They're Lying

The debate over the economy swung into high gear today as both presidential candidates gave speeches on the topic. That's as it should be: let this critical debate begin.

What's not okay is that one candidate -- John McCain -- and his team are making up damaging stuff that directly contradicts policies Obama has been crystal clear about.

When it comes to taxes, Obama has drawn a firm line in the sand at $250,000. He cuts taxes for the vast majority of families -- more than 95% -- and raises taxes only on those with incomes above $250,000. Whether its income taxes, payroll taxes, capital gains, or stock dividends, his plan does not raise taxes on anyone below $250,000. He articulated this point today: "...if you're a family making less than $250,000, my plan will not raise your taxes -- not your income taxes, not your payroll taxes, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes."

Yet, from McCain's speech today: "If you believe you should pay more taxes, I am the wrong candidate for you. Senator Obama is your man. The choice in this election is stark and simple. Senator Obama will raise your taxes."

His top advisor, Doug Holtz-Eakin released a memo implying Obama would raise taxes on low-income families, those "making as little as $32,000 a year," a claim based on Obama's support for the Senate Democratic Budget resolution which contained no individual tax increases actually cut taxes for middle-class families.

McCain's "Jobs First" economic plan says: "If you are one of the 23 million small business owners in America who files as an individual rate payer, Senator Obama is going to raise your tax rates." But 99% of individuals with small business income make less than $250,000, so they won't see their taxes go up at all. In fact, Senator Obama has proposed a new 0% capital gains rate for small business and start ups -- it's McCain that would continue to tax small business capital gains at 15%.

McCain and Obama have very different economic plans, particularly regarding tax policy (read about them here). They have every right to go forth and build support for their plans and attack the other guy's. But this is not the way to do it. If McCain and his staff persist in twisting the truth like this, there can be no decent debate. It's a terrible disservice to the electorate and an abrogation of anything resembling straight talk.

Comments

[jayburd]

An even greater disservice is being done by the media. At best they'll say the McCain campaign is "distorting the truth" or being "disingenuous." They need to stop with the soft language and call it what it is - lying.

Senator McCain and his campaign are lying to the American people. Period.

That message has to get out beyond media outlets like HuffPo, Air America, and Countdown with Keith Olbermann. I'm tired of it.

[peterg76]

I'm not sure "lying" is entirely fair. Maybe McCain doesn't actually know there are people who earn less than $250 000. Heck, McCain has no clue what his own economic policy is (assuming there even is one), so it could have been an honest mistake.

[Budokan]

Wha? Repubs are lying? When did that start....

[LiberalMathProfessor]

We can expect nothing but lies from McCain and any other Republican who opens her or his mouth. It is all they have to do, since they lack any sane, humane, Christian-like, American, honest, God-fearing, humanitarian, rational, clear-thinking, generous, Sermon-On-­The-Mount-­Inspired, Constitutionally sound, productive plans for anything at all that needs tending, fixing, analyzing. They lie since they have no other vocabulary. So I forgive them (if only they would admit their true motivations: greed, racism, sexism), but I cannot forgive their sorry sack buddies, THE PRESS/THE MEDIA, for allowing the lies to float uncontested, and thus to become truths in the never-ending Republican process of cultural conditioning. They lie and influence the poorly educated masses by repeated lying, over and over. Yes, face it, we are among the worst educated in the industrialized, electonicalized world, and we are Barnum's dream... suckers.

[Insideout143]

All they need is an ad that spells out each GOP lie, and states the facts as they really are. Truth to power.

[elizaW]

The big lie is that only those making over 250 thousand a year will be hit by higher taxes. Democrats know this isn't the case but they cling to that number because they think it'll buy them voters who make less than that amount. However people are not as stupid and ill-informed as the Dems would like to believe. For some reason Mr. Bernstein doesn't want to discuss the uncapping of social security which is a whole new tax. In addition to that, what's even more disturbing are the bloggers who think there's nothing wrong with taxing rich people as much as possible. In the past that number has crept up to ninety percent of their salary. Last time I checked this country wasn't set up to be a socialist nation.

[kcmookie]

Last time I checked the constitution had meaning and was the founding rule of law in our society, and yet the current administration ahs completely trounced on it when it has served their needs. Also, as a society advances it recognizes the needs of the community and supports itself, this is not socialist in terms other then as regarded by those who "have" and do not want to help with those who "have not". To be clear, I am an independent, and if our great nation was moving to a socialist state then I would lean towards voting Repub, but as it stands we have a current gov't that doesn't have the capacity to help save New Orleans or do anything else to provide support and benefits to the people of this great nation. It is an embaressment, and the best thing you can think of is worrying about the tax rate for the wealthy? I wish your wealthy mansion was located somewhere in the low lying Mississipi Delta, then maybe you would rethink your position.

