Bush and McCain together again

Our economy is in trouble and so are working families. With rising healthcare costs, the mortgage crisis, sinking wages, and dismal employment rates, it is getting increasingly difficult to make ends meet. We need to elect someone in November with a plan to turn our country around for the better, and John McCain in no way represents change. McCain as President for four years would mean four more years of a struggling economy. Four more years of the same policies we have seen with Bush.

Although he readily admits that he doesn't understand economics, he refutes the opinions of the experts by saying that we are not headed towards a recession. Denial will not improve the lives of millions of Americans struggling in these difficult times. Senator McCain's approach to the economy can be summed up in a recent statement he made about the mortgage crisis, saying that he is "committed to the principle that it is not the duty of government to bail" people out. We need a president who takes our country's economic woes seriously, and who cares about the financial burdens of ALL Americans, not just the wealthiest.

Click the links below to read more about John McCain's record on economics and jobs:

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Statement by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney on the July Jobs Report

The Bush economy has made 2008 a tough year for working people - - and we’re just over half the way done. In total, we have lost 463,000 jobs since the year began, this month adding another 51,000.  As working families will be the first to tell you, the job market is deteriorating rapidly and things are expected to get worse before they get better.

 

Keeping His Fingers Crossed - The Economist 

Mr McCain says he will not sign any bills with “earmarks” (those pet projects), and will freeze all discretionary spending for a year (apart from spending on defence). But he also says he will keep all of George Bush’s 2001 tax cuts (which he opposed originally) and will make other cuts, for example to corporate tax rates. He promises, not very convincingly, eventual reform of America’s convoluted tax system—an enormous and expensive challenge. And he pledges to be steadfast in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But there is not nearly enough fat in the budget to cut to make all this possible.

A Stark Choice on the Economy - The Boston Globe

These days no politician's economic plan can be without tax cuts, and both candidates compete over who is offering the biggest breaks, and for whom. Here again the differences are deep. McCain would cut the corporate tax rate, the capital gains tax, and the estate tax. His only new break for ordinary taxpayers is to double the child deduction, worth on average about $125.

 

McCain, Flip-flopper - The Guardian, UK

"We've been talking a lot about flip-flops in the past week, some of them real, most of them imaginary. But I've been astonished at how few people have mentioned the obvious mother of all flip-flops in this campaign so far – John McCain's embrace of the Bush administration tax cuts."

McCain backed tanker decision will cost the U.S. 14,000 jobs - Economic Policy Institute

An Economic Policy Institute analysis of competing bids for military air refueling tankers finds a significant difference in U.S. job creation between the Boeing Company's unsuccessful proposal and the Northrop Grumman/Airbus plan.  Boeing's proposal would likely create at least twice as many U.S. jobs as NG/Airbus under the $35 billion contract, according to EPI economist Robert Scott.  The difference amounts to 14,000 positions.  The contract will give the winning bidder sizeable advantages in future competitions as the Air Force replaces its aging tanker fleet.  For more information on Robert Scott's analysis click HERE. 

McCain tested on economy; Defends his credibility and experience - The Boston Globe

Senator McCain admits that he does not understand economics. With the impending recession, isn't this an important skill for a presidential candidate to possess?

FOX News Coverage of Republican Debate in Myrtle Beach, SC (1/10/08) 

Although he doesn't understand economics, Senator McCain feels confident enough to refute the experts by saying that our country is not headed into a recession. While denial of the obvious may comfort him, it will not change the facts.

McCain: Very Likely America Is In A Recession

In the same day, Mr. McCain states that America's economy is strong AND that it is headed into a recession. At first, McCain stated that our country was not headed into a recession and that "the fundamentals of America's economy are still strong", but in a later interview was forced to admit that a recession was likely.

McCain talks housing crisis in L.A. area - Los Angeles Times

Despite the worsening housing crisis, Senator McCain states that he is "committed to the principle that it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly...". His do-nothing approach to the foreclosure crisis would only exacerbate the problem.

