Bush-McCain in 2008

Certain, more conservative contributors to this blog (eh hem, John) have suggested that the insistence on labeling the potential John McCain presidency a continuation of George W. Bush’s failed presidency amounts to little more than typical partisan Washington name-calling and political game-playing, and further suggest that it is inaccurate. I could not disagree more.

In my humble opinion, this election must focus on three main issues: the war, the economy, and health care. For each of these issues, I can provide a quick summary of how McCain is like Bush and unlike Obama.

The War. Easy one.  Bush started the war and wants to stay. McCain also wants to stay. Obama wants to implement plans for responsible withdrawal.

The Economy. First, Bush and McCain are alike in that most people know that neither of them understands the economy. Tales of Bush’s economic ineptitude and general detachment have always been documented, but more recently McCain himself admitted the economy is a weak point for him saying, “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.”  And there has been no shortage of experts who agree with him. 

Secondly, as much as McCain’s advisors wish to distance his own economic policies from that of Bush, as this Time Magazine article states, an examination of McCain’s statements on the campaign trail reveal that in general McCain’s economic plans “really do amount to a continuation of two key policy priorities of the Bush Administration: cutting taxes and moving more economic decisions (and responsibilities) into the hands of individuals.”

For his part, Obama has suggested economic policy that stands in stark contrast to McCain. Among other things, his plan proposes a $50 billion stimulus plan, middle class tax relief, eliminating corporate tax breaks, taxing windfall oil profits, more aggressive foreclosure prevention, and investment in education, infrastructure, and clean energy.

Health Care. McCain’s health care proposal seeks to “fix” the American health care system by deregulating the insurance industry (a plan that would likely have effects similar to credit card deregulation, according to this Slate article) and offering individual tax incentives. McCain’s call to “put health care back in the hand of individuals” rehashes the same ideas espoused by Bush in his 2007 State of the Union Address. On the other hand, Obama proposes a universal health care plan that expands the government’s role but would still allow for private insurance for individuals.

*On the subject of McCain’s health care policy, though the article linked here has strong inherent biases, I agree with its content a recommend you read it.

I am sure there are some things on which John McCain and George W. Bush disagree and they clearly do not like one another. However, on what I think are the most important issues of this election, they seem in lock step with one another and in vivid contrast to Barack Obama. Given that, I do not at all think it is inappropriate to suggest that “John McCain is running for a third Bush term.”