VA GOP Candidate Praises Bush: I Want His Economic Record

The legacy of George W. Bush has weighed heavily on the Republican Party, casting a large shadow over GOP candidates in the past two national elections.

But is that toxicity beginning to wane? For the first time in recent memory, a Republican candidate is actively embracing the tenure of George W. Bush, citing the economic growth up through 2006 as a template of governance he'd like to pursue.

On Saturday, former Virginia Attorney General and current gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell delivered the following remarks at the Boys State Convention in Lynchburg, Virginia.

"President Bush put in a ten-year tax-cut on everything from the death tax to capital gains tax and it was followed by an unprecedented period of economic recovery and economic growth," he said. "In fact, it almost overheated the economy through about 2006. So, I think that's the way you stimulate business. And that's the kind of governor that I'm going to be to reduce those impediments to entrepreneurship, to let small businesses grow and thrive and create some opportunity."

To be fair, it is hard to draw a larger trend from one snippet of one speech of one candidate for what is still considered a Republican state (though increasingly a political toss-up). Additionally, McDonnell has praised Bush in the past. But as the economic environment becomes increasingly owned by the Obama administration it will be curious to see not just how frequently Republicans whack the president on this front, but how willing they are to tie themselves to the early Bush years. Will McDonnell be the exception or the norm?

Comments

[ProgressiveAndProud1]

This guy is really going places ...... NOT!!!!

[thundermummy]

This was McDonnell's ca-ca moment.

[Samlas]

This guy's head is far up his A&&, that he needs serious help.

[master09]

I agree but I would take it one step further, if the people of virgina elect him as their governor then they are the ones with their heads up their collective A$$ES which is highly possible.

[Biscuit]

But the current crisis is a direct result of the Bush economy... to point out the obvious.

I would rather have Clinton's record. Constant growth, and he left the economy so strong that it took even W. six years to screw it up enough that it went south.

Bob McDonnel will lose. Republican governors have won a lot in VA, but they never do any good. Warner and Kaine have been great.

[Adartist777]

I'm sure he'll get lots of votes from the unemployed and uninsured in VA. Why does the right praise the past no matter how bad it is? It's probably to confuse us.

[asta1968]

A D D

[PINO]

"...Why does the right praise the past no matter how bad it is? It's probably to confuse us."

I can see how YOU might be confused, because it wasn't that bad. In fact it was better than most democrat administrations.

Now under the obama administration, however, the way they try to get their lies and policies accepted by the sheeple, is to repeat it over and over and over and over. The liberal media will even help by repeating obama talking points over and over and over. sooner or latter you sheep believe the BS coming out of Washington.

Now in this case, it is to confuse us, but it wont happen. I truly believe the people are finally wising up to the fact that obama doesn't have a clue or a care to fix the economy.

look for 2010, congress and senate to be taken back by the repubs. obama becomes lame duck. And in 2012, goodbye obama, the worst president ever in history.

[mookworthjwilson]

...and in other news from an alternate reality...

[asta1968]

Pino--
too much glenn beck, please try 27 mg. of Concerta twice a day. Any good republican wants to do their part and support big pharma.

[MikeDu]

*If* Obama doesn't have a clue how to fix the economy, as you said, that would be because the idiot ideological Right broke the economy past fixing. You know, that "little thing" about Repub stewardship crashing the economy into a brick wall, about transferringthe country's wealth to the top 5% oligarchs, about exporting all the country's "survival" jobs overseas so the unemployed have no fallback options. Heckofajob, Repubs!

[tgd]

My God! They can't pay you enough to post these moronic comments.

[elaygee]

I think the Creepublicans have started raiding short buses for candidates.

[Cookie100]

Really Bob, you think the economy was great, well through 2006, then what happened Bob?

For you it's great maybe. Bush redistributed 80% of the wealth to 2% of the population, so maybe you're in that 2%!

I doubt I'd walk around saying that. The rest of us are living through this economy. My mortgage WAS 18% of my income, I was fine. Now it's 50% of my income, not great, is it Bob.

Wanna know know. The economy was a bubble, it WASN'T REAL BOB! Just another troll trying to pull a Luntz. Say something and make it true, well, it's not true for those of us who live in this world and aren't in that 2%!!!

Bob, the economy was A BIG, FAT BERNIE MADOFF PONZI SCHEME, get it now Bob, it wasn't real!!
What part don't you get, maybe we;ll all call you Bobo the clown, I think that's fitting

[4KixAfter6]

Is he from the "Real Virginia"?

[Bude]

This guy wants Bush's record of six years of economic growth followed by the total collapse of our financial systems? Good luck.

[mobedda]

"I Want His Economic Record"

Okay, but you gotta promise not to bring it back.

[jacobomorales]

Please let him speak,,,,the more he says the better.

[helonias]

Well you seem to have his brain

[Greywolf Borealis]

One more proponent of voodoo economics come to the forefront in American politics. Republicans continue to believe that short term solutions for long term problems. It's akin to placing a BandAid on a gunshot.

[justoverit333]

I concur. The Repubs have used up all the bandaids.

[asta1968]

most GOPpers should be medicated for ADD. They have a hard time following a coherent train of thought let alone have one themselves.
McDonnell (or better yet, his campaign staff) should really do a little more research into their IDOL, George W. Bush. They need to take a look at his business career from graduating with a degree (that we all know he didn't earn, unless you count pep-squad), to January 20, 2009. Talk about a lack of economic understanding.
I want to see McDonnell campaign with Jr. Bush at his side.

[Buddy McCue]

Some people never learn. I hope this guy is never influential in any way.

[PINO]

And I am sure that obama's failed economic policies are seen differently???

[Buddy McCue]

Too soon to say "failed."

[LooktotheLeft]

Pretty much preaching to the choir in Lynchburg (aptly named)

[LooktotheLeft]

That comment alone should be enough for him to be defeated soundly