Gramm in Doghouse After 'Nation of Whiners' Crack

After Phil Gramm, a ranking economic adviser to John McCain, described America as a “nation of whiners” suffering from a “mental recession,” the campaign trail is lit up over the topic, Time reports:

• From McCain himself, “Phil Gramm does not speak for me. I speak for me.” Asked about the Texan’s future job prospects, “I think Sen. Gramm would be in serious consideration for Ambassador to Belarus.”

• Said Barack Obama, “America already has one Dr. Phil.  When it comes to the economy, we don’t need another.” And “this comes after Sen. McCain recently admitted that his energy proposals will have mainly 'psychological' benefits.” Finally, “this economic downturn isn’t in our heads.”
• But the former senator held the line in the Washington Post: “I’m not going to retract any of it. Every word I said was true.”

(More Phil Gramm stories.)