McCain Gives A Straight Talk On the Issues
By DAVE GOSSETTABOARD THE STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS - John McCain said Ohio may be experiencing tougher economic times than the rest of the nation and compared Democrat Barack Obama's tax plan to Herbert Hoover's domestic policies.
"The people in Ohio are angry at Washington, D.C. And they are angry. The people in Ohio are facing as tough a situation as I have ever seen. But they remain in good spirits. It is actually surprising the good spirits considering the economic issues in this state," McCain told four reporters who joined him on his Straight Talk Express bus for about 25 minutes Friday following a "Whistle Stop" rally in New Philadelphia, Ohio.
"Now is not the time to raise taxes when we are facing an economic crisis. Now is the time to cut taxes and cut government spending at the same time. Raising taxes at this time is just what Herbert Hoover did during the Great Depression and it caused more harm. We need to cut taxes but at the same time cut back on wasteful government spending. Obama wants to put his tax plan into effect at the worst possible time," McCain said.
"We have seen that 40 percent of Americans don't pay taxes. Senator Obama wants to take money from the people who pay taxes and give it to other people who don't pay any taxes," added the Republican presidential candidate.
He was critical of the multi-billion dollar bailout of the banking industry and Wall Street.
"Working on helping the people who are losing their homes should have been the first priority. The banks should offer the homeowner a mortgage they can afford. And the person who lives next door and pays their mortgage should know the homeowner in trouble will maintain their residence instead of throwing their keys into the street and giving up. We need to keep people in their homes instead of allowing all of these foreclosures," McCain said.
"Senator Obama will create a trillion dollar debt that will remain for our children and grandchildren. We shouldn't do that to our children," added McCain.
He also said U.S. businesses are paying a 35 percent business tax "that is helping to push American companies to other countries."
"Twenty years ago our country had one of the lowest business tax rates. Today we are second in business taxes in the world. Talk to the CEO of Cisco who will keep his business in this country but build new business opportunities in Ireland, where the business tax is only 11 percent. He will take the savings in taxes and put those dollars into research and development," according to McCain.
McCain said he felt good after he boarded his campaign bus at Tuscaro Park in New Philadelphia.
"I am always energized by a good crowd. The more enthusiastic the crowd, the more energized I get. If a crowd is flat, then I don't do as well. Lindsey can tell you that," McCain said, pointing to his Republican Senate colleague, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
"This was a real good crowd today. A good crowd in Steubenville earlier. I'm feeling good about this election. I know the polls in Ohio have showed different results because they are based on different polling models. One shows us behind a couple of points, another shows us even and another poll shows us ahead by a couple points," related McCain while sitting at a small table in the rear of his campaign bus.
"Ohio picks the presidents. That's why this state is so important for us. But I believe we are riding a little bit of momentum as we go into the election. And I believe our momentum started when Sen. Obama stopped by Joe the Plumber's house and told Joe that he wanted to spread the wealth because it was the fair thing to do," said McCain.
"I think Americans are starting to get a real picture of Senator Obama. He is far to the left and really believes in sharing the wealth as a matter of fairness," declared McCain.
When asked about the early voting in Ohio, McCain said he has been "through a lot of elections."
"What we are seeing is a larger early voter turnout in some states. And those early voters are apparently going for Senator Obama. But the difference will be the absentee ballots, which are usually Republican voters," noted McCain.
"I am concerned about the allegations surrounding ACORN. The head of ACORN has recently said they are committed to seeing Senator Obama elected, and they are supposed to be a neutral organization. But the Obama campaign has given money to ACORN. That is something we really do worry about in this election," McCain about the voter registration and political activist organization.
McCain said he is in favor of clean coal technology and wants to see the domestic auto industry rebuild and survive.
"We need to see tax breaks for the auto industry that will save jobs. We need to see tax incentives for more research and development in the United States. We need to give working families $5,000 in tax credits so they can obtain their own health insurance. We need to keep taxes low and stop the excessive spending. That is the pork barrel spending that has led to corruption in Washington," said McCain.
He cited the conviction of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens as the most recent example of corruption in the capital.
"You have Duke Cunningham, the former congressman from California. You have Bob Ney of Ohio, who was in federal prison. That amount of government spending leads to corruption," said McCain.
He also noted Ohio Congressman Ralph Regula was a leader among pork barrel spending projects.
