Since Republican nominee John McCain has been woefully unable to explain whether the US economy is "fundamentally strong" or "in crisis," his campaign has dispatched Carly Fiorina to tout McCain's position on the current economic crisis. Recently, Fiorina claimed that Palin was unqualified to run a major corporation. Responding to questions from Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC a short while ago, Fiorina made the following claim:
Well, I don't think John McCain could run a major corporation. I don't think Barack Obama could run a major corporation. I don't think Joe Biden could run a major corporation. But on the other hand, a major corporation is not the same as being the President or Vice President of the United States. It is a fallacy to suggest that the country is like a company. So, of course! To run a business, you have to have a lifetime of experience in business. But that's not what Sarah Palin, John McCain, Joe Biden, or Barack Obama are doing.
(A fallacy, eh? Well, if John McCain knows about anything lately, he knows about fallacies.)
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From his own admitted weaknesses on economic issues to his demonstrated indifference to "kitchen table" issues, McCain has utterly failed to communicate any consistent vision on this issue. In fact, he is incompetent even when it comes to campaigning on the issue. Now, as Fiorina joins Phil Gramm in campaign purgatory, it is clear that he is incapable of even patching together a clear economic message with his closest advisors and surrogates.
This is more significant than blunders or gaffes on the part of the campaign and its mouthpieces. Particularly on the issue of the economy, McCain has lost control of his own campaign. He has no idea how to muster any kind of sincere sympathy with ordinary Americans, and his own vision is blurry. He is obviously uncomfortable with basic economics and steps on a land mine every time he tries to respond to questions on the topic. Heck, he doesn't even know whether we need more or less regulation.
However, what is even more disturbing is McCain's blind trust in people like Fiorina and Gramm to speak on his behalf. I now expect to see Mitt Romney on the campaign trail (until he steps into another cowpatty). McCain isn't just out of touch with the everyday issues that matter, he's out of control. Carly says that McCain could not run a major corporation. I'd have to agree - he can't even run a coherent campaign!