John McCain likes to talk tough about earmarks and the federal budget, but when pressed on specifics, there's no substance. On Sunday, McCain tried using the discredited claim that he would cut spending by eliminating $65 billion in earmarks, and got called out on it.
The Bush agenda that led to record deficits, increased spending, and irresponsible tax cuts for the top one-percent will continue if the Republican presidential candidates have their way.
They've voted against pay-as-you-go budgeting and pushed for a national sales tax. They've raised taxes millions of dollars while pushing to eliminate the estate tax for the wealthiest earners. All and all, their radical and ever-shifting positions are out of touch with the majority of Americans.
Use the menu on the left to browse candidates positions on Taxes and Deficit
DID YOU KNOW?
- Under Rudy Giuliani, New York City's debt increased by 52%, by $14.8 billion.
- Mitt Romney earned a "C" on a Cato Institute Fiscal Report Card because he raised $500 million in fees.
- John McCain voted against the repeal of the Estate Tax, then voted for it, then explained how he really opposed it.
- Tancredo co-sponsored legislation that would impose a national sales tax.
- In 2004, Duncan Hunter voted against a bill to redirect tax cuts for those earning over $1 million and direct the $19 billion in savings to education, health, homeland security and debt reduction.
Time For Plan B?
McCain's economic plan meets resistance on the Republican side as well, with Republicans in the House and Senate "split on some of the details, including a plan to stem the tide of foreclosures and another creating a summer gas-tax holiday."
Read Between the Lines
McCain pledges to offer help for average Americans, but most of his proposals are aimed at the wealthy and corporations:Read More · Link to this Article
Fiscal Conservatism
The best quote from this piece in Newsweek: "Reading McCain's economic agenda, and listening to his speech, it appears that the problem with the last eight years is that we haven't seen enough tax breaks for the wealthy..."Read More · Link to this Article
McCain's Finger in the Wind on Taxes
You can interpret that as he won't favor raising taxes until the day he favors getting out of Iraq -- which is to say, never.Read More · Link to this Article
Who Are They Calling Dishonest?
Over at the RNC blog, they declare an "obvious distortion of the facts" when people say that the tax cuts were a giveaway for the wealthy.Read More · Link to this Article
He'll Say Anything
An article in the Wall Street Journal today highlighted some big flip-flops in McCain's record that I think are pretty striking in how clearly shameless they are.Read More · Link to this Article
