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Obama Argues McCain Would Perpetuate Failed Bush Foreign and Domestic Policies
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ShareFebruary 09, 2008 4:43 PM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: Sen. Barack Obama connected Sen. John McCain to the “worst aspects of the Bush legacy” during a roundtable on middle class tax fairness, today, at a town hall in Bangor, Maine.
Calling McCain, R-Ariz., a friend of Bush, Obama, D-Ill., criticized McCain for what he says is a change of stance against President Bush’s tax cuts.
“George Bush and his friends in Congress have given billions in tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans who don’t need them and weren’t even asking for them,” Obama said to voters at Nicky’s Crusin’ Diner. “One of the friends George Bush has come to count on in this, is the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain.”
Obama said he respected McCain for standing up to Bush, at first. “The first two rounds of voting, John McCain stood up to George Bush and opposed these tax cuts, said it went against his conscience to support tax cuts or the rich, in a time of war, and that it was an act of statesmanship to oppose them.”
But he then explained that McCain’s position was not always the same, alleging that he backed down against Bush. “I think he has rushed to embrace the worst aspects of the Bush legacy, and so, the wheels came off the straight talk express, because now he supports making those tax cuts permanent.”
Later in the day, at a town hall in Bangor, Obama added to his criticism of McCain –- and brought his top Democratic competitor into the fray. “It’s going to be a lot easier for me to have that debate with John McCain than Sen. Clinton, because she supported the war,” arguing he’s most electable in the town which is home to a large Air Force base, shipping soldiers to and from Iraq.
Obama said that McCain was being stubborn to suggest that he wants to fight a hundred-year war in Iraq –- as long as it takes to win. “That is not designed to make us safe -- that is simply stubbornness. That is designed to try to make a bad decision look better.”
Saying he would be happy to have a debate with McCain, Obama referenced McCain’s stance of fiscal responsibly. “He goes out there and complains about earmarks, but it was his party, the Republican Party under George Bush and a Republican Congress, that presided on the biggest increase in pork barrel spending that America has ever seen.”
Then the criticisms became almost personal, as Obama capitalized on comments McCain made, saying he was not really good with the economy. “He said I read Alan Greenspan’s book. I’m readying up to find out what’s going on. You don’t need to read Greenspan’s book -- you need to go to Nicky’s Diner to find out what’s going on,” Obama said, referencing his earlier roundtable stop in the day.
“He’s done some heroic stuff, but his basic proposals are going to perpetuate the failed Bush domestic policies and the failed Bush foreign policies,” Obama concluded.
Obama's comments come in a lower income area of Maine –- many working for the lumber industry, who lost their jobs, or who make less than $50,000 a year.
Clinton, D-N.Y., in past contests, has done better with blue collar workers than Obama. Both Obama and Clinton were campaigning throughout the state today in advance of Sunday's Maine caucus.
February 9, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (7)
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Obama wrapped, up saying that the leadership he would give as president would be different than someone who “embraces the failed policies of the past.”
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Senator OBama, I respectfully ask you,how would you leadership be different? Different is not always better and can sometimes be worse.Please explain how you would be different.
Posted by: Jordan Clinton | Feb 9, 2008 5:13:13 PM
McCain or Clinton would continue the political pandering/reward give aways to pay off various factions who vote for them. I trust Obama to listen to and represent everyone in America.
Posted by: Mike | Feb 9, 2008 5:19:29 PM
Jordan, you could go to the Obama website and read the roadmap for change, or whatever they are calling it.
For me, the principal change would be an adult approach to partisan issues. Republicans aren't evil. Independents aren't indecisive flakes. In Obama, I see a desire to get past the childish name calling. Notice how he rarely takes gratuitious shots across the aisle.
I'd love them to get back to an atmosphere we had just a few decades ago, where they could debate for hours on the floor of either house, and then have drinks together at the Hawk n Dove. That's the adult leadership I want.
I see Clinton's campaign basically as a promise to not give in on those stupid trench wars, while I saw Obama's basically as a desire - shared by many of us independents - to collectively grow up.
Posted by: Paul | Feb 9, 2008 5:26:53 PM
I love went Hillary says Obama only talk to talk. My question for is how she going to give universal health care while the insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies are funding her campaign?
Posted by: change | Feb 9, 2008 6:26:48 PM
If Americans walk away from evangelical Republicans, we will have an America that we can be proud of ... once again. Americans found and have proudly stood up for their faith. Evangelical Christians, having a disdain toward the faith of America, are still looking for a god. Vote more Republicans out of office, as was done in the 2006 election, and hopefully evangelicals will be forced to go back to their church and carry on with their endless search within THEIR closed doors.
Posted by: newz4i | Feb 10, 2008 10:01:18 AM
'Obama Argues McCain Would Perpetuate Failed Bush Foreign and Domestic Policies'
That's because Obama dosn't have any more of a backbone than Bush! If the moron would look at McCain's record, he would see McCain the kinda guy that gets the job done! It's embarasing to see grown men (and women) act so stupid.
Posted by: liv_lov_laf | Feb 11, 2008 1:21:00 AM
If Hillary Clinton supported all of Bill Clintons' unethical behavior, and stayed married to a man that preached ethics and values, and dismissed his beliefs behind everybodys' back, what kind of things will she support with Bill Clinton backing her up like she can not make her own decisions?
Posted by: angel | Feb 11, 2008 8:43:42 AM
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