John McCain recently acknowledged, “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.” That’s a perfectly accurate self-assessment, but McCain would almost certainly be better off if he didn’t spend so much time highlighting his lack of knowledge on the subject.
For example, yesterday, the Republican presidential candidate had the gall to talk up his concerns about poverty.
Republican John McCain, saying the nation is in a recession and “families are hurting,” retraced Lyndon Johnson’s steps in eastern Kentucky and pledged to mount a war on poverty different from that waged by the former Democratic president.
“I have no doubt President Johnson was serious and had the very best of intentions” in 1964, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said at a town-hall event in Inez today as he continues his week-long courtship of voters in America’s economically hard-pressed areas.
“Government has a role to play in helping people who, through no fault of their own, are having a hard time,” McCain, an Arizona senator, said. He defined that role as offering choices on education, health care and job training, rather than providing handouts.
McCain has a lot of nerve showing up in one of the poorest, most impoverished communities in Appalachia, railing against government handouts, while simultaneously touting one of the most regressive economic agendas imaginable.
Consider this WSJ item that ran earlier this week.
Sen. John McCain is proposing tax cuts that would either cause the federal deficit to explode or would require unprecedented spending cuts equal to one-third of federal spending on domestic programs.
Once thought of as a deficit hawk, the near-certain Republican presidential nominee is now putting more stress on the traditional Republican orthodoxy of tax cuts. Altogether, he proposes more than $650 billion in tax cuts a year, much of it benefiting corporations and upper-income families. That includes the cost of extending tax cuts implemented under President Bush that he voted against twice.
To help pay for it all, the Arizona senator says he would cut $160 billion a year from a federal discretionary budget that totals a little more than $1 trillion. He hasn’t specified where the cuts would come from.
So, on the one hand, McCain wants to cut taxes dramatically to benefit “corporations and upper-income families,” and on the other, McCain wants to cut federal spending. Since spending cuts for the military and national security are off the table — indeed, he’s vowed to increase spending on both — it would necessarily mean McCain would make billions of dollars in cuts in spending that would benefit those who aren’t in “upper-income families.”
But if you’re in Appalachia and living in poverty, forget about a “handout.” In a McCain administration, they’re reserved for the same wealthy interests that have benefited throughout the Bush years.
What’s more, in about five months, Republicans will tell these same people in impoverished areas that they shouldn’t even consider voting for Barack Obama (or Hillary Clinton) because what really matters are flag pins. It’s like an arsonist telling a family whose home is on fire not to trust the man outside in the firetruck.
No Trackbacks To “McCain’s vision for a new ‘war on poverty’“
Tax breaks for people too poor to pay taxes is the economic design of an imperial asshole.
Offering choices for what, Senator? When so many jobs have left the country, what choices are left for a poor person to climb OUT of poverty. Crime?
What choices for education? Letting them go to a church school instead of public school? How about vocational training? Trade schools? Adult education?
Choices for healthcare??? HAHHAHAAHAAHHAHAAA! Let’s see… which of these unaffordable health care plans will I have to forgo in order to put food on the table.
What an out of touch, ELITIST old fool this man is!
If one is paying say a thousand dollars in income tax, and instead of providing healthcare for this/these people you give them a tax credit, how much coverage are they going to get for eighty bucks a month? I dont mind that McCain is a warmongering ultra conservative wife-abuser as much as the fact that he pretends to be human. That galls me.
He should spend a week witha coal miner working alongside him, sleeping in his shack, eating his food. Have a reality show based on it.
I worked in an Alcan Powdered Metals factory once during a summer job when I was in college. I did a week in the powdered copper building. The old men in there had green hair from the oxidized dust. When I woke up in the morning my sheet were green. Mc Cain would look good in green hair, don’t you think?
Mc Phony.
It’s ok, he’ll get elected by the poor so long as he puts out a strong Religious Right message (you know, anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-muslim etc etc etc).
How ironic - that a demographic hit hardest by the NeoCon agenda would STILL be so callow as to vote for these preening charlatans.
As for McSame:
“Government has a role to play in helping people who through no fault of their own are having a hard time…”
Read:
But our primary obligation is to those with whom we swap favors, sweetheart land deals, crony business contracts, and rounds at the golf course with. You stupid inbred fucks are an afterthought except around election time.
McSame:
“But government can’t create good and lasting jobs outside of government.”
Read:
But we can surely find cushy appointments within both existing and newly created shell departments within the government for the friends and relatives of our biggest benifactors.
McSame:
“It can’t pay lost wages. It can’t dig coal from the earth. It can’t buy you a house.”
