Andal finally reveals position on Wall Street bailout: Opposed. McNerney calls after-the-fact answer expedient

The heretofore press shy GOP challenger in the CA-11 race revealed his position on the $700 billion federal bailout of Wall Street this week.

Dean Andal, who commonly refuses to respond to media inquiries, told the Bay Area News Group this week that he would have voted against the bailout.

"I do agree that some federal intervention was needed. There is a credit squeeze. But what we got was a big mess and a bunch of congressmen who have very little clue about what they are voting on," Andal, a Stockton Republican, said in the story.

"The federal government should not be in the position of determining winners and losers, who gets a bailout and who doesn't, which I think will lead to corruption. And, there is no evidence this will provide liquidity in the credit market," Andal added.

Andal's opponent in the race, incumbent Congressman Jerry McNerney voted twice for the bailout, arguing that while he did not like all aspects of the bill, they were needed given the gravity of the economic crisis the nation is in.

He also called Andal's after-the-fact assessment as "politically expedient."

"It takes more courage to speak up before the decision is made than after the decision is made," said McNerney (D-Pleasanton.) "This job is about making tough decisions and this was a very difficult decision."