Lipstick Smear: Obama Assails ‘Latest Made-Up Controversy by the John McCain Campaign’

Marylou, I kind of resent the accusation that I'm looking for a handout from Obama. I'm just looking to avoid having the government ask for even more of me. Yes, the wealthy pay taxes, but they also have the ability to utilize a lot of tax shelters and exemptions (i.e. an unlimited Health Savings Account to put money into tax free to cover medical expenses their insurance doesn't cover) that I don't have the extra money to pay for. As Jimmy Stewart once said, "Just remember this, Mr. Potter: that this rabble you're talking about, they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath?" And as I might say, is it too much to not tax their medical benefits that they rely on to keep their families safe and healthy. As was noted in an earlier post, Clinton did the same tax increase and job creation sky-rocketed. And I, for one, don't want to saddle my grandchildren with a war debt that my vote helped increase.

Obama is Eddie Haskell. Do something nasty, then get the adults to pat him on the head. No Mrs. Cleaver, I mean Andrea Mitchell, I didn't mean to put down the woman who just talked about her lipstick by making a sly lipstick pig reference. Just like when I scratched my nose ONE TIME ONLY when that other woman pissed me off.

Moderate: I appreciate your response because it isn't name calling. I'm not a campaign worker or any kind of paid blogger. (And I can only do this on my lunch hour and breaks). But I would respond to some of your points as follows:

1. You have doubts that taxing my benefits will drive me homeless. You don't know my situtation but it is definitely real. I live paycheck-to-paycheck and just barely cover my mortgage, medical co-pays & deductibles etc, groceries, gas, stuff for my children's school - and prices going up every day. Any increase will make me go under & that medical benefit is a HUGE lifeline. But you say: "McCain has tax credits that will offset the "taxing my health benefits as income" problem." His tax credit is a mere $5000 per FAMILY for the year. I get that if I opt out of the insurance plan. That won't even cover 3 months of insurance premiums. How will I make do the rest of the year or should I just tell my kids to get sick or injured on a timetable?

2. I am delighted you make more than $250,000 per year & understand wanting to keep your money. You only have 1 outside employee - do you pay for medical benefits. If you do, under McCain you will lose that as a tax write-off because now that is considered income to that employee & the employee will pay it. Have you asked your employee how they feel about it?

3. Your number is slightly misleading in saying the rich pay 60% of the taxes. They don't pay a 60% rate, they pay 60% of all American taxes but they control a LOT more than 60% of the money. Under Obama the increase would go from 36 to 39 percent (just like during the Clinton era when people weren't exactly going broke) - but you didn't even pay the current rate because you obviously have a lot of credits/offsets that brought it all the way down to 25%. That's less than what I pay because I'm just a working stiff.

3. Even McCain can't do anything about the deficit Bush ran up. And certainly without an end to the war, that deficit will rise faster with McCain than Obama. That war is a money pit. At least Obama wants to spend the money in America and not overseas.

4. Example of McCain's refusal to considering taxing big corps - his refusal to consider a windfall profit tax on the oil industry. An industry making record profits by the way.

5. I have to question your logic that the increase in income tax will be so detrimental to your business that you wont' be able to hire someone else. The income tax is for pure profit, not for money put back into a business. And if people like me aren't taxed on our medical benefits and have more money to spend (under the Obama plan), then we will put more money into businesses like yours. That's a free market. The other is the same old "trickle down" economic theory that has utterly failed over the past 8 years.

So, in the end, neither candidate will be able to pay for everything based on current taxes or with the proposed tax cuts. But Obama wants to spend the money in America. McCain wants to spend it on the war overseas. And Obama sees the economy helped through the "bottom up" approach by giving people like me, the hard working class, more money to spend on local businesses like yours. You still think the trickle down approach is best, even though it has failed over the past 8 years. Perhaps it's just whether you see the situation from below $250,000 or from above it. The view just looks different from down here.

Well, I think that puts the policies in perspective without the name-calling or rancor. And now the people will decide. Hopefully, they will decide on these issues and not the petty drama.

"There's also a tipping point where further taxes slow growth and job creation which helps no one."

The Laffer curve was laughed out of economy schools post Reagan.

Clinton raised taxes, job creation is at some of the highest levels in the 20th century.

Bush cut taxes. Job creation may end up breaking even by the time his term is done and his 1st term was the 1st to see a net job loss during a Repsidential term since Hoover.

Thanks for the help Moderate, I really enjoy what you have posted.

