Posted by
Scottie on Sunday, August 24, 2008 7:14:58 PM
Much is being made of John McCain’s seeming inability to respond to a reporter’s “gotcha” question on the number of houses he owns. When asked, the old political hand knew he was being invited to step into a pile of fecal matter and politely declined to do so. His answer wasn’t that he didn’t know, as has been widely reported. His response was that he would refer the matter to his staff for a comprehensive answer. You see, things can get complicated when it comes to real estate, trusts, and such.
As an experiment, I asked the Missus the same question: “How many houses do you own?”
She quickly and confidently replied, “One.”
I informed her that her answer was incorrect. Befuddled for a minute, she brightened a bit later and confidently answered a second time, “Five.”
When I asked her if she was certain, she assured me that she was. I then told her she was again incorrect, much to her dismay. I could tell she was piqued by this and she demanded to know what I was getting at. I told her that she was in the exact same position as John McCain and explained to her that she in fact had ownership interests in no less than six houses.
You see, she owned one house before she married me, and she still owns it. This house was represented by her first answer. But she overlooked the four rental properties I own that became partly hers through our marriage. This was reflected by her second answer. The sixth house is technically owned by her father, but due to the tax code and the rules applicable to related party transactions, she would be attributed ownership of the house/office in which our business is situated. So even we common folks may find a question like the one John McCain so carefully parried to avoid a media “gotcha” a little harder to answer than it would seem at first blush.
I did not call my wife a liar, nor did I ridicule her for her incorrect answers as the media and the Obama campaign are currently doing to John McCain. Unlike the media, I see no benefit in “gotcha” questions like this. But it clarified the situation in which John McCain found himself for the Missus pretty well
Perhaps a few “gotcha” real estate questions could also be asked of Barack Obama. A few that spring readily to mind are:
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1. How many houses do you think John McCain purchased with the financial assistance of a felon currently convicted for financial fraud? Have you purchased any houses with such an individual? Does the name Tony Rezko come to mind?
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2. Which do you think is more important to the American people: the number of buildings John and Cindy McCain own or the number of buildings that were bombed by your longtime associate William Ayers and his unrepentant band of domestic terrorists?
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3. How many houses have been purchased by your former pastor, the Reverend Wright, in gated communities where members of his own congregation are not welcome?
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4. Have you reconsidered the folly of throwing stones from within a glass house yet, or shall we continue?
Food for thought; of course, the anointed One needn’t worry about such questions from those eagerly deifying him in the main stream media. But one can hope.
Scottie