On Houses And Hannity
Returning to a city that he had visited during the campaign, President Obama made reference, seemingly unintentionally, to what was once a hot topic in the 2008 race – his opponent’s multiple homes.
Asked a question about mortgage foreclosures, Obama promised that his administration would unveil “a series of plans” to help homeowners. “We’re going to be doing a lot on this,” he said.
One potential provision he supports, he said, would end a plan that helps people who go into bankruptcy, even if they have “a second home or a third home or a fourth home or a fifth home.” The crowd laughed at the notion. Someone with one house who goes into bankruptcy could not see their mortgage terms modified, however. “Now that makes no sense,” Obama said, saying he includes himself in the latter category.
“Keep in mind, the house I’m in in DC, I’m just borrowing that – that’s the people’s house,” he said. “I’m a guest in Washington in the people’s house. My house is on the South Side of Chicago, that I own.”
The issue of John McCain’s multiple homes became a popular talking point in late August when the Arizona senator could not immediately identify just how many he owned. “If you’re like me, and you got one house, or you are like the millions of people who are struggling right now to keep up with their mortgage so they don’t lose their home, then you might have a different perspective,” Obama said at one event in Virginia after the story broke.
Another light moment came when President Obama was asked about having a beer with conservative talk show host Sean Hannity. The president said he was unaware of the offer, but would “take it under advisement.
“Generally his opinion of me does not seem to be very high,” he said. “But I’m always good for a beer.”
realclearpolitics.com
