McCain and Obama's Economic Advisers
These people have the ear of the candidates on economic policy
Obama
Economic policy director Jason Furman joined the campaign in June, coming over from the Brookings Institution. There, Furman ran the Hamilton Project, which examined how government can help minimize income inequality while still promoting economic growth. His pro-trade stance made Furman a controversial pick for Obama among unions and liberal activists. Austan Goolsbee is a top Obama policy adviser and a professor at the University of Chicago. Before Furman's hiring, Goolsbee was Obama's economic consigliere, fashioning the candidate's tax plan. He made headlines after a Canadian official said Goolsbee assured him that Obama's tough talk on trade was mere campaign rhetoric.
McCain
Douglas Holtz-Eakin is McCain's senior policy adviser and served as director of the Congressional Budget Office from 2003 to 2005. Holtz-Eakin helped formulate McCain's current tax proposal as well as the one from his 2000 presidential campaign. Holtz-Eakin is considered a fervent foe of budget deficits and is regarded suspiciously by proponents of supply-side economics. Carly Fiorina advises McCain on economic and technology policy. Fiorina was the ceo of Hewlett-Packard from 1999 to 2005. Although Fiorina was fired by hp's board over the company's strategic direction, supporters contend her moves eventually paid off. A pundit on Fox Business Network, Fiorina is often mentioned as a possible McCain veep.
Reader Comments
The Economist
AS THE financial crisis pushes the economy back to the top of voters’ concerns, Barack Obama is starting to open up a clear lead over John McCain in the opinion polls. But among those who study economics for a living, Mr Obama’s lead is much more commanding. A survey of academic economists by The Economist finds the majority—at times by overwhelming margins—believe Mr Obama has the superior economic plan, a firmer grasp of economics and will appoint better economic advisers.
Eighty per cent of respondents and no fewer than 71% of those who do not cleave to either main party say Mr Obama has a better grasp of economics. Even among Republicans Mr Obama has the edge: 46% versus 23% say Mr Obama has the better grasp of the subject.
The Economist Survey
AS THE financial crisis pushes the economy back to the top of voters’ concerns, Barack Obama is starting to open up a clear lead over John McCain in the opinion polls. But among those who study economics for a living, Mr Obama’s lead is much more commanding. A survey of academic economists by The Economist finds the majority—at times by overwhelming margins—believe Mr Obama has the superior economic plan, a firmer grasp of economics and will appoint better economic advisers.
Eighty per cent of respondents and no fewer than 71% of those who do not cleave to either main party say Mr Obama has a better grasp of economics. Even among Republicans Mr Obama has the edge: 46% versus 23% say Mr Obama has the better grasp of the subject.
Stupid
All of you are stupid. Read The Economist. 71% of 400 top economists surveyed from both sides of the aisle and independents--concur Obama is much better on the economics issues.
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