Sen. John McCain arrives at a rally in Grand Rapids, Mich., Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
by Jill Zuckman
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Fresh off his New Hampshire primary victory, Sen. John McCain traversed Michigan today from west to east, telling voters that he understands what they're going through.
Though McCain usually focuses on his national security credentials and the threat of radical Islamic extremists, he gave a nod to the high unemployment and job losses that have plagued this state.
"I'm aware of the economic difficulties here in the state of Michigan. I am aware that you have high unemployment. I'm aware that the state of Michigan has lost jobs and that are there are tough times, tough times here in the heartland of America," McCain said.
It is a message, said Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), that resonates no matter where you are in Michigan because the state has been so badly damaged by the auto industry's job losses in and around Detroit.
"Everyone knows we're in trouble," said Upton, who is supporting the Arizona senator.
McCain said one solution is to make permanent the tax cuts enacted under President Bush, which he voted against in Congress.
"I don’t believe in the hard times your taxes should be raised, they should be lowered. I think your property taxes should be lowered," he told a cheering crowd made up primarily of students.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who was born in Michigan and is McCain's chief competition here in Tuesday's Republican primary, has repeatedly criticized McCain for not initially supporting Bush's tax cuts. McCain said he could not vote for the tax cuts because they were not accompanied by spending cuts.
He told his audience that he credits his "straight talk" approach with helping him win against Romney in New Hampshire.
"The reason why I won that election in New Hampshire yesterday is because I told them the truth," he said. "Sometimes I told them what they wanted to know, sometimes I told them what they didn’t want to know."
And then he said, "I've got to give you some straight talk.
"Some of the jobs that have left the state of Michigan are not coming back. They are not. And I am sorry to tell you that," McCain said.
But McCain said the nation should take care of the workers who have lost their jobs, with a new plan that abolishes the six unsuccessful federal programs for displaced workers and replaces it with a new system of education and training.
"We cannot abandon them in the name of progress, in the name of information technology revolution," he said. "We are a Judeo-Christian valued nation and we cannot leave these great Americans behind."
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Comments
I'm sure those tax cuts trickled all the way down to unemployed auto workers.
What a moron.
Posted by: Cheryl | January 9, 2008 12:05 PM
No Romney has won in Michigan since Mitt's father was a one-term governor there.
The democratic primary is screwed up because of a state vs. national party fiasco, meaning more independents and democrats will vote in the republican primary. The same kind of independents that helped McCain win New Hampshire and win Michigan in 2000. McCain's got this one in the bag.
Posted by: Jeff | January 9, 2008 12:05 PM
McCain is a multi-millionaire with less money than Romney, but still a lot of money. Supporting permanent tax breaks for the wealthy with a pittance for the middle class, plus the continued invocation of the phrase "Judeo-Christian" is not going to win him the election.
Posted by: Tom | January 9, 2008 12:25 PM
If tax cuts are supposed to help the economy, they, at least, ought to be structured to achieve that end. By itself, an unfocused lowering of the marginal tax rate on the rich doesn't accomplish this goal. This is because there is nothing in the current system to stop the rich from simply pocketing the profits they would have otherwise paid in taxes. What we need, instead, is a properly designed system of credits and deductions to benefit only those who actually invest in production, hire American workers, keep jobs in the country - and thereby boost production and the flow of currency in our economy.
Posted by: John W. | January 9, 2008 12:26 PM
I'm confused. Which John McCain are the Republics supposed to vote for?
The one that was for Roe v Wade or the one that was against it?
The one that was for campaign finance reform or the one that is against it?
The one that opposed Bush's tax cuts or the one that is for them?
The one that embraced Jerry Falwell or the one that called him "an agent of intolerance"?
The one that was against torture or the one that supports it?
The one that opposed ethanol or the one that supports it?
The one that supports campaigning at Bob Jones University* or the one that opposes it?
I hope he doesn't actually drive the Straight Talk Express. If so, somebody better give him a nudge. The thing is liable to end up in Lake Michigan.
*loosely accredited jesus camp
Posted by: Bubba | January 9, 2008 1:20 PM
What John W. said.
Posted by: jethro | January 9, 2008 1:44 PM
I hope this creepy old man (McCain) wins it all for the Repubs.
He's nearly 100 years old.
He thinks it would be great to stay in Iraq for another 100 years.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/01/04/john-mccain-lets-stay-in-iraq-for-100-years/
He's best of friends with Prez 26% and Holy Joe LIEberman.
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi101.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fm76%2FDrewziG71%2FMcCainlove.jpg&searchTerm=john%20mccain&pageOffset=11
Posted by: John E | January 9, 2008 2:12 PM
See John E's above post for an example of something that adds nothing to the conversation. Personal attacks and mudslinging are something we should try to get out of politics, not encourage.
