McCain, Obama Tax War Sparked With New Ads (VIDEO)

SEE UPDATE BELOW FOR NEW McCAIN RESPONSE

Early on Wednesday morning, both Barack Obama and John McCain released ads focused on taxes. If the tone of both spots proved predictable, the amount of money being pushed into each campaign's ad was not. Though McCain has outspent Obama on paid media in battleground states so far this month, Obama's new television ad will start getting pumped into several key states today -- specifically, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Virginia.

By contrast, McCain's new piece is a radio ad, and his campaign has declined to reveal exactly how hard or in what parts of the country it will be pushed.

Entitled "Three Times," Obama's ad promises middle-class tax relief, contrasting the Illinois Senator's plan with McCain's tax breaks for large corporations.

Meanwhile, McCain's radio ad dings Obama for proposing more spending programs that "will lead to even higher budget deficits" and pile "more debt on the backs of your children and grandchildren."

Of course, the same Tax Policy Center that McCain's campaign used in a "fact sheet" accompanying the new radio ad has said McCain's budget would enlarge the deficit, as well. "Both John McCain and Barack Obama have proposed tax plans that would substantially increase the national debt over the next ten years," the group wrote in its most recent report.

But for progressive writers like Paul Krugman who have despaired at the Obama campaign's "lethargic" economic messaging, the fact that Obama is counter-punching on taxes with an expensive media buy should prove a welcome development.

UPDATE: The McCain campaign has responded to Obama's ad by disputing the implication that tax breaks for companies hurt the economy.

"America's business taxes are the second highest in the world, and that is driving American jobs overseas," wrote McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds in an email to reporters. "So while American families are hurting and jobs are becoming scarce, Barack Obama is pushing for billions in higher taxes -- it's a recipe for economic disaster."

But, interestingly, the lengthy "fact sheet" sent out with Bounds's response does not offer any push-back against the idea that Obama's tax plan would provide three times as much relief to middle-class families compared to McCain.

Comments

[eden4barack08]

The right-wing, spending 10billion a month in war, borrowing it from China and leaving the largest deficit to the next President and the next generation, has the guts to accuse Obama of big government and spending??? How do these nutcases get away with this sh*t? There are fools out there who truly believe that garbage about Republicans wanting small gov't and spending less. O camp should put an ad out exposing in detail how much they spend and deplete our gov't. Nobody's a bigger spender than these liars! Democrats should no longer allow that party to get away with these bumper sticker lies, that people think define the Rep party. It is NOT the small gov't party, It is NOT the no spending party, it is NOT the middle class party.
McCheat's radio ad should be rebuked for its lies, word for word.

[UnbiasView]

"leaving the largest deficit to the next President and the next generation . . . . How do these nutcases get away with this sh*t?"

Easy, because the Dems have been taking part in the massive spending too. They are all guilty of it and to think that it is all one side or the other using the blank checkbook you are fooling youself.

[eden4barack08]

True, but how do the Reps get away with blaming Dems for being the only big spenders?
Dems are dumb to approve and sign off on every spending requested by Reps, but they are NOT the big spender party. Indeed we have surpluses or balanced budgets, the few times that Dems are in charge.

[11907281]

Fill in the blank "Tax and spend ____". Now think about why you filled that blank in with the word you did. Now think about who pushed that word in to your consciousness.

[figa30]

Why are we giving Georgia billions of dollars that we have to borrow, with interest, to rebuild for a war that they initiated with the good grace of the McCain campaign. I'm tired of thinking about Israel, Georgia, and Iraq. Last time I checked, they can't vote. Why not focus more on Americans and let these other foreign countries handle there own business. Cut off all foreign aid. If they want money, they can use the same bank we do, CHINA.

[robinhood2]

For a country that supposedly believes in family values, we are doing our best to bankrupt the next generation. Blessed are the children, for they shall inherit the national debt.

[theMightyT]

so cutting spending is good, but only if it's spending on health care or government programs. Things like military contractors, mercenary military, middle east wars, oil subsidies.­.. those things are ok.

Spending on infrastructure at home, bad. Rebuilding foreign infrastructure like Georgia and Iraq, good.

What am i not undersatnding here? This seems like spending policy out of bizarro world.

[UnbiasView]

Indeed, cut all of them in my opinion.

The only way to save this country.

Like I have said before, if a President said I am going to raise the income tax 1% for the next 4 years and all of it will go to reducing the national debt . . . people would do it. If they say I am going to raise your taxes because we spend too much, that doesn't fly.

[MourningDude]

IF ONLY he was in favor of that! Instead BHO offers escalation in endless war in Afghanistan, and an open-ended commitment of up to 80,000 US troops to remain behind in Iraq as "residual forces".

He has said many times that he plans to divert the Iraq dollars back here to the US for his national Big Dig, but how is he going to do that if he's leaving that many soldiers in Iraq and escalating the war in Afghanistan? It makes no sense.

