The Economic Advisers

Yesterday, the New York Times ran a piece on the economic advisers to the presidential candidates. This morning the National Association of Business Economists had a panel had a panel featuring some of them: Austan Goolsbee for Barack Obama, Gene Sperling for Hillary Clinton (my spouse also works for her), Leo Hindery for John Edwards, Michael Boskin for Rudy Giuliani, and Douglas Holtz-Eakin for John McCain.

I guess the thing that struck me the most is how wide the gulf is between the two parties. All the Democrats have a universal health care program on the table. None of the Republicans do. All of the Republicans want to keep the Bush tax cuts, including McCain who voted against them. All of the Democrats want to roll them back for the wealthiest Americans. All of the Democrats are questioning the trade agreements, although both Obama and Clinton support the Peru agreement which is heading towards ratification. All of the Republicans reflexively support all of these deals.

Goolsbee was funny and engaging. Sperling was earnest. Hindery at a hint of populist anger. Boskin gave the sunniest assessment of the current economy while Holtz-Eakin was very dour. At this point could Rudy be any closer to Bush?