Posted by: Jeff | January 9, 2008 2:56 PM
See John E's above post for an example of something that adds nothing to the conversation. Personal attacks and mudslinging are something we should try to get out of politics, not encourage.
Posted by: Jeff | January 9, 2008 2:56 PM
Your team (Republicans) should have thought of that when you swiftboated John Kerry in 04.
It's called KARMA, Billy/Jeff and it's going to bite you Wingnuts in the arse this time around...
Posted by: John E | January 9, 2008 4:19 PM
Republicans, PLEASE NOMINATE THIS GUY, as a Democrat I would love it.
McCain probably lost any momentum he had after his victory in New Hampshire when he gave his victory "speech" and sounded like a 5 year old trying to remember the alphabet.
From The Skeleton Closet:
John McCain is a maverick senator, Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war for 5 years in North Vietnam. In 2000, he nearly beat George W. Bush by being an outspoken, even honest politician, which stunned everybody. He also is known for crafting bipartisan approaches to issues such as smoking and campaign reform.
This time around though, at 71, he apparently decided "now or never" and seems to have sold his soul, suddenly adopting a bunch of boilerplate conservative positions he was brave enough to resist 8 years ago. Now, conveniently, he's even claiming to be a Baptist instead of an Episcopalian.
It doesn't look like anyone's buying it though. McCain went from front runner to 3rd or 4th in various polls, spent all of his huge pile of cash and lost most of his staff. Maybe he'll be a maverick in a new way -- curing Republicans of their tendency to elect the candidate who "has earned it" by loyalty and longevity even if doomed to failure (e.g. Bob Dole.)
Full story here:
http://www.realchange.org/mccain.htm
Posted by: Billy Zoom | January 9, 2008 4:28 PM
See Bubba's post above as to how anybody could vote for such a flip-flopping fool like McCain. They call him Panda Bear in Arizona. No wonder.
I think John E is funny.
Posted by: Neal Cassady | January 9, 2008 4:31 PM
Jeff,
Personal attacks? Let's analyze what comic reliever John E said:
"I hope this creepy old man (McCain) wins it all for the Repubs.
He's nearly 100 years old."
John McCain is almost 100 and he cannot comb his hair, that's creepy. He also really does believe with recent comments we could be in Iraq for 100 years, "I don't care" was his direct quote I believe.
"He's best of friends with Prez 26% and Holy Joe LIEberman."
Both are undeniably true, so where is the personal attack you decry?
Posted by: john | January 9, 2008 4:42 PM
Personal attacks and mudslinging are something we should try to get out of politics, not encourage.
Posted by: Jeff | January 9, 2008 2:56 PM
Is that why McCain has one time Rove hit man Mark McKinnon on his staff?
Let's take a look back.
FACT SHEET:
Bush Waged Nasty Smear Campaign Against McCain in 2000
Bush Supporters Called McCain “The Fag Candidate.” In South Carolina, Bush supporters circulated church fliers that labeled McCain “the fag candidate.” Columnist Frank Rich noted that the fliers were distributed “even as Bush subtly reinforced that message by indicating he wouldn’t hire openly gay people for his administration.”
McCain Slurs Included Illegitimate Children, Homosexuality And A Drug-Addict Wife.
Among the rumors circulated against McCain in 2000 in South Carolina was that his adopted Bangladeshi daughter was actually black, that McCain was both gay and cheated on his wife, and that his wife Cindy was a drug addict.”
Let's play fair now,until we have to slime you,Mr.Obama.
Remember,Repugnants are all the same.That's why you hit them first and never let up.
Posted by: Raving Loon | January 9, 2008 5:18 PM
don’t believe in the hard times your taxes should be raised, they should be lowered. I think your property taxes should be lowered," he told a cheering crowd made up primarily of students.
Does McCain want to start dictating to local authorities on how to budget for schools,police,fire protection,etc..
Is he suggesting lower pay for police,teachers,fire fighters?
Honestly,can't the Repugnants do any better than the one "Lower Tax" issue?
I'd like to ask him why his party has doubled the National Debt in just 7 years!
Clintoons fault!
Posted by: Raving Loon | January 9, 2008 5:27 PM
McCain opposed the 2001 tax cuts because they didn't correspond with spending cuts; a position I agree with. Then he voted to extend them a couple years back without making the same demand. This is a puzzling position, and I can only assume the shrinking deficits were his justification. I still like his original position better. In fact, I would support a Constitutional Amendment forbidding the federal government from deficit spending, except in cases of war or national emergency.
Jeff, you can gauge a republican candidate's momentum by how viciously John E. attacks him. It's like a dog barking louder when he perceives a real threat. He can't help it. I would rate his insults of McCain at about a 7.
Posted by: Herbie H. | January 9, 2008 7:18 PM
Lower taxes on your foreclosed home. That'll really goose the economy.
Posted by: chimpymcflightsuit'snavigator | January 10, 2008 2:43 PM