Sunday Roundup
Increasingly desperate, John McCain and the GOP are throwing the kitchen sink at Barack Obama. No wonder they called Joe the Plumber. So this week brought racist mailers, a tidal wave of robocalls, more Bill Ayers, Sarah Palin's love of the "pro-American areas of this great nation," and McCain's outlandish claim that ACORN is "destroying the fabric of democracy." Not unwarranted wiretapping, waterboarding, extraordinary rendition, or the denial of habeas corpus. ACORN. Bringing this toxic collection together in one despicable no-goodie bag was Rush Limbaugh, who charged that Obama -- aided and abetted by Ayers and ACORN -- is "smack dab in the middle" of a 30-year plot to teach black children to "hate, hate, hate" America. It's going to take more than a plumber to pull McCain's -- and his party's -- reputation out of the sewer.
Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
UnknownSol
I am a Joe the Plumber - I am a small business owner. This will be the first year my income will be above $250K (not by much) and what would happen with a President Obama - my taxes would go up. Ahh the American Dream. Maybe I shouldn't work so hard next year. And some small business owners will have to lay people off. Obama will kill jobs
Why are you unwilling to share your success with others? Just as the American Dream allowed you to succeed it is now your time to give back to others so that they can experience the same thing. Even after a small portion of your success has been redistributed to the less fortunate, you will stil have plenty-this is what I like most about Obama, he uses government to provide this very necessary role. As a hispanic immigrant, this is what myself and my family have relied upon for the last 20 years.
What amazes me is that people who are clearly very ignorant can make that kind of money.
Yes, a 3% increase so your customers can afford you is so much money. Inane argument.
Really. Just how much of a tax raise will put you out of business? If you're operating on such a small profit margin, maybe you should bid your jobs better. Maybe sell the bass boat?
Let's see, I paid lower taxes when I made $25,000 than I do now that I make over $100k. Those additional taxes came with the system, a system administered in large part by Republican administrations over the past 20 years.
With each increase in taxes, I could have complained about the increase. But I'm a "glass is half full" kind of guy, so I have always been thankful that my income was going up. Paying additional taxes was just part of the deal. At the end of the day, I was still better off. I had the opportunity to give MORE back to my country when I cracked the $100k barrier than I did before, and I've been happy to do that.
It's the price of citizenship and the glue of capitalism.
Now, I might disagree with the way Rs spend the taxes I send them, but fortunately, our system provides a corrective for that as well. Said corrective will be enacted with Obama's landslide victory on 11/4.
As to georgiaR, quit your bitching. It's unseemly and self-centered. The world doesn't revolve around you. Grow up.
I agree. Your money goes to help hispanics, the poor and other minorities. You help us achieve by giving back to us and supporting our healthcare, housing and education. You are a patriot!
Rush Limbaugh states that Obama " is "smack dab in the middle" of a 30-year plot to teach black children to "hate, hate, hate" America."
The preposterousness of this is breathtaking. Obama was 17 years old and still in HS in Hawaii 30 years ago. So as a HS student he hatched a decades-long plot to teach black children to hate, hate, hate America? Where does he come up with this nonsense? Thirty years ago Barack was a kid thinking about going to college. I'd be interested in learning what evidence Limbaugh claims to have that there is any sort of 'plot' to teach black children to hate their country.
One of the great modern hate purveyors accusing ANYONE else of teaching hatred would be funny if it weren't so pathetic and if his message wasn't so dangerous.
Someone should stop this hate-monger. Can't he be sued for slander or something?
He should be cited for noise pollution.
"30 year plot"
This coincides more with the date of the Reagan Revolution than it does with any time line that involves Barak Obama. Ring a bell in there anywhere, Rush?
Hi Arianna! Well said.
The reference to Rush brought something to mind, ie Keith Oberman. I like Keith. He refers, of course to Limbaugh as a "comedian", which is the ultimate bull's eye in my opinion. "Worst person in the world". The irony there amuses me also. Keith is a very funny guy. As a true comic, he is light years ahead of any of the buffoons on the right, who take themselves and their falsehoods in the most serious manner. Oberman's delivery and expression, not to mention his material is first rate, and not only hilarious, but truthful and incisive.
Thanks for the chance to expound. Obama 08...Kick the bums out!!
And who has been teaching all of those white people at Palin's rallies to hate?
They're just scared....
The Philadelphia Inquirer formally endorsed Barack Obama for President of the United States this morning.
Citing his ability to “bridge America’s racial divide”, and “a man who can restore their faith in a national government that’s been trapped in a tar pit of partisan sniping,” the newspaper went on to cite Obama’s policies for health care, taxes, and energy independence, as key reasons why he is the better candidate to lead the United States.
The paper also pointed to McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential candidate as “troubling” and stated the “blatant overture to women voters and evangelical Christians who share her views on abortion backfired when Palin in interviews proved she is not prepared to be a heartbeat away from the presidency
The Inquirer is an important voice in the battleground state of Pennsylvania and it joins the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times who also endorsed Obama yesterday.
Great article. Again, Obama is not about redestribution of wealth. He wants to help people like my family. We have never paid for college and hopefully never will. This is what government needs to do. My cuban immigrant family has never paid for any college. When my elderly relatives arrive each year from Cuba, the government provides them will housing section 8, and financial stipends. Under McCain this would stop. Our families cannot be expected to do without this government assistance. It is about always helping the immigrants that eventually give back to make this country strong. With hispanics being a majority by 2030, more attention should be given to our vote. Keep up the great work by our party!!
Such clever and skillful irony. Not!
You had me at "Joe the Plumber."
Arianna you always bring it right to the core of the matter. Great piece...
