I didn't know who James Pethoukis was, but Glenn Reynolds links to him today with this: My bottom line: The McCain campaign is underestimating how absolutely furious conservatives are that free markets, and by extension Reaganomics and the last 25 years of American economic policy, are getting the blame for the housing and credit crisis. A real morale killer, they tell me. Over and over. Every day. I'll get back to what I said a couple of days ago: McCain doesn't have the stones to do this. Here's why:- "For business, Senator McCain is a candidate of contradictions. He initially opposed President Bush's tax cuts, but now supports making them permanent. He has crusaded against the influence of corporate lobbyists, yet has more K Street fixers raising money for his campaign than any other Presidential candidate. And he says he's a full-bore, free-enterprise capitalist even as he admits that he hasn't understood economics as well as he should."
- During the primaries, this: "McCain sideswiped Romney's credentials as a successful business leader while answering a question about who would best run the nation."
- While Senator McCain’s economic record contains a number of pro-growth positions, such as his support for school choice and free trade, and his steadfast opposition to wasteful government spending, his overall record is tainted by a marked antipathy towards the free market and individual freedom. The Bush tax cuts were a driving force behind the economic prosperity of the last couple of years and a cornerstone of a pro-growth philosophy. Not only did Senator McCain oppose these cuts, he aligned himself with the likes of Ted Kennedy in his rhetorical attacks in 2001 and 2003. Four years later, American taxpayers still have not heard the Senator disavow his misguided statements and votes.
McCain, if he has any hope of winning, needs to get behind what grows any economy and he needs to enthusiastically come out swinging for business.Kelly said something on the site a couple of days ago in the comments: I have a niece who's in her first year of journalism at college. She's out to save the world, not report the news. A recent conversation on taxes went something like this (she thinks the "rich" should be taxed more):Me: Have you ever been hired for a job by a poor person? Her: No. Me: So, wouldn't it seem reasonable to conclude if the people creating jobs were taxed more they would have less money to work with and create jobs? Her: (basically a shrug) Amen. It's conversations like these that happen on a person-to-person level that challenge and eventually change misperceptions.I'm no Obama supporter. I'm a reluctant McCain supporter. James Pethoukis is right: McCain's resistance to fight for the free market and business and low taxes to promote our economic health gives me pause in doing anything for McCain to help him get elected. And McCain won't come around because it's not in him - he doesn't believe it, just as I don't expect that McCain will actually do anything to protect America's borders. Neither Obama or McCain ever started a business. I'm starting to think that presidential candidates need to be former entrepreneurs or have significant experience with the needs of entrepreneurs so that their policies don't jeopardize the ability of small business owners - true America heroes, in my opinion - to create jobs and make our country prosper. ETC: I read that McCain has decided to come out swinging. Lead the way, warrior. I'll follow you, if you're committed to the fight. |
