McCain and Gramm still chummy, even after Gramm resigned from McCain campaign

Conservative columnist Robert Novak reports that Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his close economic adviser, former senator Phil Gramm, have "patched up their relationship" after Gramm resigned from the McCain campaign due to Gramm's remarks that Americans are a "bunch of whiners" suffering from a "mental recession." From Real Clear Politics:

After Sen. John McCain publicly repudiated his close friend and adviser Phil Gramm's comments about a "nation of whiners" and a "mental recession," the two old political comrades patched up their relationship.

Gramm apologized to McCain for his remarks that gave Democrats an opening against the Republican presidential candidate and provided several days of ammunition for blogs, cable television and radio talk shows. McCain told Gramm not to worry about the expected pitfalls of a campaign surrogate. Gramm will continue as an adviser and surrogate.

Gramm remained a steadfast supporter last year when it appeared that McCain's campaign had collapsed. McCain was a loyal backer of Gramm's failed 1988 campaign for president and did not leave until the candidate dropped out of the race.

You can bet that Gramm will continue to be McCain's economic adviser, even in an unofficial way.

In related news, MoveOn.org has provided this YouTube video showing McCain saying that Americans have "psychological" views on the recession and high energy prices--it is all in our heads. From YouTube:



So even as McCain has thrown Gramm under the Straight Talk Express bus, McCain is still repeating Gramm's own words on a "mental" recession. Only it is not mental.

It is just psychological.