John McCain is getting a little testy about the ridicule he has endured over the number of houses he and his wife own.

“We spend our time in a condominium in Washington, a condominium in Phoenix, some time over here in the state of California and then we have a place up in northern Arizona,” McCain said on the “Tonight” show with Jay Leno.

Yes, Senator, that is a lot of places to remember. That is only four though. He didn’t say how many places he stays at in California. He might be able to recall all seven if someone reminds him.

More disturbing is how McCain falls back on his POW time as a crutch to explain or deflect criticism. Yes, he has earned a right to do that most of the time, but as an explanation for why he cannot remember that he has seven houses?

“Could I just mention to you, Jay, that in a moment of seriousness, I spent five and a half years in a prison cell, 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. I spent those five and half years not because I wanted to get a house when I got back home.”

Okay. What is that supposed to mean? He endured five and a half years of hell. Is that supposed to mean it is okay he cannot remember how many houses he has? Is John McCain saying that because he was tortured he is not able to remember the houses?

That is fine if you want to be a private citizen. That is probably okay even if you want to be a Senator. It is a little different when you want to be President of the United States. As POTUS, you need all your wits about you.

All candidates for President make gaffes. As the campaign gets going, Joe Biden, the king of gaffes, is going to make plenty. As a rule, the gaffes do not mean a lot. These candidates are under a lot of pressure and exhaustion. They are human. The gaffes give a chance for some comic relief over a serious matter.

This time it is different. John McCain is either saying he is a war hero, and we should not question him over little matters like this; or he is saying he cannot remember those things because of what happened to him for five and a half years.

I do not like either one of those choices.

McCain’s house statement was originally about his ability to relate to average Americans trying to pay a mortgage. It is a valid concern. When you have a wife worth $100 million and seven houses that you cannot remember, maybe you do not live in the same world as everyone else. Now John McCain’s behavior suggests there might be another worry for voters. He wants us to consider him a war hero immune to criticism, or he has a damaged mental state. The rich Senator who cannot relate to the average Joe paying his mortgage was more comforting than either of these choices.