy elitist because of his marriage into the Heinz fortune?
Yeah, I don’t either.
“Before that? Nothing. Since then? Nothing. At least, nothing of real substance, that required much effort or put him at much political risk”
Except that little bitty subcommittee regarding a certain underground terror network, amongst other things.
“But you lack the context — I talked about those things because those were practically the ONLY things in John Kerry’s past worth noting.”
Jay Tea, I’m just gonna let this and the rest of your last comment stand on its own as the utterly hypocritical hackery that it is.
OW: Lets say the Obamas have another car
JT: But the Obamas DON’T have another car. The article you cite specifically says they own just the new hybrid SUV. Are you saying you can’t trust your own source?
Oliver’s comment was clearly a hypothetical. Pointedly refusing to recognize that fact just to make a dig at him only serves to demonstrate how far you will go to just ignore reality and undermine what little credibility you have, JT.
I have defended you on occasion in the past because you made some good points clearly and fairly, and had acknowledged on occasion when you’d gotten something wrong. Both hallmarks of someone who is “playing fair” in a discussion. I haven’t seen much of that at all lately, and it’s a shame.
Jay Tea: John and Cindy McCain keep their finances separate, legally.
Yeah. So?
If the houses are in Cindy’s name, does that mean John doesn’t get to live there? If the cars are registered to and owned by Cindy, does that mean John never gets to use them?
For legal and tax purposes they have chose to have their assets held in certain ways. The majority in Cindy’s name, it seems. But you cannot reasonably argue that John doesn’t benefit equally from their existence, however they may be legally held.
My wife and I may have certain assets held in only one of our names. That wouldn’t mean that every time I sit down to watch TV it crosses my mind that I’m doing so on her set.
“But you cannot reasonably argue that John doesn’t benefit equally from their existence, however they may be legally held.”
LIES!!! John McCain lives in a small studio apartment on the fringes of DC, subsisting on a diet of ramen and hot pockets while taking the bus to work everyday.