WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican John McCain says he opposed President Bush's tax cuts because they didn't come with spending cuts. That is not what he said at the time.

"In a presidential debate on Wednesday, McCain said he voted against the Bush tax cuts because he wanted to rein in spending.

"I disagreed when we had tax cuts without spending restraint," the Arizona senator said.

"The explanation fits with his history of railing against wasteful federal spending. But it does not fit with McCain's comments when he opposed the Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003.

"In 2001, McCain said the tax cuts favored the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. In 2003, he said there should be no tax cuts until the Iraq war costs were known.

"His aversion to the Bush tax cuts is just another reason McCain gives heartburn to many in the conservative GOP base. Besides taxes, there is also his more forgiving attitude toward illegal immigration, his effort to limit money in politics and his long-running feuds with leaders of the Christian right."

myway news, 01/31/08

NeedKarma

Hopefully the choices will be Ron Paul and Obama.

George_1950

You are an optimist.

NeedKarma

Yep, that why I'll live longer than most.

speechlesstx

Ron only needs 1185 more delegates

Galveston1

I have never understood why anyone would say that the Bush tax cuts are for the rich. I noticed that I am allowed more personal deduction, and I am far from rich. My youngest son is a single parent with 3 children, and the additional amount allowed per dependent certainly helped him! According to the figures I have heard, the treasuy is better off after the effects of the tax cut kicked in. In light of that, it seems irrelevant why McCain opposed the tax cuts. Additionally, he sided with liberals in opposition to some conservative judicial appointments, wants to give terrorists US civil rights (laywers & trials here), doesn't seem to worry about border security. I heard Ann Coulter say today that she believes that Hillary is more conservative than John. Say what??

magprob

inthebox

John McCain on the Issues

Having been a senator for along time, I'm sure it is fairly easy to find inconsistencies in his voting record.

- pro- life but pro embryonic stem cell research?

I agree with the principle of cutting spending AND cutting taxes.

On Medicare part D, like Presisdent Bush, he increased the size and the expense of government.

Hillary Clinton on the Issues

On abortion, affirmative action, allowing US flag burning, death penalty, gun control, tax cuts among others, McCain is the opposite of Clinton.


So, NO, I don't think Mccain is a "Clinton light."

tomder55

Given the choice McCain would be the better President. But I will not enthusiastically support his candidacy . Twice he considered switching parties in the last 7 years .

The first time was in 2001 .The Democrats were actively recruiting Repubulcan Senators to change parties after the Repubicans has gained a one vote majority in the Senate. They contacted Sen Chafee of R.I. and Sen. Jeffords of Vt. who eventually went turncoat .

But according to 'The Hill.com' it was John Weaver, McCain’s chief political strategist who contacted the Democrats asking why they had not courted McCain . Conversations were then commenced with Democrat leader Sen.Tom Daschle S.D and other Democrat leaders.


McCain denies ever having considered caucusing with Dems, but the story is hard to dismiss . Daschle had little reason to make up the story 10 months ago, when it initially ran.

In 2004 there was speculation that McCain would make an independent run for the Presidency. But the bigger news from that time was the discussions that were ongoing between John Kerry and McCain over a possible Democrat Kerry-McCain ticket . According to Kerry, it was McCain's staff who approached his campaign about potentially filling the Vice President slot on the Democratic ticket in 2004.
April 2007 Jonathan Singer interviewed Kerry and the issue came up .

MyDD :: John Kerry: McCain Approached Me About Joining Dem Ticket in 2004

McCain frequently co-sponsors important and controversial legislation with Democrats like Feingold,Kennedy and John Edwards . He also in his "maverick "role crosses the aisle and votes with the Democrats ,even against overwhelming Repubican positions. His votes against the tax cuts are but one example of this . He now lies about his reasoning behind his opposition .He was NOT concerned about spending cuts but was vocal about what can only be described as class warfare issues.

He is also lying about immigration on the campaign trail abut illegal immigration. He was champion of the McCain-Kennedy amnesty bill .He now says that he is for tougher border security but in truth he could care less about it.

"I got the message," he told voters in South Carolina. "We will secure the borders first." But during the debate McCain tried to steam roll members of his party who tried to make border security the priority . F**k you!" and "Chickensh*t" were the words he had for Texas Sen. John Cornyn during "the debate " over enforcement provisions.

Now he tells the voters what they want to hear but his bitterness over the debate he cannot hide. "By the way, I think the fence is least effective," he told executives in Milwaukee, according to Vanity Fair.... "But I'll build the G*d d*mned fence if they want it."

excon

Hello George:

If it's Clinton and Clinton light, relax.... You've got TWO Republicans. Whatdoyawant???

excon