George's Bottom Line

Reporting and analysis from ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent and "This Week" Host George Stephanopoulos

George Stephanopoulos reports on events in politics, Congress and the White House for ABCNews, on the air and online. He interviews top newsmakers, discusses the events of the week and looks to the week ahead each Sunday on 'This Week.'

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When Democrats Win on Taxes, They Win Elections

October 28, 2008 7:24 PM

In the last days of the election, John McCain has sought to hammer home his argument that that an Obama administration would raise voters' taxes.

However Barack Obama appears to be effectively making his policy pitch that he would give 95 percent of Americans a tax cut and raise taxes for families making over $250,000. 

McCain's "Joe the Plumber" argument is probably giving him some headway but interestingly, Obama still maintains a ten-point lead over McCain -- 51 to 41 percent -- on who voters trust more to handle the issue of taxes, according to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll.

The last Democratic candidate for president to have that kind of lead on taxes was Bill Clinton in 1992, who led then-President George H.W. Bush 41 - 30 percent on trust to handle taxes.

When Democrats win on taxes, they tend to win elections.

--George Stephanopoulos

October 28, 2008 in Barack Obama, Democrats Vote 2008, John McCain, Polls, Republicans Vote 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (455)

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Obama is not going to win this argument! It has been clear that he started off saying people who earn 1 Million a year, than he dropped it down to 250,000.00 in his Debate third debate he said 200,000.00 and his recent Web add backs that up see link below. Now we have Biden out there saying 150,000.00 which is a far cry from the 1 Million Obama started at back in 2007!

I think the American People are really starting to open their eyes to this guy and his numbers are slipping very slowly! The New Gallop Poll shows him up only 2 now, and with 6-8% undecided it is not looking good for Team Obama! Below is the link of Obama's web add which he clearly states $200,000.00 not the 250,000.00 he has been saying!

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=79319

Posted by: chuck | Oct 28, 2008 7:41:40 PM

George: "With seven days left, I will do everything in my power to make sure he wins the tax arguement"

Posted by: Duke | Oct 28, 2008 7:42:53 PM

People are going to believe and hear what they want to believe and hear. If it sounds too good to be true, IT IS.

Posted by: Lisa Again | Oct 28, 2008 7:43:27 PM

Tell us George, what then happened when Clinton got in office after he ran on lowering taxes????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Posted by: Fools | Oct 28, 2008 7:44:56 PM

George, you are not being honest.Most of the major polls show he is losing that spin.You media people are really a joke who ever wins.R.I.P media.

Posted by: dave | Oct 28, 2008 7:45:48 PM

Wake up America, do not believe this guy for one minute. Look up his voting record in the Senate. He has lied over and over again and is now getting the American public to fall for his lies. PLEASE PEOPLE WAKE UP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

Posted by: TheRealTruth | Oct 28, 2008 7:46:59 PM

Dear George:
Of course, Obama will say anything until he get elected, but read this
"3. Obama advocated dramatically increasing taxation on "the rich" even up to the 100% level, arguing that, "there is no limit to taxation if the benefits derived from public services by society measure up to the cost in taxation which they have to pay" (p. 30) and that, "Theoretically, there is nothing that can stop the government from taxing 100% of income so long as the people get benefits from the government commensurate with their income which is taxed." (p. 31).......from "Obama Hid His Father's Socialism From Readers.".. from his own paper.

Posted by: Ed | Oct 28, 2008 7:47:07 PM

Sorry dave, you're not being honest with yourself. You right-wingers always got to to blame the media for everything. You are incapable of seeing that it's McCain's argument about keeping business as usual for the rich and and big companies is really the selling point for Obama. Don't go away mad, just go away

Posted by: Rob | Oct 28, 2008 7:51:18 PM

Lisa Again: "People are going to believe and hear what they want to believe and hear. If it sounds too good to be true, IT IS."

Exactly. And what I hear John McCain saying is big tax cuts for everyone and reduction in the deficit by cutting pork - which in TOTAL are less than 10% of the annual deficit.

And you think Senator Obama, who admits where and how he'll move to get the budget balanced, is the one spewing too good to be true fantasies?

Posted by: jhw539 | Oct 28, 2008 7:51:23 PM

You really need another job, George, of course you want Obama to win. You ABC people are so prejudiced it is almost laughable. I think all of you, Charles Gibson, Diane Sawyer and you have lost such credibility with the public. I have heard so many people say they will never watch ABC again, whoever wins. I have been watching and the people who are so opposed to you are certainly right. The media is really stupid.

Posted by: Janice | Oct 28, 2008 7:52:14 PM

Of course, and George lives in an alternative universe. George has an incentive in saving the Obama candidacy when he corrected him on his faith. Yup, George doesn't have any bias in this...

Posted by: Gina | Oct 28, 2008 7:52:27 PM

Repubs scream WOLF some more.

"TRUST US, THIS TIME WE MEAN IT!"


BYE-BYE, REPUBS!


OBAMA = PREZ

McCAIN = TOAST

Posted by: Ed from MA | Oct 28, 2008 7:52:36 PM

Yes, Obama is winning the tax argument, and McCain is a fool to have not come up with his own tax plan for the middle class that is the equal to Obama's. If McCain did that, he would win. His advisors are fools too, but he is the one who is listening to them.

