Newsweek: 'All the Candidates’ Cars'

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Not long ago, many in the mainstream media were bemoaning the deterioration of public discourse in this year's presidential campaign.  Stories of lipsticks and pigs and other nongermane matters were irrelevant and time-wasters, they tut-tutted.  Let's get back to the real issues.

So the September 29, 2008 Newsweek strikes a blow for substantive journalism and giving voters information they really need to know.  "All the Candidates’ Cars" begins:

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.

The article goes on to detail the vehicles, pointing out that some McCain cars were not - get out the smelling salts - made in America.  If readers make it through this piece they'll learn in the last paragraph that of all the McCain rides, "Only the Cadillac is registered in the candidate's name."

They could have investigated more thoroughly.  Somehow, I can't imagine Michelle Obama standing on a Chicago corner waiting for the bus.  Then again, reporting that would have ruined an otherwise perfect story.

Stirring up a little class envy must be an example of the intrepid, hard-hitting journalism the mainstream media were demanding only days ago.  Fortunately, they're going to "educate" voters on the critical issues that genuinely matter.

I'd rather read about Sarah's lipstick.

 


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How many cars a candidate owns...

isn't much of an issue, IMHO.

For those supposed 13 McCain vehicles, they are paying taxes on all of the cars with tags, while they only drive one at a time, per person of course. With his arm/finger injuries, how much driving does John McCain do anyway?

And I find it hard to believe that Michelle Obama doesn't have a car, either.

It is mostly about class envy.

So they didn't throw in anything about the Palin cars/trucks, just for grins?

Much of an issue

isn't much of an issue, IMHO.

It must be. Or Newsweek wouldn't have covered it, do you think?

Well, they've already done

Well, they've already done the designer clothes vs. off-the-rack schtik; the houses, the jewelry, now the cars.

What's next: Cindy McCain has a  stylist but Michelle Obama straightens her own hair and cuts her kids hair?

What's next, mb

What's next: Cindy McCain has a  stylist but Michelle Obama straightens her own hair and cuts her kids hair?

Or maybe:  Michelle Obama, stranded without a car, walks miles to borrow books to read.  Just like Honest Abe.

Here's what's next: The

Here's what's next:

The McCain's use two-ply tissue, yards at a time, while the savvy, cost-conscious, eco-friendly Obama's use one-ply... and only one square at a time.

The McCain's turn on every light in their mansions and keep the thermostat tropically warm in the winter and iceberg frosty in the summer while the Obama's have been peddling cycles hooked up to generators to power a sole green-approved 45 watt fluorescent bulb for the children to perform their homework on the back of a shovel with some chalk and a small refrigerator, that could one day hold lifesaving medicines for the children if needed, so as not to exploit and further pollute Mother Earth with eevil lung cancer causing coal or miserable burning death causing nuclear power.

So if McCain is paying

So if McCain is paying taxes on these cars, isn't he just being patriotic?

*****

"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will 

Patriotic

So if McCain is paying taxes on these cars, isn't he just being patriotic?

Yes, and "neighborly" as well.

Elites dont drive cars

They hire limos... or fly in lobbyists' private jets... or windsurf...

Not to worry, Barry fans

IF the O man get elected, he'll own ALL of our cars.

There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V

Owning 'em all

IF the O man get elected, he'll own ALL of our cars.

And it'll be our patriotic duty to hand over the keys.

»→ 13 cars

Wonder if any American labor went into building those cars and homes?

How dare McCain provide jobs for Americans rather than vote them welfare like Obama the almsgiver

"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" - Joe Biden 6/12/87

American labor

Wonder if any American labor went into building those cars and homes?

Probably, but as workers they probably were being exploited by the system.   It's all Bush's, McCain's, Palin's fault.

How many jets?

Drudge report has a nice comeback..., headline about the McCain's 13 cars and a picture of OObama walking past his pre-presidential jet!

BHO's jet

OObama walking past his pre-presidential jet!

Change we can believe in, don't you know.

Dude

Obama doesn't need a car, he can walk on water!

 

Palin has accomplished great things, while Obama has continued to make empty promises that the world owes you a living.

Obamanomics

So the Obamas, with their 6-figure salaries, struggled to pay back their student loans, can afford only 1 vehicle, and could not purchase a home without the help of Tony Rezko.....

...Yep he'll "fix the economy" for us.

