McCain Not Satisfied With Stimulus, Wants "Major" Rewrite (VIDEO)

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said on "Fox News Sunday" that he would not support the $825 billion stimulus package as written. He argued that the bill contains too much "unnecessary spending" that won't do anything for the economy.

"There should be an end point to all of this spending. Say two years ... The plan was written by the Democratic majority in the House primarily," he said. "So yeah, I think there has to be major rewrites, if we want to stimulate the economy ... I am opposed to most of provisions in the bill. As it stands now. I would not support it."

Asked if he would filibuster the bill, McCain avoided the question, saying he wanted to "sit down and negotiate."

"Republicans have not been brought in to the degree that we should be," McCain added. "So far as I can tell, no Republican proposal has been incorporated."

Watch:

You can read the whole stimulus bill here.

Comments

[dianhow]

We need to keep in mind the 'source' of the news. Some are reliable-some not. We know who they are. thE Gop is complaining about too much spending- which would be fine. EXCEPT-they never cared when they rolled over for W and spent billions. Even after spending all that $$$- some troops still.went without body armor- and proper medical care for PTSD.and horrible injuries. 4000 + of our troops are dead- many more who lost limbs or received terrible brain injuries, 1000 ' s of innocent iraqi's killed..al­l for a preemtive war on a country that did not attack us. DOn't tell me it takes a full scale war to just get rid of one man - Saddam. All we did in Iraq is create more ' terrorists ' Bush & Cheney told us -the war will be short- we'd be greeted as liberators- Iraqi oil will pay for the war- we could see a smoking gun & mushroom cloud. We were ' played ' by Bush / Cheney. . They stoked our fear to get their way.

[dianhow]

Folks - IS this the same McCain who voted 90 % of the time with Bush -his last 2 years in office ? Who let Bush spent billions in Iraq, while not providing enough body armor to our troops ? The same guy who voted against not once, but several times for GI bill's -and to increase benefits to VETS coming home from Iraq / Afghanisatan ? Is he the same guy who voted 13 X AGAINST an increase in the minimum wage ? The same guy who smeared Obama with lies and inuendo ( as Palen did ) in the camapign ? The same guy whose sleazy ads accused Obama of - QUOTE: Wanting sex ed for 5 year olds-when he knew full well it was not true ? Same McCain whose buddy Sen Phil Gramm-push thru the Enron loophole- which allowed Enron workers to lose all their 410 K savings ? WORST PART..Gram­ms wife made 900 k OFF THAT DEAL A LOBBYIST ! McCain was planning to use SEn Gramm as a finance ADVISOR ! How Shameful ! McCain has little credibility left. except with the far right, Limbaugh and Hannity types > The ' maverick ' of 2000 -2004 needs to reappear. I respected him then.

[lizr]

Would this be the very same Mc Ca in who was going to name Joh n THA IN as sec of the Treasury?

that thought alone ought to make your bl oo d run cold!

[vgirl1]

NO SURPRISE HERE.

When you have your marching orders from the Republican leadership including Rush Limbaugh, I guess even so called bi-partisan McCain can't vote for the stimulus package.

[Eris23Skidoo]

McCain brings up the Japan experience in which he says their stimulus was similar to the one proposed by our congress. But the only move he'll recognize as being "stimulating" is permanent tax cuts. There is an even MORE recent AMERICAN experience. George Bush tried cutting taxes on every occasion (things going well: cut taxes, new recession: cut taxes, etc) and LOOK WHERE WE WOUND UP!!!!! You LOST McCain! Get OVER it. And you say the republicans have not been included in the process for creating the stimulus package...­get used to it! Never did McCain complain that the dem's were shut out of the process on ALL BILLS for the majority of the Bush Caliphate! What comes around goes around. It is seriously time for republicans to eat their crow and take a nap.

[XME]

Maybe this is his secret effort at bipartisan­ship...he'­s clueless about the economy, so perhaps he's trying to HELP get support for the package by saying it's bad.

[punkindmb]

Where was he when Bush was spending his capitol like there was no tomorrow?

[2wit]

McCain - you said you were looking forward to working with President Obama.
(I am just trying to help fill in your memory lapse)

[inwonderland]

WITH THAT MAVERICKY CLUELESSNESS ABOUT THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE ECONOMY...­John McCain's obstructionism against the stimulus, stimulates the majority of voting Americans to give thanks once again...TH­ANK GOODNESS MCCAIN IS IN THE SENATE AND NOT IN THE WHITE HOUSE!
And he did not learn anything from losing! He is still talking without a plan or a proposal on the sinking economy.

Just blah blah blah from a blah has been who has been going around saying that he will be sure to work with the new President. More doublespeak from someone who never is on sure footing when he speaks about finances and average Americans.

But how could he know anything from the balcony of his 11 homes?

Thank you, John McCain for reminding our voters of how sure we are, once again, that YOU were not, nor ever will be, the man for THE job.

Easy to throw stones from the cheap seats, Senator McCain?

[rcozad]

During the campaign McCain, in a VERY RARE moment of candor and honesty , stated that he did not understand economics. He just proved he was right!

[OleBlue12]

McCain lost the election because the majority like Obama's plans better. Why can't he read/hear to know this. He is too old and we don't think he has good ideas, so John go home and take a long nap.
Obama is young and smart and is mentially and physically able to run our country's welfare/safety.
The Reps., are now rearing their narrow minded heads just to try to show up Obama.

[dmwirth]

None of this matters.

"I'll take Manhattan in a garbage bag
with Latin written on it that says
it's hard to give a sh** these days
Manhattan's sinking like a rock
into the filthy Hudson what a shock
they wrote a book about it
they said it was like ancient Rome"
Lou Reed

[wmafoune]

Its ironic how he voted for the first one with no accountability. McCain are sure you read the proposal? because i remember you did not even read the 3 pages that was first offered at the first bailout .

[pb28]

Who cares what’s McCain thinks about the stimulus package. I thought we decided that argument on Nov 4th.

[hildutus]

Well, we elected Democrats. Now they've caved in as usual, and we're once again ruled by Republicans.

[wltdnfaded]

How exactly have they caved...?

[dianhow]

Hildutus- HELLO ? Ruled by Repubs ? Where have you been getting your news ? Its been in all the papers and on the news. Obama won a decisive victory-he won most states - even 12 states that has not gone with Dems for 20-30 years. The bill did not even need the GOP to pass it -Obama was just keeping a promise to be bypartisan. President Obama - in his first few days has already: 1. Limited the power of lobbyists
2. Frozen salaries of top staff. 3. SIgned a bill to make Govt more open. 4. Spoken with world leaders. 5. Gathered with GOP ' leaders ' I do not remember a time when a President has done so much in such a short time. The President makes 400 K a year- compare that to fat cat CEO's with their 10-20 mil bonus's- while ruining their CO's. The amount of misinformation that some voters display scares me. We need to be well informed. We get the govt we deserve !

[LDnearthesea]

A problem exists in that the Corporate Media, owned and operated by Repugnatncans, give Repugnantcan pols like McCcain plenty of time to get on the TV. Ever see Kucinich on MSNBC, FOX, or CBS? Maybe a few times. I'm sure he's been on CSPAN and Democracy Now many more times!
The major corporate media is not going to change how they present the news to the American public. If they actually gave an economist like Joe Stieglitz, who say $3trillion will be spent on the Iraq War and Occupation, some TV time, then people would come to realize that guys like McCain, Boehner, and McConnell are part of the problem, and have no solutions!