I am disgusted that people still want to foolishly follow the party line, even to their detriment. Have you learned NOTHING from the Bush administration?

[beaupritchard]

"The big lie is that only those making over 250 thousand a year will be hit by higher taxes"

Obama seemed emphatic that this was the case ... analyst seem to agree.

If there's a case tobe made that it is untrue make it or is the idea that it is a lie just your opinion.

Not confrontational ... if you know this to be true I'd be interested in hearing it.

[elizaW]

Obama has said he will uncap social security, meaning anyone making over 90 thousand a year will end up having twice as much withheld. This essentailly is another tax since the the money will not be recouped in retirement payments. Doubling the amount witheld means going form six to twelve percent. That's a lot of money being taken out of check every week. A lot. Tell me that doesn't really hurt the middle class. It does.

[oracleatdelphi]

Most Democrats are informed voters, the Republican always "hood wink" the lower class into voting for them with bogus issues, like gay rights, guns and higher taxes.

[Insideout143]

Wrong. The social security tax would not be applied for those above the current limit except for what they earn above the $250,000. The facts in the article are correct.

[elizaW]

Check your facts. The social security tax would affect those making ninety thousand or more. it's been documented in numerous articles.

[LiberalMathProfessor]

We've just witnessed the results of BORROW AND SPEND. I am for TAX AND SPEND now more than ever. Let's have a fair taxation system (however that might be achieved?!) but let's pay taxes so that we can maintain our nation. Right!

[beaupritchard]

While we talk about the need for change we sometimes forget not everybody is unhappy in america.

Those who are profitting from a war time economy are truly upset by Obama's message of change ... after all it took work to drive this country another trilion dollars in debt, double already record high gas prices to 4 dollars a gallon raising prices on everything that travels by road.

For them Obama is not a nominee ... he is an insurgent ... he isone of the unwashed masses that has found a way to compete in their little game of rape pillage and plunder the village called america.

For them the arrogance of McCain is tailor made. Speaking at these town hall meetings McCain reminds me of the opening monologue to a badly done late night TV show. As a speaker he is more of a comedian than a politician. Everything is a joke ... and as are most jokes told by fools the intent is to make fools of all of us.

All that's missing is a laugh track.

So when McCain says "If you believe you should pay more taxes, I am the wrong candidate for you" ... you're suppose to laugh because its a lie ... when he accuses Obama of changing his position on Iraq you're suppose to smile nervously because its another lie but you're catching on ... and when he quotes his "we are winning in Iraq" line you should frown and get angry at

[beaupritchard]

Full ending paragraph should read ...

So when McCain says "If you believe you should pay more taxes, I am the wrong candidate for you" ... you're suppose to laugh because its a lie ... when he accuses Obama of changing his position on Iraq you're suppose to smile nervously because its another lie but you're catching on ... and when he quotes his "we are winning in Iraq" line you should frown and get angry at being made a fool of.

[keepemhonest]

Karl Rove is doing a media blitz on Obama. The media lets them get away with it because: Campbell Brown of CNN is married to Daniel Senor - a Republican Strategist on FOX News & good friends with Karl Rove. Campbell Brown helps spread Rove's lies.

Andrea Mitchell from MSNBC is married to Alan Greenspan who publicly endorsed McCain.

McCain is the ultimate flip/flopper & Rove is trying to push that reputation on Obama.

McCain' Flips: GI Bill, Bush Tax Cuts, Iraq War, Offshore Oil drilling, Abortion, Jerry Falwell & the religious right, Guantanamo Bay & Torture, Campaign Finance Reform, Immigration, Privatizing Social Security, Attack Politics, Florida Everglades, Katrina, Gay Marriage Amendment, 527 Groups, Nuclear Waste, political reform, military action against rogue states, negotiating with North Korea, negotiations with Fidel Castro, negotiations with Hamas, unilateral action against suspected terrorists in Pakistan, FISA, holding prisoners indefinitely at Guantanamo Bay, Estate taxes, windfall profit tax on big oil, in 2000 McCain accused Karl Rove of dirty politics & a liar - now Rove manages McCain's campaign, Martin Luther King Day, South African Divestment, Confederate Flag, Evolution being taught in schools,

McCain has flip/flopped from HIS OWN BILLS - He's flipped on McCain/Feingold Finance Bill, Flipped on McCain/Kennedy Immigration Bill.

