Candidates Clash Over Economic Policy

Obama Says McCain Has "Sit Back And Watch" Approach To Economic Troubles

(CBS/AP)  Democrat Barack Obama ridiculed Republican presidential rival John McCain on Wednesday for what he called a "sit back and watch" approach to the economic troubles gripping the nation.

Back campaigning after a brief family vacation in the Caribbean, the presidential candidate focused on the housing crisis that has rocked Wall Street and the economic downturn that has forced the Federal Reserve to intervene. And after days of sniping with rival Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign, Obama turned his attention to McCain.

On Tuesday, McCain derided government intervention to save and reward banks or small borrowers who behave irresponsibly and offered few immediate alternatives for fixing the country's growing housing crisis.

"John McCain has admitted he doesn't understand the economy as well as he should, and yesterday he proved it in giving a speech on the housing crisis," Obama told an auditorium of supporters.

Obama pointed out that McCain "said the best way for us to address the fact that millions of Americans are losing their homes is to just sit back and watch it happen. In his entire speech yesterday, he offered not one policy, not one idea, not one bit of relief to the nearly 35,000 North Carolinians who are forced to foreclose on their dreams in the last three months."

It's the housing crisis which threatens the American Dream most immediately and which will test the next president, reports CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds.

McCain advocates lending reforms but is reluctant to intervene heavily, believe that would penalize taxpayers who played by the rules, Reynolds reports. Clinton offers a $30 billion emergency stimulus to help those at risk, while Obama would fund his $10 billion plan with money saved over time by ending the war in Iraq.

North Carolina holds its primary May 6 with 115 delegates at stake.

"John McCain may call helping struggling homeowners pandering, but I don't think the families in North Carolina who are losing their homes would see it that way," said Obama, who is due to give what aides are billing as a major economic speech Thursday in New York.

In response, McCain said he clearly is in favor of doing more for homeowners.

"I'll do whatever's necessary to help the homeowner, the legitimate homeowner, and we may have to do more," McCain told reporters in California. "But raise taxes as Senator Obama wants to do or some kind of massive bailout that is a needless expenditure of taxpayer dollars is obviously something that I don't support."

In California on Tuesday, McCain said he wants to leave the door open to an array of proposals to address the problems and seemed to suggest he might even be open to solutions that stray from the GOP line.

"I will not play election-year politics with the housing crisis," he said, adding he would evaluate all proposals. "I will not allow dogma to override commonsense."

But the small-government advocate and four-term Arizona senator also put restrictions on how far he was willing to go, saying: "it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers."

In Greensboro, Obama used a question about his Christianity to again address the incendiary comments made by his former Chicago pastor, Jeremiah Wright.

"We can't afford to be distracted ... every time somebody somewhere says something stupid that everybody gets up in arms and we forget about the war in Iraq and we forget about the economy," Obama said.

Many in the crowd Wednesday were college students, in a town where students once played a defining role in U.S. history. In 1960, a year before Obama was born, black students staged sit-ins at a whites-only lunch counter at a Woolworth's five-and-dime in downtown Greensboro, an act of civil disobedience that spread throughout the South.

[b-easy63]

Considering that Sen. Obama has received $1.18 million from subprime lenders and has taken more campaign contributions from the top ten issuers of subprime loans that attack rings hollow as just words. Sen. Obama has a record of talking about standing up to special interests and then caving to their demands. Hillary has a 35-year record of standing up to special interests and delivering results.


To beebopareebo
Is it really true about such MAJOR conflict of interest regarding Obama''''s money sources?How can we confirm that Obama has gotten all that ''''bribery/pay off'''' money from sub-prime lenders and from other major corporations?If that is even partly true, then Obama is as dirty and as corrupt as the other politicians.
Something sure smells rotten here.
Posted by strangepols at 05:03 PM : Mar 27, 2008

Yeah--something SURE does smell rotten here...LIES always stink--cuz if it''s true and Hillary is so righteous, why hasn''t she and her crew reported this and blown Obama out of the water?