Read:
But can pass laws that ease the task of stealing your savings and retirement funds, healthcare, and moving all of your blue collar jobs to China. And if we could find a way to weasle past the “damned liberal” labor laws of this country, we would be using immigrant slave laborors to dig that coal as well. As for your homes, we are manuvering for the usury hawks to take those away as well. Since you dumb fucks can’t do math or read a contract, you shouldn’t have to bear the complicated burden of property management or ownership.
What in God’s name are these people thinking when they vote for NeoCons…
“The issue of ECONOMICS is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.”
“The issue of EDUCATION is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.”
“The issue of PEACEKEEPING is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.”
“The issue of CIVIL RIGHTS is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.”
“The issue of HEALTHCARE is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.”
“The issue of NOTSUCKINGUP is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.”
“The issue of MINORITIES is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.”
“The issue of POVERTY is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.”
“The issue of LIVING WAGES is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.”
The reslug’s idea of offering the impoverished more “choices” means that everything will be for sale and you can shop at any school, church or hospital to get the best deal. If you need help paying for it, loans will be available at reasonable rates.
Neofeudalism is working out for some.
If Hillary or Obama had said these same words that he said, they would be being analyzed on the cable news channels 24/7. But because it’s McCain he can say whatever the hell comes to his head and no one pays any attention.
I have come to the very sad conclusion that the media has decided they will bring the Democratic race to an end. They have decided Hillary should be the winner and as of yesterday they are going to push that thought until a whole lot of voters are brainwashed to the idea. If you heard Craig Crawford on Morning Joe this morning, you know what I mean. The Rev Wright story is leading all the discussions right now. The talking heads are saying that Obama looks tired, he’s off message, he’s lost his spirit. I mean to listen to them, Obama’s campaign is in its last throes.
I hope voters don’t by into this rhetoric.
Dr. Know @ 6:
Yes what is that about? The reslugs are basically offering more of the same of everything. More poverty, more tax cuts for the rich, more bad government, more dead soldiers, more debt, more war. And less of the things people need, less health care, less funding for schools, hospitals, roads and bridges. Less programs for the needy. Less housing for the homeless. And these people will STILL vote these scum sucking assholes into office!
I’m sorry but anyone that stupid deserves what they get.
“What’s more, in about five months, Republicans will tell these same people in impoverished areas that they shouldn’t even consider voting for Barack Obama (or Hillary Clinton) because what really matters are flag pins. It’s like an arsonist telling a family whose home is on fire not to trust the man outside in the firetruck”
Yes but the same people will fall for it again and vote republican. I am not sure I would blame the republicans or John McCain. These tactics work, thats why the republicans use them. The people get the politicians they deserve. Thats the beauty (or ugliness) of democracy.
I say boycott Budweiser, Cindy’s own witches’ brew and the source of their millions.
McCain gives me a McPain.
Oh lord, another War on ____?
Dr. Know @ 6:
Excellent translation.
Isn’t this what Obama was talking about? To get some people to vote repub, you just have to mention gays, abortion and/or gun control.
Looks like McCain has discovered that he can use the working poor as a backdrop.
Just like his buddy GW Bush uses our troops as one.
In both cases neither do anything but inflict misery on them…
I had such high hopes 6 months ago but now I see America can not and will not change. It seems the only thing people believe in is fear, fear of terrorists, fear of blacks, fear of science, fear to be educated. Our dropout rate in our schools are on the rise and the dumbing down of America continues at a frantic rate. People will flock to a clown like McCain and the repugs who will play on all those fears.
MargeAggedon @ 10:
The only problem with that notion is that we get it too. Frankly i’m tired of it.
Wow. Just when I was thinking that I couldn’t possibly be marginalized anymore . . . I just got back from a trip to the grocery store with my 10 year old son. We bought a gallon of milk with 3 one dollar bills and paid the other $1.46 with change I have been saving up. I am hoping that the gallon of milk will last my kids and husband the rest of the week, I don’t even drink milk anymore.
We’re really broke right now, because my husband was forced to quit running his small business (drafting) and take a corporate job because he and I are don’t have health insurance. The kids are on SCHIP, but it seems like I can’t count on that lasting. The job pays him literally 1/2 what he made on his own, but of course, owning a small business, we owe the government thousands in taxes.
Meanwhile, I come home to read the news and see this. Coupled with the knowledge that 60% of corporations in America pay no taxes at all; I could just cry.
BTW, I live in Alabama. People are poor everywhere.
