Vieira Uses Gramm to Disqualify McCain's Ability to 'Lead Us Out of Recession'

Even though the United States is still technically not in a recession, NBC's Meredith Vieira doubted John McCain's ability "to lead us out of a recession," on Monday's "Today" show. Vieira pointed to McCain's former economic adviser Phil Gramm's "mental recession" comment as a reason to "question" McCain's "judgment," when the Republican presidential candidate appeared on the July 21 "Today" show:

MEREDITH VIEIRA: You know you said, "In a time of war a commander-in-chief's job doesn't get a learning curve," but we are facing a crisis here, domestically, that a lot of people consider more significant in their lives right now, than the war, and that is the economic crisis. You have admitted that your economic policy is a weakness for you, so do you deserve a learning curve, to get up to speed?

JOHN MCCAIN: Actually I have far more experience on the economy than Senator Obama. I'm very strong on the economy. I was chairman of the Senate Commerce committee, Science and Transportation, which addresses all these issues. I have a concrete economic plan to fix the problems in America including energy and off-shore drilling. Including the fact that I have nuclear power-

VIEIRA: But look at the man who has established that plan for you, Phil Gramm, who recently called this, "a mental recession."

MCCAIN: -and, and, and hydrogen. Oxy-, uh, hydrogen, hybrid fuels. All kinds of nuclear power. I have plans for all of those and I'm confident we can succeed. Americans working together on a mission to fix our economy, keep them in their homes become energy independent. And I have a strong plan of action, a strong background on the economy to address these issues.

VIEIRA: But Senator, if I can bring up Phil Gramm again. That was your key economic adviser and the framer of your policy until what he called what's happening here, "a mental recession," and that we are "a nation of whiners." He has since stepped down, removed himself from your campaign. But do voters have a right to question your judgment because you said he was the, "strongest person you knew on economic issues." Should they be worried about your ability to lead us out of recession.

MCCAIN: Actually he was one of a number of advisers that I have, that I value their, their views and their, and their opinions and I have a very strong plan of action for our economy. I think most Americans agree with it, including off-shore drilling, which Senator Obama opposes. Including nuclear power , which Senator Obama opposed. I have a strong keep taxes low, we have a very strong economic policy. We're talking about it in town hall meetings all over America. And I've invited Senator Obama to come to these town hall meetings with me and that way people can compare us on these issues that are so important to their, to the future and economy and the future of this nation and I'm proud to have a broad array, including 300 economists and five Nobel Prize winners that say my economic plan is very good.

VIEIRA: Alright Senator John McCain, as always, thank you for giving us your time this morning.