NPR: McCain Talks Economy, Possible Running Mate

McCain Talks Economy, Possible Running Mate

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain defended tax cuts today as a needed tonic for the U-S economy. The Arizona Senator wants to extend President Bush's tax cuts and lower taxes on corporations.

McCain outlined his economic plans in a lengthy interview published in the Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper says the cuts would slash government revenue by 400-billion dollars a year. McCain has proposed smaller cuts on the spending side of the ledger, but says he's not worried about widening the federal deficit.

"If American families and businesses see a looming tax increase as would be the case with the tax cuts not being made permanent, I think that could have a much more harmful effect on the economy."

McCain spoke with former Texas Senator and deficit hawk Phil Gramm at his side.

Meanwhile bad weather forced McCain to cancel a planned fund raiser in Lubbock, Texas but he's holding a town hall meeting in Waco, followed by Tuesday campaign stops in Houston and San Antonio.

With the GOP nomination almost in hand, McCain says he's begun to think about the choice of a running mate. He's studying the ways that past presidents have handled that decision.

"I think we'll try to select a process and then move forward with it. What we have not decided because we don't know the process is what the timing would be: Do you do as Bush I did and wait till the convention is going on and make that decision or do you do it at a much earlier time?"

The superstitious McCain declined to say much more about the choice, though, for fear of jinxing the nomination.

-- Scott Horsley

5:05 PM ET | 03- 3-2008 | permalink

Comments

Now, there you go, a candidate who actually lays out an economic stimulus plan.

Of course, how does Barack Obama make incresed welfare sound like an economic stimulus plan?

The answer is relatively easy: Michael Moore Utopian Liberals enjoy listening to empty rhetoric that doesn't make them have to expend gray matter in the thinking process.

So, John McCain is beginning to outline his economic stimulus programs.

Barack Obama is trying to figure out a way to push welfare without saying he is puching welfare.

And, finally, Michelle Obama has something to be proud about: more welfare.

Hey, what can I say? Some think it's prideful to offer welfare as a means of building the economy.

fred camorra call

Sent by fred camorra call | 5:23 PM ET | 03-03-2008

You can't spend and cut taxes at the same time. It's not an "economic stimulus plan". You have a three trillion dollar war financed with emergency funding going into its fifth year. You have a billion dollar prescription drug program. The national debt has increased almost 800 billion during the current administration's tenure and John McCain is suggesting more of the same. Insane.

Sent by Chester Morrison | 8:10 AM ET | 03-04-2008

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