During Wednesday's CNN Republican debate, Senator McCain was asked what he would do to reduce the national debt. The Senator's answer showed his ignorance of the subject matter and why he should not be taken seriously as a candidate.
McCain, in his answer, once again invoked Ronald Reagan. McCain said that he would use Reagan's veto pen on excess spending to hold the line on spending while eliminating pork. The Senator used the wrong President. Ronald Reagan never balanced one federal budget in his 8 years in office and gave the country record deficits at that time. The national debt increased $1.9 trillion on his watch and spending was up over the previous administration (Jimmy Carter).
If McCain plans to emulate Reagan on fiscal matters, he will instead increase the debt and give the country even more deficit spending. For a person who claims to "shoot straight" and have experience, his answer indicates he is lost when it comes to fiscal matters. The American people need to understand that when Bush leaves office ,the last 3 Republican presidents will not have balanced one budget in the 20 years they served and have increased the national debt by over $7 trillion.
The Republican plan can be plainly understood. They want to bankrupt the country to eliminate social security, medicare, and other government programs that truly help the American people. At the same time, they support corporate welfare for the richest corporations and tax cuts and other benefits that go to the most wealthy people.
The Republican's hands have been laid bare. The GOP candidates have proven (with the exception of Ron Paul) that they care nothing for being fiscally responsible. Remember, it was Bill Clinton who turned 12 straight years of deficit spending by Reagan-Bush into record surpluses. Also it was Bill Clinton's administration who paid down a net of $14.2 billion of the national debt. The people should remember that when they vote in the next presidential election.
