McCain "Welfare" Ad Insults American Taxpayers
By Jon Perr Friday Oct 17, 2008 2:00pm
With his latest ad, John McCain committed a double-fraud in 30 seconds. In a spot featuring ersatz plumber and best friend for this week Joe Wurzelbacher, McCain called Barack Obama's tax plan for working families "welfare." As his duplicitous spot reveals, John McCain apparently knows very little about payroll taxes. And as it turns out, the self-proclaimed "foot soldier in the Reagan revolution" knows even less about the earned income tax credit (EITC), hailed by the Gipper himself as "the best anti-poverty, the best pro-family, the best job creation measure to come out of Congress."
Predictably regurgitating the bogus Republican talking point proliferated by the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Times, Townhall and mouthpieces of the right, McCain claimed that Barack Obama wants to give tax cuts as welfare to the undeserving:
Leading papers call Obama's taxes "welfare"..."government handouts".
Obama raises taxes on seniors, hard working families to give "welfare" to those who pay none. Just as you suspected, Obama's not truthful on taxes.
Of course, McCain and his acolytes are willfully wrong.
For starters, as Salon, the Washington Monthly and the New Republic among others quickly pointed out, McCain and his allies are conveniently ignoring the payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare. Starting with the first dollar they earn, American workers pay the 6.2% Social Security tax (on income up to $97,000) and another 1.45% for Medicare. An analysis by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center concluded, "three quarters of filers pay more in payroll taxes than in income taxes." And as Robert Gordon and James Kvaal noted at TNR:
"It is true that Obama has proposed several tax credits that include families who earn too little to owe income taxes, a group that include about half of families with children. But many of these families work and pay thousands of dollars in other taxes. For example, a family of four must earn about $25,000 before owing income taxes--but they must pay payroll taxes on the first dollar they earn. Indeed, Obama's biggest refundable credit is designed to cushion the blow of payroll taxes."
Which brings us to the second part of McCain's fraudulent charge. That millions of hard working American families pay no income taxes is due in large measure to the Earned Income Tax Credit. Created in 1975, the EITC "a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families" that results in a tax refund to those who claim and qualify for the credit when the EITC exceeds the amount of taxes owed. As the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities detailed in 2005, the EITC has not only been extremely successful in reducing poverty, it has enjoyed broad bipartisan support:
The Earned Income Tax Credit has been found to produce substantial increases in employment and reductions in welfare receipt among single parents, as well as large decreases in poverty. Research indicates that families use the EITC to pay for necessities, repair homes and vehicles that are needed to commute to work, and in some cases, to help boost their employability and earning power by obtaining additional education or training.
The EITC has enjoyed substantial bipartisan support. President Reagan, President George H. W. Bush, and President Clinton all praised it and proposed expansions in it, and economists across the political spectrum - including conservative economists Gary Becker (a Nobel laureate) and Robert Barro, among others - have lauded it.
Not all conservatives, of course, have been so receptive to the notion of encouraging work. As the New Republic reminded voters, McCain and his right-wing water carriers are just channeling decades-old animus in perpetuating this bogus stereotype:
But McCain is echoing Phil Gramm's and Newt Gingrich's old claim here that tax credits for low-income workers amount to welfare. The Wall Street Journal editorial page charmingly referred to people too poor to pay income taxes as "lucky duckies."
Despite the Wall Street Journal's best myth-making, Barack Obama's proposed tax credits - for college tuition, for day care, extra mortgage interest, for savings, for fuel efficient cars, etc. – in no way resemble George McGovern's proposed $1,000 grants in 1972. And to be sure, the Journal and John McCain alike are misleading voters with the demonstrably false claim about Obama's tax credits that "they are an income transfer -- a federal check -- from taxpayers to nontaxpayers."
So much for straight talk.
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This is what the Republican thinks about Barack Obama and poor Americans: http://brainrageblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/how...
and godDAM that gal is stupid.
Well, she's in the right party.
