BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

If there has been any question of the differences between the presumed presidential candidates, the economy is the poster child of opposites.

Republican John McCain spoke in Denver, where he called for creating more jobs by helping small businesses, encouraging free trade and developing a greater role for nuclear power.

On the other hand…

Democrat Barack Obama called for a second economic stimulus package and greater tax relief for the middle class in a speech in St. Louis.

McCain who once voted against the Bush tax cuts for the upper class now supports those cuts and wants them to be made permanent.  Obama would vote against thost tax cuts, leaving the tax cuts for the middle class and bringing back the taxes for those who earn over $250,000 per year.

On taxes, Obama said his plans would “provide $1,000 of relief to 95% of workers and their families. We’ll also eliminate income taxes for every retiree making less than $50,000 per year, because every senior deserves to live out their life in dignity and respect.”

The Illinois senator said he welcomed a debate on taxes “because, if you’re a family making less than $250,000, my plan will not raise your taxes — not your income taxes, not your payroll taxes, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.

John McCain:

McCain restated his support of free trade, another issue that separates him from Obama, who wants changes in NAFTA and opposes expanding the free trade rules to Colombia.

“I will expand markets for our goods and services,” McCain said. “I understand free trade is not a positive for everyone. If a worker loses a job we must retrain them and prepare them for 21st century jobs.”

Obama says he would re-negotiate NAFTA although some say it is too late to renegotiate the trade agreement.

John McCain today issued a White Paper saying that he would balance the budget by 2013, the end of the next president’s first term.  Economists say that is impossible.  McCain while talking about the economy today did not mention balancing the budget by the end of a first term.

The policies are as different as night and day.  It will be up to the voters to decide which plan is best for us in November when we elect the next President of the United States.  I just wish someone would tell us how to survive until the election.