It's a shocking thing to many people that anyone has too many homes to count, or however you want to slice it.  McCain should have seen that landmine and not stepped on it.  

Here's the thing.  Associated Press reported on this, and stated this  (bold emphasis is mine):

"Property records reviewed by The Associated Press show McCain and his family own at least eight homes: A ranch and two condos in Arizona; three condos in Coronado, Calif.; a condo in La Jolla, Calif.; and another in Arlington, Va. The number of houses is a bit trickier to determine since the ranch has at least four houses and a two-story cabin."

See...even AP is having a hard time determining an exact number. Are you shocked by that too? Property and what is considered a home (not to mention property having been bought/sold, etc.)  It's not a simple "wow, how can you not know how many homes you own" matter.

Regardless, it's a stupid issue. No more valid than criticizing Obama for talking about the price of arugula. Frankly, I think his behavior towards and treatment of his first wife, his involvement in the Savings and Loan scandal are far more damning strikes against McCain (not to mention the shortsighted, ineffective McCain/Feingold bill).

A    SOME OF THE RICHEST PEOPLE I'VE EVER KNOWN IN MY
LIFE ARE THE MOST UNHAPPY.  I THINK THAT RICH IS -- SHOULD
BE DEFINED BY A HOME, A GOOD JOB AND EDUCATION AND THE
ABILITY TO HAND TO OUR CHILDREN A MORE PROSPEROUS AND
SAFER WORLD THAN THE ONE THAT WE INHERITED.  I DON'T WANT
TO TAKE ANY MONEY FROM THE RICH.  I WANT EVERYBODY TO GET
RICH.  I DON'T BELIEVE IN CLASS WARFARE OR REDISTRIBUTION
OF THE WEALTH.  BUT I CAN TELL YOU FOR EXAMPLE THERE ARE
SMALL BUSINESSMEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE WORKING 16 HOURS A
DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK THAT SOME PEOPLE WOULD CLASSIFY AS,
QUOTE, RICH, MY FRIENDS, WHO WANT TO RAISE THEIR TAXES AND
RAISE THEIR PAYROLL TAXES.  LET'S HAVE -- KEEP TAXES LOW.
LET'S GIVE EVERY FAMILY IN AMERICA A 7 THOUSAND DOLLAR TAX
CREDIT FOR EVERY CHILD THEY HAVE.  LET'S GIVE THEM A 5
THOUSAND DOLLAR REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT TO GO OUT AND GET
THE HEALTH INSURANCE OF THEIR CHOICE.  LET'S NOT HAVE THE
GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN AMERICA.
SO -- SO I THINK IF YOU'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT INCOME, HOW
ABOUT FIVE MILLION.  SO -- BUT SERIOUSLY, I DON'T THINK
YOU CAN -- I DON'T THINK, SERIOUSLY THAT -- THE POINT IS
THAT I'M TRYING TO MAKE HERE SERIOUSLY -- AND I'M SURE
THAT COMMENT WILL BE DISTORTED, BUT THE POINT IS -- THE
POINT IS -- THE POINT IS THAT WE WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE'S
TAXES LOW AND INCREASE REVENUES.

Oh really? Where did you see that? I call BS.

Quote from SLATE.com:

"You know, could I just mention to you, Jay, and a moment of seriousness. I spent five and a half years in a prison cell, without -- I didn't have a house, I didn't have a kitchen table, I didn't have a table, I didn't have a chair. And I spent those five and a half years, because -- not because I wanted to get a house when I got out."
-- John McCain, asked jokingly by Jay Leno how many houses he has 

WHAT? Certainly he couldn't be a Democrat Jodi! He MUST have been a Republican!!

Ahhhh but Joel, he declared his racism and explained he is now voting Republican. (Hee hee, before I get jumped on, I am kidding!!!!!)

 After all, what else is a thinly experienced, virtually unknown candidate going to say to get attention.?  "Blah blah blah change blah blah blah."  Now that he has the spotlight, not surprisingly he's backing away from it.  It's telling that his VP pick is a Washington insider whose been in office almost longer than I've been alive and one who voted for the war (curiously, the two things he most often railed at Clinton about.)

Thom have you seen the Biography channels Barack Obama Biography? If you have seen that and then say all he has is words "Blah, Blah, change...."  Then I would be shocked. Or have you read his book?

 I love in your paragraph you call Barack, thinly experienced,  then you say his running mate:  is a Washington insider whose been in office almost longer than I've been alive. Come on Thom, which are you most upset with, too much or too little?  As my mom would have said "he can't win for losing"

Edited to add: I thought Hillary did a pretty fine job.

Here's a few editorials to read with your morning coffee if you all are so inclined:

Tom Friedman compares the actions of the Chinese over the last seven years with actions taken by our country and notes how this is a unique time for an American Renewal.

Maureen Dowd notes how this Convention is different from any other before and how the Democrats are tearing themseleves apart again. 

Finally, Jeffrey Rosen attempts to dispell the myth of Biden v. Bork while confirming that the Bork appointment began the movement toward the "politics of personal destruction."

Not so fast. Don't confuse "wealthy" with "rich."  Two different things. Chris Rock put it best describing the difference (paraphrasing):

Shaquille O'Neil is rich.

The guy that writes Shaquille O'Neil's check? He's wealthy.

Very good point.  I agree with McCain completely on that.  Wealthy and Rich are two completely different things.

Joel: And really, what we're seeing here is Barak and the Dems playing old school politics. The real reason for McCain's nonanswer comes from owning multiple properties, some of which they do not reside in. These properties are bought and sold - especially in today's volatile market. It's not bc "the rich old guy doesn't know how many houses he has."

***
What is the meaningful difference you are trying to point out?  If McCain owns multiple properties worth 14million and doesn't know how many there are... he is NOT an old rich guy who doesn't know how many houses he has?

Most people in that income bracket hire people to handle their investments.  On any given day they have no idea what their actual holdings are.  Smart people are willing to delegate to the professionals.   I'd be more worried if he knew exactly how many since it would mean he micro-manages instead of deferring to the experts.  I want a man who is willing to double check rather than be incorrect.

I think the thing  that is upsetting about this, is how can a guy that has 7 homes and think anything below 5 million a year is not wealthy is out of touch with what is going on in most peoples lives.

Which is it, rich or wealthy?  McCain said rich, not wealthy.  What was the income for the Obama family in 2007?  I'd say they qualify for out of touch based on your standards.

In Muncie Indiana, if you make $150,000 a year you are considered rich.  I don't know about Long Island, but an average income in Indiana is around $40,000

The most important words in your statement are "In Muncie Indiana."  One of the many inequities in the tax code in this country is there is no consideration of cost of living factored into the application of income taxes.  You get more for your $150,000 in Muncie than you do in Manhattan -- your dollar stretchs much further.  That was my objection to Obama's blanket response that $150,000 was wealthy -- it may depend on where you live not just your gross earnings.