Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign held a conference call with senior adviser Steve Schmidt and senior policy adviser Doug Holtz-Eakin to discuss McCain’s remarks in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on the economy. Schmidt began however by mentioning presidential candidate Sen. Obama’s comment on bitterness influencing voter actions and beliefs, and he said this has become an important and defining moment of the race because it shows how Obama feels toward people in the country.

Schmidt also summarized McCain’s economic policy, starting with cleaning up “out of control” government spending, reducing corporate taxes, and creating plans to grow the economy, which will spur innovation and investments by the people. He also said McCain believes people are over taxed.

Holtz-Eakin said McCain’s plans have the vision to help the American worker and their family, and to clean up spending. He said McCain is proposing to eliminate the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), and offer an alternative tax system that is simpler and more transparent. He also said that the proposal for a temporary summer gas tax holiday is part of the short-tem plan to get the economy going and to look at what is hitting people in the pocket now, such as high gas and food prices.

Holtz-Eakin said the long-term plan is to promote economic growth. He said McCain’s plan includes reducing corporate tax rates so the United States is no longer uncompetitive, pursuing ways to broaden the tax base, and having a balanced budget by the time he leaves office.