But there is a chance McCain still can win, because the public is beginning to see that Obama is a socialist, and the public will not elect a socialist, once they know that's what he is.

It's not the tax argument alone that makes him a socialist. It's that the tax argument is the tip of the iceberg for a whole socialist way of thinking -- including massive wealth redistribution, massive government spending programs so that the government will start giving people what the government is obligated to give them under the due process clause of the constitution (to use Obama's own words in his recently revealed 2001 interview.

It also includes massive socialist judicial activism by the radically liberal judges he will appoint to the Federal Judiciary.

Posted by: Jake Long | Oct 28, 2008 7:52:36 PM

George, your are part of the new TASS regime, correct? I had hope for you after you left the Clinton stronghold, but you have fallen into the pitcher again. You are talented, but you've got to be yourself. Take a chance George, climb over the fence, report a little from each side. It's easy to report on the Dems because they say what everyone wants to hear. That's like copying someone elses test answers. Have some pelotas de steel mi hermano Jorge. You can do it.

Posted by: Golden_Eagle | Oct 28, 2008 7:53:09 PM

So, you GOP apologists still don't get that McCain is a tired, old, wounded warrior fighting a losing battle in this election? Palin, the big drag, is looming behind him like a shadow in a daylight that he cannot run away from. Bush's failed economic policies which McCain voted for 95% of time plague him like a terminal cancer. McCain's judgement is flawed. Keep up with the wishful thinking---it gives temporary relieve in times of hopelessness.

Posted by: what667 | Oct 28, 2008 7:54:48 PM

George,
You more than anyone would remember GHWB promising "NO NEW TAXES" in 1992 and still could not beat Billy your old Boss. You would think McCain will have the wisdom to look back and learn a thing or two form that election. But then again his campaign strategy (If there is one) has been nothing but disastrous. What would a person like you who has successfully run two presidential campaigns advise Rick Davis? I heard Chris Matthews the other day suggesting you and Carville call Davis and help him out - since David Axelrod was not willing to do that!

Posted by: Emanuel | Oct 28, 2008 7:54:53 PM

Fools: "Tell us George, what then happened when Clinton got in office after he ran on lowering taxes?"

He balanced the budget, approved welfare reform that halved the rolls, oversaw a major economic expansion, and handed off such a large SURPLUS to President Bush that one of President Bush's first moves was to literally send everyone a few hundred dollar check (and cut taxes, since Republicans seem to love running up the national credit card and can't stand to be without a deficit).

Thanks for the memory. It's a much fonder one than the disaster of Republican "Read my lips: no new taxes."

Posted by: jhw539 | Oct 28, 2008 7:55:14 PM

George Stephanopoulos i so much in love with Obama. He acts like a little B1tch whenever he talks about Obama

Posted by: dan the man | Oct 28, 2008 7:57:07 PM

Janice, if you dislike ABC so much, why are you on here commenting. George is just telling things from his point of view. The problem with people in the US is that they want their own views, but they want everyone else to agree with them. Learn to respect the fact that others have different opinions and that the reporters for the news media have a right to their own opinion. The problem with Republicans is that they want to supress any opinion that does not support their own. And by the way, I want Obama to win too. That's why I have voted for him. So has my family and my co-workers. Unless you know the entire population of the US and all those who vote, how in the world would you know what the rest of us think.
Obama/Biden 08!!!!

Posted by: SayWhat | Oct 28, 2008 7:57:58 PM

Jake Long: "a whole socialist way of thinking -- including massive wealth redistribution, massive government spending programs so that the government will start giving people what the government is obligated to give them under the due process clause of the constitution "

The word "socialist" actually has a detailed definition, and it does not appear to match what you're talking about. At all. If you want to communicate effetively with people not steeped in the unique re-defined "English" of the far Right, please try to stick to the accepted meaning for words or at least give us how you are redefining them.

Calling Obama's plan socialist is absurd and makes you look rather ignorant of basic political concepts.

Posted by: jhw539 | Oct 28, 2008 7:58:35 PM

Anyone with a brain knows that the tax system right now is not working. McCain wants more of the same. If you agree with him you'll vote for McCain. Like most Americans I want to change the tax structure to get our country back on track.

Posted by: JJ | Oct 28, 2008 7:59:04 PM

Jake Long -

Please give a speific example of how he will redistribute the wealth - how he will single handedly cahgne the judicial system and judges, how he will make this republic we live in any more socialistic than it has already become by bailing out the ultra wealthy wall street people.

Posted by: jozy | Oct 28, 2008 7:59:27 PM

I don't think anyone seriously believes they're going to receive a tax cut. It's just all talk to get your vote. Get real.

Posted by: grams | Oct 28, 2008 7:59:51 PM

I think the likelihood of the "empty head" Sarah Palin assuming the presidency is the scariest thing of all that the thought of Obama being a 'socialist" pales in comparison.

Posted by: what667 | Oct 28, 2008 8:00:06 PM

Clinton lived off Reagan's economy. He did not build one himself. The liberals are pathetic. Support yourselves for once. No more handouts. Stand on your own two feet. Your messiah has no experience and will be even more lost than his supporters are now. Conservatives will survive either way because we are used to working hard for a living and not waiting on the next welfare check in the mail.

Posted by: rtk | Oct 28, 2008 8:00:26 PM

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