But it's OK for the poor and middle class to bail out Wall Street, banks and other fat cats! The hypocrisy and sheer gall of the GOP never ceases to amaze (and gag) me!
Palin's Staffers Keep Her Away From The News To Avoid Being "Depressed"
Oh no! The news makes her totally bummy? Sounds like she's waiting for God to cheer her up.
How the fu*k has she avoided being depressed for the last eight years from hell?
a moose killing here,a wolf maiming there and she's just peachy You betcha!
We all know that at this point facts matter little to the McCain campaign. They have told so many "lies" that they just don't count any more. They will say and do anything to appeal to their base because at this point that's about the only group left for them. Their base are the type of people who respond to dog whistles. If they hear the word taxes, they boo. If they hear they will get more money, they cheer. Right now the whole campaign has become boring and sadly a little dangerous.
Money saving tips for single moms:
http://www.filthyrichmond.com/2008/08/top-mon...
x of zero is zero !! DOH
WcCain is delusional
and remind me again which political party gave away free (for now, grandkids pay it back) money earlier this year to taxpayers, and is handing out free billions to Wall Street.
This is slightly off topic, but we need all the attention we can get.
Graham Long is running against Peter King for Congressional District 3 of New York.
We put together this Ad to illustrate how important it is to dethrone Peter King from his 16 year reign over NY-3.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-oS1nm0fJ8
To find out more about Graham, check out our website, www.GrahamLong2008.com.
ohyeh...Peter King...another Republican genius. He's the one that said there are too many mosques in America.
(*sigh*) you cant make this shit up, folks.
Looks like another lameass strategy that's not flying... What the hell is going on with those people McCain has running his show... It's really starting to look like they are just flinging any old random shit they can dream up at the wall just to see if ANYTHING at all sticks.... Given how debunked it is right here on this site, this lastest won't fly any more than a led balloon.. Whatever these people think they are up to, its increasingly looking more illogical and unreasoned... This far down the line do they actually think people aren't paying attention or double checking this stuff??? JD
Hard to fathom but MC Cain becomes a bigger asshole by the day. I guess the pit of Republican despair has no bottom.
GOP depravity has no limit. It's rather like the astronomical phenomena called the "black hole", though the singularity they're entering is usually termed the "brown hole."
دردشة | دردشه
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To me it looks a lot more like a personality disorder. Or psychosis.
I'm a nurse by profession, practicing 21 years, and I am not being a smartass when I say this.
Obama accuses McCain of wanting to cut Medicare
The Associated Press - 1 hour ago
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Friday that Republican rival John McCain wants to cut $882 billion from Medicare over a decade to finance his health care plan and the result would be more costly drugs, ...
Obama says McCain health plan could cut Medicare, Medicaid Los Angeles Times
Obama Attacks McCain on Medicare ABC News
KARK - RTT News - The Hullabaloo Online - WBAL TV
all 502 news articles »
http://news.google.com/?ncl=1258831370&hl=en&...
They admitted to it not long ago. The WSJ has this article. So, when McCain comes out saying Barack is mischaracterizing his stance, McCain is going to show once again that he's the one that's a liar.
(**YAWN**)
The EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) is suing to have the FISA immunity -- the unconstitutional immunity -- overturned.
"The immunity law puts the fox in charge of the hen house, letting the Attorney General decide whether or not telecoms like AT&T can be sued for participating in the government's illegal warrantless surveillance," said EFF Senior Staff Attorney Kevin Bankston. "In our constitutional system, it is the judiciary's role as a co-equal branch of government to determine the scope of the surveillance and rule on whether it is legal, not the executive's. The Attorney General should not be allowed to unconstitutionally play judge and jury in these cases, which affect the privacy of millions of Americans."
So if they cut taxes mostly for the middle classes and below, that's called "welfare". If they cut taxes mostly for the upper class that's called giving our "betters" their "due". I guess McCain and the GOP don't put much stock in "by the people, of the people and for the people", though maybe its just that in their version it by, of and for the rich people.
