Read His Lips: McCain Already Breaking 'No New Taxes' Pledge

In February, McCain pledged that his administration would offer no new taxes against the American people. And yet since then, he has pledged large amounts of spending to various causes, with no discernible source of funding.

The Associated press reports on McCain's spending:

Republican John McCain is making promises that would cost billions of taxpayer dollars, yet he is vague about how he would pay for them.

McCain is handing around a campaign grab bag of goodies. There are little treats like a summer gas-tax holiday and new mortgages for struggling homeowners, and there are big plums like tax breaks for corporations and families with children....

How would he pay for it? New user fees could pay for the gas-tax holiday, McCain adviser Doug Holtz-Eakin said.

Ironically, McCain said those kinds of fees were essentially tax increases when former rival Mitt Romney imposed them on businesses as governor of Massachusetts. Yet McCain has said he doesn't want to raise taxes.

Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that McCain's healthcare plan would require a tax increase:

Though Senator John McCain has promised to not raise taxes, his campaign acknowledged Wednesday that the health plan he outlined this week would have the effect of increasing tax payments for some workers, primarily those with high incomes and expensive health plans.

The campaign cannot yet project how many taxpayers might see their taxes go up, said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Mr. McCain's top domestic policy adviser. But Mr. Holtz-Eakin said in an interview that for some, Mr. McCain's health care tax credits would not be large enough to compensate for his proposal to eliminate the tax breaks afforded to workers with employer-provided health benefits....

While the change would primarily affect those with gold-plated insurance policies, health analysts point out that middle-income workers with conventional coverage could conceivably pay more in regions where insurance costs are high. Over time, that might depend on how the tax credits are adjusted for inflation, a detail Mr. McCain has not discussed.

Comments

[BethStuart]

McCain graduated 894th out of a class of 899 so there really wasn't a lot going on upstairs to begin with. If his father hadn't been an admiral, he probably wouldn't have graduated at all. These days, I suspect he just reads what's put in front of him.

[gcallaghan]

I know how he can do it! Borrow from the Chinese
No? They cut us off? Really?


Borrow from the Saudis, then.
Them, too?

Okay. We can always get it from the Mexicans.
When did they say that?

We'll just print more money - problem solved.

[Tom95134]

Why would anyone in their right mind believe anything that comes out of the mouth of John McCain. He really doesn't give a damn about what he says. It's unlikely he would survive his first term in office so he'll never have to deliver on whatever he promises. McCain has had three bouts with malignant melanoma with only a small amount of time between the most recent two. Also, there is some question about the possibility he has Alzheimer's disease and is taking medication to control his outbursts (a symptom of Alzheimer's disease). This is why he won't release his medical records.

Ask yourself, "Is this the kind of person you want to have with his finger on THE BUTTON?"

[DGregory]

now i understand why clinton is fighting so hard... Mccain is the weakest opponent for either democrat.

the only reason he is running so high in polls is because of the infighting. i mean for god sakes look at the polls when he had a big lead on huckabee but the campaign wasnt really rough on clinton/obama after super tuesday.

shes knows and obama knows whoever is the democrat winner they will be president

[shel3364]

This guy is going to get SPANKED in the GE.

[abigail1]

I am shocked! John McCain, the great straight talker?!? He would never say one thing and then do another.
or may be the media just wouldn't report it if he did.

[huffyISaHottie]

he has the magic "pork barrel"