John McCain canNOT be trusted. In fact, the John McCain of 2000 would NOT even vote for the McCain of 2008 - why should anyone else?

BTW: Rove's paid trolls will keep doing Rove's dirty work, he might pay them enough to buy

[Insideout143]

And I hope John Edwards blows every Karl Rove lie when they debate. Enough is enough!

[haleywins]

Look for Rove droppings.

[sonofdy1]

oh please, obama is promising 2.7 trillion more in spending and plans to pay for it by only increasing taxes on the rich? Please. BTW taxing ANYONE more has been proven to suppress the economy.

[nypoet22]

proven how? like during ww2, for example? 95% taxes on the rich, and all that accomplished was winning the war and ending the great depression. oh yes, that certainly suppressed the economy.

[keepemhonest]

Sonofdy1, What you wrote isn't true. BClinton taxed the rich higher - Obama's tax plan will be identical to Clinton's tax brackets of the 90's. The economy was just fine under Clinton & his tax brackets.

GBush came in& reduced the taxes on the ultra rich& look at our economy now -- DOW had the worst June since the Great Depression. GM stocks trade at their lowest since Eisenhower.

** Defense, makes up 20% of the budget. Defending the country benefits everyone; but benefits the rich more, because they have more to defend. It's the same principle as insurance: if you have a bigger house or a fancier car, you pay more to insure it.

** Investments in nation's infrastructure-- transportation, education, research & development, energy, police subsidies, the courts, etc.-- are more useful the more you have. Interstates& airports benefit interstate commerce and people who can travel, not ghetto dwellers. Energy is used disproportionately by the rich& industry.

** Education, Better public schools are attended by the moderately well off. The rich ship their offspring to bording schools; but it is their companies that benefit from a well-educated public. (If you don't think that's a benefit, go start up an engineering firm, or even a factory, in El Salvador. Or Watts.)

** Healthcare. If the people are sick and can't afford to stay healthy, the economy suffers because we will have an increased mortality rate. Who would clean the homes of these rich people if we are all dead

[letsbepeaceful]

My recollection is that Clinton increased taxes, and then we had a very nice expansion of the economy (granted, a minor retreat toward the end of his administration). He also left office with a budget surplus, about which Bush immediately said the equivalent of 'oh look we are taking too much money from the people, lets have a tax cut. And by the way, lets deregulate lots of stuff.'

Followed by 7 1/2 years of economic disaster.

Facts please, on your comment about raising taxes has been 'proven' to suppress the economy. higher taxes raise the value of the dollar (not sure how, but I believe that's true) and a more valuable dollar improves the economy.

[lexnekst]

I hear this on the news everynight, repeatedly and no news anchor or democrat ever points this out. How can you just lie and thats it. No " keeping them honest"? If thats the game then everyone can play. McCain doesn't want Bin Laden captured. So if you don't want bin laden captured, then Mcsame is your man. Obama wants him captured. The choice is crystal clear....

And has anyone seen the ccain ad saying " MAKE TAXES, FAIRER" How? The media hounds Obama for details or bio, but Mccain has no details on anything....

[sonofdy1]

McCain doesn't want Bin Laden captured. So if you don't want bin laden captured, then Mcsame is your man. Obama wants him captured. The choice is crystal clear....
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That is a clear lie right there.

[ndifference]

Yeah, that was his point, Sherlock. Way to represent.

[rabrophy]

Yes their lying because LYING WORKS!

[barackobama4prez]

Where are O's supporters!? They should be on the news debunking these lies everyday.

[sonofdy1]

They can't because they know Obama will rasie taxes on everyone. Or he will no deliver on his promises

[Parker]

But you are willing to trust the people who are clearly lying about Obama's tax plan? What makes you think they are telling you the truth on their own tax plans? Did they tell you to read their lips?

[Fotios]

Rove, I mean McSame, has lied about Obama on almost every issue. Why does he feel the need to twist Obama's positions into lies and distortions and why are so many people in this country taking the Faux News and Republican's word for it. I have sent hundreds of people to www.barackobama.com/issues and forced them to read his positions on any issue where they have been misleaded. Months ago I printed out a copy of his "Blueprint for Change" and now carry it around in my breifcase to correct people on his positions.

So many stupid people who would rather believe liars than do their own homework.

[mediawatcher1975]

I try to beleive that people are not stupid. They are just painfully lazy and they don't trust themselves enough to make an autonomous decision. It may not sould any better, but stupid can't change, lazy can.

[SKonnery]

They have to lie because they have no issues to run on. Without the lies they have nothing.

[chaz]

What else is new. The Republicans could never win anything if they stated their true intentions.