Just because McCain has finally let Gramm go, it hardly means McCain has abandoned the radical economic ideas of Phil Gramm. The McCain economic plan may shy away from calling people "whiners" but it still is heavily favoring the same people who have brought down the economy. It remains focused on helping the privileged and to hell with everyone else. Think of it as the new compassionate conservatism that has as much compassion as the last attempt.
Earlier this week, I asked Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chair of the House Financial Services Committee, what his take was on Gramm's comments.
"That's who he is," Frank said. "And John McCain supported him for president. Obama never supported Jeremiah Wright for president. John McCain supported Phil Gramm for president, he's a major influence on McCain. This is a mean guy, who thinks if you're poor it's your own fault, and has also been a contributor to the regulatory problem. He's the scariest part of John McCain and I think that it's very helpful that people know about it."
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