Obama's economics

So the Obamas, with their 6-figure salaries, struggled to pay back their student loans, can afford only 1 vehicle, and could not purchase a home without the help of Tony Rezko.....

Must be because America is just downright mean.

No wonder Michelle can't be

proud of her country! For heaven's sake, Barry, buy her a car!

So did Obama fail to

So did Obama fail to disclose his bus?  You know, the one he threw Rev. Wright under? 

 

“But maybe you obviously have a better memory about that."- Wolf Blitzer

But, but, but. . .

You know, the one he threw Rev. Wright under? 

It's not the bus he knew.  Or the Wright, Rezko, Ayers, Pfleger. . . . 

Man of the people

Barry owns only one car? Wow, he's a man of the people. Just like us. Guess that makes us liars, crooks, America-hating Communists. By the way, how much have you or your kids benefitted from Affirmative Action programs? Has anyone attended Princeton or Harvard lately? And how about that $300,000 hospital job they just gave your wife. Enjoying that money, are you? And I understand you too made $4,000,000 in 2007. Now you too can pay off those college "loans" cute* little Michelle complained about. Aren't you lucky.

 

*At least she thinks she's "cute"; I don't

NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"

I'd be curious to know how

I'd be curious to know how many cars the Obamas owned before they entered the presidential race.

As for McCain's cars... are any collectibles? I don't think there's any shame in collecting cars, is there? Some appreciate in value quite nicely... unlike some investment funds I've read about recently. 

*****

"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will 

How many of us with kids

have had more cars than we needed?

Obama only needs one car.

Obama only needs one car. He takes it with him on his Jet! If owning cars in a crime, I think Jay Leno is in a bunch of trouble.

Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!

Pity Party Time!

The Obamas are poorer millionaires than the McCains, only one million-dollar home and one car. Wonder how the Obama kids get to school, public transportation? How sad. Let’s have a pity party.

Why should the Obama's own

Why should the Obama's own more than one car when Barack Obama has a government issued vehicle to ride around in?  Given that Michelle makes the big bucks, how much you want to bet that part of her benes is a company car or chauffeured limo?  They don't call them limousine liberals for nothing you know...

Let's ask the question this way, does McCain use a government issued vehicle as a Senator???  If not, isn't the real story how McCain doesn't burden the taxpayer, while the Obamas get a free ride at taxpayers expense?

Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.

Funny, but Dems would have

Funny, but Dems would have us believe that anybody who has attained success in this country is evil. Wealthy people are not more 'fortunate' or 'lucky'. They just work harder. What's illuminating is that Dems contribute less to charity than Republicans. What they are good at is taking money from others at gunpoint and giving it to the less 'fortunate'.

On The Simpsons, Ned Flanders son once asked, "Daddy, why do we pay taxes?" and Ned replied, "We pay taxes for lots of things...roads, schools, policemen and fireman, and for people who just dont feel like working, God bless 'em!"

Isnt that the truth.

Simpson quote good!

The Ned Flanders quote was great: "Daddy, why do we pay taxes?" and Ned replied, "We pay taxes for lots of things...roads, schools, policemen and fireman, and for people who just dont feel like working, God bless 'em!"

I wish the IRS would quantify how much we pay is "charity." That may make some of us feel better vs. knowing it is going to govt. waste. Medicare is 2.9% of your gross earnings. This is charity. We go without or pay 100% for things under the major medical limit (about $5600). People on medicare get whatever they need FREE. And the complain? Real nice... what else can I GIVE you? I love charity but when the govt. takes it by threat for FORCE, this is no longer charity.

If they did identify where

If they did identify where the money was going, do you think I would then be able to write off the amount going to "charity" as a charitable contribution?

*****

"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will 

Can they Drive?

I wonder if Newsweek bothered to check if the Obama's can drive. My guess is that they probably can't.

Can they drive?

Don't know about cars, but they're driving me to distraction.

I like Drudge's report on

I like Drudge's report on this, with a picture of Obama in front of his jet saying "And Obama shows off his jet" under it. Too nice.

 Also, for the whole cars not made in America thing, how do they know? Many Toyotas are made in American factorys with American workers. Wonder if they bothered to check.

Cars

Wow! 13 cars! Could it be, maybe, that they have 7 children? Don't Dems let their kids drive cars?

When my eldest was living at home, we had 5 cars, 3 of them were his (Mr. Motorhead, Nissan and Honda). Now that our younger two are about to get their licenses, we'll be adding 2 more so now we'll have 4 again.