Where ARE those tax returns and other info Hillary won''t release? And why, are we finding out that many of her 35 years of standing up for good--are turning out to be embellishment and outright LIES?

Why did Hillary refuse to vote to deny retro immunity to telecom companies who helped Bush to illegally wiretap between 2001-2005? That righteousness thing again? LMAO

[b-easy63]

Senator Obama never voted for the war nor did he vote against the war in Iraq in 2003. The reason is simple. Obama, at that time, was not a seating U.S. senator. The initial vote on the war took place BEFORE Obama became a senator. Obama became a senator in January, 2005. Incidentally, Senator Obama%u2019s pastor, Mr. Wright seems to embrace a radical ideology and calls it Christianity. The question is simple. Why did Obama denounce him rather than disown him? Sadly, if elected president, Obama will bring his inflammatory, spiritual, %u201Cmentor%u201D into the White House.

Posted by obama8years at 06:48 PM : Mar 27, 2008


Obama was in the Illinois STATE senate at the time of the beginning of the war. On the floor of that senate, when many were keeping quiet, he spoke out against the war repeatedly. THIS has been his claim all along. Of course like most of us--he had no vote--but as a politician who went against the will of the majority of Americans, the majorities in the National Congress and in his state Congress by declaring in stance AGAINST the impending war in Iraq he is to be commended.

He didn''t whisper it, or make a statement then cheer it--he said it should not be happening and that certainly takes a lot more ballz than cheering that illegal invasion and signing authority papers so Bush could war, without even reading the intel documents pertaining to that impending war as Clinton did.

[b-easy63]

f they think America suffers from economic woes due to lack of consumer spending now--it is nothing compared to how much LESS spending there would be if our FICA payments increased by 5 to 10% of our incomes.

Bet businesses LOVE that--but will YOU? 10% for some of us will mean going from paying about 4K per year now to paying almost 20K per year based on NET only!!!

Now--why should someone pay 20K per year for the same health care that another pays maybe 1300.00 for? Because they make more, their health care should cost more? Spare me---this woman is a sick azz menace besides being a liar whose contribution to Ireland was an empty park whose "peace playground" was shelveda nd who finally NOW ADMITS she had nothing to do with negotiations in Ireland. Big fat liar. Add to that Big fat mf, greedy liar. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/28/us/politics/28clinton.html?_r=1&ei=5088&en=8409defd60c41793&ex=1364443200&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1206706600-YOQIAP2YHmIrZehbYvoSoA

[b-easy63]

In the mother of STOOOOOOOPID economic plans. Hillary now says she will cap the costs of her UHC at 5 to 10% of income. Gee--THINK everyone. that means your taxes will go up 5 to 10%. The government does not increase like that in any given year. This would mean if you make 60K per year, you could look forward to paying as much as 6000.00 for what you may get already under an employer for around 2500.00/year now.

Hilary and Bill do not need to pay for health care. As government workers they get that free--for fvcking life. If she didn''t, under her plan, insurance for her and Bill could be what? about 240,000.00/yr?

For some of us and most of us--her plan would be a nightmare--and those who get insurance through work can kiss that system goodbye. You''d get it from the good ol'' government..you know the ones who are destroying SS now, because they repeatedly stole from it and never paid it back...the same who say Medicare (the UHC already in place for the elderly) is almost bankrupt and will be not able to be paid from monies taken in by 2017...you know the one where there is rampant corruption, stealing, graft and greed--well they will have found a new way to tax us all and claim they raised no new taxes. Up to 10% of your income?


