Terribly ironic (or ironically terrible) that this, one of McCain's best claims for leadership and wisdom... is also probably the least likely to endear him to swing voters. Especially in the present economic climate.

If he'll go to the coal states, next, and tell them that they, too, have to adapt and move on, I will have to seriously contemplate voting for him. May as well keep my string of voting for the losing candidate alive, after all...

Sent by Matt K | 9:30 AM ET | 04-23-2008

John McCain's comments just convinces me even more that he doesn't "know" anything about the economy. Granted protectionism is not the answer. However our massive trade deficit and the fact that even jobs that require education/training i.e. jobs in the tech sector also being outsourced and High tech employers requesting that more foreign works be give visa(s) when american ppl that have the necessary education and training are out of work is a problem. The solution is more complicated. As an Ohio resident and as someone that works in the IT industry, Senator McCain simplistic view of the situation especially in Ohio is disturbing. Sure the steel mill or the plant will not be back, however in this state even ppl with additional education often end up delivering pizza's or working at walmart shows that there is a serious problem here.

Sent by Ms. McL | 9:39 AM ET | 04-23-2008

You have to give McCain credit for straight talk, but Ms. McL is right. Often that straight talk is simply uninformed, simplistic and wrong. I think the press has been giving him a free pass because they don't like reporting on anything complicated.

Sent by Mike Fleissner | 10:52 AM ET | 04-23-2008

> .. employers requesting that more
> foreign works be give visa(s) when
> american ppl that have the necessary
> education ..

works = workers
give = given

Unfortunately, your comment argues against itself.

Sent by Cameron Purdy | 11:03 AM ET | 04-23-2008

Simple is sometimes and quite often, true.

Sent by deek | 3:00 PM ET | 04-23-2008

Directed to Cameron Purdy..

It must be nice nit-pick two typos of a valid statement regarding the serious economic crisis in this country. However if the massive trade deficit, the declining dollar, the mortgage crisis, food and petroleum inflation, wage stagnation doesn't open the American peoples and the candidates eyes that this issue is not simplistic I don't know what will. I guess it's going to take an actual "Depression" , food and gasoline rationing/riots and the United States of America no longer being a 1st world county for people to wake up.
Republican , Democrat currently I do not care for me the election is about the economy period. Finally just because one seems to be doing well in these difficult times such as my family, being surrounded by people who are knee deep and suffering due to this crisis will trickle up and affect the stability of all of us eventually.

Sent by Ms. McL | 5:45 PM ET | 04-23-2008

I suggest all "experts" look at some facts before blasting free trade. I suggest they start with the web site

http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm

This will show that the US Unemployment rate has bounced around 5% since 1948 and is presently pretty close to the mean of that period and less than the 70's and 80's when US deindustrialization got in high gear. Yes, the offical unemployment rate does not include discouraged workers, but work force participation is also been pretty stable at 66% after dropping from 67% during Bush's first term. This despite rapid growth in US population which means that absolute jobs have grown substantially. There is not widespread unemployment in the US

There has been a net loss of jobs but there has been a great loss of great paying jobs for those with minimal formal education. More of these jobs have been lost do advancing technology than outsourcing. The economic return of education has sored as the remaining blue color jobs have lost ground. McCain's plan to focus on job training is what essentially EVERY economist has been saying for years. The shameful pandering to people's ignorance as we have seen by Clinton and Obama will make things worse. If the US stopped importing goods our standard of living would drop dramatically. Given the huge hit will all will have to take to address global warming, we certainly do not want to make things worse.

Sent by Kevin L. | 6:00 PM ET | 04-23-2008

Based on some of the comments, I have two questions. Do any of you actually live/work in Ohio? Have any of you actually been to or know anything about this state?
Secondly I do not see any comments thus far that are completely anti-free trade so how is anyone "Blasting" it.
Thirdly, how are Clinton and Obama making things worse by acknowledging that NAFTA needs some changes? It does!
The fact that NAFTA is benefiting states like Texas while at the same time hurting states like Ohio shows that this issue is more complicated than just getting more job training.

Fourth, more often than not those in Ohio that get advanced training have to leave the state ..Link to article regarding Ohio's Brain Drain http://www.slis.indiana.edu/news/story.php?story_id=586.
Finally, is this additional training/education going to be subsidized, especially since wages for college graduates in this state have not kept up with inflation while at the same time the cost of higher ed increases at a rate almost twice that of inflation yearly at public universities.

Sent by Ms. McL | 9:35 AM ET | 04-24-2008