Is there such a thing as disappointment fatigue? Being sick and tired of being disappointed time after time after time?
pissed off patricia @ 14 Says:
Thank You. But I’m only extending what they are saying with what they are thinking…
Yea, PoP, I was gonna cover that as well, but didn’t. But again, isn’t it ironic that a party that so vehemently eschews gays and claims to embrace “family values” is actually comprised of closet homosexuals, pedophiles and Newt Gingriches. When I moved to Florida it was Democratic. I then watched in horror as KKKRove and company shoved these NeoCon hacks into office around the state, and then watched in glee as their careers went down in flames - on the odd occation that the authorities actually did their jobs, or the press actually ran with a story. The list of Bush appointees and supporters reads like a who’s who of perversion.
And PoP, I thought you were going to take a few days off and cool down? Yet here you are…
kablooie @ 12:
I have been boycotting piss for decades. Try a micro brew and see what you have been missing.
If you want to go back to poorly made beer boycott Coors as well. Adolf Coors brought us the Heritage Foundation, Ronald Reagan and Scalia.
On a side note it is interesting to note that after all these decades of making a fortune selling a substandard product to the American Public the family behind Budwieser has yet to spend a single penny on a charitable cause. It gives nothing back.
Nothing at all.
The surge in poverty seems to be working, lets stay the course.
pissed off patricia @ 19 Says:
Well if there is, I’ve got a severe case of it.
20 years worth of let downs - from the judiciary, lawyers, state governments, and the Feds. More inclined to think of it as the prelude to pitchforks, tar and feathers, and 4 horses.
Carol @ 18:
I feel your pain, I lost my job to cut backs in Feb and there are no jobs to be had. The sad thing is that states like Alabama will end up going for McCain and the repugs, even if it goes against there own interest. They will end up voting on fear, instead of voting to make a better life for themselves and their kids. America is falling into the abyss.
xoites (Bitter Before Country Was Cool) defends Constitution @ 17:
Agreed.
Poverty is just as violent as war and it effects women and children the most. Same as war.
Dr. Know, I am taking a few days off from posting about politics at Morning Martini. I wanted to let the site get some fresh air for a little while. So I’ll be posting about other things than the pain of politics. But C&L is a different story. I’m addicted to the site and the great commenters here. Love it! This is my favorite “get it off your chest” site. :)
There is something about McCain. He has his stock sentences about the war etc. But he seems to be using his “straight talk” reputation to make the republican talking points sound like they are something new from him.
kablooie @ 12:
We have saying here. ‘American beer is like making love in a canoe….. it’s f-ing close to water.’
:D
Wouldn’t drink that piss anyway. Probably a good rule of thumb not to drink anything that tastes the same going in as it does coming out. LOL!
not only is he touting it, he will make it fly with these people and win their vote. It’s not about substance or reality, it’ all about perception. And the Republican party is great at selling snake oil to the impoverished and downtrodden.
I hope mccain doesn’t conduct the war on poverty like they did Afghanistand and Iraq.
pissed off patricia @ 27:
PO’d Pat,
I agree. I have all but cut politics out of my life but for this site. I still read linked blogs and articles but this is the only site where I read and post regularly. I think I’ve got politics PTSD. I’ve been tempted on several recent occasions to make a small ‘goodbye for now’ post and stop all together but I just can’t seem to do it.
C&L I just can’t quit you. XD hehehe. I’d miss it too much.
Afghanistan
BaScOmBe against Bitter Elitist Bullshit @ 193:
BaScOmBe against Bitter Elitist Bullshit @ 189:
Here’s where the job training starts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XmOPHEL_3Q
BaScOmBe against Bitter Elitist Bullshit @ 191:
diamondmc @ 16:
I absolutely agree. And I’m angry that I’ve become/continue to be so cynical. The Repubs are really great at grabbing and owning the best, and simplest domains such as God and religious issues, the flag, fear of real and created evils, and holding on to the “greatness of the American Way” even as they do their best at subverting and ruining what made America great.
I worked 2 jobs in 2007, nothing so far this year. I just paid my income taxes from a home equity loan! Sure seems like a downward spiral. I work to catch up, rather than stay ahead. Our car hit 200,000 miles last year.
I encourage everybody who can to plant the biggest garden you can manage. We are fortunate to have enough land for animals too. My small effort at self-sufficiency is what keeps me sane. We saw this coming 10 years ago, when we cashed out our suburban house and moved to an area where property taxes don’t sting (even if the politics do!).
pissed off patricia @ 27:
Thanks for turning me on to morning martini. I always look forward to your comments here on C&L. Another voice of reason.
pissed off patricia @ 27:
more importantly, the media is absolutely complicit.
This crazy old fuck’s idea of a “War on poverty” is to shoot anyone who doesn’t earn 100,000. McWar’ 08.