Maldonado: Barack needs an economics lesson

State Sen. Abel Maldonado speaks at the Republican National Convention: Getty Images PhotoST. PAUL, Minn. - State Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) suggested that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama (D-Ill.) spend more time working with his hands and less time in a government office when it comes to truly understanding economics.

Speaking at the Republican National Convention, Maldonado described how his father's strawberry farm prospered through hard work, savings and other factors he suggested Obama has left out of his economic plan.

"My father knows more about economics than Barack Obama does with all his degrees from fancy schools," Maldonado said. "He'd be a good teacher for him."

Maldonado also criticized Obama for wanting raise taxes on the wealthy, saying that ends up translating into more taxes for the middle class.

"Whenever someone wants to soak the rich, it's always the middle class and the poor that get wet," he said.

Maldonado, who said his experience as the son of an immigrant mirrored the American dream, also shared how his father would put the family's savings on the dinner table and talk about how it would grow with strong values, hard work and good credit.

"Strong values, hard work and good credit are the America of my father," he said. "And strong values, hard work and good credit are the America of John McCain."

He added, "I'll be they'd have been good amigos."

Maldonado, who had an unsuccessful run for state Controller in 2006, is running unopposed by any Democrat for another four-year term this November.