For more background information on the housing crisis, click here.

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After finally acknowledging the recession, Senator McCain should be vying for something to stimulate the economy. He should be making sure that working class Americans are able to weather the storm by raising the minimum wage, protecting overtime rights, and expanding unemployment benefits. He should save American jobs by blocking outsourcing of government positions. Has he done any of these things to help working people? Absolutely not, just look at his voting record:

H.R. 5140: Economic Stimulus Package of 2008

Senator McCain didn't even show up in the Senate to vote on an economic stimulus package, even though he was in Washington, DC at the time. Perhaps he was busy with more important things that the financial wellbeing of American citizens. (HR 5140, Vote #6, February 6, 2008)

H.R. 2: Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007

Senator McCain voted against raising the minimum wage, even though the real value of the wage had dropped below living standards because of inflation. After strong public outrage about his vote and his disdain for working families, he changed his vote to pass the legislation, but only after amendments had been made to allow tax breaks for corporations. He also voted to repeal the minimum wage laws in 45 states, and allow for the other five states to cap the minimum wage at $5.15 an hour. (HR 2, Vote # 23-25, 37, 39, 42, January 24, 2007- January 31, 2007)

S. 1637: Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act of 2004

When the Bush administration enacted rules that jeopardized the overtime pay of 6 million Americans, Senator McCain did nothing to protect these workers. In fact, he voted against this act who would have ensured the rights to overtime pay. (S. 1637, Vote # 79, May 4, 2004)

S. 1054: Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003

With a recession comes lay offs and downsizing and those people who face the devastation of being laid off should be provided the best unemployment benefits possible during their time of need. However, Senator McCain has voted in opposition to extending unemployment benefits. In this instance, he voted against unemployment benefits for low-wage workers and those seeking part-time work, and against extending an unemployment program that was expiring. (S. 1054, Vote # 152, May 15, 2003)

H.R. 5631: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2005

In this act, Senator McCain voted to allow the Department of Homeland Security to contract out the work of the Citizenship and Immigration Services. He has also voted to support Bush’s efforts to privatize federal jobs. The Bush administration has led a major effort to outsource and privatize hundreds of thousands of federal jobs, including those of 350 workers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (H.R. 5631, Vote # 234, September 6, 2006)

S. 2020: Tax Relief Act of 2005

This act, which Senator McCain voted in favor of, entitled families with an income of over $100,000 with drastic tax cuts. These cuts added up to $60 billion, which was in turn, cut from social programs that working families depend on.

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PERMANENT TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY: John McCain's record on economic issues is truly appalling. His record has only favored the wealthiest Americans. They are enjoying Bush's tax cuts that McCain plans to make permanent. “I think it’s very important that we make the Bush tax cuts permanent. I voted to make them permanent twice already.… And if we don’t make the tax cuts permanent, then they will experience what amounts to a tax increase.” [Republican Presidential Debate, MSNBC, 1/24/08]

UNENDING WAR AT THE EXPENSE OF THE ECONOMY: Senator McCain has continuously vowed to "follow Bin Laden to the gates of hell." He supports the Iraq War, which costs American taxpayers $195 million per day. After cutting $60 billion in taxes from the richest Americans, how does he plan to finance this war? He will do so by cutting social programs, unemployment insurance, overtime pay, and the minimum wage.

For the cost of one day of fighting the war in Iraq, we could:

• provide unemployment benefits for almost 722,000 unemployed Americans for one week.
• fund Social Security retirement benefits for one day for over 6.75 million Americans.
• provide comprehensive safety and health training to 121,875 workers.
• pay for an increase of $3.34 per hour in the wages of every minimum wage worker in the country.
• provide paid sick leave to half a million workers for an entire year.
• Click here for more information about the real cost of the Iraq War.

John McCain has no intention of leaving Iraq anytime soon and has said that he is willing to stay 100 years if necessary, yet he has no answer for how he'll fund such a long war effort. Considering what we are losing by just one day in Iraq, can we really afford to elect someone without a definite exit strategy?