"He is retiring, and now the new congressman from that district won't have the seniority to obtain those pork barrel projects. Wouldn't it be fair if all senators and congressmen had the same opportunity to obtain federal dollars for their district," asked McCain.
He said the winner and loser of Tuesday's presidential election will learn to work together after January.
A candidate for the G.O.P. nomination in 2000, he said America would have been a different place in 2008 if he had won the presidency.
"We would not be in the economic situation we are today. We would have won the war in Iraq years ago. We would never have tortured a prisoner. And we would have had a more comprehensive energy plan already in place by this time," declared McCain.
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einsteen
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11-03-08 1:38 AM
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I've said my peace.I've read enough of your posts to form my own opinion of your agenda so I am aware that ANY opinion other than your own is a futile argument to wade into.We'll just have to agree to disagree and leave it at that.Gotta go,bedtime.Have a nice day!
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einsteen
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11-03-08 1:30 AM
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Ellis - Where I work is a union shop. If I had a problem with that I never would have applied.It is probably a blessing that me first people such as yourself don't try to work there.People that have never been part of anything and can't comprehend working together.Violating contracts may not be a big deal to you, but we are men/women of honor.Not that you would know anything about that.I am not so selfish that I cannot see the greater good.People such as yourself that WOULD cross picket lines and complain about union dues would be better off in your cubicle pushing a pencil anyway.Stay away from real work.When that kid fresh out of college gets newly hired and is given more than you who may have been in that job for awhile, you would change your tune about seniority.Do you have any say in what your boss makes?Also, consider that maybe the companies can occasionally be the bad guy.It is not a one way street with unions always to blame. But I doubt you could comprehend that.
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robojock
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11-02-08 8:34 PM
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The whole process is stupid.
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EllisWyatt
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11-02-08 5:51 PM
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einsteen Did you have a choice as to whether or not you wanted to join the union and pay dues? I'll bet you didn't. Can you choose to refuse to go out on strike if a majority of your union votes yes on the issue? Didn't think so. Do you have the right to demand that the proportion of your dues that goes to political contributions be returned to you? Actually, you do have this right but the unions refuse to comply with the law. I'll bet you don't get to keep that money. Can you decide to do a procedure differently if it saves time-but violates your union contract? Probabably not. Do you have a say in the multi-million dollar salary and perks of your union leaders? No. Can you support a company policy that pays based on production or performance rather than seniority? No, you cannot. So, you see, you are chained to the union wagon, your choices limited, as it will be for us under an Osama presidency.
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einsteen
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11-02-08 3:20 PM
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Robo - I KNEW you had not worked for a union because it was obvious by your lack of knowledge about the whole concept. Of course, Unions are the only place workers complain about each other. That would NEVER happen in an office environment.LOL
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wonderwhy
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11-02-08 2:01 PM
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i had met with some folks about some investment property a while back . this was sent to me Ron Field, president of Mountain Express Mortgage, agreed the situation in Utah is preferable to much of the nation, but fears Sen. John McCain's mortgage rescue plan would make things worse. McCain's plan would renegotiate mortgages between owners and lenders to decrease them. Sen. Barack Obama's plan would merely renegotiate the terms, he said. McCain's plan would lower the value of the mortgage, thereby lowering estimated home values in the neighborhood. If the market recovers, which it usually does, he said, because it's cyclical, then the rescued homeowner would instantly have more equity than his or her neighbors. Fairness and manipulation of the market aside, Field fears a McCain White House would depreciate home prices.
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robojock
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11-02-08 10:44 AM
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Not clouded, as they complain on each other and file grievances on each other.
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robojock
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11-02-08 10:43 AM
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I actually worked for Consol for 2 years, while working on my MBA. I was corporate, not part of the union. Some people actually work and go to school, and hold other jobs. We are those upper tax brackets, of whom Obama wants to give out money to welfare bums.
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einsteen
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11-02-08 5:59 AM
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Robo - You lost me.What good is it to report a fellow union member to the union?The company is the only entity that employs disciplinary actions. A GRIEVANCE is filed with the COMPANY when a union worker feels a company practice took place that violates the mutually agreed upon CONTRACT. Like having your day in court,so to speak. You win some, you lose some,then life goes on. From your post I would deduct you were in a union environment as a subcontractor in some capacity and your opinions are observations of an outsider that may be clouded with your own judgement and nt experience.
