McCain Camp: Obama Too Extreme And Too Moderate On Taxes

The Republicans' line of attack against Barack Obama is obvious today: taxes.

But exactly what kind of attack they mean to mount against the Illinois Democrat on the issue is less clear. Is he a shifty poll-watcher who moderates his positions in order to reflect the public's will, or a radical bent on taxing poor families into the dirt no matter what?

Reporters could see evidence of each attack, which taken in tandem appear contradictory, in their inboxes Friday morning.

First, Republican National Committee spokesman Alex Conant sent reporters a few press clippings with the subject line "Obama's Shifting Tax Rhetoric." The "shifts" in question were all moderate in nature. Conant's email quoted U.S News and World Report's analysis that Obama is "changing his plan because the polls are close and the issue was hurting him." The email goes on to cite several claims that Obama's new details on tax policy are studiously arranged so as not to affect investment earnings or payroll taxes for middle class Americans.

Conant also cited the Tax Foundation's Robert Carroll, who says that Obama's proposed 20 percent rate on capital gains and dividends "is below the 25 percent and 28 percent that have previously been reported." (Those previous reports may have been faulty, since Obama's camp merely said that 28 percent was the highest they would ever consider going.)

The Tax Policy Center also hit Obama for electing to delay enactment of his proposed Social Security plan (which involves raising the payroll cap on high earners) for ten years, another lower-tax move in the short run. Finally, a strategist at BMO Capital reacted to yesterday's Wall Street Journal op-ed by two Obama advisers as representing "a path that Obama's taking which takes him back more towards the middle," and closer to McCain.

All of which is fair enough, as far as it goes. Obama did make news by coming out with a less aggressive tax plan than earlier hints may have led experts to expect. But then how to explain the latest ad to come out of McCain's media shop, which was announced approximately 45 minutes after Conant's email went out? Entitled "Taxman," it portrays Obama as a ruthless tax-raiser who endangers a pair of middle class parents, crunching numbers while grasping their children.

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The McCain campaign's "fact sheet" for the ad cites mainly months-old media reports examining Obama's thinking on taxes at the time, some of which are in direct contradiction with the news made yesterday -- that is to say, Obama's less-sweeping "moderate" or "centrist" moves.

McCain wants it both ways on Obama's tax plan. Let's see if the press lets him have his way, or if they demand that Republicans choose an intellectually consistent line of attack.

Script For "Taxman" (TV :30)

ANNCR: Celebrity? Yes. Ready to lead? No.

Obama's new taxes could break your family budget.

The press warns the "taxman cometh".

Obama's taxes mean "higher prices at the pump".

Obama's taxes a "recipe for economic disaster".

Higher taxes. Higher gas prices. Economic disaster.

That's the real Obama.

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.

UPDATE: The Obama campaign has issued a response to "Taxman" with a response and a new web video.

"This ad is just more of the same old false and discredited attacks that Senator McCain knows aren't true. Senator McCain will say or do anything to hide the truth: while Obama will cut taxes for the middle class, McCain will give a billion dollars in new tax breaks to America's eight largest corporations, while his plan provides no direct relief for more than 100 million American Families. And despite his rhetoric, he's refusing to support the bipartisan Senate proposal to expand production and invest in renewable energy because he wants to protect tax breaks for oil companies. We've seen what happens when we put the oil companies and their lobbyists ahead of working families, and that's exactly what Americans want to change in this election," said Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan.

Here's the "fact check" web video:

Comments

[KNadine]

Anybody voting for McCain solely because he "says" he won't raise taxes is about as crazy as the religious right people who voted for "W" because of his spirituality and the hopes that he could somehow overturn Roe v. Wade. Look how far that got them. McCain is selling something but it ain't the truth. People better wake up.

[mslindab]

Because they are living in the past, maybe the Republicans don't realize that the tax threat is less powerful as so many people are substantially poorer, unemployed and thus don't pay taxes any more. Do they realize how many people work 'off the books' Ebay , etc. Have they seen the stats as to how many people in Ohio and elsewhere are getting food stamps? Do they know how poor you have to be to get food stamps?

