MUST READ: Voters, McCain differ on quick economic fix
March 20, 2008
As the economy continues to slide and jobless claims register higher than expected, the Washington Times reports today that on economic issues John McCain is out of sync with American voters. According to the article, voters are looking for immediate solutions to the economic crisis, a "problem for Republican Sen. John McCain" because he doesn't have any short-term plans to help America's families suffering from the economic crisis. This comes just weeks after McCain said that record job losses in February weren't "terrible" and news broke that the Republican candidate had helped steer a $35 billion Air Force tanker deal to a European company, shipping more than 44,000 jobs overseas. With the economy shaping up to be the top issue this election, McCain's hands-off attitude is sure to cause major problems for him with voters.
The following are excerpts of the story:
Voters, McCain differ on quick economic fix
Washington Times
By Stephen Dinan
March 20, 2008
"As the economy sours, voters are increasingly demanding immediate government relief -- a boost for Democrats who propose just that sort of quick fix, but a problem for Republican Sen. John McCain, whose focus has been on longer-term solutions such as tax and spending cuts and free trade…Those twists and turns have left voters uncertain and looking for 'an activist government right now,' Mr. Morici said, which puts pressure on Mr. McCain to find a plan that will help in the short-term while keeping true to his long-term, limited-government principles. 'He needs to talk about why we had a recession, why things are bad for the middle class -- because they are perceived to be,' Mr. Morici said.
"Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a policy adviser to Mr. McCain and former director of the Congressional Budget Office, said they are confronting an economy that is growing slowly at best, but it's not uniform: While production jobs -- those people that 'make stuff' -- are doing decently, the financial sector is facing 'disastrous conditions.' He said the challenge is to strike a balance in proposing solutions. 'If you go for quick fixes, my fear is you make mistakes,' Mr. Holtz-Eakin said. 'The sad reality is there is no $1,000 tax credit that is going to substitute for a job…'
"Pollster John Zogby said the economy is 'the mega-issue that's out there' among voters, even though other issues may at times rise up. 'For the time being, and at least into the foreseeable future, people are in a foul mood about the economy,' he said. Mr. Zogby said that's a challenge for Mr. McCain's free-market approach. 'The notion of "the market will straighten things out, be patient" -- that has photos of Herbert Hoover juxtaposed with it,' he said. Mr. McCain is also handicapped by his admission that 'the issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should.'
For the full article, click here:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080320/NATION/553661609/1001
