Obama Jabs at McCain Tax Cuts

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(KAUKAUNA, Wisc.) Barack Obama told a crowd of predominately white, middle class voters today that his tax plan will provide three times more relief than John McCain's proposed cuts. He charged McCain with only helping the wealthiest families, saying that his tax cuts will only go to households earning more than $2.8 million a year.

"Now, I don't want to embarrass anybody but how many people here make more than $2.8 million a year," Obama asked the audience here, "If you're there, I wanna know you because we're still fundraising!"

Obama described McCain's plan as neither conservative nor "fiscally prudent," calling it a "regressive plan" plan that is twice as expensive as George Bush's original policies. "I often say that John McCain is running to serve out George Bush's third term, but that's not being fair to George Bush," Obama said to laughter and applause from the crowd.

He denied claims that he is a "tax and spend liberal," saying that he will not raise taxes on households making under $250,000 per year. However, Obama added, "What is true is I'm gonna ask wealthy Americans to pay a little bit more because they have benefited more from the growth of this economy over the last decade. Of all the economic growth that's taken place – about three-fourths of it have gone to the wealthiest Americans. It hasn't gone to workers, it hasn't gone to you and I don't think that's the way to build a strong economy. "

On Tuesday, McCain accused Obama of proposing the biggest tax increase since World War II. "Under Senator Obama's tax plan, Americans of every background would see their taxes rise - seniors, parents, small business owners, and just about everyone who has even a modest investment in the market," McCain said at National Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C.

The Obama campaign sent an e-mail today, refuting McCain's comment. "Obama's proposal does not constitute a tax increase in the traditional sense, since taxes would be lower under his plan than they would under current law," the e-mail statement read, "We find McCain's statement to be false."

McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds replied to Obama's claims today in a statement to CBS News: "Barack Obama needs to learn the facts. The very same report that Barack Obama cited to make that claim actually demonstrated that John McCain's tax plan included relief for taxpayers across the board. John McCain has proposed expanding the child tax credit for families, keeping taxes low for the smallest investors and providing a gas tax holiday to every American – all those clearly include Americans from across the income spectrum."

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by noloyalisti June 13, 2008 8:05 PM EDT: We don''t need to pay for this illegal occupation. We don''t need to pay for bridges and streets and our kids education. We don''t need any money for the commons. What a waste of money, firefighters, police and emergency responders. Vote for the same, vote McSame. Four more wars! More money for Exxon. More troops for Chevron! Yeah!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by nkgilb June 13, 2008 5:19 PM EDT: John McCain left his first wife because she got fat and got crippled in an accident. He was fooling aroung with lots of women, then he decided to settle for trophy Cindy with her rich father who could help him politically. Even his first wife said that '' McCain did not want to be 40, he wanted to be 25! and that is why he left me because l was too old for him!! senator McCain''s moral principles are wrong for women!

Senator McCain does not understand family values! Senator McCain is WRONG for America at this crucial moment in American.

Senator McCain understand nothing but war, he thinks it is romantic and build character. If you vote for McCain its the end of ROE, 100 years in Iraq and war with Iraq. His war experience made his career, he thinks sending your kids to torture camps will make them better people.

Vote for the right kind of change, vote for a person with good vision, character, good judgement, vote for a strong leader, Vote Barack Obama for president!!!

Obama understand our America values.
obama understands what women are facing (sexism).
obama understand the sufferings and struggles of the middle class.
Obama for a good and strong America!!!

Say NO to Bush McClone, no more third term for Bush! McCain is a Bush camouflag!; Reply to this comment


by nkgilb June 13, 2008 5:18 PM EDT: John McCain left his first wife because she got fat and got crippled in an accident. He was fooling aroung with lots of women, then he decided to settle for trophy Cindy with her rich father who could help him politically. Even his first wife said that '' McCain did not want to be 40, he wanted to be 25! and that is why he left me because l was too old for him!! senator McCain''s moral principles are wrong for women!

Senator McCain does not understand family values! Senator McCain is WRONG for America at this crucial moment in American.

Senator McCain understand nothing but war, he thinks it is romantic and build character. If you vote for McCain its the end of ROE, 100 years in Iraq and war with Iraq. His war experience made his career, he thinks sending your kids to torture camps will make them better people.

Vote for the right kind of change, vote for a person with good vision, character, good judgement, vote for a strong leader, Vote Barack Obama for president!!!

Obama understand our America values.
obama understands what women are facing (sexism).
obama understand the sufferings and struggles of the middle class.
Obama for a good and strong America!!!

