TW: McCain's one and almost only claim to fiscal conservatism is to attack earmarks. Earmarks are merely the 2008 name for pork. Understanding my pork is your economic development and vice versa they are devilishly hard to eliminate. But assuming they were all eliminated below is what earmarks represent as part of the federal budget. I am for the reduction of federal spending including many earmarks but it will not get the job done or even properly started.
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I think the main point McCain's trying to make regarding earmarks is their corrupting influence in on Congress, not the total dollar amount.
The earmark process is rife with abuse, and has become the one of the main reasons why Congress has a lower approval rating than the president. So while they may not be important dollar wise, they are important in their adverse effect on the legislative process.
Eliminating earmarks, or at least making the process more transparent, will not balance the budget, not by a mile, but it will make DC less of a cesspool and help improve Congress's image as a bipartisan group of pigs at the public trough.
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