(CBS)
TAMPA, FLA. -- While campaigning in Florida today, John McCain talked about reports that, in his State of the Union speech, President Bush is expected to call on federal agencies to ignore congressional earmarks.
"I think it's a great step in the right direction," said McCain, who has been an outspoken opponent against earmarks for years.
"I have been urging the White House to do this for last 7 years. And I think that it's going to reduce pork barrel spending enormously. Now the next thing is for Congress to follow that example and eliminate it in the legislative package as well. But I cannot be more pleased."
McCain warned that these cuts will ruffle a few feathers in Washington. "And wait until you see how the pork barrel appropriators react... Whoo! You will think that it's the end of western civilization as we know it. If we deprive those pork barrelers of their pork barrel projects," he laughed.
McCain also reflected upon Bush's presidency crediting him for keeping America safer and says it's too early to judge his time in office.
"I think the Bush presidency has been in many ways successful," he said.
Acknowledging disagreements with Bush on some issues and being critical of his spending practices, McCain still credits the President for keeping America safer.
"I think the President of the United States deserves great credit for the fact that there has not been another attack on the United States since 9/11. Most experts predicted that there would be," he said.
"I think that the president has provided a positive leadership role in a number of areas. I applaud his efforts right now in trying to move the Palestinian-Israeli peace process forward…I applaud him for finally adapting a new strategy and adopting the [Iraq] strategy of Gen. [David] Petraeus," he said.
McCain refused to score President Bush on his performance, claiming the "results" are not in yet.
"I believe that history will judge the president to some degree on what happens in Iraq – as historians generally speaking judge people on their national security records. So that result is not in yet. I am proud to have a good relationship with the president of the United States and as the nominee of the party I will look forward to his campaigning on my behalf."
McCain Talks About Bush's Expected "Pork Barrel" Comments
/ CBS News
TAMPA, FLA. -- While campaigning in Florida today, John McCain talked about reports that, in his State of the Union speech, President Bush is expected to call on federal agencies to ignore congressional earmarks.
"I think it's a great step in the right direction," said McCain, who has been an outspoken opponent against earmarks for years.
"I have been urging the White House to do this for last 7 years. And I think that it's going to reduce pork barrel spending enormously. Now the next thing is for Congress to follow that example and eliminate it in the legislative package as well. But I cannot be more pleased."
McCain warned that these cuts will ruffle a few feathers in Washington. "And wait until you see how the pork barrel appropriators react... Whoo! You will think that it's the end of western civilization as we know it. If we deprive those pork barrelers of their pork barrel projects," he laughed.
McCain also reflected upon Bush's presidency crediting him for keeping America safer and says it's too early to judge his time in office.
"I think the Bush presidency has been in many ways successful," he said.
Acknowledging disagreements with Bush on some issues and being critical of his spending practices, McCain still credits the President for keeping America safer.
"I think the President of the United States deserves great credit for the fact that there has not been another attack on the United States since 9/11. Most experts predicted that there would be," he said.
"I think that the president has provided a positive leadership role in a number of areas. I applaud his efforts right now in trying to move the Palestinian-Israeli peace process forward…I applaud him for finally adapting a new strategy and adopting the [Iraq] strategy of Gen. [David] Petraeus," he said.
McCain refused to score President Bush on his performance, claiming the "results" are not in yet.
"I believe that history will judge the president to some degree on what happens in Iraq – as historians generally speaking judge people on their national security records. So that result is not in yet. I am proud to have a good relationship with the president of the United States and as the nominee of the party I will look forward to his campaigning on my behalf."