Posted on 03/14/2007 7:57:58 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
RIVERSIDE - Former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham and other Republicans helped cost the party the 2006 election because of their pork-barrel spending, out-of-control earmarks and corruption, Sen. John McCain said Tuesday.
"I hope they've learned the lessons that the American people are sick and tired of this incredible waste of tax dollars," McCain said after a fundraiser in Riverside.
"We Republicans came to power in 1994 to change government, and government changed us. And that's why we lost the election: We began to value power over principle."
McCain was elected to Congress in 1982 representing what was then the first congressional district of Arizona. In 1986, he was elected to the U.S. Senate and in 2000 ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for president.
McCain, who is seeking the GOP presidential nomination in 2008, vowed to work to bring an end to earmarks and excessive spending in Congress. Lawmakers need to show fiscal restraint and reform the earmarking system that Cunningham used to exchange favors for bribes, he said.
Cunningham is serving time for tax evasion and conspiring to accept bribes in exchange for earmarks.
Earmarks are amendments lawmakers insert into legislation to fund special projects, such as bridges, road and parks.
"The system corrupted people, and people took advantage of a system that's badly broken," McCain said after having breakfast with donors at the Mission Inn. "We've got to get back to the kind of governance that Ronald Reagan was so successful at and that's being careful stewards of American taxpayers' dollars."
The federal deficit grew under former President Reagan, as he oversaw an escalation in defense spending and tax cuts.
The chairwoman of the Riverside County Democratic Central Committee agreed with McCain that federal spending got out of control while Republicans were in charge of Congress and the White House before the November 2006 election, but questioned whether tackling spending and corruption alone will help the party.
"I think the No. 1 thing is the Iraq war. People are starting to really look at what is happening," Shirley Walton said in a telephone interview. "Every place I go, even people who support (President) Bush say the war has to stop. It's just draining us in every area."
McCain has emerged as a staunch defender of the president and the war and said Tuesday that the United States needs to send as many troops as it takes to fight in Iraq.
McCain, R-Ariz., is one of several candidates seeking the GOP presidential nomination and is on a three-day fundraising tour of the state with a half-dozen stops. He dined with donors over breakfast in the Mission Inn for $500 and held an exclusive roundtable meeting for guests willing to pay $2,300. He did not open either event to the media, but met with reporters afterward.
The president of the Riverside County Lincoln Club, which hosted the event, said McCain raised $50,000 from about 80 donors Tuesday. Doug Jacobs said McCain was impressive and very frank in his meetings with the donors.
Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco, who is on McCain's California finance team, walked with the senator to the breakfast. Riverside City Councilman Ed Adkison and Riverside County Supervisors John Tavaglione and Marion Ashley also were at the Mission Inn.
"We Republicans came to power in 1994 to change government, and government changed us. And that's why we lost the election: We began to value power over principle."
It's what ails us here in California as well.
Ugh... I hate it when I agree with McCain.
he should know...
I would be more sympathetic to this message if McCain weren't a mad, powerdrunk politician himself. The left wing press has started to turn against him, and this is clearly a play to get himself back on the front pages again as their hero.
Soon, it will be McCain-Feingold, part deux.
This coming from a gun grabbin' ("F-" rating from GOA), illegal alien supporting (McCain-Kennedy), 1st amendment depising (McCain-Feingold) "Republican."
Nice principles, John.
I guess that is why McCrazy supports all types of free speech during election campaigns since he's not afraid of losing all that power. /s
Crap! You beat me to it. That was my exact thought when I read the title.
LOL! I know what you mean.
However, what he says here is true.
"We Republicans came to power in 1994 to change government, and government changed us. And that's why we lost the election: We began to value power over principle."
"The system corrupted people, and people took advantage of a system that's badly broken," McCain said after having breakfast with donors at the Mission Inn. "We've got to get back to the kind of governance that Ronald Reagan was so successful at and that's being careful stewards of American taxpayers' dollars."
McCain has emerged as a staunch defender of the president and the war and said Tuesday that the United States needs to send as many troops as it takes to fight in Iraq.
I'm looking for a candidate I TRUST who says the same things.
It ain't 1994 Republicans any more.
The GOP has split into old Republicans last led by Elder Bush and populated by Foreign Realists and Wall Streeters. The others are Bushlickcans populated by grafters and those who neoconned 'W' and will stick by him, no matter what his administration does, since he pushes their ME policies. This group wants Giuliani to carry on for them. Without a true conservative candidate indebted to no one, expect more of same.
I suggest General Pace after he gets dumped.
McKeating never ceases to amaze.
That's right .... it wasn't my fault .... the system made me corrupt.
Two faced McCain speaks again.
You nailed it. Big Time.
OMG, this, from MC CAIN? Hilarious.
John McCain is the ONLY republican running who I simply would not vote for in the general election. This has nothing to do with his politics. I simply despise the man. I wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire.
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