Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, praised Senator John McCain for indicating that he would tap former U.S. Comptroller David Walker to help balance the federal budget. In a statement, Viguerie said:

“Senator McCain has sent a clear signal that he would seek to end the massive deficits that have occurred during the Bush Administration and the last 10 years that the Republicans controlled Congress.

“Under George W. Bush, Dennis Hastert, Tom DeLay, Bill Frist, and Ted Stevens, the Republican Party was transformed from the party of fiscal responsibility to the party of spend and spend, elect and elect. John McCain may very well be serious in wanting the GOP to return to its ideological roots.

“At the end of July 2008, the national debt stood at $9.58 Trillion, of which $2.36 Trillion was owed to the Social Security Trust Fund.

“For Fiscal Year 2009, the national debt is projected to increase another $825 Billion, including $227 Billion to be borrowed from Social Security.

“This insanity must stop. Senator McCain’s embrace of deficit hawk David Walker is a strong indicator to conservatives and independents that he intends to try to do something to stop these irresponsible deficits.

“I might note that David Walker has also talked with the fiscal advisers of Senator Barack Obama, so perhaps there is something hopeful in that as well. After all, Walker was appointed head of the General Accounting Office (GAO) by President Clinton and was appointed as Assistant Secretary of Labor by President Reagan.

“Republicans and Democrats should be able to agree that the annual budget deficits are unconscionable and that the cumulative national debt threatens our children’s future.”