13 cars for 7 people isn't much of a stretch.

Gore's hot tub.. Kerry's extreme wealth...

Michael. Timing is everything - and this is almost uncanny. Linked by Drudge this AM is a piece, from Roll Call, entitled The 50 Richest Members of Congress. Naturally enough, the # 1 slot on the list is reserved by none other than the last Presidential candidate, Sen. John Kerry:

1. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)
$230.98 million

The Massachusetts Senator claims the mantel of richest Member in the 110th Congress. Kerry’s actual holdings, however — including those of wife Teresa Heinz Kerry, widow to ketchup heir Sen. John Heinz (R-Pa.) — are likely much greater.

In an April 2008 article, Forbes.com estimated Heinz Kerry’s net worth at $1 billion.

Kerry’s disclosure forms list the value of more than 180 assets — including Heinz family trusts and investment funds — only as “over $1 million,” rather than the more specific ranges including $1 million to $5 million. Senators are allowed to list assets in the “over $1 million” category only if the items are held independently by a spouse or dependent child.

After a week of the MSM turning their noses up at Cindy McCain's pricey dress, how many homes the McCain's own, and now how many cars they have, I have to reflect back on this same media's so similar interest last time around when they turned up their noses at the much, much wealthier Kerry - Heinze's.

Oh, they didn't?

And then there is that green factor here. We must not forget, that the MSM must be aghast at the impact on the global warming from McCain's several houses and the large garage full of automobiles; just as they were at the excesses of the Kerry's; just as they were  over Al Gore's excessively wasteful mansion, his private jet-setting lifestyle, and his huge Japanese hot tub for his luxurious penthouse in San Francisco.

Oh, they didn't? (;~> gary

Gary...you forgot

Al Gore's 100' Houseboat. 

Ah, those pesky facts.

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

Oh my, Blonde. I've been Goored.

Oh my, Blonde. I'd already forgotten about that one - must have been all of that MSM attention to it.

Hit the links:

Let's have more fun with Al, the proud owner of this open pit zinc mine, OK. This is almost too delicious to miss.  Continuing on with the Hot Tub - perhaps it is heated by the owners own bubbling bio-gas fuel. You'll have to do your own play by play here. This is for real folks:

Al Gore being interviewed by National Geographic:

NG: First of all, what would you like me to call you?

Gore: Your Adequacy.

NG: Okay, sounds good, that'll roll off my tongue.

I'd love to know where you're sitting right now, what the view is from where you are. I'm sort of picturing you in a very green building, you know, eco-shelter type of thing with drapes made out of recycled sail cloth or something. How far off am I?

Gore: Well I'm actually in the St. Regis Hotel looking out on the San Francisco Bay...

Speaking of bursting the interviewer's green eco-bubble.

NG: Personally, how tough do you find it to live a green lifestyle?

Gore: I think it's harder for people than it should be...

NG: But what about you in your daily life, what kinds of little things do you do?

Gore: Well, we've changed the lightbulbs to the more efficient kind [compact fluorescent, or CFL, lightbulbs] and switched to a hybrid [vehicle], and we use clock thermostats, and we're installing solar panels...

And of course, I've installed a massive Japanese Hot Tub in this St. Regis perfectly non-green elitist condo.

Your Adequacy

I can't believe he actually said that.  Aaah ken juz imaaaagine him sayin' eeit, thoooough.

What a pompous buffoon.  Carbon neutral, bah. 

How is it that the dems parade out a string of Presidential candidates, each one worse than the last?  The sound of any of them droning just sets me on edge.

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

Kerry, Gary

Kerry was in such reduced circumstances that he needed to use campaign funds to pay off parking ticket fines.

Oh, the humanity.

Well Michael, if Kerry couldn't..

Well Michael, if Kerry couldn't.. pay the fines, he could have always jetted them over to Al Gore, so Al could recycle the paper. (;~.

I'd tell

I'd tell Newsweek, "So What!". It's just another non-issue that means nothing to most reasonable Americans.

One car

TWELVE CAMELS

And the question is, "who

And the question is, "who cares," right? Let me tell ya....

The ones who care are the ones who think this will stir up "class-warfare" in the election. They are pushing McCain as the "elite," and Obama as Everyman. Seriously, really, I ain't kidding. That's how out-of-touch the MSM is, they really think they can force this definition on the race.

