There is not a single doubt in my mind that Obama would push for much more expenditiure than McCain. One has only to look at the earmarks from both to see what the future trends would be.

Both candidates would be big spenders. The question should be who would be a wiser spender? Obama has a clear vision and he cares about the wellbeing and security of all Americans. I would not trust McCain to secure my seatbelt.

Not only would McCain spend more, but he would borrow to pay for his spending - as the huge deficits symbolic of Republicans have shown in the past. On top of it, McCain would spend the money on stupid things such as giving the wealthy even more tax cuts, wars and giveaways to insurance companies and Wall Street.

Historically, Republicans have been bigger spenders than Democrats. Just the past 28 years has shown that the only president so far to balance the budget was President Bill Clinton. I believe that President Obama will be able to not only balance the budget, but spend less money than Senator McCain would in doing so.

Obama would definetely be the bigger spender because of the programs that he intends to inact, which could be helpful but would cost some money, which could run us deeper into debt. But with many other sources pointing out that both candidates have plans that could increase the national debt, theres no way out of this.

I think that they would spend about the same…the bills are coming due and will have to be paid,,,by taxation or deflation or just printing money like crazy. But I also think that Obama will spend on the poor and middle-class in ways that benefit society as a whole…McCain will bailout the rich, over and over again hoping that the ‘trickle-down” theory eventually works. Its been raining money on the elite and connected for decades but my shoes are still dry………Capitalism has worked pretty good for the capitalists…now its time for socialism to work for society……………

Both of their budget projections are only 3 million dollars a year different. What concerns me is how they will raise the money. McCain would get from the middle class and Obama the wealthy.

Too easy, Obama… we have already beared witness to his ability to lie to us about how he would spend during the campaign, how would it differ when he gets into the White House?

The real difference in the two is Iraq. Obama has a concrete plan to stop the war, and stop the 10 billion dollars a month being spent there. McCain promises to bring ‘Victory’ in Iraq, but he doesn’t tell us how long that might take, or how much it might cost.

He doesn’t tell us, because he doesn’t know.

Bin laden has made it clear he wants to “bleed the US to bankruptcy” in futile wars and occupations, and McCain’s plan for Iraq plays right into that strategy. If it takes 100 years to “win” in Iraq, clearly McCain is the bigger spender.

They are both going to spend money because that is what governments do. The only variable is what will the money be spent on. Personally I would rather the money be spent on rebuilding our infrastructure, researching renewable energy, making our health care system more affordable, helping small businesses grow, etc. The other alternatives of waging war and bailing out entities that have gotten where they are through greed and mismanagement are not my idea of spending our monetary resources wisely. If spending the citizen’s money on the citizen’s welare is considered socialism, then so be it. How can this be considered threatening to the citizenry?

JAX Fl. there is no doubt that as is the climate now that war is the main solution to Senator McCains ambition. He would want to protect his trophy from 5 years as a POW. War calls for a large budgetory expense. McCain as he said he is already tested “I am going to test them”. Stump Speech 10/26/2008

McCain would definitely be the big spender; as he is in his personal life (7 houses, 13 cars and a private jet); he will also be with the taxpayers money. And you can bet on it !!

Jack, it looks like they’re both going to be spending a lot of money to implement their new economic plans for America. We know it’s not going to be cheap (because of our ruined economy), but my question is this: who’s truly going to benefit in the end, the rich or the poor? In my opinion, if McCain wins, he’s going to be spending, no, wasting money and continue the old Bush policies. Barack on the other hand will actually be using those dollars to help this country get back on it’s feet, not bury it deeper in debt. Barack will be the one to spend that money wisely, and help America get back on track.

Neither of the candidates could out-do the spending habits of the Bush administration and his Republican cohorts.

McCain keeps talking about how Obama is going to be the BIG SPENDER but, if we get out of Iraq and cease the spending funnel going on there, we can put that money into domestic needs to improve living situations here. You know, SPREAD THE WEALTH to Americans instead of being the world bully!!~ Why doesn’t McCain ever address the Iraq issue anymore? Bash, bash, bash and never mention solutions!!!

Military spending is a core spending program for Republicans and coincidentally also the most expensive. So obviously, McCain would be the bigger spender of the two.

McCain would be the biggest spender - as shown by the current Republican administration. He wants to continue the Iraq war which we will be paying for for several generations and then we will have the future bills for fixing our infrastructure, renewable energy, and other crucial items needed in our country. Obama wants to invest in us - the United States.

Make that McCain! Things have come too easily for him, I doubt that he can identify with our worries and problems.

After all, he owns something like 8 houses, has umteen cars, wears $500 shoes on the campaign trail, etc., I can’t believe he’d be a wise spender - or that he even knows “the value of a dollar.” I can’t even picture him stooping over to pick up a $100. bill should it drop out of his wallet - “it’s only paper!”

It’s not who would be the bigger spender it what are they going to spend it on. McCain on more wars or Obama on our country.

I think they both will be big spenders - McCain will continue spending on the war, while Obama will spend on domestic issues - such as the economy and healthcare. The big difference is that Obama is being responsible and realistic. If you spend more, you need more money coming in. That means someones taxes need to go up. You can’t spend more, cut taxes, and then expect a smaller deficit.

Both have massive spending plans. Even McCain, who claims hes going to have a spending freeze, has a huge tax cut for the rich and corporations that is going to expand the debt. At least Obama is going to save money by getting us the heck out of Iraq, and hopefully whoever wins can cut the gargantuan pentagon budget.

Hi Jack
I think both would spend, however, McCain would spend on the war, Obama on the middle class
where the money is needed.

Since McCain is tied so closely to Bush who has increased our Federal deficit tremendously and also because he favors a lot of military spending, I think McCain would spend more. Plus, it’s expensive keeping all those oil executives and big wigs happy! If you are an American of ordinary means, don’t expect anything from McCain in the way of tax help or better healthcare. What you can expect from McCain is a much greater possibility of more wars!

Peace = Obama!

Jack, the real question is - who would make it better for us out here and that surely is Barack Obama. They only thing McCain is going to spend money on is helping big oil to continue to Drill Baby Drill.

By far, Obama. Maybe he won’t have any distractions from taking care of the economy as Bush has.

It doesn’t matter who the bigger spender is. What matters is what will they be spending on. I figure McCain will spend to invest in more war and Obama will invest in the issues that matter most such as the economy, healthcare, jobs and ending the war that is costing us 10 billy a month.

They would be close to the same, except that McCain’s spending would be for corporate America making the middle class pay and suffer, and Obama’s spending would rebuild the country. McCain will starve the country, giving huge corporate tax breaks with additional hidden loopholes. You can’t rebuild this country and create jobs by freezing all programs, increasing corporate tax breaks to keep shipping jobs overseas. This method of greed is how we got where we are. That’s why we currently can’t recover from natural disasters and repair our bridges.

I think the amounts would be similar. However Obama’s wish list would include: Jobs, education, health care, alternative energy, new power grid, and tax cuts for the middle class.
McCains would be Tax cuts for those with seven or more houses, doubling the size of the military in men & equipment….And by the time he has finished he won’t have to worry about the “Middle Class”, there won’t be any!

it depends on whether or not you consider investments as spending. most of barack’s proposals are not just spending. they are investments that have a good chance at paying off for all americans. we just need to all come together ,after this endless election and make things work. the class warfare of the republicans and their haves and havenots needs to go out the door with their failed party.

Jack,
No Doubt about it Obama would be the big spender. BUT he would be spending it on things to help our country and its people not $150,000 worth of clothes for Sarah and a war we cannot win and no body wants.

My father always told me to make money you have to invest money wisely. Obama would be the biggest spender but it will be beneficial in the long run. We have to invest in Science again people! It will create jobs and just maybe get us out of our slump. Thanks again, George W. Bush!

Given the track record of the last 8 years, I would be scared to death to put the pocketbook in the hands of any Republican. For starters, they charge everything. Biden is right about patriotism and taxes. Isn’t it patriotic to pay for a war you wage rather than put it on a Chinese credit card for future generations to deal with? It took a Democratic president to clean up after the first Bush and it will take a Democrat to clean up after this one, too.

We have a lot to do and it all takes money. The difference is what we spend the money on. War on mostly innocent people like the citizens of Iraq OR health care and education for our own people. The other difference is where most of the money comes from. The middle class who is struggling OR the wealthy who’ve had an eight year party at our expense.

McCain says Obama will pay for his big spending by raising taxes but he hasn’t explained how he will pay for anything (large or small). He says he will freeze all non-essential government spending. “Non- essential” is a subjective qualifier based off of judgment and if his pick of Palin is an example of the kind of judgment he would exercise in making other decisions, all Americans (not just those making over $250,000) grab your coats, because we are headed for a long cold winter!!!!

Considering he wants to stay in Iraq for the next 100 years at $10 billion a month…McCain. The Republicans are trying to run on this “watch out for the tax and spend liberal” platform, when they have had the wallet wide open for the last eight years. I think Obama will spend, but on the right things that will improve us as a Country, where McCain will spend foolishly like Bush.

Both will spend money. The question is what will they spend it on?

I have more faith that Obama will spend wisely and with the citizenry in mind. He will be far from perfect but his heart just might be in the right place and he will certainly be thinking ahead to the future of the country. If he is an ego-maniac, which I think anyone who thinks they can president is, he will be concerned enough for what history will say about the first African American President that it was he who set the stage for future American prosperity and power.

McCain? He’ll stick the Republican playbook, which for all of you should conjure images of 1980-93 and 2000-present.

Definitely McCain, with his tax breaks and deregulation for the rich and the continued war with Iraq and who knows who else. I would rather have Obama spending the same amount of medicare and tax breaks for the little people.

Running up a humongous deficit is as bad as increasing taxes.
And we all saw what happened when the debt gets spread around!

That said, it’s my conviction that both of them will spent like there’s no tomorrow…

If you take out the money spent on foreign wars, I would say Obama. Although he will have more income and the money he spends will be on our country. Not spending it on rebuilding a foreign country so we can blow it up again.

They will both be big spenders, but I have more faith in Obama to spend it wisely.

I think Sen. McCain would be a bigger spender because just like Pres. Bush he would continue policies that would lead to further economic demise and we the taxpayer would have to pony up even more money. McCain would continue to pump billions if dollars into Iraq and by the time he managed to get around to Afghanistan they would need 700 billion dollars too. He talks a good game but he won’t cut Bush’s spending because he has thus far agreed with 92% of it.

I think McCain ultimately would be the bigger spender - war spending and tax cuts are both spending no matter how you look at them. With his attitude of “Stay until there is Victory” & his 90% voting support of the Bush policies leaves the US Checkbook open indefinitely……………..

My guess is McCain will be the bigger spender. Republican administrations in recent history have been bigger spenders. More to the point, I believe McCain, like Bush, will simply “cost” us more.

Bill D.
Champaign, IL

Neither will be able to do what they want early because of the financial situation today. In the long run however there is no doubt in my mind that Obama will be the more fiscally responsible.

Houston, Texas

The real question should be what programs will receive the bulk of the spending? John McCain has promised to cut everything with the exception of defense, as if we need any more bombs being built. Plus, the 10+ billion a month, on a war based on faulty intelligence, isn’t going to lighten the financial woes. But, then McCain wants to cut education? It’s a no brainer that McCan’t should not be president of the United States.

What difference does it make? No one could outspend W. I cringe everytime I think of the money spent, wasted and stolen in and for Iraq. It has hardened me to the numbers like never before. Even if the next president spends more money, hopefully they will be spending it here in the USA on the citizens of this country.

Jack,

What are they going to spend? By the time the next president takes office, congress will have broken the bank with bailouts.

Is this a trick question, Jack?

I’m going to take the opposite tack than most of the posters and say that McCain would be the bigger spender. For one, he wants to stay in Iraq, costing us more than $10 billion a month. Secondly, he’s likely to open up yet another aggressive front in Iran = at LEAST that much per month. Third, he wants to lower taxes on the corporations and rich, who already pay less than their fair share. Plus, Senator “Deregulation” is likely to cause further difficulties in our economy, because, in his own words “I know less than I should about the economy”. When you are in an economic crisis, you want someone who has some ideas about how to resolve it, and you don’t want that person’s chief financial advisor saying the the crisis is all in our heads.

Obama may spend more on domestic issues, but is less likely to mortgage more of the country to China by continuing failed foreign policies. And domestic issues are where I want to see money spent — to improve our healthcare, to shore up Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, to improve our infrastructure of roads, bridges, levees, etc.

Both will spend but who will cut/stop spending for wasteful programs. Dems may be ‘tax & spend’ but at least they tell you how they’re going to pay for a project. Repubs are ‘borrow & spend’ then we all get stuck with the massive debt that’s created long after these clowns are out of office. Spending wisely is what Obama will do & hopefully cut out wasteful spending, including wasteful defense projects.

Obama. Just look at how much he’s wasting on his campaign, Jack!

When you take into account the Iraq war for many years in the future and future wars in Iran, Syria, and possibly Russia, it will be McCain.

Both.

McCain: on issues that will pay hansomely to “my friends”

Obama: on issues that will pay the middle class, everyday struggling Americans!!!

It doesn’t matter who is the bigger spender! They are both taking us to the same place and that is BANKRUPT. Neither of them will balance the budget nor stop big time spending.

So either we spend money at home and go broke or spend money over seas and go broke. Where is the third option! Oh yeah, we only have a 2 party system that makes people feel like crap for voting third party and makes it extremely hard for everyone hear other options.

Sorry folks, don’t tell me I am throwing away my vote! I vote on principle, not the lesser of two evils!

Ron Paul is the only one who could have spanked Obama and wake up the U.S! I hope he runs in 2012, after the demarcates have there turn I think he will get more support! Because nothing is going to change expect the blinders may be shut over our eyes. Demarcates know they have to take care of the U.S first. Then they can continue policing the world, building countries and making our empire strong while giving up our sovereignty to the UN and other world organizations!

Both! It was the most expensive campaign in history. Wasted dollars that could have been spent more wisely like feeding and housing people in this country. Also, they both approved the biggest bailout in history. Both of them are liars and great spenders of other people’s money!

Wildwood Crest, NJ

Either one is going have to spend. No matter what they say. obama has a distinct vision, its going to cost money,perhaps he can raise it taxing the wealthy. McCain proposes a spending freeze, which would cause a disaster in these times of economic chaos. Fixing that later on will require even more money.

This is a trick question because neither has been in a place to control spending. Senate offices put spending bills out and vote on these bills but do not control spending themselves like the president and his administration. If you take the past four presidents such as Reagen, Bush and Bush, we have ten plus trillion in national debt over spending of tax income compared to Clinton who balanced the budget and left a surplus. I would say Obama will control expenses better.

Jack,

it’s not a question of who would be the big spender but who would be the wiser spender. And I would say based on what we have seen with the way their campaigns have been run Obama wins this argument hands down. If he is able to turn the tide in Iraq and get us out sooner than later that’s a $10Billion credit a month in the Obama column..MCCain would extend the War and run up more debt .

This is why I dont like either Obama or McCain. We have doubled our national debt in the eight years of the Bush administration and both of these guys have “pet” projects that will increase it so our great grand childrens great grand children will still be paying off what we already owe. McCain says he will veto earmark and pork legislation and has never proffered any on behalf of Arizona. He didn’t need to since the other Arizona legislator put forth bunches which he votes for along with everybody elses. Obama will see to it we get somekind of health care for those not covered currently. Both will discover that if you dont let some pork go to the folks back home they will turn against you and vote for your opponent. Under either we will be lucky to survive the greed machines both parties repersent.

I agree with many of the comments before me. They will both spend, but McCain will continue to waste money on an impossible war and Obama will spend at home helping to alleviate the staggering issues we now have because of Bush’s years of over spending and failed policies.

it does not matter… the issue is which candidate will spend responsibly and work to balance the budget…

Wars and Nuclear Power are big-ticket items. Trickle-down economics is a proven deficit-booster and bubble-burster. I think it is pretty easy to make the argument that McCain, despite the rhetoric regarding earmarks, would in fact, be a much bigger spender than the pragmatic Obama. Plus, McCain has more factions to please in the fractured and disjointed GOP. Obama is in it to win it, not the election, but a better future for all Americans. McCain’s just fighting for the belt, the title, the trophy at this point. If the state of his campaign does not give you an indication of how miserable and ineffectual his administration would be, you are not paying attention. Republicans cost more than Democrats, period.

A greater question is where the money will be spent. Will it go to further enrichment of the few, or will it go to creating jobs for the middle class and improving their lives. Obama will invest in middle America. McCain will invest in corporate America at the expense of middle America.

I really think that the spending will probably be about the same, maybe a little more with Obama. BUT, the real question is spending on what? President Obama will spend the money where it needs to be spent……right here at home, on the needs of the USA and it’s citizens. Healthcare, education, infrastructure……all of which have been completely and totally neglected by the Bush regime. And by all accounts, McCain intends to do the same. Which is where money should have been being spent in the first place, and not terrorizing middle eastern countries.

I think it would probably be a toss up ,but I would rather have Obama holding the purse strings and looking out for the country’s best interest. The last eight years have proven to be a hole lot of (trick) for the middle class and a lot of (treat) for big business. Obama has brought back a little HOPE in my life!

Jack: Neither—what is left to spend–we have bailed out everybody and we haven’t collected those funds yet.

I think McCain would probably be a bigger spender. Just think about it, nothing seems like more ridiculous spending than to allow your running mate to have such a large budget for clothing, hair and makeup to come out of campaign dollars. She could have been made presentable for one third of the amount spent. Scary to think that this is good judgement in how to spend hard earned dollars.

Let’s put it this way Jack. When I recieved a letter from the RNC to plegde money. I readily agreed to pledge 1,000. I then asked them to feel free to deduct it from the 150,000 they spent on clothing Sarah and the kids. Who wll be bigger spenders….hummmm? Think I can make that a tax deduction? I voted Democrat!

There’s NO MONEY left… they both are going in with the Bush legacy on their heels. The last eight years have more to do with their agendas than their hopes, dreams, and goals will ever have.

It’s hard to tell but both of their spending plans (when spending cuts are taken into account) are estimated to cost $250-300Billion more than the current level of spending which is unrealistic.

Given the choice I’d rather have Obama pick the spending priorities as McCain would continue the Iraq war longer at $10Billion a month AND he’d be more likely to start another war elsewhere. Obama would more likely use diplomacy more and spend money in the US.

I am not sure if anyone could out do the last eight years of republican spending but I’m sure mccain would give it his best shot drumming up another costly war while continuing the Iraq war.

John McCain on the campaign trail said that he will make Washington live on a budget like Main Street only spending on the wars and defence and that he was going to balace the deficit in four years.I guess then the punishment ,hunger and poverty will continue under a McCain/palin administration. Too bad for those who will continue to support the Republican party.I’ve alresdy voted for Obama who will bring REAL CHANGE to America and will spend wisely and will bring this war in Iraq to an end.

Jack McCain probably would spend less but the problem is he will spend money on the wrong things. We need to stop spending 12 billion a month in Iraq, we need to invest in our infrastructure, we need to ivest in alternative energy. All these things cost money now but will save us trillions in the future, so let’s do now what we should have done in the seventies. I was there I remember.

Obama 08

Obviously the bigger spender would be John McCain, since, in addition to continuing George Bush’s spending spree on wars and tax cuts for the wealthy, McCain would have to continue purchasing his vp and family’s rather luxurious wardrobe. After all, “she needs clothes.”

Both of them will raise federal debt, and in fairness to both, if it wasn’t for the last 8 years, we wouldn’t have to worry about our debt, but we do. The fundamental difference between Obama and McCain is that Obama wants to try new things because what we’ve been doing the past 8 years isn’t working at ALL. McCain wants to continue those things, which have resulted in an economy slower than frozen molasses. Obama wants to implement things we absolutely need, and all McCain can conjure up is pork-barrel spending, which conveniently enough for him, he and his running-mate share quite a bit of. We don’t know who will ultimately be the bigger spender because both of them are not going to be able to do everything they want thanks to Bush.

There’s no money left to spend. But if there were which one has spent money on houses, cars, lavish designer clothes? Which one has a single house, an economy car, shops at Target?

As proven by Bush.. Republicans are the biggest spenders so McCain will be the biggest spender and biggest creator of debt

Just the facts Jack. According to the Tax Policy Center Senator McCain will increase the deficit by 5 trillion dollars over 10 years a 50% increase. Senator Obama will increase the deficit by 3.5 trillion dollars over 10 years a 35% increase.

Thanks Jack!

Jack, Obama’s economic plans suggest he would spend more. However, in light of our economic problems and the moneys the governmernt has and will spent on bailouts etc., both my have to spend more to offset what is needed now and in the future.

The current “Democratic Congress” and a Democratic President who is spending the devil out of an extraordinary amount of “donations” pretty well answers that. (still wonder where all that is coming from).

All the bright shining light promises now, will somehow fall by wayside
after the dust has settled….”mesmerized…and they didn’t even see it coming…”

The republicans are mad because they had their way for the past 8 years spending wildly and their afraid democrats will get their way now. Well guess what, maybe a little spending into the pockets of the little people isn’t such a bad idea. I love how they say Obama is for spending, McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time and Bush has spent us into oblivion and not just on the war. If McCain gets in, we’ll have more wars with more countries who don’t agree with him and he has a hair-trigger temper.

The bigger spender will no doubt be McCain, following in the tracks of George W, the premium SPEND AND BORROW Republican. I’m tired of hearing about the TAX AND SPEND Democrats when the current administration has sacrificed our national interests and integrity by borrowing from other nations. These foreign nations are no doubt going to call on us for favors! Wouldn’t it be better for our citizens to pay taxes and get ourselves out of the hole we are in?

I like Barack Obama, but I’m ashamed and disappointed about his big expenditure for 30 minute info-mercials. Couldn’t he cut the time in half and send the rest of the money to a Food Bank or homeless shelter?…something to help people who are hurting right now? I think this would get more votes than making the TV and cable companies richer! Guess no one was listening to Campbell Brown when she suggested this awhile back ! Thanks, Margie Registered NM voter

McCain will add more taxes to the middle and low class people if he is elected president. He will be able to buy more houses,but most of he will veto all the bills that come across his desk from demoratic senator’s as he have said in so many words.It will be harder for low class and some of themiddle class people to get homes,cars,and student loans for their childern to go to colleges.Joe the plummer doesn’t own an company and plus OBAMA didn’t go to his house.This man was out in his own yard playing ball with his son.He could have stayed in his, but he wanted to been seen on television.Please this man needs to get act together.

McCain, Obama will try to put an end to this war in Iraq and that will be half of Americas problem solved right.

Probably Obama, will be the bigger spender. Democrats traditionally try to help the less fortunate more so then the Republicans. Any form of government help/assistance costs money. I don’t think Obama will be able to go forward with all of the programs he has touted, but he will push forward with some of them.

McCain. Everything has to go through the Congress first. McCain says he will balance the budget in his first 4 years…How? By cutting revenues that could be used to buy down the debt? Not hardly. Obama has some large programs also, but we think he will be much the wiser of the two in how to use the budget in order to keep the debt in line and get it reduced. One way to reduce the national debt is reduce our “overseas” funding of wars, actually have “real bids” for any contract work to be done, unlike the “no bid” contracts handed out by the Bush Administration for the past 8 years.

What difference does it make, Jack… Our money is only printed paper now, anyway.

John (Bush) McCain will quadruple our debt with wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Pakistan, North korea and Venezuela; Palin/McCain will also fund more police, more prisons, and tighter security to control economic dissidents; plus corporate subsidies and tax breaks to oil corps., defense contractors, drug companies, and banks; plus huge entitlement payments for medical care and disability for wounded veterans; massive defense budgets.

Jack,

This is really a tough question — let me take a few minutes to think about this one — hmmm. Well, considering the $150,000 spent on a wardrobe for the Palin family because “Sarah needed clothes” as McCain indicated — this is a no brainer. A shopping spree at Neiman’s and Saks, wow, Macy’s and Dillards not good enough. At least Obama’s clothes were not paid for by the DNC and in regard to Obama outspending McCain — well that is due to contributors like me.

Spending and wasting are two different things. Barack has a clear plan for investments that will help to get our economy going both short-term and long-term. Think about it. If you fix the levees, you give people jobs. They spend money and businesses do better. The levees don’t break and we don’t lose crops, and food prices don’t go up. People don’t lose their homes, so we don’t have to “waste” money fixing them. People don’t lose their businesses and we don’t lose jobs. McCain will continue to waste our money in Iraq and while he promises all kinds of great things, he proposes no way to pay for them.
Joe in Ohio

Owing to McCain’s fixation on wars and lack of education on the economy he will spend the most without even realizing it. It will go to the National Debt and not come from taxes. He will never give up military offensive to curtail spending. He kinda likes it.

He will focus on the earmarks that comprise less than 3% of our spending. This is the only part he understands and is able to discuss.

On yeah…that housing bailout for consumers will go away as soon as he is in office….his cronies won’t let that happen. No Bank is going to eat the difference between the original cost of the house and the value now.

Jack,

That’s the wrong way to ask the question. Instead, you should ask “who would spend the US tax dollar more wisely?” It is a given fact that whoever wins the election will need to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on the failed and unjust war in Iraq in order to support our troops who have been put illegally into harms way by the current administration. Also, the next president will need to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to help the US and our economic partners out of the most explosive financial crisis the world has ever known which, has also been caused by the same questionable individuals in the current administration. So, who would spend the US tax dollar more wisely (?), the answer is obvious; Obama would of course spend the money more wisely because he’s actually got a plan and he actually understands national and international economics. McCain’s plan is to stop (Ho Really?) the ear-marks and pork barrel spending in Congress???? What McCain knows about economics comes from his mis-guided, uninformed, and crooked republican advisors.

Of course McCain. He wants to go on with the war in Irac. And others will follow. He gives lot of money to big companies and the wealths around to keep them as friends he used to live with.
He doesn’t know anything about average and common people.
Good luck Americans with such a president..

Obama may soend more, however, he intends to obtain the money he spends from cutting wasteful spending…unlike the Republicans who just add to the debt and/or print more money devaluing the dollar.

Jack,
McCain will continue to spend millions for years on the Iraq war.
Obama will deescalate the war and will go through the spending that is now and cut out the over spending projects. This money will cover the cost of the projects Obama will implement to help out our country.
J.K. Boise, Idaho

McCain would be the bigger spender because he would perpetuate the war in Iraq and would extend the Bush tax cuts. You just can’t keep spending and cutting taxes on the wealthy. This scenario proves McCain is just 4 more years of the failed Bush policies and the voodoo economics of Reagan catching up with us.

Obama’s programs would be able to be funded at least partially by much less spending in Iraq and the tax increase on the wealthy, back to Clinton levels in the 90’s.

One idea I would like to throw out there - a national lottery with all proceeds going to reduce the deficit. People love to gamble.

The question is not who would be the bigger spender — it is who would deliver the most value to the American people for the buck! Bush was the biggest spender of all. He wasted billions in tax breaks for big corporations and the wealthy, and $10 billion a month in Iraq. Now, McCain wants to maintain those same economic and foreign policies and is trying to call Obama a “tax and spend liberal.” What a joke!

I think they would both spend the same dollar amount, just on different programs. Spread the wealth, spread the health, spread the Stealth,..all adds up to money we do not have anyway.

McCain..

1. warmongers always spend more money

2. clothing Palin … that is expensive….

3. Cindy has expensive tastes and may want to stop spending her own money.

Obama will spend less because he is able to be thoughtful and see the big picture. Obama sees the forest for the trees, whereas McCain gets stuck in the branches and cannot imagine more. A pilot focuses on specific targets he does not have any idea what the big battle plan is. A community organizer goes in trying to change the whole. Both are necessary for the functioning of a government but the latter, the organizer, is necessary as president. I did not like reagan at all, thought he made a mess- why did Bush 41 have to increase taxes after Reagan (that’s another conversation), but his strength was that he saw the big picture).

Have you not been watching the canidates Jack? Obama on his own would spend more. Combine this with the Democratsearmarks, Pelosi, Reed and their promises of spending and it will be staggering. The Democrats by nature make promises and pay for them with new or higher taxes.
McCain wants a freeze on spending and an end to earmarks. Do the math Jack!

I know this is not your qestion of the day but I would like to know why if you are white and do not vote for Oboma, you are look at by main stream meda as a racist. But if 98% of blacks vote for Oboma no one rasies the question orraises an eye brow.

It depends on how you spin it.

To state it as objectively as I can (I voted for Obama): Obama has proposed a lot of new spending, but he has also proposed ways of paying for it, or having it pay for itself. College in return for national service, ending the war in Iraq to pay for numerous programs; that’s just two examples.

McCain has not, in my mind, told me how he will pay for anything he proposes to do without it costing the taxpayers. Taxing health care benefits. Conversely, a tax credit for health care benefits (how will he pay for that?). Continuing the skirmish in Iraq indefinitely.

So I think McCain is planning to spend more money without any form of payback or offset.

Obama will spend less because he is able to be thoughtful and see the big picture. Obama sees the forest for the trees, whereas McCain gets stuck in the branches and cannot imagine more. A pilot focuses on specific targets he does not have any idea what the big battle plan is. A community organizer goes in trying to change the whole. Both are necessary for the functioning of a government but the latter, the organizer, is necessary as president. I did not like reagan at all, thought he made a mess- why did Bush 41 have to increase taxes after Reagan (that’s another conversation), but his strength was that he saw the big picture).

After the spending of the last eight years it’s pretty hard to say any party spends as much as the Republicans do. They just repeat “tax and spend” regarding the Democrats so as to deflect away from the spending that both Bushs and Regan did. You can’t have a bad economy and a war without the government spending mony.

Jack,
McCain will continue to spend millions for years on the Iraq war.
Obama will deescalate the war and will go through the spending that is now and cut out the over spending projects. This money will cover the cost of the projects Obama will implement to help out our country.
Judy Knight, Boise, Idaho

McCain will spend in one month on the war in Iraq, what Obama will spend in one year on domestic programs.

Jack
I do believe that because of what we are now facing they both will spend a fair about, but I do believe that in would be 60/40 McCain

Oxford, MS
They would spend about the same which is WAY too much. Obama blow our money sending troops to Afghanistan, leaving some in Iraq and having a bunch of welfare programs here while sending billions in aid to other countries. McCain would blow our money blowing people up in Iraq, Afghanistan, possibly Iran and some other places. Since neither party nominated a fiscal conservative were going to move closer and closer to bankruptcy no matter which guy we elect.

I think the question should be who would spend the taxpayer’s money more prudently? I know it will be Obama.

Jack, I actually believe McCain would be the bigger spender. Obama may appear to be, but once you factor in the millions of dollars per month we spend at war in Iraq, I have no doubt that McCain would win the title.

Bush tax cuts, Iraq war, hands-off defense contracts and homeland security contracts. McCain wins.

I did the math, Mccain+Bush=More money for the Fat Cats. Obama+Biden= A helping hand to all Americans!! McCain would absolutely be the biggest spender!

Many of Obama’s expenditures would be to increase American’s opportunities to have jobs and a college education. He has been more clear about how he would manage expenditures and income taxes.

McCain would spend more, He’d give all his big corporate buddies their tax break and we working middle class folk would pay them. How ironic it is that the middle class pays more taxes while the top 5% pay none thanks to the Bush tax breaks. Thinking that McCain would noto continue the irresponsible spending habits of his buddy Bush, we’ll get BUSHED AGAIN!

They will not have any real “Money” to spend, The cash is gone. The question should be who will pay off our debts and increase our cash reserve while growing the economy. I believe that Obama will be the one to dig us out of the financial mess we are now in. McCain will just keep on spending what we don’t have and dig us into an endless pit.
Judie
St. Augustine, Fl

It doesn’t matter. We all need to buckle up and get ready to sacrifice in order to get this economy back on track. It’s about damn time for a flat rate income tax too. And ending the war in Iraq should help until we have to start building troops up in Afghanistan. Either way, we all need to relook deeply at how we live and think about not just ourselves but our neighbors. What can we do, collectively as a community, city, state, nation, to help each other.

With the economy the way it is, I don’t think either of them would be big spenders. If I had to choose, I’d pick the candidate who was elected president of Harvard’s Law Review over the candidate who brought up the rear of his academy class.

McCain will maintain the Bush tax cuts for the rich and keep the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. That will create a bigger hole in the treasury and will make the strain on the economy worse.

They are both big Spenter Jack. Did n’t you know that why we hire them to spent money on the programs that benefit the rich and let the middle class pay for it..

We don’t have any money to spend, China…

McCain will continue the war in Iraq and continue the bush tax cuts to the rich which means McCain will far out spend Obama 2 to 1. Obama wants the money we are spending in Iraq redirected to the American people!!! This is a NO BRAINER!!!!

McCain will be by far the bigger spender. He will keep the war going for years and perhaps look for more chances to deploy our military and commit the US. He will also keep the tax cuts for the wealthy and cut programs that would help our young people and needy families. He will be putting the money in the wrong places. Obama is taking knocks now about not accepting public financing. How could he? He was just overwhelmed by the amouint of small donations that were thrust upon him. A grandmother on social security would send $10.00 and a single parent may send $5.00 and all of these little donations add up to a big “campaign kitty.” McCain could have chanced it by not accepting public financing but he knew he would be no match for Obama,unless Cindy coughed up some of her fortune .

McCain by far, he voted with Bush, the President that doubled our national debt, 90% of the time, he wants to continue the Iraq war at all costs, currently $10 billion per month, he supports deregulation which means more mutli-hundred billion dollar bailouts on the horizon. Need I say more.

I think Obama would be the bigger spender, but also the bigger saver. The spending would be on health care, education, the infrastructure, seniors, and a multitude of other thing that matter to us. The savings would be on unnecessary wars, extravagant waste, and tax breaks to big corporations. I’m with Obama, because the net benefit to us will be a plus.

Hi Jack:

I think if would be McCain because he wants to stay in Iraq and fight for victory (whatever that means to him). Palin has also said she wants money for her projects. Where is the money for this coming from? You guess it a tax raise for everybody.

Bennie
Avon, IN

hi jack, it’s good to se you..mccain took the public money which only has 84 million dollars; but he took a loan out during the primary running against romney and other bafoons..obama noticed that he had to beat mccain and gop because 84 million dollars isn’t enough money to beat them..he noticed that the money that he raised during the primary was very astonishing as well record-breaking..now obama surpassed his expectations, he can do whatever he wants to do meaning paying volunteers,ads,etc,..if obama wins this election, this will proves he can’t be mess with and proves that he’s very smart man..

McCain will push for expenditures erratically and independently, the maverick that he is. Obama will study the need and will invite consultants to analyze the situation before presenting a spending proposal. Look how well, financially, Obama’s campaign was run. I prefer intelligence(Obama) to hunches (McCain).

The question is really not the who, but the how .
McCain can be quoted as saying he will ‘freeze’ all spending except that for defense meaning Iraq. No program funds for Vets coming home, no help for Health Care, no help for Education, and so on and so on.
He will however ‘find’ the money to keep fighting a war that the majority disapprove of. He will ‘find’ the funds to continue to cover the tax breaks for the rich.
The rest of us can just scrounge around for the crumbs that ‘trickle down’ from the cake being consumed by the wealthy elite.

It isn’t as important how much money is spent as it is how wisely the money is spent. I think that Obama will be much more fiscally responsible than McCain.

Heather
Elko, Nevada

McCain by a longshot, by a landslide, the only thing the man understands is WAR and it cost’s plenty to do that…

Elizabeth in NC

Jack,
Barack Obama has already stated that some programs will have
to be put on hold and we will have to tighten our belts. He is
intelligent enough to realize our government cannot go on
with business as usual.
There has to be spending by our government but the difference
will be that it will be funded and controlled. Obama will have
the best financial advisors available, Mccain will continue on
with his cronies ie, Phil Gramm etc.
No more borrow, borrow, borrow, spend, spend, spend.

George Bush Jr = McCAIN. The Republicians have always out spent the Dems!!

McCain vs. Obama: Who would be bigger spender?

Neither could meet the out of control spending of GW Bush..

But of the two I think that Obama would spend more, however he wouldn’t be foolish with his spending..

There’s an old saying, “If you dance you’ve got to pay the fiddler”, well the GOP have been dancing for years and now we have to pay..

Jenna
Roseville CA

McCain would spend more, especially after he starts WWIII. That would probably cost a little more than Iraq (a war McCain want’s to go on forever), don’t ya think Jack?

I figure to go to war with Russia, Iran, Syria & China, we will have to spend about 100 billion per month, until the nukes fall.

Look who has promised the most: Obama. This is too easy.

But the polls are tightening, and he isn’t going to win, so the point is moot.

Biggest spender of WHAT? We was robbed. What Bush didn’t spend, the FAT CATS on Wall Street stole and then convinced us to replace what they stole so they could do it again.

Like I said,…..BIGGEST SPENDER OF WHAT?

The republicans have proven they can spent with the best of them. Unfortunately, the fixes we need are going to require a lot of money to be spent, so if they truly address the issues, they are both going to spend a lot.

The question should be who will spend the money most wisely and that would be Obama.

Its not about who will spend more money, its who will manage their money better. If you control spending in other areas, how much you spend doesn’t matter! I believe Mr. Obama will spend better because he’s done so during the election.

Hurst, Texas
Obama.
This may prove to be a necessity given our current economic woes.
However, I expect that Obama will submit a balanced budget by his 4th year in office.
Remember them?

Well, there’s two ways you can look at it. For example, inital spending for a health care program would be costly, but in the long run not as costly as no health care program at all. Don’t we all have a right to the best?

McCain says he would not be yet he is ready to fight! Fight everything the economy, health insurance or national health insurance, medicare, social security, and oh yes all the WARS he will win. It all takes money to fight everything lots and lots of money. So McCain would be the one to spend more lots more.
Paul
Round Rock, Texas

Obama said he would pull our troops out of Iraq (responsibly) and that would save us billions. He will put more troops in Afghanistan (justly so) but it won’t cost as much as what we’re spending in Iraq. He also said he would go by each line item of programs and eliminate the ones that are of little or no value to the American people. To me that is an intelligent plan to rebuild America.

Now what does McCain intend to eliminate if he gets elected? Oh well what do you know, he has no idea what he wants to eliminate! Its spend, spend, spend for McCain. Stay in Iraq and continue spending $10B a month. Buy out the mortgages for those who are facing foreclosure–that’s an expense. I tell you, McCain’s plan is no different that Bush.

At least Obama is looking for resources (other than taxation) to offset his plans to rebuild America. You don’t hear that from McCain.

Jack,

Independent analyses based on Congressional Budget Office figures indicate that McCain’s plan shows the biggest jump in the deficit. FactCheck.org states that both Obama ($3.5 trillion) and McCain ($5 trillion) will increase the debt over 10 years. Obama’s plan represents a more than 30 percent reduction of Bush’s debts, and is 30 percent lower than McCain’s proposed debt. The verdict: McCain will spend more and he’ll be on par with Bush.

I believe that Obama would Spend more until he started cutting waistefull spending on programs that aren’t working and bringing our troops home. That would save us alot of money right there. Obama plans on going through the budget line by line. McCain would cotinue us in the same down ward spiral we are in.

Well, Jack I believe they both would have to spend if elected, but a more important question to me is what would they spend our tax dollars on. I believe Senator Obama will be spending it on our future creating and keeping jobs here in America, on developing alternative energy so we no longer have to depend on foreign oil. I believe he will address the rising cost of health care and education and try to help the middle class to stay afloat. On the other hand, John McCain will continue to borrow money from China to support a war that most people believe is over. He will also give bigger tax cuts to corporations in the misguided belief that it will trickle down to the rest of us. Well let me tell you after 8 years it has yet to trickle down to the middle class. How could it, when it has to get past the greedy fists of the CEO’S.

McCain will be the big spender for sure. His tax plan, his plans for continuing the war in Iraq and agitating Iran probably to war, tusseling with Russia …..the list goes on.

I firmly believe that McCain would be a greater spender than Obama. McCain wants to continue spending 10 billion a month in a hopeless situation in Iraq. McCain wants to continue borrowing from China to fund his little chess game in the Middle East. Borrowed money comes with a cost - interest rates. I would much rather see the money that comes from our taxes used to help out people in our country. We need universal health care, affordable higher education, improved infrastructure, and so many more things. McCain and his Repub friends do not care about taking care of our country. They would rather go play war games in other countries and to build exorbitant military forces that are not needed. Did someone tell those folks the Cold War is over? I am not sure their brains came out of the Cold War without frostbite. I am for the person who is going to solve the problems in our country, and that seems to be Obama and the Dems. Palin the clueless- what a joke - is there more that needs to be said.

With the economy in the tank , both would have to spend more to put people back to work. I trust Obama to do more for the middle class. McCain doesn’t know how many houses he has so I’m sure he hasn’t written a check or paid a bill since he married Cindy. I don’t think he can relate. I’m with Chris Rock……vote for the candidate who has only one house.

You know either one of them could spend a lot of money. The question is how wisely will they spend it? Who can not run his own campaign?Who did not choose his own VP? Who thinks it is ok to keep spending money in Iraq for 100 years? Who voted for 4 out of 5 GWB’s budgets? Who does not care about the middle class? I don’t even have to tell you, you know!!!

I actually don’t care how much is spent in year one to get things rolling correctly, but I honestly think McCain would spend more based on his last few crazy offers to do some of the most stupid things ever conceived, “fed gov directly buying up bad home mortgages,” for one. Who is the socialist, now? At least, Obama’s spending is neither corporate welfare nor totally based on middle class welfare, but actual stimulus to energy independence and job creation.

Using a very relative term like ’spending’ invites many interpretations, however, for over-all impact on the federal budget, and for making the federal deficit even BIGGER, McCain would win wallets down. The war, the tax cuts for big oil and big business, all increase the burden this country is laboring under thanks to Bush. A trillion dollar surplus and more was spent on a perpetual war whose only beneficiaries were the American subcontractors and the Iraqi Federal Reserve.

Obama would probably spend more than McCain. However, it’s a question of what Obama will spend on. Personally, I think that the $10 billion a month we’re spending in Iraq — while they sit on a surplus –might give us a better return on our investment if we spend it wisely here at home. Speaking of McCain, I wonder how he’s going to invest in alternative forms of energy if he imposes a spending freeze on everything except defense, veterans’ care and healthcare. Sounds to me like a Catch-22!!!!!

Chris from NC

McCain is for Corporate America and big donations. McCain is for the Iraq war and big money. Obama may be using more money on his campaign trail, but McCain would spend the big money, if he were in the White House and put the American people and this country in further debt.

I think Obama would be a bigger spender. He would spend more on renewable energy, healthcare and fixing the economy than McCain, because in McCain’s own words, he’ll “put a freeze on all government spending”. Which means what? That all the promises HE’s making won’t happen. People need to realize we NEED to spend money in order to get us out of the multiple messes we’re currently in. Maybe we’ll be in debt a little longer, but with the right programs in place the economy will balance out and our kids will have a far better future.

Who was the bigger spender between George W. Bush and Bill Clinton? I’d expect it to be the same this time too.

What will the next President have to spend? W has already spent everything!

Jack, I believe that there has already been an independant study of the two budget plans, and McCain will spend more.

This is a no brainer Obama wants to socialise everything. The beauty of it is I don’t make over 150k a year so I won’t haft to pay for it. So let me be the first to say thanks to both you and Mr. Blitzer Jack!

We’ve heard about tax and spend liberals for years, but Bush wins hands down in the spend department. If McCain is going to adopt his economic plans, I’d say McCain.

It’s hard to say which would spend the most, but I do know they would spend the taxpayer money differently.
McCain would continue to adher to the Reagan/Kemp “trickle down” theory that only helps those that do not need help (rich folks), and spend 10 million a day on the uncalled for war in Iraq
Obama would spend money on things like education, health care and the country’s inforsturcture that will benefit all Americans.

McRage would be the bigger spender by financing all the wars he would start trying to prove to the world how tough he