Candidates Outline Economic Battle Lines

Washington Post: McCain, Obama Tout Sharply Different Approaches That Mirror Past Ideological Divides

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Perry Bacon Jr..

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Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain outlined on Tuesday sharply different approaches on how to revive the nation's economy and provide aid to struggling workers, giving voters a clear choice on the issue that Americans say they are most concerned about.

Speaking to a group of small-business owners in the District, McCain (R-Ariz.) pushed an agenda that emphasizes reduced regulation and long-term economic growth through cuts in corporate taxes, expanded free trade agreements and cuts in government spending. McCain would also maintain President Bush's tax cuts for wealthier Americans, raising the total cost of his plans to more than $300 billion a year.

In St. Louis, Obama (D-Ill.) called for expanding health insurance to all Americans, reducing income inequality and raising taxes on wealthy Americans, as part of his emphasis on providing immediate relief to hard-hit families. Obama has called for a $50 billion economic stimulus plan that would include rebate checks, aid for the unemployed, subsidies for those who cannot afford health insurance and tax cuts for middle-income Americans.

To pay for his plans, Obama would raise a variety of taxes, including increasing the capital gains rate to 20 percent, increasing taxes for families with incomes over $250,000 and raising the cap on taxing Social Security income, now set at $102,000, by taxing income over $250,000.

"Under Senator Obama's plan, Americans of every background would see their taxes rise -- seniors, parents, small-business owners," McCain charged during his speech.

After touring a hospital in St. Louis, Obama said: "I've said John McCain is running to serve out a third Bush term, but when it comes to taxes, that's not being fair to George Bush. Senator McCain wants to add $300 billion more in tax breaks and loopholes for big corporations and the wealthiest Americans."

The rhetoric suggests that, despite assertions by both candidates that they would take non-ideological approaches, their views on the economy will mirror the divides of most recent presidential races. Obama's criticism of McCain for backing tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations at the expense of the middle class is traditional Democratic language, while McCain is assailing Obama for proposing tax increases and excessive spending, a charge Republicans have launched against Democrats for decades.

"The substantive contrast between the candidates is deep and stark, arguably sharper than between contenders in the last two presidential elections," said Pietro S. Nivola, who studies partisan polarization at the Brookings Institution.

The difference is reflected by the people they have selected to advise them on the economy. McCain's policy director, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, used to run the Congressional Budget Office, and one of his top outside advisers on economic issues is former Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina.

Obama's lead economics adviser, Jason Furman, worked in the Clinton White House and is known or writing about expanding health insurance, while domestic policy director Heather Higginbottom is a former aide to Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.). Campaign aides said they are also planning to reach out to other experienced Democrats, including former Treasury secretaries Lawrence H. Summers and Robert E. Rubin.

On Tuesday, both candidates discussed their plans to reduce health-care costs, an issue that provides one of the starker contrasts between McCain's emphasis on job creation and reducing regulation and Obama's focus on immediately easing financial problems.

McCain has proposed tax credits of $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families. They would have a limited impact on reducing the number of uninsured, but would reshape how Americans receive health care by encouraging more to get it on their own rather than through employers. Obama aims to reduce health-care costs and make health care affordable for every American, in part through greater regulation of insurance companies.

Each candidate's campaign sees political gain in taking on his opponent's economic plans. McCain aides said that, despite Obama's rhetoric about bringing people together, he has little record of doing so and that his ideas on the economy are those of a typical liberal Democrat. "We're not for increasing spending; that's the other campaign," Holtz-Eakin said.

In an attempt to paint Obama as naive and inexperienced, McCain has also begun invoking the presidency of Jimmy Carter. Former secretary of state Lawrence S. Eagleburger compared Obama to Carter at a fundraiser in Richmond on Monday, and McCain said on NBC Monday night that "It seems like Barack Obama is running for Jimmy Carter's second [term]."

Obama aides, after a bruising battle with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) that offered few policy differences, are eager to hammer McCain on an issue they see as a vulnerability for the Republican. In a speech Monday, Obama repeatedly attacked McCain on the economy by using his words against him.

"John McCain once said that he couldn't vote for the Bush tax breaks in good conscience because they were too skewed to the wealthiest Americans," Obama said. "Later, he said it was irresponsible to cut taxes during a time of war because we simply couldn't afford them. Well, nothing's changed about the war, but something's certainly changed about John McCain."

For much of the next month, Obama plans to set aside the big rallies that came to define his primary campaign in favor of giving detailed speeches to smaller audiences. Aides also said they wanted to portray Obama "listening" to voters, as he did Tuesday when he followed a nurse on her rounds.