See next post

[obama8years]

Shame on OBAMA for insulting his white grandmother who raised him%u2026and insulting his white mother by insulting her mother..the people who raised him and sacrificed for him after his black, (non-american) father abandoned him and his mother. Shame on him for not having the guts to leave a blasphemous, anti-american, bigoted anti semite anti white %u201CPASTOR%u201D%u2026.now there is an oxymoron%u2026 who is doing nothing but educating his %u201Cflock%u201D to be another generation of racists like he is%u2026sheep follow their shepherds without thinking what they are doing%u2026they depend on their %u201Cpastors%u201D to not lead them astray. So what is OB going to do when his pastor does some spiritual advising and it is not in the best interest of the country, as is what he has already said..OB doesn%u2019t have the wherewithall to say NO to his %u201Cpastor%u201D. This OB man is NOT a uniter%u2026.he is so liberal that he would have us kill our unborn babies and have the terrorists kill our men, women and children. America, wake up! THINK! Don%u2019t let a smooth - talking wolf in sheep%u2019s clothing fool you%u2026.yes, he is very smart but is not to be trusted.

[obama8years]

Senator Obama never voted for the war nor did he vote against the war in Iraq in 2003. The reason is simple. Obama, at that time, was not a seating U.S. senator. The initial vote on the war took place BEFORE Obama became a senator. Obama became a senator in January, 2005. Incidentally, Senator Obama%u2019s pastor, Mr. Wright seems to embrace a radical ideology and calls it Christianity. The question is simple. Why did Obama denounce him rather than disown him? Sadly, if elected president, Obama will bring his inflammatory, spiritual, %u201Cmentor%u201D into the White House.

[b-easy63]

Thanks b-easy63 but I don''''t need to look. After the midterm elections it was plane to see the White house was the Democrats for the taking in 08. Now you have Hillary and Obama, both proven liars, both proven two faced Hypocrites. It looks right now that the Dimwitocrats are going to shoot themselves in the foot again.

Posted by thgdriver at 12:45 PM : Mar 27, 2008


That''s not the point.The point is Hillary''s lies and shady dealings may finally give her and the Clintons their Tom DeLay moment. After all she did to hide whitewater and scam everyone, her lying chickens may be coming home to roost.

[b-easy63]

Yesterday, the media reported that over 28% of Hillary voters said they would vote for McCain if Obama was the nom vs 19% of Obama supporters who said the sameif HIllary was the nom.

What a difference a night makes. Now they have amended this to 20% of Hillary die hards say no, no matter what to Obama and 20% of Dems who support Obama are saying the same.

Looks like the ol'''' better pick my guy or we will revolt, tactic is backfiring for both groups as both are willing to destroy the Dems chances just to get revenge for not having their pick as the nominee. Right. IF your candidate cannot earn the Dem. primary majority vote--whatever makes you think they can win the general election.

Where does each group think the votes will come from? The other part of the party they warred with? The Independents who have left in droves for McCain?

Incidentally, of the Independents still in the Dem camp--only 24% say they could support Hillary as opposed to 46% who say they could support Obama. That sounds great until you realize he had almost 70% of their support. Either way, if each party faction revolts and the Independents revolt or in Hillary''''s case she can gain no more from that group--why bother even holding elections? Maybe the Dems should sit this out until they can grow up and work together. LOL and Hillary might be going to jail....

[thgdriver]

Posted by beebopareebo at 12:52 PM

But how can that be? I personally listened to him state categorically that he is strictly running on the fives and tens from the poor people. Certainly the media will have none of this and bring him to task any day now.LOL.

[beebopareebo]

These are the inconvenient facts taht Barack Obama cannot run from:

Considering that Sen. Obama has received $1.18 million from subprime lenders and has taken more campaign contributions from the top ten issuers of subprime loans that attack rings hollow as just words. Sen. Obama has a record of talking about standing up to special interests and then caving to their demands. Hillary has a 35-year record of standing up to special interests and delivering results.



Obama has taken $1,180,103 from the top issuers of subprime loans. [cq.com]
Obama received $266,907 from Lehman. [Cq.com]
Obama received $5395 from GMAC. [Cq.com]
Obama received $150,850 from CS First Boston . [Cq.com]
Obama received $11,250 from Countrywide. [Cq.com]
Obama received $9052 from Washington Mutual. [Cq.com]
Obama received $161,850 from Citigroup. [Cq.com]
Obama received $4600 from CBASS. [Cq.com]
Obama received $170,050 from Morgan Stanley. [Cq.com]
Obama received $1150 from Centex. [Cq.com]
Obama received $351,900 from Goldman Sachs. [Cq.com]

[thgdriver]

Thanks b-easy63 but I don''t need to look. After the midterm elections it was plane to see the White house was the Democrats for the taking in 08. Now you have Hillary and Obama, both proven liars, both proven two faced Hypocrites. It looks right now that the Dimwitocrats are going to shoot themselves in the foot again.