Kate, I understand your concerns, but fear you are being mislead. Do you think that there are enough people making $250,000+ a year to be able to afford the 5% tax cut he says he is going to give to the rest of America? I think there are far more people than that 5% tax cut is going to be able to cover. As the poster called "moderate" posted today at 3:22, I am also under the understanding that McCain's plan offer's a tax credit to offset insurance costs. I also do not think it's fair to tax some of the people in our country but give cuts to others. Those people making $250+ already pay so much in taxes anyway, is it fair to just make them pay more? (I know some of you think that they can afford it, so why not?) The more we earn, the more we pay in taxes.
If anything, it was good discussing real issues for a change. I wish you well.

The lipstick on a pig comment is an old saying. My grandmother used to say it all the time. AND JOHN MCCAIN SAID THE VERY SAME THING during the primaries when he as talking about some Hillary Clinton policy!

Take a look at the tax code. We're all taxed according to our income with those making less paying fewer (or no) taxes, and those making more paying more taxes. There's also a tipping point where further taxes slow growth and job creation which helps no one.

There is no reasoning with those who are voting for a handout from Obama. You're falling for pie in the sky, because there's no way a tax on the wealthiest of us will pay for it all. It will either become a tax on the middle class as well, or our national debt will continue to balloon even further which drags everyone down for generations to come.

On the war - Obama has consistently said that ending Iraq would give us 10 billion a month to spend. An out-and-out lie since the entire cost of the war is on a credit card that our grandchildren are apparently expected to pay. Plus, after his Berlin Blitzkrieg, Obama said he'd get out of Iraq, expand troops in Afghanistan, and invade Pakistan. That elusive 10 billion slips further away...

Jeez man. The conservatives sure are in a tizzy. Tapper can report all he wants on some random Dem saying something silly- obviously the McCain camp has become unhinged.

Maryann, but where is McCain going to get the money to fund the war that he does not intend to end. Both McCain and Obama have said they will cut programs that aren't working. But where else can McCain cut (when he has a war to wage). More education cuts? Our schools are already struggling and I certainly can't afford private school. I sure won't be able to afford it if McCain taxes my medical benefits, too. At least Obama isn't promising to saddle me with more burden but is putting that burden on people who can afford it. Can you just ignore McCain's policy that will tax your medical benefits? Then you are clearly far better off than me and most other Americans. But doesn't Christ call us to help those in need and not ignore the pleas of the wounded? Isn't that what the story of the Good Samaritan is all about? And in that vein, perhaps those blessed with such great wealth should think about us hard working folks that are just as decent and patriotic and loving of our families.

Kate,

I'm not Ohiogirl, but I can respond to your query as I am a McCain supporter as well who appreciates his tax policy and prefers it to that of Obama. First of all, I have to defend those making 250,000+ because I am one. I am a small business owner, whose income is in that range because I'm a partnership, not a corporation, and thus the income of my company flows through to my personal income tax. You say that "those people have a LOT of money - most of the money in America. So, do the math." Well, they also already pay MOST of the taxes in America-- the top 5% of income earners pay 60% of the taxes, and 40% of American workers pay no income taxes at all or get an earned income credit. I fall in that top 5%, which is a huge surprise to me given my personal circumstances which are far from what people think of when they think "wealthy." I paid over 25% of my income in taxes last year. I did so gladly but would appreciate relief like anyone else. If Obama goes ahead and saddles all the increased tax burden on my income group, he will, it seems to me, damage small business and slow economic growth even further. My company currently has one outside employee and would like to add another in the near future. We have held off waiting to see what happens after the election. With higher taxes, we would not be able to expand.

You went on to write,"Obama taxes those people, who have the money to give & he closes corporate loopholes and goes after giant corporations that send jobs overseas. He gives people like me, struggling well under that number with kids and a mortgage, a tax cut of 5%."
Closing corporate loopholes? Now there's an idea no one's tried before. Yes, that's sarcasm. I don't hold out much hope for that being a significant income source. And the tax rates of corporations is already among the world's highest. I see nothing in his plan that would result in increased federal income from corporations overall.

Finally, you say," That's how he pays for things. McCain pays for it by taxing my medical benefits like income - something I CAN'T afford to pay and keep my home. He does that because he also wants to give tax cuts to the super rich and keep the corporate tax loopholes in place." Yikes, where to begin. First of all, Obama himself makes clear that his tax plans will not offset all the increased government spending he proposes, even with his own generous estimates of the cost of his health care plan. He does not even pretend to try to bring the deficit back in line.

