Truth or Dare: Are Republicans Serious about Cutting Gov't Spending?

Republicans are campaigning on the federal budget, vowing to cut it, but just how serious are they? George Allen is running for a senate seat in Virginia on the cut spending and reduce taxes theme, but Virginia's economy runs on federal government spending. Some 38 percent of every dollar spent in that state comes from federal taxes. Without the federal government, the Old Dominion would be bankrupt. (See The Washington Post story.)

Allen, who once had aspirations toward the White House, knows this as well as anyone. He knows the voters of Virginia are perfectly aware that "cut the federal budget" is nothing more than code for racist sentiments in southern states.