While White House hopefuls Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama wasted no time trading barbs in their second presidential debate, they agreed on the one man they would like to see running their Treasury Department to help pull the U.S. economy out of a tailspin: investment guru Warren Buffett.
“A supporter of Senator Obama’s is Warren Buffett. He has already weighed in and helped stabilize some of the difficulties in the markets and with companies and corporations, institutions today,” McCain said.
“I like Meg Whitman, she knows what it’s like to be out there in the marketplace. She knows how to create jobs. Meg Whitman was CEO of a company that started with 12 people,” McCain said, referring to one of his own economic advisers who used to run online auction giant eBay.
“Warren would be a pretty good choice — Warren Buffett, and I’m pleased to have his support,” Obama said. “But there are other folks out there.”
Who would voters like to see running the Treasury Department under the next administration and working to fix the economy?
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage
- Photo credit: Reuters/Jim Young
Trackback
33 comments so far
Previous | 2 | 1 | Next
” He doesn’t\’t give away money like Bill Gates.”
ROFL.
are you serious? Buffett is the Gates Foundations biggest donor
- Posted by JohnKevin Phillips. Non-partisan, brilliant, and way ahead of the madness.
- Posted by Ray OwensBuffet would make a great Secretary of Treasury. If he would take the job. What is needed in that position is someone who understands economics as well as markets. Buffet does. Paulson knows markets, but doesn’t really grasp economics. O’Neil was a great Secretary, but Cheney ran him off.
- Posted by getplaningum, Buffet just donating roughly 30 billion to the Gates foundation, is against removing capital gains on stock sales, and while is rabidly good at making money, he’s also amazing at giving it away. go check out the wiki on him for a start; then maybe read a book on a subject you’re so passionate, yet so ignorant.
- Posted by matt“He doesn’t give away money like Bill Gates.” —> In 2006 Buffett pledge to give away 85% of his fortune to Bill-Melinda Gates foundation. We’re lucky to if he’s willing to take job. I don’t think he would though.
- Posted by kobenMr. Buffet is too smart to be in politics or an appointee; furthermore, he has pledged nearly his entire fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Please check your facts before spreading bad information.
Thanks
- Posted by ChrisConspec, are you kidding me? Warren Buffett’s decision to give nearly all of his fortune to charity (The Gates Foundation, among other charities) is the largest charitable gift of all time. Buffett lives in a modest house in a modest town, drives himself around in a modest car, and is also one of the most (if not THE most) brilliant economic and financial minds of our time, not to mention down to earth.
- Posted by LissBuffet is actually one of the greatest philanthropists of our time. He’s given away the largest single donation in U.S. history (37 Billion)! You should check your facts before calling him a greedy shark.
- Posted by Seth Bealsconspec : Are you insane, or just living in a cave? Buffett gave away 85% of his fortune (approx. $37 billion, with a B)to the Gates foundation a few years ago. He donates regularly more and more as he gets older because he knows he isn’t going to be around forever and would like to see the money go where he wants it to after he dies rather than have his estate handle it… He just bought $5B in stock to help shore up Goldman-Sachs which I consider an act of charity. I could go on and on but there is no point. Anyone who cares to do 10 min of research online can find out these facts and many more. What have YOU done to help the economy? Judge not lest ye be judged yourself. You know the drill.
Before you blast someone and make yourself look foolish by stating only erroneous opinion instead of facts, perhaps you should do your homework and make sure you even have a point to make with it.
I can tell something else from your post. You’re young, and you’re a Democrat. You’re also out of your league.
- Posted by SalBuffett actually is giving away his money… he’s doing it in conjunction with the Gates Foundation (http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/25/magazin es/fortune/charity1.fortune/)
He’d be an interesting choice, but I doubt he’d want the job.
- Posted by MarcusWarren Buffet would be a super choice…a non-brainer!
As for ebay’s Meg, I would pass on her at this time as she was really in the lucky place at the right time years ago. Ebay is down now…going down hill I hear.
- Posted by Gary BeedonI’ll support anyone who would raise the fraction reserve banking requirements. The banks gambling with your money created all the credit, spawning booms in various sectors, like housing. If banks weren’t allowed to lend out $10 for every dollar you deposit, this credit boom/bust cycle would never happen. True, we would never get the roaring 20s or 2000s, but we would never get the depressions to follow.
- Posted by redbeardAre you joking me saying that Buffett doesnt give away money? he gave the largest charitable donation in history to Bill Gates foundation when he gave them 10 BILLION dollars. dont slander somebodys name if you dont have the facts.
- Posted by TigerWarren Buffet! And guess who’s treasury secretary he would be? OBAMA’s.
John McCain will probably make PHIL GRAHM the treasury secretary and everybody knows it.
GAME CHANGER, let’s see who everybody’s favorite investor supports.
- Posted by alexI would like Buffet also and he does give away money did he not contribute money to Bill Gates foundation?
- Posted by William GroganBuffet would be excellent in the position, but why would he do that? The man runs a corporation he built from $1000.00 he earned as a paperboy into an entity that has a net worth higher than that of a high percentage of the world’s countries. I would be very surprised if he would even entertain such an idea given his age and position in the private sector. He certainly has a 6th sense about good investments, but I think the best we could hope for from him is a good list of people he recommends. That’s lmost as good as the man himself and much more realistic.
I;d settle for that.
- Posted by SalWhy did no one think of him before? Everything the man touches turns to gold.
- Posted by JenniferObama looks alert, young, vibrant and engaged. McCain looks old.
Obama/Biden ‘08
- Posted by joanBuffet: He comes across as a nice guy, but he is a greedy shark looking out for himself. He doesn’t\’t give away money like Bill Gates. Do we want the epitome of greed as our Treasury secretary. Having money doesn’t make you qualified to help taxpayers
- Posted by conspecI think Warren Buffett would be a great choice. He is very knowledgeable on the economy.
- Posted by Kevin