Changes

Focus on the Family chairman [[James Dobson]] criticized McCain's opposition to passing a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage and also cites McCain's moderate family positions as detracting factors.

Focus on the Family chairman [[James Dobson]] criticized McCain's opposition to passing a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage and also cites McCain's moderate family positions as detracting factors.

McCain's co-chairman and top economic adviser, former Senator Phil Gramm, stated the United States was only in a "mental recession" and had become a "nation of whiners".  At first, the campaign agreed with the remarks, with a campaign aide stating, "Mr. Gramm was simply saying that we are laying out the economic plan this week." <ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/10/mccain-campaign-initially_n_111929.html McCain Campaign Initially Stood By Gramm]</ref> McCain later repudiated the remarks at a gathering of supporters.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/us/politics/11campaign.html?hp Gramm Refers to 'Nation of Whiners']</ref>  Despite McCain's disagreement with the remarks, he has made similar comments in the campaign himself.  In January, McCain stated, "As far as putting additional money in taxpayers pocket, that's fine,  because a lot of it is psychological. Because I agree the fundamentals of our economy is still strong."<ref>http://youtube.com/watch?v=6aHJT1Ol0iE&v3</ref>  In April, he stated, "I’m very concerned about it, Neil. And obviously the way it’s been going up is just terrible. But I think psychologically — and a lot of our problems today, as you know, are psychological — the confidence, trust, the uncertainty about our economic future, ability to keep our own home. This might give them a little psychological boost. Let’s have some straight talk, it’s not a huge amount of money."<ref>[http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/19/mccain-a-lot-of-our-problems-today-are-psychological/ McCain: 'A lot of our problems today are psychological']</ref>

McCain's co-chairman and top economic adviser, former Senator Phil Gramm, stated the United States was only in a "mental recession" and had become a "nation of whiners".  A campaign aide stating, "Mr. Gramm was simply saying that we are laying out the economic plan this week." <ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/10/mccain-campaign-initially_n_111929.html McCain Campaign Initially Stood By Gramm]</ref> McCain later repudiated the remarks at a gathering of supporters.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/us/politics/11campaign.html?hp Gramm Refers to 'Nation of Whiners']</ref>  Despite McCain's disagreement with the remarks, he has made similar comments in the campaign himself.  In January, McCain stated, "As far as putting additional money in taxpayers pocket, that's fine,  because a lot of it is psychological. Because I agree the fundamentals of our economy is still strong."<ref>http://youtube.com/watch?v=6aHJT1Ol0iE&v3</ref>  In April, he stated, "I’m very concerned about it, Neil. And obviously the way it’s been going up is just terrible. But I think psychologically — and a lot of our problems today, as you know, are psychological — the confidence, trust, the uncertainty about our economic future, ability to keep our own home. This might give them a little psychological boost. Let’s have some straight talk, it’s not a huge amount of money."<ref>[http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/19/mccain-a-lot-of-our-problems-today-are-psychological/ McCain: 'A lot of our problems today are psychological']</ref>

==Endorsements==

==Endorsements==