Dems target McCain's record on pork

Posted: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 4:37 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: 2008, Economy, McCain

From NBC's Mark Murray
As we noted earlier today, one of McCain's strongest economic credentials is his reputation as a anti-pork crusader. "I have a clear record of not asking for earmarks for my state," he said in his economic speech today. "For their part, Senators Obama and Clinton have championed a long list of pork-barrel projects for their states... That kind of careless spending of tax dollars is not change, my friends: It is business as usual in Washington, and it's all a part of the same wasteful and corrupting system that we need to end."

But Democrats are now circulating oppo on McCain to put a dent in those credentials. Here's a campaign ad from 2000 -- given to First Read -- in which McCain touts the work by then-US Sen. Spence Abraham (R) in securing money for Michigan in the 1998 highway bill. (Abraham ended up losing that 2000 Senate contest to Debbie Stabenow.)

The hitch here: McCain didn't support the 1998 highway bill (he didn't vote). "I did not support or sign the conference report on H.R. 2400 for one simple reason -- pork," he said in '98, referring to the highway legislation.

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Comments

McCain won't cut ANY military spending ?

What do you get if you wrap a pork barrel in an American flag ?
Most military spending benefits Red States
It's time to put a stop to THAT NONSENSE !!
Why are WE militarizing space ?
Star Wars violates treaties we have with the Russians

The CIA can't shoot straight !!
Where were the WMDs, boys ?

Why not replace the CIA with a Ouiji board ?
We'd get better, cheaper and more accurate results

The CIA is just a jobs program for incompetent, mediocre white Republicans
Time to dump these Federal tit suckers

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, April 15, 2008 4:49 PM)

Crazy John McCain and crooked Hillary Clinton are 'dead horses'

Time for the glue factory

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, April 15, 2008 4:51 PM)

Do not fret John you have an easy road ahead. If Obama can get over being bitter you are the winner!
Well maybe Nader is the better of the bitter!

HP Boston (Sent Tuesday, April 15, 2008 4:57 PM)

That's right Dems, give Senator Obama a hand up in fending off the attacks of McCain, and boo hoo Hillary the booed.

The honeymoon is over John. Where are you tax returns?

donna, pgh., pa. (Sent Tuesday, April 15, 2008 4:58 PM)

Pretty laughable at the liberals considering they have two people running for president that cannot complain about things that someone taking their earmark record and showing it to the world.

For all the earmarks Hillary Clinton has brought to New York state, one would have to question why there are so many people out of work. Hillary's boast of creating jobs as President is pretty lame considering she has done nothing to improve the lives of lower tier New Yorkers has one to scratch his head and wonder why she can't get things done in her own home state.

The Liberals again have missed the boat. John McCain has never asked for pork for his state. Why would you silly libs bring up Michigan? It goes to show you someone in the liberal parties is about a dollar short of a full bank when they set up that ad.

Can't you liberals do better??????

Hillary Clinton
A Liar for All Seasons

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, April 15, 2008 4:59 PM)

HP Boston

Didn't you hear your daddy???
Bill needs your money!!!!!

Go give him $100....
He needs to feed the crew Pizza tonight......

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, April 15, 2008 5:05 PM)

How does MSNBC approve a comment with "tit suckers" in it.

Donna, I say this to you and all Obama supporters, grow up, this is not some fantasy world where obama is gonna touch everything and make it better. You all raised a stink about Clinton's tax returns, and thoes came out, and look at that, there was nothing wrong with them. I am a registered democrat, i campaigned hard for gore and kerry, however I will vote for Mccain if obama wins the dem nomination.

Mike, New York (Sent Tuesday, April 15, 2008 5:15 PM)

I just looked up the voting records on Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton when it comes to votes on issues where government money is being wasted.

Obama has a 30% score, which makes him unfavorable to taxpayers...

Hillary has 14% score, which makes her Lethal to taxpayers....

I have the feeling electing either one of these nitwits will really cause damage to the country.....

I prefer they battle it out all the way to the convention and let's see how badly the two of them can destroy the democratic party.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, April 15, 2008 5:19 PM)

No more conservatives & liberals. Its: Progressives & regressives. John McCain the borrow & spend regressive.

JohnnyU, WA State (Sent Tuesday, April 15, 2008 5:21 PM)

So highways we build in the US are pork, but highways we build in Iraq are essential spending? Here's a question for FR: when we build a bridge or school in Iraq, how long does it last before the Iraqi's blow it up?

Idaho (Sent Tuesday, April 15, 2008 5:25 PM)

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