Editing Phil Gramm (section)

===John McCain 2008 presidential campaign===
Gramm was co-chair of [[John McCain]]'s presidential campaign<ref name="autogenerated2">{{Cite web|last=Bentley|first=John|date=2008-07-18|title=Gramm Steps Down From McCain Campaign|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/07/18/politics/fromtheroad/entry4274793.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920113534/https://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/07/18/politics/fromtheroad/entry4274793.shtml|archive-date=2008-09-20|access-date=|website=cbsnews.com}}</ref> and his most senior economic adviser<ref>Amity Shlaes, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/11/AR2008071102543.html?hpid=opinionsbox1 "Phil Gramm Is Right"], ''The Washington Post'', July 12, 2008</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hart|first=Patricia Kilday|date=2008-05-30|title=McCain's Economic Advisor|url=http://www.texasobserver.org/article.php?aid=2767|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727032050/http://www.texasobserver.org/article.php?aid=2767|archive-date=July 27, 2009|access-date=2009-08-09|publisher=Texasobserver.org}}</ref> from the summer of 2007<ref>Stein, Sam, [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/21/short-on-economic-underst_n_82529.html "Short On Economic Understanding, McCain Brings Phil Gramm to Meeting"], ''The Huffington Post'', January 21, 2008</ref> until July 18, 2008.<ref name="autogenerated2" />
In a July 9, 2008 interview on McCain's economic plans, Gramm explained the nation was not in a [[recession]], stating, "You've heard of [[Depression (mood)|mental depression]]; this is a mental recession."
He added, "We have sort of become a nation of whiners, you just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline."<ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite web|last=Hill |first=Patrice |url=http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/jul/09/mccain-adviser-addresses-mental-recession/ |title=Washington Times – McCain adviser talks of 'mental recession' |work=Washtimes.com |date=2008-07-09 |access-date=2009-08-09}}</ref>
Gramm's comments immediately became a campaign issue.
McCain's opponent, Senator [[Barack Obama]], stated, "America already has one [[Dr. Phil]]. We don't need another one when it comes to the economy. ... This economic downturn is not in your head."<ref>{{Cite news| last = Associated Press  | author-link = Associated Press   | title = Obama on Gramm: 'America already has one Dr. Phil' | newspaper = [[USA Today]] | date = July 10, 2008| url =https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-07-10-obama-gramm_N.htm?csp=34<!--None-->}}</ref>
McCain strongly denounced Gramm's comments.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gray|first=Kathleen|date=2008-07-11|title=McCain rejects claim that Americans are 'whiners'|newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]|url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080711/NEWS15/807110393|url-status=dead|access-date=2008-07-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924095228/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080711%2FNEWS15%2F807110393|archive-date=September 24, 2008}}</ref>
On July 18, 2008, Gramm stepped down from his position with the McCain campaign.
Explaining his remarks, Gramm stated that he had used the word "whiners" to describe the nation's politicians rather than the public, stating "the whiners are the leaders."<ref name="cnn-mccain">{{cite news|author=Dana Bash CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/10/mccain.gramm/?iref=mpstoryview |title=Gramm: We need more leadership, less whining|publisher=CNN |date=2008-07-10 |access-date=2009-08-09}}</ref>
In the same interview, Gramm said, "I'm not going to retract any of it. Every word I said was true."<ref name="wapo-mccain">{{cite news |author1=Shear, Michael D.  |author2=Weisman, Jonathan  |name-list-style=amp |title=Gramm Remark Adds to McCain's Difficulty Addressing the Economy |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/10/AR2008071003085.html |newspaper=Washington Post |date=2008-07-11 |access-date=2008-07-11 }}</ref>