[img_assist|nid=2326|title=SEC Chairman Chris Cox|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=220|height=303]During a campaign stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, today, Republican presidential nominee John McCain called for the head of Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox, a former congressman from Orange County.

"The chairman of the SEC serves at the appointment of the president and has betrayed the public's trust," McCain planned to say, according to prepared remarks released by his campaign. "If I were president today, I would fire him."

Cox represented California's 48th Congressional District for 17 years before resigning to become SEC chairman in 2005.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Cox retains the backing of President Bush, despite today's broadside from his party's presidential nominee.