Why can't he stick to his original platform, which was all US troops out as soon as it could be done safely. Last year that was a 3 month exit strategy. Oh boy, how things changed after he finally defeated HRC.

[vinny]

i threw up in my mind hearing mccain criticize obama on deficit spending..­.

[UnbiasView]

Obama has laid out about $1 trillion in new spending himself . . . to be honest none of these guys have a clue. They haven't ever had to spend within a budget since they have been in the senate and not in charge of anything.

[johnnygoodwud]

doesn't matter what corp. tax rate is, the fact is 2/3 of u.s, corporations pay NO federal taxes

[theMightyT]

is it fair to say that because most corporate tax rates are low and a lot of them cheat or don't pay them at all, that that in turn increases the tax burden on middle-class america?

does that follow, or is that an incorrect assumption?

[figa30]

This is so stupid. Why is he arguing over who is going to raise taxes on who. Why not just tell Americans what you need the tax dollars for. Damn Obama, this stuff is not that difficult. Use Florida for example. Their Gov. wanted to cut taxes and now his state is broke. They have no money to do any repairs and now want to use the taxes from other states to bail them out. We all know we need taxes, just so us what you are going to do with them and take a pledge to veto all pet projects and pork barrel spending. Be the first out the gate and offer the same pledge to McCain for both of you to sign. Eve though McCain is know for this, by overing him the pledge, you will still a lot of his thunder on the topic and help ease a lot of independents. While you are at it, trying eliminating parts of the Government that isn't useful like the Department of Education. Speaking as a Republican, you will never win an arguing with a Republican over taxes despite how destructive the Republicans economic policies are.

[UnbiasView]

"Why not just tell Americans what you need the tax dollars for."

Because that is something you don't want to go on record saying "I can't figure out a way to run a government with $2,568 billion (2007 Fed revenue) and need more".

[thinklib]

Bingo. The problem isn't lower taxes. It's outrageous spending.

[robinhood2]

The Federal government will need a lot more money once the Baby Boomers qualify for Medicare, starting in 2011. If Medicare funding does not become a big issue in the 2012 election campaign, it certainly will in 2016. Too bad the pols aren't talking about it this year. I guess they must be suffering from the Scarlett O'Hara syndrome: "I'll think about that tomorrow". All you Gen X's and Gen Y's, be prepared for a big increase in your FICA taxes.

[Agentlady007]

McClone will say no new taxes while he spends more money to invest in other countries wars. Temporary solutions and McClone wars. This is what is expected. While he claims he understands capitalism as an open system, McClone closes the US developed economic relations and further provides economic surplus for overseas imperialism. This is the cause of our internal destruction and McClone has no intention of discontinuing it.

[theMightyT]

the first time America has gone to war without raising taxes, isn't it? How is it being paid for?

Aren't China and Dubai paying for the adventure in Iraq? Pretty sure the Shrub sold the country to them in order to finance his wars...

[UnbiasView]

National Debt, just like everything else.

I.O.U.S.A is coming out soon and I encourage everyone to watch it. It will show you that more government and more spending is going to end us.

[Agentlady007]

In theory, The US has been regarded as and used as a mechanism to spread the ideology of the American free enterprise system, making the US an alternative to the communist and socialist models of economic development. What does this mean? it means we are promised more trade when we help other countries, and this is supposed to increase our exports. We cannot ignor the world as our strength for the future of our economy, yet we keep interfering where we don't belong, and this makes the production for foreign countries maintain and increase their share of world markets.
Why? Because they don't take us seriously when we try and use our intentions for balance-of -payments while we intensify our democracy upon other ways of government. Our coercions to enter into war conflict with our multinational ties. McClone encourages more of the same hostility.

[MourningDude]

It doesn't make sense does it? And yet BHO is talking about escalation in Afghanistan while cutting middle class taxes "3 times more" than his opponent. It really is silly season.

[robinhood2]

Your children and grandchildren will be paying for the wars for decades to come.

[UnbiasView]

Still waiting for your response . . .

Podewumun:

"Can you explain then why VW choose Tennessee (with a 10%+ sales tax rate) over Alabama (with an 8% sales tax rate) as the site for their new auto plant?

Your argument, as usual, is total rubbish."

Response:

Tennessee offered its richest incentive package " and perhaps the most government assistance and tax breaks ever for an American automobile plant " to lure Volkswagen to Chattanoog­a."

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/jul/24/chattanooga-vw-incentives-largest-state/

Any other questions?

[JudgeCCrater]

"America's business taxes are the second highest in the world, and that is driving American jobs overseas," wrote McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds...

Could this be any more idiotic? The top three reasons are: cheap labor, cheap labor and cheap labor. Business taxes aren't even in the top ten.