The same reasoning applies to the question about how many houses McCain owns. And it illustrates why these morons don't understand why Obama is looked upon as "elitist." They only define "elite" as "wealthy," and everyone knows McCain married money. So they don't understand how Obama can be "elitist" when McCain is "wealthy." They really don't understand the difference, being "elitist" themselves.

Another example of the Obamatrons just not getting it, and hurting themselves every time they open their mouths.

I love the smell of it...

 

"... smells like... victory." - Robert Duvall

What a crock. Wow, McCain's

What a crock. Wow, McCain's ride is an (almost 5-yr old) Caddy?

That 'stable' of 13 personally-owned cars probably has a total Bluebook of $75,000. That's a tuneup for one of P Diddy's Bentleys.

That lineup wouldn't even make the cut as the 4th-rate rapper on 'Cribs'.

Next shallow hit-piece, please... 

Capitalism vs. Socialism

I guess the question that Americans need to ask themselves is this: do you want a free-enterprise president who has amassed an impressive personal wealth and believes that all Americans should have the same opportunities to accumulate their own wealth through hard work and perserverance, or do you want a socialist president who has vowed to create an across-the-board nation of middle-classers by forcebly taking money from the wealthy and giving it those who have done nothing to earn it?  I, for one, vote to preserve the republic that our founding fathers risked their very lives to create, and to keep this grand experiment called the United States of America growing and prospering.

Other Articles

I see the light, Gothampc

This article says he drives a Ford Escape hybrid and the Chrysler 300C.

I like the halo behind The One's head on your link.  Just coincidence, I am sure.

Even the comments on that

Even the comments on that little pic-blurb are skewed.  Notice how anything said about Palin or McCain has to mention something "bad" while it's neutral/bland or praise for Obama/Biden?

Elect a Democrat, drive a donkey to work

Elect a Democrat, drive a donkey to work.

If Obama gets elected, our cars won't matter anyway. We'll be looking for donkeys, or maybe a economy model small ass, for our daily commute.

Rouse... I actually have

Rouse...

I actually have a picture of what the Dems have in mind for future transportation... http://giovanniworld.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/donkey-car_edited.jpg?w=417&h=189 

 

 

Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/  

Donkeys

We'll be looking for donkeys, or maybe a economy model small ass. . .

a economy model small ass. .

Dennis Kucinich?

...or a mule---that's a

...or a mule---that's a hybrid, right???

Let's look a little more

Let's look a little more closely at this article:

"Only the Cadillac is registered in the candidate's name."

So actually, McCain owns only one car. I'm sure he's allowed to use his wife's other cars, but he does not own them. Of course, saying McCain only owns one car doesn't make for much of a pro-Obama story for Newsweek.

"The McCains also own three 2000 NEV Gem electric vehicles, which are bubble-shaped cars popular in retirement communities."

First of all, they got their subtle "McCain is old" jab in... nice goin. Second, do these "golf cart" vehicles seriously rank the same as a Cadillac or a Ford?

Also, 11 of the 13 vehicles are from American companies. That's nice support for the auto industry.

Car lovers and auto workers should remember all of this on election day. And as I recall, most Americans are addicted to their cars.

*****

"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will 

And Your Guns, Your Faith, Your Children, ETC.

There will be no end to the things you must hand over to the O man and his sidekick slow Joe biden!

First will be your faith which will require a pledge of allegience to His LORD Obama. Then all your assets to be "given" to Obama supporters and that's just the beginning!

STOP the madness - We must stop Barack Obama NOW!

Why does the Messiah need a

Why does the Messiah need a car? Jesus didn't have a car....

Ah, but the disciples had a

Ah, but the disciples had a Honda.

[Ahem] Sorry, I couldn't resist that one.

Drive To Work

Rumor has it one of those cars is a VW bug!  The nerve of him having that kind of car when he should have a mercedes, kinda like the one that got towed away recently owned by Charlie Rangel.

The Magnificient Seven

 In the old movie, The Magnificient Seven, they Mexicans are looking for hired gunmen to proect their town.
There is one guy in a bar with a scarred up face, mean looking and like nobody you would want to ever meet.

As they are discussing about inviting him to join their group, they instead decide, "I want the man who made the guys face like that as he is the winner and this guy is the looser."

In that Newsweek is typical liberal in bashing successful people.

Do Americans want a President who was able to nab a good looking rich gal, who is brilliant and able to afford over a dozen vehicles AS THEY ARE A MULTI RESIDENCE FAMILY as most political and corporate families are and they don't drive the Dodge to DC and then back home on the weekends or do you want an Obama who conned the first needy South side woman he found who could make his slum lord record run for President?

