Obama On McCain Tax Claim: "Even Fox News Disputes It"

I guess Barack Obama is aware that his smack at Fox News is an out-of-the-bag cat, because tonight, he got a little quippy. Pressing John McCain on his description of the Democrat's tax policy, Obama said, "Even Fox News disputes it, and that doesn't happen very often when it comes to accusations about me."

Obama: The notion that I voted for a tax increase for people making $42,000 a year has been disputed by everybody who has looked at this claim that Senator McCain keeps on making. Even Fox News disputes it, and that doesn't happen very often when it comes to accusations about me.

Comments

[JPE33180]

I recently saw a posting that stated that the McCains would benefit from John's stated tax policy by about $55,000. Now I'm not quibbling about how much they would benefit, but I would like to know just how many jobs the McCains will be creating with that money. They obviously have benefitted from the tax policies of the Bush Administration so how many jobs did they create with that money?

I suspect that most of us would agree that when the wealthy get these huge tax breaks they do not think how they are going to personally create jobs. I suspect that they expect jobs to trickle down upon the poor, working poor and the shrinking middle class due to their heightened amounts of disposable income being used to consume more elite items like luxury cars, jewelry and clothing. Or perhaps they are looking for the next great investment that will parlay this tax savings into even more personal wealth for more elite purchases or investments into companies that pay high executive bonuses and benefits while holding down the earnings and jobs of the working classes.

I challenge John McCain and those like him to step up and take a more direct approach to creating jobs with their tax savings. Let them become the entrepreneurs that they say a sensible tax policy will keep from creating new jobs - come on guys roll up those sleaves and get into the job creation game.

[strawberryjulius]

NBC had a better angle on this one. When Obama says that fox news agrees with him , McCain's jaw dropped.

[cariintexas]

FOX news is disputing what Obama said? Ooooh, I believe, I believe. It's all in the name. FOX.

[KenGirard]

Can anyone post a link to where Fox agrees with Obama?
On anything?

[TimeGrid]

Now tell me, who of these two guys looks "ready to lead"...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mccain-scrapping-to-change-course-of-election-962975.html?action=Popup&ino=1

[sonnysj76]

Breaking News: FOX NEWS... is changing it's name to FAUX NEWS!

Just awesome ha?

[hapiguy]

Fox What?

[Noogie]

This may be nitpicking, but Barack Obama should have use the more forceful and appropriate word "refute" instead of "dispute."

[Kiabell04]

LOL! You go Obama!

[Mariea]

Listen to the audience. Even then laughed when Obama said that.
Fox news is a joke! They all share one brain there.

[tedeger]

OH? There is actually ONE? I thought all their heads were full of straw.

[Greg285]

His comeback was priceless...Please Mr. Referee, have mercy and stop this fight and save this has been fighter pilot, who is still fighting the Viet Nam War in his mind.

[partyofone]

You're absolutely right. Iraq is about "winning" in Vietnam. His obsession with Ayers is strking out at Vietnam war opposition. His intense anger seems to grow out of his feeling that having been a POW means he should now be given whatever he wants, including the presidency. It's not about America first, its about John McCain feeling America owes him big time.

[WoodyIV]

I'm glad the subject of tax policy came up. What we heard from McCain (to his credit) was a true concern and talking point from a conservative mindset. (Redistribution of wealth). However, this time it did not work. People understand that a redistribution of wealth has been happening since 1980. With the attack on the middle class in the form of anti union efforts, tax breaks for the wealthy, lack of investment in infrastructure, and unfair trade policies. Those that depend on the dignaty of work (as opposed to the control of capital) have been short changed. The response to McCain's argument was flat because the American people finally get it.

In watching the concervative pundits reaction though, on this they believe McCain won. They speak of the 'Joe the plumber' situation. However, Obama's plan would not keep this man from hiring anyone. Job's will still be created. Remember, employee compensation, including benefits are expenses to the business. Thus they reduce a company's taxable income. Joe hiring someone, and providing health care, let alone the expense of a company car, perhaps a weekend retreat used for entertaining prospective clients etc, would actually reduce his taxable income, so that perhaps his business would net less that 250k. In addition, the tax rate proposed by obama for those netting over 250k is about what was in place under Reagan. Another partial truth distorted by the conservatives.

[mouselion]

It's like I said earlier, it's all in which way is best to legally structure your business (for *you*), and, you or your CPA's ability to finesse your deductions on your tax return. It is best to take the time to try out (on paper) different tax scenarios for someone wanting to start up a business, who needs to choose a category of business.

[Donns]

One of the problems with highlighting a border line, such as the $250 000 point to change the tax rates, is that everyone tends to focus on a very narrow band of data on either side of that borderline. If the entire business community as a whole is considered that talking or focus point goes away. As you say Joe could do a lot to move his reportable income up or down from that border and change his tax baseline. If he can't figure that out then he probably should not be considering the purchase of that business. In all fairness to Joe, from listening to him, I believe he is smart enough to have that fact already in play and I wish him well in his business.

[BarackDaVote]

LOL......He put Faux News on BLAST!

[BluePride]

We DON'T Need Another HERO:

http://current.com/items/89381069_2008_we_don_t_need_another_hero

[Icantbelieveher]

I'm sure Fox loved the fact that Obama pointed out that they are so far in McCain's camp! They always advertise that they are unbiased, so that when people watch them, they will feel that reports from this station are true! I'll be they loved Obama pointing out that they are biased!!!!

I laughed here, too!!! It was a wonderful comedy last night -- I needed a good laugh and I'm glad these stupid things are over! Bring on Nov 4th, and let's get it over with!

[ellawensmom]

I agree. Even the audience laughed at this, which tells me that Fox's "fair and balanced" act isn't fooling anybody in America except the far right-wingers.

[NeoStar9]

I caught that as well. You usually don't get laughs like that when everyone agress not to at the start of a debate like this. I took it as even the audience realized how true Sen. Obama's joke was and they couldn't help but respond to it.

I can't believe that Sen. McCain would even dare bring it up even after so many sources, like said even Fox News have repeated again and again that what McCain is trying to say simply isn't true. You'd think he'd drop it by now or at the very least try to reword it. He really either does think people are stupid and if you repeat something enough people will believe. That only works if no one corrects him and he has been correct across the board. As a result he just comes off as a liar. There was no bending the truth in his statement, just a straight up lie and he keeps doing it after being called on it from all sides.