Say NO to Bush McClone, no more third term for Bush! McCain is a Bush camouflag!; Reply to this comment


by taddles3 June 13, 2008 2:42 PM EDT: "McCain would cut taxes by $628 billion over the next 10 years and that Obama would raise them by $734 billion over the same period...
YOU decide.

Posted by jack3213 at 09:12 AM : Jun 13, 2008"

Wow, what an incredible distortion. Obama''s plan is to increase capital gains taxes on those making over $250K/year and to close corporate loop holes resulting in an estimated $734 billion revenue raised over 10 years. Those making less than $250K/year will see not increase in taxes.

Your distortion is rather lame, can''t make an argument on facts so you have spin some numbers...sad, that''s why you are going to lose in November, because you have no plan and no argument that isn''t based on falsehoods.; Reply to this comment


by taddles3 June 13, 2008 2:37 PM EDT: "The Democrat will raise your taxes, has not been to Iraq, and has never talked to Petraeous. The USA needs a leader, not a boy who wants to learn on the job.

Posted by jack3213 at 07:17 AM : Jun 13, 2008"

All three of your claims are false.; Reply to this comment


by taddles3 June 13, 2008 2:33 PM EDT: "Especially about a buy that has flat out bald faced LIED about everything, including his damned ancestors!

Posted by RowdyWicca at 09:09 AM : Jun 13, 2008"

Again with the false claims. Can you post a link to anything that backs up your claim that Obama has lied about "everything including his ancestors"? No?, I didn''t think you could, you never can.; Reply to this comment


by nanc12 June 13, 2008 1:32 PM EDT: %u201CMcCain is picking the areas where rates go up and ignoring the areas where Obama is trying to rebalance the tax code so that taxpayers would save,%u201D said John Irons, research and policy director at the Economic Policy Institute, which is generally viewed as sympathetic to working families. Mr. Irons said that %u201Cthe important thing is to look at overall impact on people%u201D and that on this score, %u201Cthe vast majority of the population, almost the entirety of the middle class, would see more from Obama than McCain.%u201D
Economists have also criticized the methodology behind Mr. McCain%u2019s assertion that Americans from all kinds of backgrounds could end up paying thousands of dollars more in taxes if Mr. Obama got his way. Several criticized him as apparently basing his claim on an average figure in which, as Mr. Irons said, %u201CBill Gates is mixed with you and me, and everything gets skewed.%u201D; Reply to this comment


by nanc12 June 13, 2008 1:32 PM EDT: McCain would cut taxes by $628 billion over the next 10 years and that Obama would raise them by $734 billion over the same period...
YOU decide. Posted by jack3213

In a study of the candidates%u2019 plans made public Wednesday, the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center concluded that in contrast to Mr. McCain, %u201CSenator Obama offers much larger tax breaks to low- and middle-income taxpayers and would increase taxes on high-income taxpayers.%u201D
The study said, %u201CThe largest tax cuts, as a share of income, would go to those at the bottom of the income distribution,%u201D whereas %u201CSenator McCain%u2019s tax cuts would primarily benefit those with very high incomes.%u201D
Mr. McCain is correct when he says that Mr. Obama intends to increase the maximum tax rate on capital gains, the bulk of which fall on the wealthiest segment of the population, and that he would be less generous in offering breaks on the estate tax. But he tends to play down or ignore Mr. Obama%u2019s proposals to eliminate taxes for retirees earning less than $50,000 a year and to give tax breaks to workers earning less than $75,000 annually.; Reply to this comment


by parrot123-2009 June 13, 2008 1:12 PM EDT: Obama%u2019s judgment over the years has shown his selection of friends, mentors and church, close advisers, and now his choice of consultants places a dark cloud over his ability to select a Cabinet. Sometimes all you have to evaluate a person is by their actions, manners, conduct, their associates and activities and in these realms Obama gets a 0.
Posted by max0010 at 09:00 AM : Jun 13, 2008

Do you know who ''Charles R Black'' is ??? Obviously not - Cheers!; Reply to this comment


by parrot123-2009 June 13, 2008 1:11 PM EDT: The Democrat will raise your taxes, has not been to Iraq, and has never talked to Petraeous. The USA needs a leader, not a boy who wants to learn on the job.
Posted by jack3213 at 07:17 AM : Jun 13, 2008

What is he talking to Betrayus about ? Or better yet, what did McCain tell Betrayus ?? What use is it, if he only answers to the POTUS unless you want him already acting as POTUS. Your argument, based on facts and not sentiment, makes no Sense. Cheers!; Reply to this comment