Two news stories are coming together for me today. First, the unfolding venom of the negative attacks by McCain on Obama, now entering the automatic Robo-Call stage. Second is the Obama announcement of another pile of campaign donations for September. The amount -- though large -- doesn't matter, except that it contrasts with the smaller public funding constraints on McCain spending. Here's the nexus between these two stories for me: John McCain is using public money -- my money!, from when I put the check in the box on my annual IRS1040 form that, yes, I want $3 to go to campaign financing -- to fund these slimy tactics. My money! is funding Robo-Calls. My money! is funding attack ads. Now THAT'S outrageous for ANY campaign, Democratic or Republican. There is a severe disconnect here between the taxpayer who checks the IRS1040 box honorably and the candidate who spends the money disgracefully.
Every week NBC's Meet The Press gets worse. No one in the Main Stream Media ever challenges the Right Wing in this country. I heard at least 4 Right Wingers mention Socialism, and Nationalism, and not once did I hear anyone mention the FACT that the Right Wing Republican policies have lead us to this point.
We hear McCain talk about spreading peoples wealth around. No One ever says that TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS is about Spreading the Wealth Around, and the fact that it hasn't been done under this current administration is the reason we are having these economic problems.
Then we hear Andrea Mitchell/GREENSPAN attack Obama for running negative ads that use McCain's own words, and then in same breath complain that Obama is spending too much money. NOT ONCE does anyone mention that Obama's money comes from small donations.
Tom Brokaw must go
If anyone at Meet the Press had any respect for Tim Russert, you would fire Tom Brokaw right now. He can't even moderate a debate for Christ's Sake!!
Agreed, he must be replaced. He can not moderate.
Very perceptive comment. Both Mitchell and Brokaw are clearly prejudiced against Obama, in my opinion. Brokaw has a lot of influence with the producers of NBC News and it has resulted in that network's generally fair treatment of political news becoming more slanted to McCain. Yes they still have the stable of old MSNBC bloviators, i.e. Olberman, Mathews, et al, and some new people who are searching for an audience , but the more widely viewed NBC news programs are clearly biased against Obama. Your point about Andrea Greenspan not mentioning the source of Obama's contributiions, only the size of his spending on ads illustrates that perfectly. Every time I hear Brokaw or any of the other NBC News commentators refer to his spending, it's never inclusive of the source of the money, nor the clear difference from the many prior elections where the Republican party and it's candidate outspent the Dems and their candidate by far.
I am 70 years old and have always voted, but this is the first time I have ever contributed money to a political campaign. But this year, I sent small donations to both Hillary and Barack. I think this is the way it should be done. I admit I want to influence the future President. I want good, honest government that the country can be proud of.
Glad I am not the only one to notice that the "Meet The Press" crowd seems to be made up of retrugs. Come on where is the balance that was under Tim?? This show used to be the best on sunday morning, not anymore under Brokaw.
Where are the reps for ACORN being interviewed on national TV? Why don't they respond?
BTW, Rush Limbaugh is a taken far too seriously ENTERTAINER. He means nothing to me. He spits and regurgitates the same venom as that represented by the GOP these days. And we wonder why people are angry and hate and knee-jerk in response to all the crap running downstream into our homes!
Thank you Arianna, you are the best.
McCain says Country First - Well he jsut hel destroy it.
McCain is entirely responsible for this situation developing at ACORN in the way that is has.
He should be made to go on national television and repute everything he has saId about ACORN, especially since his allegations were un-founded.
McCain HAS DESTROYED THIS COUNTRY by stating false information.
And too, we must not forget about Limbaugh.
OBAMA-BIDEN
What teaches some young black children to hate, hate, hate is not Barack Obama being "smack dab in the middle" of a 30-year plot to teach black children this but rather the oppressive environment perpetrated by those in power to refrain from acts of inclusion, real inclusion on behalf of black Americans. Sure, any idiot can point to the handful of black Americans in positions of power but on ratio, blacks make up a percentage way above those who represent in our government.
The argument that black Americans would be better represented if they were as intelligent or appropriately prepared for service is contradictory since preparations of black Americans for public services may indeed fall short within an atmosphere of white supremacy in American government.
The fact that black Americans suffer economically and lag behind in levels of education bears the mark of a segregated system of education and unfairness to all Americans as equals despite the very words of our own DOI that all men (people) are created equal. That may be so but certainly we are not all treated as equals. WE the people must ask ourselves why! WE the people must overcome this chink in our national armor.
It seems to me that blacks and hispanics are represented in our beloved Armed Forces at a higher proportion than whites -- This fact ought to be mentioned again and again, as proof that in fact blacks and hispanics are MORE PATRIOTIC than white citizens, on the average.
AMEN
Not sure I believe that military service, even though it is considered voluntary ultimately reflects nationalism or patriotism. I sense it occurs more frequently amongst the (growing) minority populations in greater numbers for precisely the reasons I stated above. Lessor equal opportunity not to be confused with affirmative action leads to poor education and when the door to military service is so plainly left open, a certain corralling effect takes place as people see an opportunity at that very education they have not gotten in public sectors. Almost sound conspiratorial doesn't it?
I agree. Also, look at the way school funding is done. The rich neighborhoods get the more money for their schools while poor neighborhoods don't. There needs to be some equality there.
Too, too bad this same principle does not serve health care equally. It would seem the more money we throw at health care, the worse our outcomes are. We spend twice a much on each person but get only half the results as represented by days in hospital, status of individual disease states. Sorry to say it, but the next really big shoe to drop will be a crisis in health care promulgated by the financial crisis it generates. Then you will see real class divisions.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
