Club for Growth is sweet on McCain

National Review ^ | Thursday, March 27, 2008 | [David Freddoso]

[Behind Liberal Lines]

McCain is right on Free Trade.

Conservatives rightly have many fears over John McCain. However, it is noteworthy that on certain issues — health care, earmarks, agricultural subsidies, and the subprime situation ("no bailouts!") to name a few — he is notably superior to our current president.

The Club for Growth today released this statement on his free trade policy, which is also meritorious: 

Washington – The Club for Growth commends Senator John McCain for calling for a new free trade agreement with the European Union.

Currently, the United States and the European Union have low tariffs on most manufactured goods traded between the two entities.  Even with these tariffs in place, U.S. trade with the EU accounts for the largest bilateral trade relationship in the world.  These tariffs, though, function like a tax on goods and services at the international level.  Tariffs penalize American and European consumers for engaging in business with their transatlantic partner and serve as a disincentive for commerce.  Removing these tariffs would be a huge boon for economic growth for all countries involved.

Incidentally (although it won't matter in the long run), the strong Euro-weak dollar situation would make such a policy particularly advantageous for us at the moment.

[EternalVigilance]

The Club for Growth commends Senator John McCain for calling for a new free trade agreement with the European Union.

Well, down goes the CFG.

[death2tyrants]

We don’t have to worry about negatives about free-trading with the EU. Their labor costs exceed ours. I imagine it’d be the Europeans worring about work being outsourced to the U.S.

[wastedpotential]

The CFG is now officially nothing more than a puppet of the RNC and the McCain campaign.

[rob777]

"The CFG is now officially nothing more than a puppet of the RNC and the McCain campaign."


Yea, the RNC really had them in their back pocket when they were criticizing the Bush Administration and pre-2006 GOP controlled Congress for its wild spending spree. They also were doing a masterful job of carrying water for McCain in the GOP Primary when they touted the economic records of Rudy, Mitt and Fred with far more gusto than they did McCain.

[EternalVigilance]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Keyes2000mt]

The CFG will commend and condemn things candidates say. There are too few allies to write everybody forever.

Most are at this point saying, "Better McCain than Obama and Hillary." Really, I don't see how this works. Particularly with a possible Bob Barr bid in the Libertarian Party coupled with Alan Keyes runnning on the Constitution ticket (or Roy Moore.)

People are scared of Hillary and Obama, I am too. But I look down the road under John McCain and I don't see how we: 1) get anything good out of the deal, 2) don't avoid a worse train wreck in 2012.

[AFPhys]

Those considering voting Libertarian are even more foolish than those who voted for McCain in the primaries.

[Grunthor]

“Those considering voting Libertarian are even more foolish than those who voted for McCain in the primaries.”

You’re right, GO CONSTITUTION PARTY!

[AFPhys]

lol... yeah... sure... right... go Greens... /bs

[Vigilanteman]

CFG's expertise is limited to economic issues. I've found them to be reliable straight shooters on economic issues. If they say something positive about McCain, he's earned it. They do not pass out their compliments cheaply.

However, CFG has no expertise on national security issues, where McCain is a disaster with his open borders stance. CFG has no expertise on first amendment issues, where McCain is a jerk with his sponsorship of McCain-Feingold. CFG has no expertise on environmental issues, where McCain is a dupe with his buy-in of global warming. But CFG is highly credible on economic issues where McCain has been decent.

[Keyes2000mt]

Here's McCain attacking the Club for Growth and arguing that it was their fault the GOP lost the Senate because they attacked Lincoln Chaffee.

Actually, I'd say it was the fault of the NRSC for spending $1 million in Rhode Island during the Republican Primary rather than using those resources in Montana and Virginia where they were needed.

[EternalVigilance]

Any perceived positives that RINOs offer on any front, including the economy, are illusory, because they always end up caving to and empowering the Left one way or another.

Any “conservative” credentials McCain possesses are a Potemkin Village. Just for show.

[Vigilanteman]

I think you are probably right. The previous post just offers evidence. Spending wads of money to help a jerk like Lincoln Chaffee in a far left state like Rhode Island while comparatively ignoring winnable races like Virginia or Montana is one more reason I won't give a dime, only peso notes, to the party but will support individual candidates.

I think CFG is being soft on McCain because the standards have been so greatly lowered with the choice of candidates remaining. Do I think he's great on economic issues? Not by a long shot. Is he better than Hillary or Obama? Absolutely.

I still can't bring myself to vote for the man. But I understand people who will-- they are taking a chance that he might finally turn away from the dark side after his enemedia admirers turn on him to elect Hillary or Obama. False hope? Probably. But a drowning man will grasp at a straw.

[EternalVigilance]

That’s why I’m supporting Keyes and the Constitution Party.

I’ve labored nearly twenty years in the GOP trenches, but those redoubts have been overrun by George Soros’ mercenaries.

Thank God someone had a fall-back trench prepared to fight from.

[Vigilanteman]

You can be greatful you live in the State of Idaho where the Constitution Party may soon be a viable alternative. I’m not even sure if we have one in Pennsylvania. But I’d move to Idaho in a heartbeat if I could find a job there. I’ve sent all my kids to college there because I don’t want to have their heads messed with by leftwing professors (which Idaho still has, but MILD compared to this part of the country).

[EternalVigilance]

We’re working in PA too.

If conservatives will simply do the right thing, the world is going to change. Quickly.