I want the rich guy or the guy with the rich wife, because he can't be bribed as he already has the money and won't like Barack Obama be selling out his own people for a million dollar book deal.

Liberals never do get the point as they write from their own 6 figure salaries, vacation in pedophile southeast Asia and can't figure out that the McCains like numbers of Americans would be buying Ford's if Ford invested time in making cars which ran instead of focusing on gay day and GM made cars which ran instead of being a retirement account for old people.

I would buy a 50 mpg Volkswagon diesel too over a 28 mgp Ford.

After bashing the US automakers, I love Buicks, Chevy Luminas are nice long lasting cars, but US makers have got to get back to old carbs, engines that can sit for 6 months and still run, and leave those computers off so prices drop down to $9,000 bare bones starter cars.

 

 

*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS

Candidates...start your

Candidates...start your engines!

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

I agree, but...

Hi Michael,

I agree completely, the 13 vs. 1 car is a non-issue.

But I do have to point out one problem in your scenario: "Somehow, I can't imagine Michelle Obama standing on a Chicago corner waiting for the bus."

I guess it never occured to you that the car that is registered in both their names might be used by her, even when both of them are in Chicago.

Also, while I agree that the number of cars is a non-issue, the article does again bring up McCain's tendency to change what he says depending on who he's talking to: first, he says he bought the Prius for his daughter, then he says (talking to a Detroit radio station) she bought it herself. Why does he keep flip-flopping and contradicting himself?

A fair point, nicholas

I guess it never occured to you that the car that is registered in both their names might be used by her, even when both of them are in Chicago.

You're right, nn.  Maybe The One took cabs for those meeting with the Tony Rezko he didn't know, the Jeremiah Wright he didn't know, the Father Pfleger. . . . 

Although, in my experience, real men take the car.

in my experience, real men change the subject

Please, Michael, aren't you a Chicagoan? I think that the CTA is more than adequate for most shady deal rendezvous.

aren't you a Chicagoan?

Please, Michael, aren't you a Chicagoan?

I wouldn't go that far, nicholas.  I've been in the city twice in the past 11 years.  And one doesn't count because it was under subpoena from the U.S. Attorney. 

Michael...

We must have both been sharing the same wave-lengths for awhile. I spent some time today reading this story on one of the biggest liberal blogs and kept wondering.... do these people have lives? I happen to read about this nonsense under this blogs "Politics" section, and to my surprise, the subject about the number of cars McCain owns had the most comments out of all the other stories. Anotherwords, this is what interested liberals more than any political story. I copied some of these moronic comments here... Liberals Latest Important Issue

 

 

Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/  

 

Thoughtful, Clear thinker

We must have both been sharing the same wave-lengths for awhile.

If I were you, I'd be very worried.   For my part, more aluminum foil taped to my head might help.

Nah, I'm not worried. I

Nah, I'm not worried. I think you and I have a lot in common. What I mean by that is... we have nothing in common with liberals. Thank God!

Liberals Latest Important Issue

 

 

Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/  

of course they don't own their own cars

why bother when they can get unlimited free perk usage of others? Just like a "village bicycle" except no one else is allowed to use it.

Or, most likely, they've somehow managed to "forget" that they need to register and pay license fees on their vehicles, and never get ticketed for the violation.  Everythign handled under the table by a dealer who's part of the political machine.

"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is the same as calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".

"You spend your money anyway you want and respect other's rights to do the same"

My favorite comment from

My favorite comment from liberals (young-ish artists) in response to this is that because he owns sooo many houses and soooo many cars, he can't possibly understand them!  (But yet Obama understands them... Mr. Millionaire...)

 Also loved one saying that complaining about the number of cars someone owns is like communism, which is bad, but they're voting Democrat anyway (on the issues, not the materialism).  Oi vey.  If they don't like communism, why are they voting for Obama?

Favorite comment

because he owns sooo many houses and soooo many cars, he can't possibly understand them! 

If their shrinks can't understand 'em, why should McCain be able to?

cnn.com

notice how quickly cnn will close comments on a subject if the jist of the comments starts to run against "the party line".

CNN

notice how quickly cnn will close comments on a subject if the jist of the comments starts to run against "the party line".

Maybe CNN has Corporal Cue Ball Carville running the board.