By Louise Roug, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers and Maeve Reston, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers|July 10, 2008
Fairfax, Va. -- Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain sparred today over women's issues and the economy.
Obama criticized McCain for his opposition to abortion rights and for opposing a Senate bill on equal pay. Campaigning in Michigan, McCain retorted that Obama favored big government solutions to a variety of issues.
The fight between the likely presidential nominees was almost overshadowed by comments from a McCain economic adviser, former Sen. Phil Gramm, who in an interview with the Washington Times called the United States "a nation of whiners" in a "mental recession."
Obama poked fun at Gramm for implying the current economic downturn was a mental condition.
"I want all of you to know that America already has one Dr. Phil, we don't need another one," Obama said to a laughing, cheering audience here. "When it comes to the economy, we need somebody to actually solve the economy. It's not just a figment of the imagination. It's not all in your head."
McCain, at a news conference in Michigan, disassociated himself from Gramm's comments. "I don't agree with Sen. Gramm," McCain said. "Phil Gramm does not speak for me. I speak for me. I strongly disagree."
As they have been in previous elections, women are expected to be a key voting group this November. At a breakfast fundraiser in New York attended by former rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama attacked McCain for supporting conservative justices who are likely to overturn abortion rights.
"I've made it equally clear that I will never back down in defending a woman's right to choose," Obama said. He also criticized McCain for opposing an equal-pay Senate bill.
McCain "thinks the Supreme Court got it right last year when they handed down the Ledbetter decision that makes it more difficult for women to challenge pay discrimination at work," Obama said. "He opposed legislation that I co-sponsored to reverse that decision. He suggested that the reason women don't have equal pay isn't discrimination on the job -- it's because they need more education and training."
On Wednesday, McCain said he thought women were making significant progress "but I think there's a long, long way to go."
Reporters asked McCain today in Belleville, Mich., about Obama's criticism of the Republican's position on women's issues. McCain was asked to clarify his stand on whether employers should be required to cover sick days and expanding the Family Leave and Medical Act.