[b-easy63]

ONCE AGAIN....Obama may find himself in hot water--not for something he did, but for who he knows. Those Rezko indictments are sure to heat up and spill over and cause damage!!

Unfortunately for Hillary--she can''''t catch a break, soon to potentially break in the news is the story before the California appeals court which show not only that a campaign fraud done by her mgr concerning Paul and Lee was ugly, but that Hillary (HERSELF ONCE AGAIN)was involved. At issue is a 250K donation made to her senatorial campaign. Her staff said she had no knowledge of it, so she was not roped into the scandal when her campaign mgr faced charges of hiding that money from the IRS.

Unfortunately VIDEO may again place Hill in deep doo, doo. It seems there is a video tape recording her discussing the fund raiser with the donors (on it, she talks about who would be there and what they will do) this means she performed what is known as a direct campaign request. donations from donors for that kind of request are limited to 25K. Since the donation was for 250K, that would be considered campaign fraud.

Woe is Hillary and Damnnnn those videos and tape recordings that make being a great liar so hard to keep up these days!!! ROTFLMAO.

Maybe Hill should quit, before she finds herself in court this time, with no way to hide her hand in shady dealings. Here''''s the Link: http://www.usjf.net/modules.php?op=modlo
ad&name=News&file=article&sid=344

[thgdriver]

McCain is right, people who foolishly live at the top of their budgets and week to week paychecks were asking for trouble. My generation were always taught to save for that rainy day. Thats impossible when you are spending every dime you make trying to keep up with other members of your family or the so called rich guy next door.

Damm, I wish I had seen Obamas free money bailout coming. I would have purchased that home I know I can not afford, I would have parked two luxury cars in my drive that I know I cant afford, I would have refurnished every room in the house to boot.

Maybe I still have time to get on Obamas free taxpayer money train.

[jack3213]

WE ALL ARE AWARE THE CLINTONS PLAY REAL DIRTY, THAT THEY WILL DO ANYTHING TO WIN, EVEN IF IT MEANS GOING AGAINST THEIR OWN PARTY TO DO SO. OBAMA IS SIMPLY NOT QUALIFIED. BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM GOING AT IT FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS THEY WILL COMPLETELY DESTROY THEIR PARTY. LET''''S CELEBRATE NOW ( OR LATER) BECAUSE IT WILL SHOW ( AS TIME MOVES FORWARD) WHAT KIND OF NON- CREDIBILITY AND LACK OF EXPERIANCE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE AS COMMANDERS IN CHIEF. PATHETIC.

[hungry1968]

The Media has failed to inform people that PR''''s Governor who is now facing Indictment... is also a Strong Obama''''s Backer.

Is the Media''''s Bias going out the way to "protect" King Obama again??

Posted by metroduck75 at 11:36 AM : Mar 27, 2008





So now Puerto Rico''s governor''s problem, is now Obama''s problem too?!?!?!?

I got a speeding ticket yesterday, and I support Obama.

Here goes metroduck: "Obama is supported by law breaking motorists!!!"

LOL!!! What a moron!!!!

[homespunlady]

Don''t worry, "No Child Left Behind" has made sure ALL our KIDS have LOST COMMON SENSE together in preference to RECITING TRIVIAL PURSUIT FACTS.

[homespunlady]

Ahha! so it''s LITERACY metroduck is against.

[homespunlady]

Our economy can''t handle a 3RD NEOCON TERM in the Whitehouse.

[metroduck75]

Protect America, say NO to King-Obama-the-Speech-Writer''08!!!

[homespunlady]

METRODUCK
Just say no to WAR BASED ON FRAUD.