Earmarks are 1% of the federal budget yet are 99% of McCain's economic policy

[many a good man]

I wish there was some way Obama could point out this outrageous red herring without it being spun that he is somehow "for" wasteful spending.

Maybe he should start saying something along the lines of "earmark abuse needs to be stopped, but our nation's future depends more on what we do with the other 99% of the federal budget."

Thoughts?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

1. He contrasted the pithy $18B with the $10B/month Iraq is costing us.

[PVnRT]

2. But...but....we're winning in Eye-Rack!

Why do you hate baby American Jesus?

[many a good man]

3. That was great, but he needs to hammer it home

It was too brief and it shifts attention to Iraq and off the economy. Remove earmarks from the discussion and all McCain has to talk about on the economy is cutting taxes (except for the new tax on health insurance!).

[Starbucks Anarchist]

6. But McCain kept going back to earmarks.

I think it made him look (more) small-minded, while Obama expanded his ideas.

[AlCzervik]

11. and their next debate is about the economy so i think we'll be hearing much more

from Obama and from McCain, more bitching about earmarks while voting on a trillion dollar bailout.

[AlCzervik]

4. McCain sounded like Bob Dole last night when he was talking about earmarks especially

since he said he would support the bailout, i thought Obama contrasted it well though, 18b against the 300b McCain wants in tax cuts.

McCain talks about the past.

[crazylikafox]

5. That's a GREAT soundbite

[Trillo]

7. One of the RED FLAGs I saw in McCains words

was how he kept repeating repeating repeating how his administration would save us money.

That's the same thing all the advertisers tell us when they want to stick their hands in our wallets. Don't think about how much it costs, instead think of how much you're saving.

[AlCzervik]

8. Did you hear when he said he's consider freezing the budget except for Defense, Vets and Entitlement

programs?

[Trillo]

12. No, I missed that, and I didn't record it.

I did hear Obama talk about using a "scalpel" instead of a bludgeon, however.

[many a good man]

13. I didn't hear the part about entitlement programs

Surprised he's not proud of all the veterans' benefits spending plans he's voted against. He's probably saved more than 18B right there. :sarcasm:

Pentagon waste, fraud and abuse are, of course, the lowest hanging fruits. But you can't say that without being spun as "weak on defense."

[AlCzervik]

14. i just posted a thread about his record on verterans verses Obama's. Here it is

it's from vote smart.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7220898&mesg_id=7220898

[fascisthunter]

16. Yup.... Exhibiting His Interest in Helping the Wealthy and Screwing the Poor

and middleclass..... he's so exposed. Time to punch that exposed underbelly.

[SmallTimeFarmer]

10. what I really wish Obama had said

What I realy, really, really wished that Obama had said last night when JM was talking about all the money he was going to save us, was something like :

"You know John, George W. Bush came into office 8 years ago promising the EXACT SAME THINGS as you are promising tonite...you, him and the rest of the Republicans didn't get it done in the last 8 years, why should the voters trust you to get in done in the next 4 years? Can we really gamble on that type of scheme again?"

[SmallTimeFarmer]

9. I noticed that too

I also notice that his pro-big-business policies, and "deregulate" mantra are likely to cost us taxpayers at least $700Billion dollars to fix...but all he can talk about is $18B in earmarks....what a loser. Looked like a pathetic old man last night trying to score points with conservative voters...how many times did he say "Reagan"?

[B Calm]

15. McSame has an earmark fetish! He's insane. . .

[SOS]

17. $16 B of $3 T is 1/2%

90% of the budget is four things:

Social Security
Medicare
Pentagon
Interest

Shut down the entire government, except these four things, and you save 10 cents on the dollar.