Secondly, McCain has tax credits that will offset the "taxing my health benefits as income" problem. I notice that several of you folks with plain names are focusing on the same talking points-- you and Mary seem to both push the claim that taxing benefits will drive you homeless. I have my doubts. McCain's tax plan is intended to stimulate economic growth-- we will have to agree to disagree about which plan is the more effective way forward, since my understanding of the issue, which I have followed very closely, is that the McCain plan is superior for the nation as a whole. And I do not interpret the moves that this long-time reformer and original MAVERICK, John McCain, plans as keeping corporate loopholes in place. I'd like to have some examples, please. It smells like that line about "tax breaks for oil companies"-- McCain wants to cut corporate tax rates, gigantic oil companies would get the cut just like every other corporation, because of their size and the amount of taxes they pay, the dollar amount of their tax savings would be large, but that is not the same thing as singling out those companies for particular favors, as the Democrats are implying with their language.

You know, President Obama tried to give folks the benefit of the doubt by stating that Americans are not stupid. But I am sorry Mr. President I beg to differ, the truth is most Americans are the biggest dummies walking the face of the Earth. They are sheep waiting to be hunted and shot dead by McCain/Palin (for moose stew ingredients)! Tisk, tisk, what a pitty! Truth is, you don't have to be sheep! Maybe you should jumpstart your brain!

"So again - where is this goodtime Charlie going to get all that money he's using in an attempt to buy votes?"

Bringing our troops home from a war costing us $10B a week and returning the tax rates to the Clinton years is a great start.

Raising taxes on those earning over $250,000 won't begin to pay for all of Obama's handouts.

Plus he now says he won't repeal the Bush tax cuts right away.

So again - where is this goodtime Charlie going to get all that money he's using in an attempt to buy votes?

We will see in November now won't we. The country will vote and we will have a change in name at the office.Which is more important to you? The candidates gender, race or the policies that they will bring.

Why doen John mcCain hate young children?

Because he has no honor.
Lie, say anything, do anything.
Putting personal gain above country,
that's John mcSame.

ohiogirl: it's hard for me to understand your position. You agree that there are few people in that $250,000+ category. But those people have a LOT of money - most of the money in America. So, do the math. Obama taxes those people, who have the money to give & he closes corporate loopholes and goes after giant corporations that send jobs overseas. He gives people like me, struggling well under that number with kids and a mortgage, a tax cut of 5%. That's how he pays for things. McCain pays for it by taxing my medical benefits like income - something I CAN'T afford to pay and keep my home. He does that because he also wants to give tax cuts to the super rich and keep the corporate tax loopholes in place. I know you are paying attention but I don't know how much investigating you are doing. I don't think you are a troll and I think name calling is not helpful to either side. It just clouds the issues. But tell me based on an issue like these taxes - why do you think McCain putting more of a burden on people like me will help. I'm not rich & I don't blame the government either. I just work hard to provide the best for my family. I just need government not to saddle me with more burden (like taxing my benefits). I need them to leave that alone - and McCain doesn't. Because (just like Obama) he has to pay for things somehow and he is unwilling to go after the wealthy and the giant multi-national corporations to do it.

I will say this as clearly as a I can:

Senator McCain is deliberately lying to the American public in order to further his own campaign. Senator McCain is a liar and should be called on it.

His latest ad implying Obama is a child molester is beyond despicable, especially because the bill in question was meant to protect children from predators. It makes me sick as an American. Senator McCain should immediately apologize for lying to the American people.

With its latest ad, released Sept. 10, the McCain-Palin campaign has altered our message in a fashion we consider less than honest. The ad strives to convey the message that FactCheck said "completely false" attacks on Gov. Sarah Palin had come from Sen. Barack Obama. We said no such thing. We have yet to dispute any claim from the Obama campaign about Palin.

They call the ad "Fact Check." It says "the attacks on Gov. Palin have been called 'completely false' ... 'misleading.' " On screen is a still photo of a grim-faced Obama. Our words are accurately quoted, but they had nothing to do with Obama.

Our article, posted two days earlier, debunked a number of false or misleading claims that have circulated in chain e-mails and Internet postings regarding Palin. There is no evidence that the Obama campaign is behind any of the wild accusations that we critiqued. There is no more basis for attributing these viral attacks to the Obama campaign than there is for blaming the McCain campaign for chain e-mail attacks falsely claiming that Obama is a Muslim, or a "racist," or that he is proposing to tax water. The anti-Palin messages, have every appearance of being home-grown.

Obama is coming apart at the seams and his entire campaign is imploding before our very eyes.

At this point he may as well come out and say "I hate and disrespect all strong women."