Obama has continued the criticism of free-trade agreements and big corporations that marked his primary campaign, and next week, he plans to focus on job creation and trade. He is also casting himself as more fiscally responsible than McCain, arguing that he would balance the budget and that McCain would increase the deficit.

Staff writers Howard Kurtz in St. Louis and Juliet Eilperin and Michael D. Shear in Washington contributed to this report.

[watcher269-2009]

John McBush - His own words 3 years ago on meet the press

RUSSERT: The fact is you are different than George Bush.

SEN. McCAIN: No. No. I-the fact is that I''m different but the fact is that I have agreed with President Bush far more than I have disagreed. And on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I''ve been totally in agreement and support of President Bush.

McCain went on to insist that, on domestic policies, he and the president had butted heads - which is true on issues like combating climate change and campaign finance.

"But," he quickly added, "I will argue my conservative record voting with anyone''s, and I will also submit that my support for President Bush has been active and very impassioned on issues that are important to the American people. And I''m particularly talking about the war on terror, the war in Iraq, national security, national defense, support of men and women in the military, fiscal discipline, a number of other issues. So I strongly disagree with any assertion that I''ve been more at odds with the president of the United States than I have been in agreement with him."

[joecoolswat]

Please watch this speech by Obama, it is very alarming, to say the least, remembering that China and Russia have tested and fielded anti-satellite weapons to defeat U.S. GPS satellites, and also both have a large number of nuclear missle submarines worldwide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl32Y7wDVDs

[joecoolswat]

GreatDriveW....#13. Rebuild our military ? are you fu-cking serious?....listen to the short speech below by Obama, and remember while he''s talking that China has fielded and tested anti-satellite weapons against america''s GPS sattelites and China also has nuclear missle submarines, patroling outside our coastlines....just listen to his insanity, then reconsider your point # 13

Everyone should listen to Obama, considering the above


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl32Y7wDVDs

[trishab4]

A picture illustrating the treatment by Israel of Palestinian prisonners captured after a raid in Gaza on June 11, 2008.

http://annahar.com/media/high_res/Thu_pix/main/p01-03-23377.jpg

[jack3213]

Talk is cheap-yet some of you believe that Obama will change your pitiful life- Talking "CHANGE" is NOT the same as being experianced enough to make the right kind of change. Grow up.

[rowdywicca]

I love the ignorant tax freaks that believe the republican garbage that''''s been shoveled down their throats. Lower taxes, lower taxes, lower taxes. Idiots, the republicans have taxed the living crud out of every hard working American and given it to their corporate sponsors for decades, and McCain will be the worst yet.

You don''''t continue an illegal war and give all your corporate buddies big tax breaks without taking it out of someone''''s A$$. Mine hurts enough already from the after effects of trickle my A$$ numb nuts Reagan.

Republicans steal your money and give it to their rich freinds. Democrats steal your money and give it to the poor. I''''ll take the lesser of two evils.


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Posted by tru_america1 at 08:55 AM : Jun 12, 2008

And what have the DEMOCRATS done about it??? NOTHING! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! And Obama is the WORST for doing NOTHING! He''s never done a damned thing! But he sure does get a twinkle in his eye every *** time he sees another tax dollar so HE can decide which corporate giant gets the benefit of it! It doesn''t occur to you people at all that all these tax increases will come right back on top of your HEAD!

[shaqqq2000]

These are true reason why you should not vote for McCain:
1. He openly said he does not know how the economy works; and he like the Bush economy policy to date
2. He said he will stay in Iraq for 100 years...and he said it is not important when the troop come back
3. He is an extension of the George Bush
4. For all those women out there he is a known cheater...when he came back from Veitnam...he left his wife (the mother of his 3 kids) because she was not good looking enough and he married Cindy for her looks and money....you can read the article at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html or you can goggle it...it is true
4. He and his buddy Bush love giving tax breaks for wealthy oil man.
5. You should vote for Obmama because he bring intergrity, and he will bring our troops back, and turn around this economy...Its time for a change

[trishab4]

Are Israeli Agents planning to kill Obama?

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3554776,00.html

[trishab4]

Are Israeli Agents planning to kill Obama?

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3554776,00.html

[trishab4]

Are Israeli Agents planning to kill Obama?

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3554776,00.html

[trishab4]

Are Israeli Agents planning to kill Obama?

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3554776,00.html

[trishab4]

Are Israeli Agents planning to kill Obama?

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3554776,00.html

[sgtrds-e4]

All vets should go to the Boy Scout story and leave an RIP for our little bros. I think so anyway.

[erasmus81]

I see the scumbag is back.