[Grunty1]

If taxes go up in the near future, it will be the fault of REAGAN, the BUSHES and the GOP.

Their debt is what is tanking our economy and will continue to do damage until it is reduced. If you want to whine about potential tax increases, blame the ones who made them necessary.

[Skua]

Out of curiosity, does anybody know WHAT story, or column, or letter to the editor, in the Las Vegas Review Journal of Sept. 20, 2007, called WHAT measure, favored by Obama, a "recipe for economic disaster"?

[Skua]

Ok, LISTEN UP! I actually found the answer to my own question. This "economic disaster" quote is from an Editorial in the Las Vegas Review Journal titled "More Class Warfare". It's available on line on the newspaper's site, and HERE IS WHAT THEY ARE OBJECTING TO:

"Illinois Sen. Barack Obama released the specifics on his redistributionist policies on Tuesday, proposing more than $80 billion in tax cuts for senior citizens and lower- and middle-class households and at least that much in tax increases on the upper-middle class, the affluent, investors of all means and corporations that employ millions of Americans. ...

"All these ideas are born from the Democratic Party line that "working families" pay too much in taxes and "the rich" (who don't actually "work") aren't paying nearly enough. "

I bet you won't see the McCain campaign publish the WHOLE editorial as part of their propaganda­.....!

[PAposter]

Of course not, "Skua", then they would have to admit that they are Fearmongers, or that they do not understand Economics.

Thanks for the info.

[joselopez]

Like we are not already in an ECONOMIC DISASTER following the Bush's tax plan which gave most of the cuts to the top income earners?!!! McCain got it right on the Bush tax cuts originally, but in order to win the Republican nomination he reversed course. So he plans to continue Bush's tax plan. How has that being working for you America?!! Time to change course. Last time the budget was balanced and we had prosperity was during a Democratic President. It is time America wakes up and realize the Republicans want to continue filling the pockets of their corporate friends, while the Democrats want to help the average American.

[mnash]

He sounds like the Bsh campaign of yesteryear. Wonder if he realizes it is the "21 Century"? It amazes me of how many lies they have told and the media lets it go.

[kellygrrrl]

yes, throw everything out there, and let the voter pick and choose which one they want to believe

it works

bottom line: everyone has already made up their mind, and nothing is going to change it.

[Meggie]

Unfortunate that borrow and spend repubs do not see that the debt they've run up must be paid. I hate the idea of higher taxes, but it isn't right to dump this all on our grandchildren.
Seems the repubs are not only cowards when it comes to "supporting our troops" by enlisting and giving them a break from this popular repub war in I raq, they also want to act like irresponsible deadbeats when it comes to their bills.

[Mayoyo]

Who's wrting these ads...can'­t they do better thatn this?

[Grunty1]

No, they probably cannot.

[Ish11]

This year around; God has decided to expose whats evil for America and whats good. America; take a choice. I take mine...Oba­ma 08

[nellie]

There's nothing in McCain's ads about his own qualifications for the job. EVER.

Must be because he doesn't have any.

All he has are lies about the other guy.

[Meggie]

for that, the words out of his own mouth say it all. he admits he is not qualified and has no idea of how to deal with the economy.

[oscartucker]

McCain never puts anything in an ad about himself or what he will do. All of his ads are "attack ads" so that people will not want Obama as president, though if they vote for McCain, they WILL NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GETTING. McCain has decided to win "by any means necessary". He is all attack, all the time. No substance from him; he is the empty suit. I don't think even McCain knows what he stands for.

[mscriblerus]

Sure he did. Didn't you hear him? economic "surge". Surge, surge, surge. Surge, surge, surge. It's a "comprehensive: approach.

[DaOne]

Old Georgian man yells at cloud.

[Quick2822]

It will be interested when Obama and McCain have their first debate, and Obama challenges him on the claims that he will raise taxes and all that crap, and McCain can't answer.

I can see the lobbyists in McCain's campaign shaking their head in defeat during those debates.

[poropo]

old story, is like this people dont know anything again to say about obama. we have been hearing high taxes for 200yrs in all election circle. but dem is still the best to handel our economy.
pls mccain you dont have any news.