McCain flunks Made in America 101
Washington (CNN)-GOP Sen. John McCain is in need of a tech lesson. In an appearance on ABC's "This Week," the senator from Arizona said that iPads and iPhones are "built in the United States of America." But every techie knows that they are, in fact, built in China.
McCain touted free trade agreements during the interview and voiced his agreement with President Obama that "innovation is the key to us being able to restore our economy." And though the designs for the iPad and iPhone are home grown in California, the actual manufacturing takes place overseas, in China.
"I think it's obviously a recognition of the reality and the trends, that cheaper, lower-cost labor products will usually prevail over products made in higher wage and income countries," he said, while commenting the abundance of foreign-made products in the American marketplace.
But when he moved into the territory of goods that are made in America, he ran into trouble. "I would also point out that…an iPad or an iPhone, those are built in the United States of America. And as the president said, continuously, and I agree with him, innovation is the key to us being able to restore our economy."
"And that's got to be exports," he continued. "We've got to have free trade agreements."
Three exports that cannot be factored into McCain's argument are the iPad, iPhone, and iTouch. All are products that are "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China," as is printed on the back of each device.
McCain's office tells CNN that "Senator McCain is aware they were designed but not assembled in the U.S."
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McCain does not even know what an iPad or iPhone is, much less where they are made.
Is anyone surprised the the Senator from Arizona is out of touch with reality?
John McCain has never recovered from his rejection of the American people. He is out of touch and grasping at anything to bash and discredit the President. The fact is that we do live in a Global economy. If we could all get over our fear of China we could benefit both Country's. We must learn to work together, we must get better educated in order to create new jobs. The jobs of yesterday are not coming bacik. We cannot be isolationist and we can not overlook the need for innovation. America is still the best at innovation and creativity. We need to be better educated in marketing. Unfortunately the Republican Party wants the US to go backwards, we can't. If we are to compete in the World we must push forward. It is time for Mr. McCain to reitre. We as Americans can not afford to languish is negativity. Our Country's future is at stake. American can be great again but, we have to stop this infighting. People like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin are paid big bucks to fan the flames of hatred. Do you really believe that any of them care about Middle Class Americans? Each of them would sell their soul for their riches. Sorry for the rant, but I do believe in our Country, I do believe in Americans will to survive and although I am not a religous zealot, I do believe in God.
This guy is still here?
HEY CNN If it weren'y for Mccain and Palin you folks should shut down. It is getting harder and harder to find anything interesting or worth reading on your Web Site.
This senator is obviously an idiot
This reminds me of the SNL skit where McCain thought digitally meant with your fingers.
Perhaps Senator McCain should spend more time at home–or at least around his daughter, Meghan., who would have known that Apple assembles its nifty hardware offshore. As usual, McCain blows an opportunity to make a powerful point about US citizen's irrational hunger for tech items NOT NOT NOT "Made in America." Just this week ABC News began a spotlight series on the issue. Having removed all items from a US household NOT made int he USA, ABC could find absolutely no replacement televisions and similar devices that are assembled in the US!
And now you know why there are not JOBS BEING PUSHED BY REPUBLICANS.
And still, he keeps talking. Didn't he get his talking notes before he went on this show?
Imagine how expensive they'd be if they were built in the US. Since they are built in China, they are sold cheaply.
Parts made in US and all over the world, ASSEMBLED in China. Innovation, Ingenuity USA owned. Get it straight CNN.
The traiterous old coot doesn't know anything. We're being led by a bunch of idiots in the Senate and the House. The ones that are this senile need to go. We need innovative younger people who will work together FOR our country, not just ramble around the hallways stating lies and half truths and promoting hate, fear and wars. I'm so sick of the old white male syndrome we've had to endure the last decade. UPGRADE OUR GOVERNMENT - NO DICTATORS ALLOWED (ESPECIALLY IN THE REPUBLICAN CORPORATISTS !!!)
"Senator McCain is aware they were designed but not assembled in the U.S."
so, does that mean he just lied?
McCain 's suggestion, in the same interview, for the U.S. to encourage American companies to invest/establish greater presence in Egypt to help them gain more employment, while laudable, also seems contrary to focusing on Made in America. (Where are other countries? Other than China are they investing heavily outside their own borders and we just don't hear about it?)