[rowdywicca]

There''''s one thing that continues to bother me about McCain''''s claim that he is different from Bush. LOOK at his proposal on the Economy! Then pull up the News Stories about Bush''''s plan in 2000! Folks there isn''''t enough difference to even say it. Maybe a word different now and them, otherwise it''''s the same policy that took us from a Balanced Budget and a Surplus to RECORD Debt. How in the world do we POSSIBABLY put THAT kind of plan into effect?? Where is the Money going to come from? How much more can we borrow? Then there''''s the promise to cut spending. What spending is he going to cut? Honestly it''''s just the same on shell game the Neocon''''s have been playing for years all the while our standard of living just keeps dropping... it''''s get closer to the second level of nations... the ones between the first and third. Already we have fallen behind several in that second level.


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Posted by skyk at 07:08 PM : Jun 11, 2008

Really doesn''t matter, I''ve looked at Obama''s dipwad plans...I''ll be hiding my money in another company and little dipwad won''t be able to tax it!

[greatdrivew]

Fifteen reasons why I''m voting for Obama:

1. No pandering to special interest groups;
2. Affordable, high-quality health care for all;
3. An enlightened withdrawal from Iraq;
4. Economic sanity and justice;
5. Foreign policy of diplomacy and dialogue;
6. The Supreme Court, and thus the right to choose;
7. An end to the divisive, stagnant politics of yesterday;
8. A renewable and clean energy revolution;
9. A White House that speaks honestly, instead of treating us as adversaries;
10. Politics of hope and change, not fear, stagnation and distraction;
11. Send our youth around the world with foreign language dictionaries, not guns;
12. Finally get serious about global warming;
13. Rebuild our military;
14. Rational, humanistic, forward-thinking trade agreements; and
15. Ending tax breaks for companies who send jobs overseas.

[robroyh390]

Does Obama know ANYBODY who isn''''t a damned CROOK???



Posted by RowdyWicca at 07:32 PM : Jun 11, 2008"

Well he knows Hillary clinton and Senilator John Magoo - are you suggesting that your beloved pantsuit and your beloved McDepends are crooks Monsieur TexMex ???

[robroyh390]

In WW2, ole Adolf needed to secure control of the air in order to invade. the Reichsmarine under Adm Raeder would not have been able to escort a German invasion force without Luftwaffe protection
The RAF defeated the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain in spring ''41 ending Hitler''s plans to launch Operation Sealion. On June 22 1941, all chances of an invasion of Britain really faded when the Germans launched Op. Barbarossa (the invasion of Russia). One could argue that the chances truly ended when Stalin was informed that the Japanese would not be attacking Russia in the East (probably the work of Richard Sorge) which enabled him to unleash his troops from Siberia on the Germans in winter ''41

So an invasion of Britain in WW2 was prevented due to Royal Air force and Hitler''s decision to attack Russia

Now one could ask why ole George of Hanover didn''t look to the British to speak German when he was invited to take the throne in 1714 - my guess was that it was because he was INVITED to become King as opposed to having conquered the country

Always happy to provide uneducated chaps such as you with some historical knowledge

[the74blaster]

McCain has proposed tax credits of $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families. They would have a limited impact on reducing the number of uninsured, but would reshape how Americans receive health care by encouraging more to get it on their own rather than through employers. Obama aims to reduce health-care costs and make health care affordable for every American, in part through greater regulation of insurance companies.

In case anyone read the article.

It is obvious that McCain would like to burden the majority of taxpayers with a meaningless tax deduction. Does he really believe that I am willing to give up the $ 8,000 my employer pays for my families health insurance for a $ 5,000 deduction on my taxes? I would end up losing at least $ 5,000 out of my middle class income.

Does any GOP supporter want to reason out why I should vote for McCain when his health plan transfers the insurance burden on American workers. This favors corporations who apparently have no loyalty to America.

This is so unpatriotic it stinks! Thats why I am going to vote for Obama. I would hope that anyone making less than $ 250,000 a year will do the same.

[robroyh390]

Can you explain to everyone why you and your countrymen don''''t speak German?

Posted by dragonwagon5 at 08:12 PM : Jun 11, 2008"

Certainly old fellow - always happy to educate such uneducated souls as yourself

The ritish (who I do believe you refer to as my countrymen) were at war withh the German chappies twice during the last century in WW1 and WW2
In WW1, the stalemate at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 resulted in the Adm Scheer''s High Seas fleet NEVER again setting out en masse. Without the protection of the High Seas fleet, the Germans would never have been able to mount an invasion of Britain
Germany did carry out massive U boat warfare but Adm Jervis'' Grand Fleet was able to defeat this partly because they didn''t have the threat of German surface warships to deal with after 1916
So the Brit stayed safe from the Germans in 1916 thanks to the Royal Navy