It seems like everywhere you go, people are talking complaining about the cost of gasoline. From the natural food coop to Twitter, everyone is wondering how many hours they will have to work to fill up their gas tank. There is one person who remains clueless as to what Americans are paying at the pump: John McCain.

In February, President Bush made headlines for his ignorance that gasoline could reach $4-a-gallon. When asked about this possibility by a reporter, Bush responded,

Wait, what did you just say? You’re predicting $4-a-gallon gasoline? That’s interesting. I hadn’t heard that. . . . I know it’s high now.

In fact, when Bush made this remark, gas had already exceeded $4-a-gallon in parts of California.

This out-of-touch remark by Bush should have been a lesson for presidential hopeful John McCain, but it wasn’t. In a recent interview with Martin Wisckol of the Orange County Register, McCain was asked when the last time he pumped his own gas and how much did it cost? His reply:

McCAIN: Oh, I don’t remember. Now there’s Secret Service protection. But I’ve done it for many, many years. I don’t recall and frankly, I don’t see how it matters. I’ve had hundreds and hundreds of town hall meetings, many as short a time ago as yesterday. I communicate with the people and they communicate with me very effectively.

In Oregon and New Jersey, citizens are not allowed to pump their own gas, but I bet they know its cost! To be that out of touch with an issue that is hitting Americans of low and middle socioeconomic status hard demonstrates McCain cannot represent and address the issues that concern most Americans. In fact, I find it insulting to state, “I don’t recall and frankly, I don’t see how it matters,” when many Americans are faced with decisions about buying food or gasoline to get to work. In trying to smooth over his faux pas, McCain ended the interview by saying:

McCAIN: Thank you. It’s a pleasure…. Hang on just one second. I think the last time that I … I’ve been on the campaign trail for so long I don’t remember when I last filled up my own gas tank, but I certainly did for many, many, many years and I understand the difficulties and challenges that it poses for the people of California and my home state of Arizona. I thank you, my friend.

Somehow I doubt he really understands. As Bill Visnic wrote on Edmunds AutoObserver, “The cost of a gallon of gasoline is the seminal economic and political issue of the moment – yet the Republican presidential nominee can’t hazard a guess?” Seriously, John McCain can’t look out his limo window as he passes a gas station and notice the price? The rest of America is noticing, why isn’t McCain?

Related posts on John McCain’s energy policies: