McCain camp announces 'jobs first' plan from Mexico

Nick Juliano Published: Thursday July 3, 2008
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Some grim US employment data emerged Thursday, showing 62,000 jobs were lost in June. Meanwhile, Republican presidential candidate John McCain responded with his proposal for a "jobs first" economic plan. The statement was released while McCain was wrapping up a trip to Mexico.

Not missing an opportunity to slam the GOP candidate for his support of open trade that many blame for lost US manufacturing jobs, Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean said the candidate was "hurting America."

"On the same day John McCain is in Mexico promoting NAFTA, we find out America lost another 62,000 jobs last month because of the failed Bush-McCain economic policies that have been a disaster for our country," Dean said in an e-mailed statement. "How much longer must this go on before George Bush and John McCain realize their economic policies are hurting America? What we need is a President who will put American workers first and give hard-working families a tax break."

McCain arrived in Mexico Wednesday night after a visit to Colombia, another country to which he and President Bush favor giving more trade privileges.

The Republican's economic plan was first leaked to Politico's Mike Allen, and McCain fleshed out the proposal further in a statement released Thursday morning.

"Americans across this country are hurting and today's job numbers are just the latest indication. From rising gas prices to home foreclosures, families are struggling to meet economic challenges that become greater every day. Washington can no longer abdicate its responsibility to act. Our focus must be clear: enact policies to create jobs today.

"To get our economy back on track, we must enact a jobs-first economic plan that supports job creation, provide immediate tax relief for families, enact a plan to help those facing foreclosure, lower health care costs, invest in innovation, move toward strategic energy independence and open more foreign markets to our goods.

"The American people cannot afford an economic agenda that will take our country in the wrong direction and cost jobs. At a time when our small businesses need support from Washington, we cannot raise taxes, increase regulation and isolate ourselves from foreign markets. These are the same old siren songs that have failed the American people time and time again."

Democratic candidate Barack Obama was campaigning Thursday in North Dakota, whose residents will actually be able to cast a vote for him in November, unlike Mexican president Felipe Calderon, who McCain met with Thursday.

Obama hit directly at McCain, whom he accused of "fully embracing" a Bush economic policy that has led to six straight months of job losses.

“As we head into the 4th of July weekend, today's report that our economy has lost another 62,000 jobs is a stark reminder that far too many Americans will spend this holiday out of work and struggling to provide for their families because of the failed policies of the last eight years.

“Our economy has now shed 438,000 jobs over the past six months, while workers' wages fail to keep pace with the skyrocketing cost of gas, groceries and healthcare. The American people are paying the price for the failed economic policies of the past eight years, and we can't afford four more years of more of the same. That is the essential issue of this campaign because Senator McCain has fully embraced the Bush economic agenda. I believe it has to change.

“But, as these numbers demonstrate, the American people can't wait another six months. We need action now.

“That's why I'm calling on Congress and the President to enact real, immediate relief with energy rebates for working families this summer, a fund to help families avoid foreclosure, extended benefits for the long-term jobless, and assistance to states that have been hard-hit by the economic downturn.

“As President, I'll move us in a new direction with policies to restore broad-based, bottom up growth that benefits all Americans. I will provide working families with a middle-class tax cut; fight for affordable health care and college tuition; work to help raise workers' wages, and invest in infrastructure, education and a clean energy future to create millions of new jobs. That's the change the American people need.”