Cato Institute lashes out at 2012 candidates over stimulus

Over at Cato, Michael Tanner divides 2012 candidates into two camps.

1. the Give me Pork camp, starring Sarah Palin, Charlie Crist, and Tim Pawlenty.

Palin, darling of many “movement” conservatives came all the way to Washington to lobby for the bill. Crist worked the phones, unsuccessfully trying to convince Republican House members from Florida to support the bill. Pawlenty admits some concern over the bill’s impact on the federal deficit, but says, governors “are entitled to ask for our share of the money.”

2. the Non-Give Me Pork camp, starring Bobby Jindal and Mark Sanford*.

Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal also opposes the stimulus bill, though he admits he may accept the money if it passes. Taking the strongest stand against the bill is South Carolina governor Mark Sanford, who not only opposes the bill but says he probably would not accept any funds for his state. “It’s incumbent on me as one of the nation’s governors to speak out against what I believe is ultimately incredibly harmful to the economy, to taxpayers and to the worth of the U.S. dollar,” Sanford said.

And ends with a warning:

It’s a long way to 2012, of course, but it looks like Republican voters will have some clear choices.

*Tanner includes Romney, but that's not quite appropriate, considering Mitt's no longer a governor grappling with the issue. It's easy to hurl grenades from Iron Man's suit.

[Hat tip: Capital Commerce]