[UnbiasView]

Ahh, cheap labor is number one . . taxes and the min wage of the USA are in the top 10 when it comes to many jobs.

[Ramirez]

When a Democrat has to promise tax cuts to get elected it means the Republicans have won.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

No, its just sound logic. Ease the burden of a stressed middle class that is slowly but surely disappearing from this nation.

[UnbiasView]

Feel free to tell me why it is a good idea to raise taxes in a bad economy . . .

With the internet and new medias, people are starting to find out where tax dollars go and they see a bunch of gangsters in Washington. Wars, welfare fraud, teapot museums, etc.

If a president said I will raise the income tax 1% and all of it will go to the national debt, done, people would understand.

[UncommonSenz]

Because Bush CUT taxes during a war, which was a position of monumental stupidity.

The current economic "plan" is not sustainable. Spend billions a month in Iraq, cut taxes for those making millions, more tax breaks for corporations, and skyrocketing deficits.

So, since someone has to be the adult and say, "Gee, we need to pay for this somehow" it falls on Obama to right the financial ship.

Does some of it get wasted- absolutely. But a wealthy nation needs a functioning government, and it takes taxes to run it.

[thinklib]

Let's not forget Obama has promised to raise the social security tax, capital gains tax, and death tax.

[theMightyT]

are you going to be affected by the death tax? or 99% of your fellow americans?

[eden4barack08]

Republicans only promise tax cuts for the rich, this Democrat wants to cut them for the middle class.

[YouDisgustMe]

Of course, Ramirez said it so it must be true. the republicans have won.

[timm0]

It's an OK ad. Still timid fluff. It's easy to pillory "big corporations" and "big oil."

This spot would have been 1,000 times better if it only dealt with raising taxes on companies that ship jobs overseas and reducing them for companies that stay here. Add that mccain supports across-the-board tax cuts for corporations which could be money used to buy equipment that will actually help move jobs overseas and that taxes have been slashed for the last 7.5 years - and how much has gone to those in the top 1% vs. the rest. How many jobs have those tax breaks delivered.­...

But I guess we'll have to settle for a feeble fist-shaking at "big business."

Lame.

[keepemhonest]

Corporation ship jobs overseas because they want cheap labor, they want poor working conditions, they want child labor, they want unsafe working conditions ... McCain has given these corporations tax breaks to ship jobs overseas.

McCain & Corporate America hate Unions ... face it ... McCain's payment to corporations to outsource is the reason jobs are going overseas. Corporations get the best of both worlds ... GOP cuts their taxes as an incentive & they get rid of Unions.

[UnbiasView]

"Corporation ship jobs overseas because they want cheap labor, they want poor working conditions, they want child labor, they want unsafe working conditions"

That is absolute garbage, they want cheap labor which is the bottom line . . . are you telling me they want unsafe conditions and want to intentionally hurt people?

Unions do nothing for me, I would rather rely on my individual performance rather than a group having to back me. I can stand on my own.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

He idiot, unsafe working conditions could mean something as simple as not installing proper safety features in a fabrication plant. Does not necessarily mean that they want to hurt people, but in the off chance that someone does get hurt the company is not liable for providing an inadequate facility. For instance build a plant with no sprinkler system and the building catches fire killing a bunch of workers, nothing happens to them because - these nations don't have proper labor laws protecting the employee.

[american2008]

Really, so your proud of posting on this site 24 hours a day? Is that your job? If I had a company and I knew that my employee was spending all day on the internet like you, I would fire your a$$.
And dont give us the BS that you have your own business and can post freely etc. If you have your own business and you spend all day posting, that makes you even dummer than we already think you are!

[UncommonSenz]

You are correct to say that they don't "want" unsafe conditions. However, the logic ends up at the same point.

They want to make more profits. Adding workplace safety features ALWAYS reduces profits. If they can move to a country where there are no laws to protect workers, the human desire to protect workers runs smack against the corporate desire for more profit.

Which side do you think the typical corporation will come down on, reducing its own profits, or letting workers "fend for themselves"? The same situation is true for environmental concerns.

[timm0]

Your incredible ignorance is laid bare in your comment.

It costs money to create a safe work environment. It costs money to deal with employees who were injured on the job through no fault of their own. So find some place where a company can escape all responsibility for their workers and you will save a ton of money.

I sounded like you when I was an 18-year old know-it-all. Had similar argument with my union Uncle. I grew up and learned what goes on in the real world outside of civics classes and text book hyperbole. Hopefully, you'll grow up, too. If you are "older," then you deserve no pity.

[Mdazes]

Obama is wasting millions of dollars on one lame ad after the other. McCain's ads have more punch and fire to them and the man voice in his ad is very powerful and get your attention. You will think Obama or someone in Obama camp would have corrected this by now.