You know it is bad when you yearn for the good old days of Karl Rove's smears. Doesn't McCain know that the VP is supposed to be the attack dog? Not much is accomplished by making the candidate appear vindictive, dishonest, and nasty.
that Bush rips off their tax dollars for failed adventures and to bail out his contributor buds in big business.
Ever notice how the lower minds don't complain about that.
Yah, I have a real hard time understanding why so many people in this country apparently actually LIKE getting cornholed.
-- help "re-brand" the Republicans as The Party That Wrecked America
Time is running out!
Or McCain and Palins Nausea Express
We're just like you! We really mean it!
Palin is like me in that we have the same body parts, but beyond that, not so much. One example: Not only would I not shoot an animal, if I did, I wouldn't know how to field dress it......hell, I'm not even sure I know what that means.
Katy Couric wore a Palin hairdoo at the billionaires schmoozefest the other night.
http://tinyurl.com/6mq6ru
it's going to be years before we even realize the full extent of the damage--and some of it--maybe most of it--will never find it's way into the MSM, since the media are owned by defense contractors.
Any questions?
I guess if there is some good news today, some of the big shots of the failed investment companies are being investigated. Don't hold your breath until someone is found guilty. I would provide a link to his, but I heard it on teevee.
did some "investigating" of AIG and they have agreed to cutting millions from corporate perks and reimbursing for the luxury jaunts and hotel bill they soaked us with.
reference/link please? I want to read more. I like that guy.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1224202058898...
Now boarding the Alaska Express. Guns, woman and children first please.
A Mass Exodus of Wingers would actually be refreshing so we don't have to listen to their constant whining.
Funny how it completely ignores how we got where we are today...WSJ is STILL trying to sell the line that we're all better off under unhinged republican greed. Christ.
oh and btw--the article is ALL ABOUT FEAR.
What else???
...it calls the New York Post a "leading paper."
I'm a New Yorker. The Post is a Rupert Murdoch paper--which means it's one cut above used toilet tissue. But only because it hasn't been used yet.
now I WANNA ASK: WHO IS JOHN MCCAIN?
He is what his advisers and image makers have created told him to be.
And he's ended up an empty shell of his former self for going with the script.
and WATTA SCRIPT! man-oh-man. It wouldn't have MY by-line, I can tellya that.
With the trillion dollar bailout of wall street its not the best time to be whining about welfare.
Mo kidding and in only three weeks.
How many more trillions between now and Inauguration Day is Bush going loot top hand out to his cronies?
With a Trillion Plus deficit looming next year, whoever is sitting in the White House may rue the day they took the job.
If McCain somehow pulls it out, it will be all the sooner that the demand for pickforks and torches goes way up.
The greatest Welfare Fraud case in the history of the world is this Trillion Dollar < strike >Bailout Heist.
But, both Obama and McCain voted for it.
Too bad one of the Republicrats is not in a position to call it what it is. A PHUCKING HEIST.
Trillion Dollar
BailoutHeist.What we really need is to eliminate the landed gentry that we have created in this country. You do that by taxing inheritance at about 60% with about a 4 million dollar exemption and put the top tax rate for those making more than 3 million per year about about 75%. That would cut the undue influence and power of the few at the top accually pay for the needed government programs for infrastructor, health care, and alternative energy sourses. But I am not holding my breath because of the influence of the super rich and the infotainment that passes for TV news.
Decent idea but we still need to change our values and stop being the biggest gluttons on earth.
Wealth earned with integrity is where it's at.
We are exactly what TV tells us to be/eat. No more no less. And if you don't believe that, look how fat America is.
Studies have proven the best way to lower your taxes and shelter yourself from taxes is to work under the table.
Just like the rich do!
Goldman Sacks and the CONS like the offshore method.
Goldman Sacks
P.O. Box ####
Grand Caymen
enormous multi-trillion dollar increases in defense spending used by the Bush Cabal 1 +2 to suck money out of the public purse by the commission of a variety of schemes and to bleed money out of defense appropriations by incessant payments from defense contractors to a shadowy network of Republican-controlled arms companies, security research consultant companies, and offshore research institutes.
