McCain to Attack Obama for Public Radio Comments From 2001

If you listen to the entire tape, Obama says that he doesn't believe he courts can redistribute the wealth. HOWEVER, he does believe that it can happen at the legislative level. Yikes! Listen to the entire tape. Our level of economic success was not created by "redistributing the wealth." Our economy grew because of wealth creation. Like it or not that is a captialist system. I think most Americans would prefer a prosperous nation based on economic growth. Obama says we need to build the economy from the "bottom up." Well, very poor people don't hire people for jobs, so I don't see how giving checks to those who pay no income taxes is going to rebuild our economy. I'm not for giving the rich all the breaks, but overtaxing businesses does lead to job loss and that's the last thing we need right now.

Hopefully Obama will win. The we'll see a stop to the Republican wealth redistribution to the rich, welfare for corporations, and the "pro-life" killing of innocent people in unprovoked wars.

I cannot believe some of these comments! Obama has lots of shady people in his past, has used Chicago style politics while campaigning, silence TV & radio commentaries, his supporters spray painting people's homes with F... McCain, ready to introduce the Fairness Doctrine, which is not "fairness" at all....

Has our society gone so far over the cliff, that all they want is to take from the rich? I am my no means rich, but I have no envy or want, of their riches.

Remember this..2 yrs. ago, Mexico said they were going to raise their taxes on their wealthier citizens, to pay for social programs. Those citizens said they would move out of Mexico if they did that.

We already have citizens abroad, that have denounced their citizenship, in order to NOT pay US taxes!

Obama, keep your hands off our Constitution!

In the new capital of the US (chicago), lets order Michelle another bucket of Iranian Caviar, a couple lobsters, then bring out the Dom, Kick back, and round up some conservatives for the evenings festivities with the Big Catz at soldiers field. We like the new flag too and the most deluxe national anthem that Dr. Ayers has written for us. Bill is now the second lady what with the recent National Gay Marriage laws and a more civilized version of Islam. Dr. Obama has fullfilled his promise that we won't have to endure another election like the last, constitution suspended - I mean only lawyers ever read the thing anyway.

INFIDEL>

>So Obama thinks Supreme court should be involved in wealth distribution.

Did you actually read the transcript? He EXPLICITLY took the OPPOSITE stance, which is the conservative interpretation of how arguments for inequality-related redistribution should take place.

So Obama thinks Supreme court should be involved in wealth distribution.

Is Obama running for US or North korean presidency?

I think it is disturbing to read some of the comments from people. Since when did a progressive tax plan that started in the early 1900's become socialism. The United States realized then, that a tax plan which required those who could afford it, should pay at a higher rate, while the middle class and those even worse off pay what they can afford. These tax credits were in place during the economic boom we saw prior to Bush taking office and we still had a free market system. You are not a socialist if you ask for some government regulation and tax breaks for the middle class. These are the consumers who will buy the products and stimulate our economy. Socialist ideas have been interwoven with capitalist ideas in our government to continue the growth and stability of our economy(breaking of monopolies, social security, workmens comp., etc...). Read Barack Obama's book as I have and maybe some of you who try to put labels on him will have an easier time understanding him as he is not a socialist or someone who believes a totally free market system is best. There is a middle ground, as the U.S. has shown over the last 100 years. If we stop the attacks and the constant desire to label someone, you will see his proposal makes the most sense for our economic future.

Anyone know how many corporations actually pay taxes? You might want to look that up. Also, you might look up how much tax revenue they contribute to the economy under consistently disastrous republican economic policies. Even Greenspan now admits that corporations don't appear to act in their own self survival interest. It's clear they have been more focused on short term greed. You might also look up the party affiliation of most corporate lobbyists after the last 8 years of republican control of ALL 3 BRANCHES of government (I'll grant 2 years of democratic control in the last 8, and nothing has come of that).

WHAT's ALL THIS TALK ABOUT REDISTRIBUTION? The republican plan for redistribution of wealth has been consistently this: 1)Limit funding of education of any kind and limit any action directed towards education of consumers (I'll grant Bush gave the appearance of doing something in this area, but, not typically part of the repuplican platform calling for privitization of education). 2)Limit any oversight over corporations that sell to consumers or play signifcant roles in our economy. 3)Call for the so called "ownership society" where all consumers make their own investment decisions, medical decisions, home purchases, etc., etc. all while holding down full time jobs and caring for their families(i.e. consumers need to become their own doctors, real estate experts, legal experts, stock market experts, safety experts, etc.)Republicans and corporations have worked together to ensure all Americans make all of those decisions with very little information (tranparency). 4)Promote the consolidation of corporations into larger, more economically powerful corporations and limit the choices consumers have when buying or getting assistance with the transactions in #3. 5)Expand the power of corporate lobbyists to influence congress.
To summarize: Expand the rights of large corporations (not mom-and-pop businesses) to slowly suck the wallets of Americans dry so that they can pay their lobbyists and CEOs huges bonuses, so that those lobbyists and CEOs can continue to pump huge amounts of money into the Republican party. THEY ARE THE ELITES!!! VOTE FOR THEM AND GET THE REDISTRIBUTION PLAN THAT IS BEING HIGHLIGHTED BY TODAY's EVENTS. In other words, privatize income and wealth building by the richest individuals and largest corporations and then SOCIALIZE the losses of the wealthy and large corporations!