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robojock
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11-02-08 1:50 AM
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I take it that you never worked with UMWA! They report each other to the union and file grievances.
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wonderwhy
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11-02-08 1:34 AM
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einsteen. you are right about the GOP talking points. guns abortion and hate.
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wonderwhy
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11-02-08 1:33 AM
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robo- so now you are a union worker too? wow, scientist, economist, college professor, teaching a mulitude of classes. you have sure been around. congrats. but for someone whom claims to be so educated and diverse, your opinions are sure narrow
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einsteen
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11-02-08 12:02 AM
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Bottom line-Regardless of who wins this election,we will be o.k. We may be in a rough patch right now,but we will perservere.We're AMERICA!
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einsteen
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11-01-08 11:48 PM
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Not to mention that name Obama.They can't vote for a president with that name.I tell them I wish his name would have been John Smith! And of course he's a muslim so he will sabotage the whole country - all by himself. I guess checks and balances won't affect the coming armageddon I he wins!LOL
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einsteen
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11-01-08 11:45 PM
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BTW - On my crew we are about 50/50 left-right. We kick politics around every day here lately but "agree to disagree". Most GOP people are all about the 2nd amendment or abortion. But they don't cling to their guns or religion!!!LOL
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einsteen
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11-01-08 11:36 PM
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Who would report you? Your coworkers? WHY?
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einsteen
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11-01-08 11:34 PM
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It's not NEAR as hands on with the union as some would lead you to believe. That's why I find it amusing that somehow being a union worker pigeonholes one to follow lock step with the international.I've NEVER been asked to do anything on behalf of the USW that wasn't my own freedom of choice. That's what makes this country great and unique.
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robojock
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11-01-08 11:32 PM
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Basically, when you are told, "you can not pick up that box, or they will report you". Yes, this happened to me numerous times.
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einsteen
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11-01-08 11:30 PM
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Just because someone is a union member does not change their right or desire to vote red or blue.The USW may endorse Obama but I haven't been asked or even suggested to vote any way but my personal choice.
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einsteen
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11-01-08 11:27 PM
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robo - explain "taken to the point of insanity".
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robojock
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11-01-08 11:07 PM
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einsteen, I respect that you are one of the workers who make us great, but I disagree. Unionization can be taken to the point of insanity, and it has, which that, and free trade is why the Ohio Valley has turned into a jobless hole. As an example, lok at the fact the UMWA is supporting Obama, but the majority of miners that I previously worked with are not. You see, even miners understand that Obama is anti-coal, according to Biden, and according to his policies. WV, especially Northern WV features high sulfur coal, that does not fit well into clean coal processing. Miners in this state understand that, which is why they did not support Kerry, but the union leaders did. If you do not believe me, check the Sierra Club's site and their articles.
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einsteen
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11-01-08 5:48 PM
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Ellis - Please explain to me which union YOU worked in where these travesties happened.I'm willing to bet you never worked a union job or you would show a modicum of respect for the union men and women who work all over this valley.My 20 years working union(16 in USW) allow me to give an educated point of view. People fail to realize that many policies and rights that workers have came from the blood of union members.You dont have a clue.I know I am not the only union worker that posts on this site that sees you for a fool.
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wonderwhy
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11-01-08 5:18 PM
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remember -------to all the people who have a problem with color. obama is half white. Obama /Biden '08
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wonderwhy
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11-01-08 3:35 PM
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Ellis- so what you are insinuating is that not every american has a right to vote. becasue there just are not any cases of the voting machines switching their votes from obama to mccain. wake up, or better yet, don't just go away. you are delusional
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EllisWyatt
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11-01-08 3:22 PM
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I liken government to a giant labor union. The union leadership is corrupt, takes money from members whether they like it or not, has no accountability for how the money is wasted, protects the incompetent and holds back good workers. Does this not resemble government? If you want government to provide everything, what you are admitting is that you cannot or will not provide for yourself. You have no right to health insurance. No person is rejected for HEALTH CARE. Hospitals, by law, must treat you. Why do people expect government to do everything for them? Well, the truth is, this big government liberalism confines 95% of the people to a life of poverty, while the top 5% of rich liberals and bureaucrats reap the benefits. Obama qualifies for a full pension and lifetime health care after 5 years in the Senate. Do his constituents have such benefits? This election will be close. If McCain DOES lose, it will be because the Democrats Get Out The Dead Vote operation worked.
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