Brilliant but unfortunately diabolical and very bad Karma.
Obama's tax cuts = welfare
Bush's bailout = a rescue
you got your NeoCon-speak down pat.
It's his Theory of UNRelativity?
the faster He spends our money,the more is gets worthless.
i've gone through ups and downs with my neo-con parents; even times where we didn't speak to each other. My parents have always maintained that they would never vote for a Democrat because they always want to use government money to fund "programs".
i just recently found out that i'm pregnant, even though i had an IUD (so no, this is not good news). My mother is suddenly "so happy you live in Oregon. They have lots of great programs that can help you!"
This is the disgusting, hypocritical cronyism at it's worst- just because it's happening to *her* daughter, then it's okay to get food stamps and go on welfare. i really want to effing punch her.
So right you are. It's easy to stick to your beliefs as a republican until it actually effects you.
Case in point, the Vietnam war. When the draft is in play, and your son is in very real danger of getting his head blown off, it tends to try your belief in a war that you otherwise easily sat back and cheer-led.
That war would have had a much longer shelf likfe in this country had the draft not been in use.
Whenever I hear some right wing moron say "socialism" (especially after the last eight years), or talk about the tax scam that robs the average american to pay the uber wealthy, I call them on it and tell them they are chumps.
I also have no problem telling them they are stupid to their face. I am sick of these dumb bastards, and I am not in the least bit intimidated by them. All the ones I have encountered thus far, are freakin' cowards.
I can't wait until election day so we can send these lying psychopath's packing. It's time to chase these maggots back under their rocks!
If you look at this screen capture,
http://lefarkins.blogspot.com/2008/10/propper...
or play that McCain ad at your link, you will see that they left the 'y' out of everybody.
They must have been in a tearing hurry to get it on the air if they didn't bother to proof read.
Every republican I have ever met has the same attitude.
They hate that someone is getting welfare and or food stamps. It makes them very angry. Sometimes things appear different then they really are. There are people that appear to be able body people, someone that looks like they could work. But looks can be deceiving. I have always been a big and pretty healthy person. In 2002 I had reinal cell carsinoma, kidney cancer. I was off from work a long time. My wife worked but didn't make nearly enough money to keep things going. I don't know the details but she got some sort of assitance, wasn't much but it helped us get thru a couple of months and I was able to return to work. With the exception of bush being in the whitehouse things were going well. Fast forward to April 9th 2008 about 10pm I get a phone call. My wife has been in a serious car accident and has been life flight to a big hospital. I barrow a car and go there. They tell me she has a torn Aorta, torn diaphram, a broken back, broken neck, five broken ribs, a broken clavical, a broken hip, and fluid pressure on her brain. They shipped her to another hospital and she was in surgery 11 hours in recovery and hour and back into surgery again, they removed her splene that time. They put a vaccume sponge bandage on her because they could not close her wound a second time. She spent 5 weeks in neurotrama intensive care. She came through it but may never be able to work again. It breaks my heart when I look at a picture of her back in march and look at her today just six months. We have so far been unable to get any disability for her and her company has quit paying for her health insurance. I paid it last month but I can't keep it up so looks like we are going to be without health insurance. This is what it is like to be an American. Work all your life both of us are well past fifty and this is what you get. A mountain of hospital bills, no income and no ability to make an income, the bills mounting up. Thank you george bush and all those good republican warmongering greedy fools, Thank YOU!
"Ersatz" is such a great word.
McCains thinking is the exact same as that Dan troll that was on here a couple of days ago. ie: "hard-working American families" are those making over $250 grand; anyone making under $250 grand is a "lazy bum waiting for a hand-out from the government". NO they do NOT understand labor, wages and taxes in America at ALL!!!
Well... the Obama tax plan really is a Welfare plan. There really is no arguing that.
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