Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Barack Obama wants to raise your taxes

What I'd like to add to the below press release is that Barack Obama lives in Chicago, where the price of living is quite high, $32,000 a year doesn't go very far around here. Obviously those big ears of his do not make it easier for him to listen to his constituents. I remember when Bill Clinton was president, I complained, "If only he lived in an expensive part of the country, then he'd realize my neighbors and I are not rich." But Obama doesn't care, and Bill Clinton probably didn't either in the 1990s.

From a John McCain campaign press release:

This year, Barack Obama returned to the United States Senate twice to vote
in favor of a budget resolution which raises income tax rates by three
percentage points for the 25, 28 and 33 percent tax brackets. This would mean a
tax increase for those earning as little as $32,000.

While Barack Obama campaigns on a promise of no tax hikes for anyone but the rich, we once again find that his words are empty when it comes time to act. In both
March and June, Barack Obama could have put the force of his vote behind his
words. Instead, he decided that "rich" now means those making just $32,000 per
year.

Over the past several weeks, Barack Obama has made it increasingly difficult to take him at his word on anything. After pledging to accept public financing, he decided not to. After saying he would debate "anywhere, anytime," he decided against participating in any of the ten joint town hall meetings. After backing the D.C. handgun ban, he now says it was unconstitutional. After pledging to filibuster the FISA bill, he voted for it. He is running ads taking credit for welfare reform that he
opposed. He is claiming to be bipartisan even though he has never voted against his party on any major issue. He has backtracked on trade. He has backtracked on abortion. And last week for the space of several hours, he held the position that he would listen to our commanders in Iraq if they say we need to stay longer to secure the gains of the surge.

All this political "refining" has resulted in a credibility gap. Since we can no longer simply take Barack Obama at his word, we are left to examine his actions.

Based on his actions and votes, Barack Obama is going to raise taxes on nearly every American. If you make over $32,000 per year, Barack Obama has voted to raise your taxes. If you own stocks, Barack Obama has a plan to raise your taxes. During the primary, he proposed lifting the cap on income subject to Social Security taxation. He has proposed to repeat the failed Windfall Profits Tax and new taxes on
natural gas and coal. He is going to raise taxes on small businesses. There is no group rich, poor or other who will not be adversely impacted by his tax increases.

Even more troubling, Barack Obama has proposed increasing Washington spending and expanding government programs while failing to outline how he will pay for his
proposals. Where will Barack Obama make up the difference? Unfortunately, we already know the answer. If we ignore his words and look at his record, he will not hesitate to tax any Americans at any income level.

This is a question of credibility. And on ensuring that we can grow our economy by keeping taxes low and more money in the pockets of taxpayers, Barack Obama's record of action shows that his words are empty.



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3 comments:

JBP said...

I may add that Sen. Obama claimed to support the confirmation of Judge Alito, but voted to filibuster against his appointment to the Supreme Court, as well as riding around in ADM's private plane, then decrying the influence that lobbyists have on politicians.

JBP

Omnibabe said...

Hah. Peter Venlet summed it up very well here.

Anonymous said...

Seriously, you're going to state something off of a campaign poster as fact?