[UnbiasView]

You think with all the Hollyweird backing and the creativity of liberals that he would have a bunch of good ads . . . IMO, there is no such thing as a good ad because they are all BS;ing.

[american2008]

You are correct, since the American people are morons, we must get down to the McBush level and put on one liner BS ads that mean nothing and are just pandering. It wouldn't matter pal, millions in the heartland of America wouldn't care if Obama put on an American Flag underwear and sang the Star Bangled Banner while wearing an NRA pin! He is BLACK and scary to them, it doesn't matter that they are starving or losing their healthcare etc. Obama is a liberal and the Arabs are out to get us!

[theMightyT]

So i Googled corporate tax cuts to see what would come up, and lo and behold, almost every site i went to said that in theory tax breaks for wealthy corporations actually DO create economic growth! (CATO institute, bnet, americanprogress.org, theminorityreportblog.com)

The articles seemed to be bias free in terms of political philosophy, which led me to ask, if corporate tax breaks (and taxes on the wealthy) have been proven to work, why is there so much uproar and distrust of the wealthiest few?

Wouldn't it make more sense for 0bama and the dems to go after corporate tax cheats and close tax loophole laws that allow corporations to shelter profits off-shore? After all business has some of the biggest tax cheats in the country. Why not use that as a tax reform platform, rather than arguing against a proven tax-cut mechanism? When corporate taxes are cut, doesn't that lighten the tax burden on that coporation's consumers and investors?

Can someone please explain why tax cuts are bad? (specifically corporate tax cuts)

[stateMachine]

prove they're proven
you might learn they're not, in the process.

[theMightyT]

i don't need to prove anything, the information is out there if you just look.

I'm asking why the tax breaks for corporations are bad. with a genuine interest. why shouldn't 0bama be going after tax cheats instead?

[UnbiasView]

"why is there so much uproar and distrust of the wealthiest few?"

Name a time in history where there wasn't.

More Americans have went from poor to rich over the past 20 years than any time in history but that is a bad thing because it isn't fair to us that didn't.

[timm0]

Go back and read about who funds those sites you found.

[theMightyT]

i kept that in mind, but i'm still wondering why the focus is on tax breaks, rather than tax cheats. and your post doesn't answer my question.

[stateMachine]

That is, the corporate marginal propensity to invest in american productive capacity is at a historic low, so spending our tax revenue on corporate tax cuts won't have as much of a multiplier effect as other kinds of stimulus.

The sheltering of off shore corporate revenues isn't a loophole- it was written into the code,quite cynically, with the patriot act. So "closing that loophole" does amount to removing a tax cut. Educate yourself on this issue- and don't consult a blog or a think tank- find some actual, peer-reviewed and published academic.

WaPo and their ilk are completely disingenuous on this question
http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/beat_the_press_archive?month=08&year=2008&base_name=_washington_post_misleads_read

[theMightyT]

i'm not sure i understand your first paragraph.­.. :)

I am TRYING to educate myself on the tax stuff, with a genuine interest because of all the fighting between macandcheese and 0bama on taxes. I can totally understand the unfairness of 1% of the wealthiest getting the bulk of the benefit from the Bush tax plan, but is that the same as corporate tax cuts? can't quite figure that out.

So i'm still in the dark on why, if corporate tax cuts lighten the burden for those that pay them (namely, consumers) and create jobs by freeing up revenue for reinvestment or R&D that lead to new jobs, why are they a bad thing?

Isn't it a better approach to actually hold companies that cheat, accountable and actually collect the revenues owed, which would in turn alleviate some of the tax burden that the rest of the country is forced to shoulder?

[eXcommunicate]

Non-partisan center for budget priorities:

http://www.cbpp.org/3-8-06tax.htm

[theMightyT]

THANKS read it... trying to understand it. So I guess even the Bushies know that the tax cut theory is bogus?

[sleeperd]

I watched the one-hour FOX specials on McCain and Obama.

When it comes to integrity and depth of character forged by experience, Obama doesn't belong in the same room with John McCain. He is a pampered, spoiled, arrogant Harvahd brat going up against a real Man who truly has been to the mountain.

That's why McCain is now 5 points ahead in the latest Zogby Poll!

[theMightyT]

LOL

Turn on fox.

wash brain.

rinse and repeat.

[mollyjackson]

Pairs Hilton....­.is that you?

[camipco]

McCain owns $13 million in houses, comes from a rich family, and lives a life of luxury including dropping thousands of dollars a session at the craps tables.

Obama worked his way up from a single parent household on food stamps to succeed at Harvard.

[BBackSoon]

‘I watched the one-hour FOX specials on McCain and Obama’

There’s you trouble right there.

So who do we have to bomb to fix the economy, since that is all McSame seems to believe in?

[TroubleNYC]

Really? A FOX NEWS documentary helped you see that? lmao

[stateMachine]

everything on I see on TV... is true! I'm a genius!