I don't understand what is so damning about Obama's words. If the choice is redistribution or further concentration of wealth, it's a no-brainer. Over the last 35 years, but especially the last 8, the middle class is being exterminated. We have had less and less fincancial regulation until the true elites needed it. Then, voila, 700 billion for them.

If we can accomplish what Obama wants:
1) Bring a sensible Health Care system to our land.

2) Refurbish our infrastructure.

3) Create a new economic engine of alternative energy sources.

4) Repeal the disastrous Bush tax policy.

Then working middle class people will have a much better go of it.

recent poll steve-80 some % said they want ECONOMIC GROWTH not Spread the wealth And what company do you know that doesn't pass on to consumers an increase when their taxes go up? Get your facts straight!

Posted by: SueG | Oct 27, 2008 11:38:06 PM

ECONOMIC GROWTH is linked to to JOB CREATION. It has nothing to do with the false interpretation of spreading the wealth.

Ryan C:
Concerning Obama breaking his word on campaign finance: Obama's word means nothing, he lacks the integrity to keep it. Just as bad, his background would likely cause him to fail a clearance test for a high level security job such as the FBI.

recent poll steve-80 some % said they want ECONOMIC GROWTH not Spread the wealth And what company do you know that doesn't pass on to consumers an increase when their taxes go up? Get your facts straight!

So it's ok for the middle class (which no longer really exists due to Bush's presidency) to pay the bulk of the taxes?

You people who continue to lie about Obama's "redistribution of wealth" comment to the new GOP icon "Samuel, Joe the Plumber" are dillusional.

If you are a member of the frail "used to be" middle class what is your gripe about those who have the most $$ paying the most taxes. All of those followers at the McCain rallies are just clapping like trained seals without knowing their candidate's tax table is not going to help them one bit unless they are rich.

Speaking of socialism in the US government, it was Roland Reagan who introduced the IRS Earned Income Tax Credit, which gives money to some who do not pay taxes, yes the father of
"NeoCon-YOUism" Ronald Reagan, was the father of the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Get your facts straight and stop the madness.

“but it doesn't say what the federal government or the state government must do on your behalf.”

I should hope not!

Government can’t do things on your behalf.

They can only force other people to do it.

the beginning of the end for obama

Louis Farrakhan does not call Obama "the Messiah" for nothing :)
Aka Joe Biden: GIRD YOUR LOINS!

Leila G., Sorry but I'm not buying your attempt to spin Obama's interview statement into something innocuous. You wrote: "Please re-read this quote by Obama:'I think that there was a tendency to lose track of the political and community organizing activities on the ground that are able to put together the actual coalitions of power through which you bring about redistributive change.'
The point was, keep it out of the courts, keep it out of government, and let community groups do the work they do best. What's wrong with that?"

Um, well,l for openers, that isn't what he said. Yes, he said the courts were not the proper venue (and in the longer cut of the interview not quoted here, he talks about the difficulties of courts supervising long-term efforts, etc.)-- not the most effective way. But he clearly did NOT say keep the government out-- he talks at length about the fact that it is the legislature that he considers best suited to such "social justice" as he deems appropriate. He talks about community organizing AND political movements as appropriate mechanisms to bring out REDISTRIBUTIVE change. Not just good old "change," his current mantra, but a specific kind of change-- redistributive. You know, take from those who have to give to those who have not. No thank you.

You then go on to say,"This statement had everything to do with the work of charitable organizations and nothing to do with taxes." Well, I would disagree. This has everything to do with world view, in my opinion. Taxes are not the be all and end all-- they are a piece of the puzzle. It seems to me from the clues we have gotten over the course of the campaign (and we must look at such clues because Obama is an enigma with every intention of remaining opaque) that Obama's philosophy is that big government should create a nanny state where the government decides how society's resources should be allocated, redistributing not only wealth but access to resources generally through government intervention, be it through the tax code, government mandates, legislation, etc.

You end with a plea that we "Stop simplifying." I'm not simplifying. This is not simple. This is complex and deeply troubling. This is bigger than a simple "tax the few more and tax the many less" plan--- even though the Obama campaign wants to convince us that is all that is going on here.

Use your brain/Vote McCain

John McCain - Stuck in the past and unfit to lead in the 21st Century.

The Democrat party has come a long way baby!

"Ask not what your county can do for you, ask what you can do for your country"
--JFK Then

Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You
… Just Demand It. And if your country takes too long to deliver, bust open its doors and riot.
--ACORN Obama Today

Goodbye McCain. The GOP Republicans must be saddened by your decline!