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

[Json]

LOL good luck with that one. Can he really believe his rhetoric?

[barackobama4prez]

Good news! ALL of the GOP share Bush's economic record. Along with the Iraq war, it will plague the GOP for at least a decade. Especially as the youth who voted for Obama grow up and get involved in politics to keep repubs out of national politics.

[BlueFloyd]

historically, going to war and CUTTING taxes = DISASTER.


still does

[breakfast]

Translation: "There are still a few jobs left in Virginia that we can send offshore."

[norkas]

Unreal , a Pres that lead a economy to a meltdown that America has never seen sicnce the great depression.

During this time Republicans had control over the senate and house and when the Dems gained control over congress it was to late because the Republicans and Pres allowed everthing get out out of control .

Pres . Bush was allowed to veto congress whenever he wanted and Bush was the Pres that pead us into this horriable meltdown that is still unwinding.

For anyone to say that is what he wants to be jknown for is the Bush decision making on economics is truly ignorant of fact of the burden it has left future genaerations with and the MASSIVE FRAUD conducted by banks and investment houses that brought us to our kness.

Those Republicans must take the entire blame regardless because they were in charge for 8 years and this is their baby otherwise for them to aske share the blame will show they are cowards and losers, liars.

[Graywolf48]

Wasn't Bush the Elder's answer to his administration's ailing economy to buy tube socks at Penney's? Wasn't he also amazed by the scanners at the grocery store check out? Uh, didn't the campaign slogan of "it's the economy, stupid" help Clinton beat Bush the Elder at the polls? Why do Republicans always want to go back to the "good old days"? Clueless, the whole lot of them. To paraphrase Cromwell, “you have been sat to long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of god, go!.”

[hortonhearsdawho]

yeah, but can the boy chop cedar ?

[tomasedison]

Dreaming about imitating George Bush ?

Isn't that setting the bar really low ?

[Halter]

He'll never get shrubs econ record-states can't run deficit budgets

[Liberalforsure]

Bush bankrupted this country, PERIOD and then drove us unto debt trying to rebuild a foreign country. Atleast this President is spending money on this country.

[Chicago1771]

Did you mean wasting money on this country?

[BlueFloyd]

funny how you had no retort whatsoever for his/her first sentence.

[AxelDC]

ZOMG! Asking for George Bush's economics is like ask for 14th Century public health. Bush economics were the equivalent of the Black Plague.

[Candace8383]

OK no problem you got it
i wonder did your mother ever caution you to "be careful what you ask for ...you just might get it"?

[Gordo10]

hahaha

[JRsNana]

Seriously? I mean really. Seriously? This guy really WANTS to be Governor? Oh my God!!!! It's like a nightmare.

[1differentdrummer]

Imagine the dittoheads nodding in agreement.

Actually, if he would look at the R plan regarding the so-called death tax, they're better off where they are now. It loses the step-up in value, thus costing enormously in capital gains tax. Besides, how many estates do you know of that paid inheritance tax? Competent planners can wipe most, if not all, of that out.

[ThermoChemist]

Um, are you really sure about that Mr. McDonnell.­.?

Bush vs. Clinton: An Economic Performance Index
http://www.ppionline.org/ppi_ci.cfm?knlgAreaID=127&subsecid=177&contentid=252964

Debt Reduction Relative to GDP
- the ratio of debt to GDP went down an average of 3.89 percent per year during the Clinton years, but has gone up an average of 0.94 percent per year during the Bush years.

Employment
- The number of jobs in the economy increased 2.38 percent per year under Clinton, but it has decreased 0.17 percent per year under Bush. Bush also scored lower in part-time jobs and jobs with good wages.

Health Insurance
- Under Clinton, Americans covered by health insurance went up 0.12 percent annually. Under Bush, there has been a 0.55 percent yearly decrease.

Poverty Reduction
- The number of Americans below the poverty line fell 2.29 percent annually in the Clinton years, but has since gone up 4.33 percent annually in the Bush years.

Homeownership
- Rate has increased 0.37 percent per year during the Bush administration, that is a slowdown compared to the average increases of 1.94 percent during the Clinton administration.

[TParrish]

The guy is probably looking at the stock market as an indicator of economic success. It LOOKED good, but the best analogy I can think of for what it actually was is a balloon sitting on a rapidly-forming sink hole. Anybody who thinks that increasing spending while cutting income is a sound financial policy needs to have his head examined.

[King Cashaw]

Most of this was due to Clinton having to clean up after Reagan, and Bush I. Bush II received the benefits of the clean up. But blew it just like. If my history serves me correctly, Dems tend to have to clean up after Republicans.

[Chicago1771]

Just pluck the small amount of stats that will back your argument. I wonder what liberal media outlet you got that idea from? I didn't even read the article the title of that site says it all.

[thebirdstheword]

why don't you throw up some stats, then, instead of just trolling around?

[spicegal]

The last Republican governor in Va, Gilmore, also wrecked the economy. McDonnell is another extreme right wing ideologue, and as a Virginian the thought of him being governor sickens me. He is also a graduate of Regent's (Pat Robertson's university). This is going to be a difficult race because McDonnell has positioned himself well and has name recognition. He is well funded and the GOP is extremely determined to maintain its lock hold on Va. They're currently trying to suggest that Kaine is misusing public funds to finance DNC trips by insisting on seeing his travel logs, etc. They figure if they can tarnish the current Democratic governor, it will help their cause. Never mind that Gilmore also engaged in RNC chair business while acting as governor of Va. Creigh Deeds will need all the help he can get.

[LooktotheLeft]

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