Democrats Attack McCain Over Automobiles

CNN's Political Ticker had a report September 21 that Democrats have attacked John McCain's ownership of more than a dozen cars - "including several foreign-made automobiles."

CNN says this latest attack is one more attempt at painting a picture of "...John McCain as out of touch with average Americans and as a flip-flopper...." Citing a Newsweek article published September 21, CNN reported that an examination of vehicle registration records reveals 13 cars owned by McCain, including a Honda and a Volkswagen. "That appears," CNN says, "to contradict the Republican presidential nominee's past statements he only buys cars made in America."

Responding to the report, CNN says, "...United Auto Worker Union President Ron Gettelfinger - an Obama supporter - said the registration records show McCain is not being truthful with Americans and undermining autoworkers." The CNN report contains the following quote from Gettelfinger: "The last thing we need is a presidential candidate who undermines autoworkers, and these days it seems that John McCain is doing just exactly that."

Does this line of reasoning mean that any American who owns a foreign-made car is undermining American autoworkers? What about owners of Toyotas made at factories in the United States? Or the Mercedes Benz mega-factory in Alabama? This is moronic? Are Democrats really this desperate? Maybe they're more afraid than I originally thought.

The CNN article points out that Honda has four major plants in the United States with more than 25,000 American workers, and that Volkswagen is set to establish plant operations in Tennessee in 2011, providing even more American jobs.

And before jumping on the "McCain lied" bandwagon, perhaps Mr. Gettelfinger should research some of Senator Obama's distortions, exaggerations, and outright falsehoods. The McCain campaign responded through spokesman Brian Rogers, who was quoted by CNN as saying, "Barack Obama is more interested in childish political attacks than confronting the reality that his plans to raise taxes and close off trade will kill our American auto industry and the jobs of hardworking folks in Michigan and all around our nation."

This whole thing is getting ridiculous. Both campaigns look for any morsel of information that might be used to attack their opponent, and in the end they look like they are grasping at straws. Remember when John Kerry said in 2004 that he did not own an SUV. He was right. His wife did. It was ridiculous then and it is ridiculous now. Or when it was revealed that John Kerry owned six houses? It didn't matter then, and it doesn't matter now. None of the guys or gals in Washington is truly in touch with the average American.