McCain: I'll Cut Deficits Like Reagan (Who Tripled The Deficit)

"When Senator John McCain was asked here this afternoon how he plans to balance the budget, he said that he hoped to do so by stimulating economic growth - and approvingly cited the example of President Ronald Reagan," the New York Times reports.

"There was one thing he did not mention during his response: the deficit nearly tripled during the Reagan presidency, partly due to tax cuts and increases in military spending."

The exchange occurred at a town-hall-style meeting held in a tent outside Bridgewater Associates, an investment firm. A member of the audience stood up and asked Mr. McCain, who has called for balanced budgets, how he plans to do it.

"Basically, which is it?" the man asked Mr. McCain. "Straight talk: Do you want to raise taxes, cut entitlement spending, cut defense spending, or have a deficit?"

Mr. McCain did not explain how he plans to balance the budget, but spoke generally about hoping to stimulate the economy - and cited President Reagan.

Read more here.

Comments

[Tumult]

So McCain is doing to the Republicans what Clinton is doing to Democrats.
Reality is whatever they happen to say at the time.
Truth is a product of the misygynyst, secular, liberal, elite. Don't be fooled!
Its a Vast Right-Left-Center-Misogynyst-Liberal-Conspiracy!

[jsinclair]

Tax cuts + military build up = record deficits (see Reagan. see Bush). Or as GHW Bush famously called it, "voodoo economics".

100 Years of War. Even bigger deficits.

And apparently a president who is confused about both foreign policy AND economics!

Bush III indeed.

[ann1]

What did America ever do to Sen Mccain.

[GrainOSand]

John McCain's answer to all that ails America economically: Tax cuts slanted to favor the rich.
John McCain's answer for foreign policy: My way or the highway and stay the course once you fall in line no matter what.
John McCain's answer for anything he gets stuck on: I intend to be Reaganesque.

John McCain's agenda is set in stone already. It is inflexible with potential for cold heartedness. He will say what he must to secure the election and then people of all ethnic backgrounds and both genders are going to feel the pain of President McCain. This will be the greatest reward for those who would vote for him and the greatest pain for the country he leads. Reaganesque indeed! Trickle down meant I am going to “pis” on you and therefore you might feel a sprinkle or two but just ignore it and call it good government.

Nah, nah, nah, "God help America!"

[condew]

Yeh, a "compassionate conservative" without the compassion.

[Mystery954]

John McCain is Dick Cheney with an energy plan.

[PhoenixtheUndying]

He's making this election thing way to easy.

[JavaCityGal]

And still, all of McSame's multitude of blunders go unnoticed and unmentioned by the MSM.

[bigdaddyvike]

At least with Reagan we didn't see the Alzheimers coming. Now, if McSame gets into the WH, all we have to thank is ourselves. And new AP poll puts MsSame & Obama at a dead heat in Nov. WTF are people thinking? Fortunately probably very few of you.

[lisakaz]

That's a lie, actually. The MSM was whispering about it in 1987 but they didn't air it publically. Nancy and Ronnie got to leave looking sane but Reagan was done well before he left office.

[bigdaddyvike]

In 1980 and 1984? Why is that a lie?

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

Millions upon millions of americans will support and vote for this man. He could even win. Insanity, ad infinitum.

[imusintheevening]

"....and I'll keep us out of war like Bush."

[Ramirez]

I'm sure someone has already pointed this out, but the headline is fake.

If you read the article you will see that McCain said nothing about cutting deficits, and he did not say that Reagan cut deficits.

McCain spoke at length about growing the economy.

[daingel]

Mr. McCain – who has said that he wants to balance the budget while making the Bush tax cuts permanent, cutting additional taxes, and keeping troops in Iraq – said: “I believe we can grow this economy, and reduce this deficit.’’ John McCentury NYtimes article

semantics of dictionary words cutting and reducing

[Ramirez]

McCain did not say he would cut or reduce the deficit like Reagan cut or reduced the deficit. McCain made no statement that Reagan cut or reduced the deficits. In McCain's statement there was no reference to the budget deficit under Reagan.

The reporter even noted that McCain did not mention the deficits under Reagan. In fact, the reporter made this omission the centerpiece of his reporting.

The claim that McCain said he would "cut deficits like Reagan" was added by the HuffPo Headline Writer. This claim is not supported by the article. You know that.

Words matter, and accuracy counts.

[Jeff1958]

There are only 2 ways to balance a budget: tax more or spend less. If McCain wants to reduce taxes and keep spending high, the deficit will NOT be reduced.

[markusmarkus]

Seems McBuck$ thinks that he can reduce the deficit by cutting more taxes and trying to "grow the economy." This was tried by Ronnie Ray-gun (thank God for term limits). It's called "trickle down economix." That phrase is rethug voodoo for "let's make the rich richer and screw everyone else." Another way to look at it is when something "trickles down," there's not much left when the trickle is finished.

[Jeff1958]

The simple reason trickle down doesn't work is that when the rich are given cash (in the form of tax cuts), they spend some, save some and invest some. Only the money they spend trickles down. Even then, some of it trickles out of the country!

If the goal is to grow the economy, it makes infinitely more sense to give cash (tax cuts) to the poor and middle class, since they will spend most or all of it. I call it trickle UP economics. The concept is that the money given to the poor/middle class will touch many more hands. THAT will grow the economy.

[Reveille]

Once again John McCain has made a comment that, if it were not so sad, it would be funny. George I, George II, and St. Ronald can claim app. 70% of our crippling national debt. One would think that no one in his or her right mind would ever want to duplicate such a feat. Even sadder and potentially more tragic, however, there are those who still so infatuated with this tragic trio that they will swallow McCain's idiocy like a fine wine.

[delacroix]

It's really nauseating to see political dwarfs like McCain compare themselves to Reagan. Reagan wasn't the greatest president in the world, but he had leadership qualities before the Alzheimer's took its toll. Reagan could at least competently make speeches.

McBush--er, I mean, McCain-- is an incompetent, uninformed jackass, with a hot temper and an empty head. The idea of his finger on the Nuclear Button should frighten any sane man.

[ChrisInTennessee]

Reagan the great communicator... He was an actor! and a B grade movie actor at that. The man started this country on the road to ruin and is loved by all the conservatives... There is none so blind as he that will not see.

[Pharos]

Reagan was all you say and was twice elected President. Why? Because democrats and progressives prefer to fight each other (Georges Lakoff, "Don't see an Elephant") rather than come together and fight the Republicans. Unfortunately the blind that will not see are too often the Democrats.

[Pharos]

I'm probably more to the left than many on this site but believe it or not the thought of his finger on the "Nuclear Button " does not frighten me. If one thinks about it, I doubt that we would be in Iraq now if McCain had been president instead of Bush. We need to attack the Republicans in areas or on subjects where undecided voters might swayed. McCain is vulnerable on policies that most Americans support and that he does not.

[LeftRight]

You mean, like, the war, which he's supported from the beginning???

[chandler02]

Hillary needs to drop out. McCain is not getting the scrutiny he deserves with the battle still raging among democrats.

[robeson]

Should John McCain be ridiculed for not knowing the difference between Iran and Iraq, deficits and surpluses, Indiana and Baghdad? Why are we suddenly raising the bar for President?

[condew]

Yes, he should. And we should raise the bar. Oh, wait, that was irony, wasn't it.