Conservatives Fire At McCain Over Taxes

Anti-Tax Group Says Republican Candidate Is Backing Off No-New-Tax Pledge With Comments On Social Security

(AP)  Republican presidential candidate John McCain's signal that he may be open to a higher payroll tax for Social Security, despite previous vows not to raise taxes of any kind, is drawing sharp rebukes from conservatives.

McCain's shift has come in stages, catching some Republicans by surprise. Speaking with reporters on his campaign bus on July 9, he cited a need to shore up Social Security. "I cannot tell you what I would do, except to put everything on the table," he said.

He went a step farther Sunday on ABC's "This Week," in response to a question about payroll tax increases.

"There is nothing that's off the table. I have my positions, and I'll articulate them. But nothing's off the table," McCain said. "I don't want tax increases. But that doesn't mean that anything is off the table."

That comment drew a strong response this week from the Club for Growth, a Washington anti-tax group. McCain's comments, the group said in a letter to the Arizona senator, are "shocking because you have been adamant in your opposition to raising taxes under any circumstances."

Indeed, McCain frequently has promised not to raise taxes.

At a July 7 town-hall meeting in Denver, he said voters faced a stark choice between him and Democrat Barack Obama.

"Sen. Obama will raise your taxes," McCain said. "I won't."

In a March 16 interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, McCain said he would cut taxes where possible, and not raise them.

"Do you mean none?" Hannity asked.

"None," McCain replied.

Both candidates have said Social Security's funding formula needs to be changed to ensure the program's long-term viability. Obama has called for imposing a new payroll tax on incomes above $250,000. Currently, only incomes up to $102,000 are subject to the 12.4 percent payroll tax, which employers and employees split evenly.

When Obama announced his plan June 13, McCain's top economic adviser, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, told reporters that as president McCain would not consider a payroll tax increase "under any imagineable circumstance."

McCain has made no specific proposals for Social Security, refusing to rule in or out anything to strengthen the benefit program for retirees and the disabled. Both candidates have said that, if elected, they would try to work out details with Republican and Democratic lawmakers.

Asked for an explanation of McCain's latest comments, campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said the Arizona senator "has a clear and demonstrated record of opposing tax increases. John McCain is going to cut taxes" and improve government discipline, he said.

Promises never to raise taxes have bedeviled past Republican officeholders. Before being elected president in 1988, George H.W. Bush said, "Read my lips, no new taxes." But facing severe budget problems, he reneged on the promise. Some conservative groups never forgave him.

[Worldbfree]

McCain would continue Bush''s economic policies that do NOT work.

Look at our economy now. Our economy sucks!

Every time our economy tanks, a Repubican is President!

Herbert Hoover - Great Depression
Dwight Eisenhower - 1957 Recession
Richard Nixon - 1971 Recession
Gerald Ford - stagflation in 1973
Ronald Reagan - "Black Monday," Oct. 19, 1987
George H. W. Bush - 1991 Recession
George W. Bush - right now!

We deserve a change.
Vote Barack Obama.

[chika6]

McCain''s age is to blame. I hope he doesnt press a nuclear button and call it mistake if elected president (God forbid)!

[wardoglrs]

These two are nothing short of Corp owned on a leash.
You all screw up when blew off DR Paul. Hers a link about real Money i suggest you get informed.


http://www.rapidtrends.com/blog/

[mr2258]

If Obama is doing such a great job.Why did he fall behind in the polls??

[kansas1946]

.If your points are that well made you dont have to post them in cap letters,we can all read, its just annoying. Posted by clovisbuford at 10:11 PM

*****************
Thanks''s clovis. Drives me crazy too. Kind of like someone yelling all of the time.

[kansas1946]

McCain flip-flops more that a catfish on a muddy bank. If Obama chooses Hagel for his VP, maybe McCain can pick the other famous flipper, John Kerry. One could flip while the other flopped and maybe they would cancel each other out!

[clovisbuford]

LET''''S ALL PUT OBAMA TO WORK FOR AMERICA.
Posted by benighse at 04:26 PM : Jul 29, 2008
That was the second post in a row you have made in all cap letters .I am an Obama supporter but that is bad list etiquette.If your points are that well made you dont have to post them in cap letters,we can all read, its just annoying.

[GuyBlaise]

After he flip-flopped about the 16 month time withdrawal of American troops to IraQ; once again , Senator McCain changed his mind about raising taxes. As the Bazombo of Angola say,"The mouth stumbles sometimes too."
Guy at Guyblaise.com

[dmgenet]

Ouch, George Bush the First all over again.

[zerato-2009]

Remember George H Bush famous quote "Read my lips no new taxes" Mccain made that statement and went back on it all in the same campaign. he didn''t wait to flip flop in office

[chrisbieber]

as Rome continues to burn...

the Right and the Left BOTH refuse to attack and/or question the PROBLEM(unConstitutional FedGov and interventionist debtridden policies)and Thoreauian like continue to "hack away at the branches"(symptoms).

And the Marxian Income Tax and Socialist Security is defended by the "conservatives"...

so NOTHING will change...except MORE Government and MORE Governmental Controls and FederalReserve controlled debt and servitude...

A real Hobson''s Choice...2 false alternatives...

[caldwellptr]

Who Cares!

The only time I have seen my paycheck go up directly from a tax cut was during the term of Bush Sr.

Otherwise all tax cuts have been for the rich, or at least richer than me. There has never been a direct increase to my take home pay from a tax cut in the 30+ years I have been working.

My guess is there never again will be. Rich people need their tax cuts more than I do.

[benighse]

MCCAIN AT THE SPARKS TOWN MEETING SAYS HE WON''T RAISE TEN-YEAR-OLDS'' TAXES---THE OTHER HEADLINE TODAY IS MCCAIN WILL RAISE TAXES ON SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS--MCFLIP-FLOP AGAIN===MCCAIN===TAX THE SENIOR CITIZENS; SAVE THE RICH PEOPLE!!!

OBAMA SEEMS TO BE THE ONE PERSON WHO IS FOCUSED ON UNITING THE COUNTRY....

AND SO FAR HE IS THE ONE CANDIDATE WHO WHO IS GENERATING SUPPORT FROM MY TWO COLLEGE GRAD DAUGHTERS AND EVEN MY REPUBLICAN WIFE. FOR ONCE SHE WON''T CANCEL MY VOTE FOR OBAMA....

NOW EVEN MY 80 YEAR OLD REPUBLICAN MOTHER-IN-LAW SAYS JOHN MCCAIN IS JUST TOO OLD AND GRUMPY TO BE PRESIDENT. SHE SAYS OLD MEN ARE TOO EAGER TO SEND YOUNG MEN TO UNNECESSARY WARS, AND THAT HAS TO END....

WHEN 80 YEAR OLD REPUBLICAN WOMEN START TALKING ABOUT IT BEING TIME FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION TO STEP UP AND START DOING THE JOB TO MAKE AMERICA A LEADER IN THE WORLD AGAIN, YOU KNOW THINGS ARE GOING WELL FOR OBAMA....

LET''S ALL PUT OBAMA TO WORK FOR AMERICA.

[benighse]

AT LEAST ALL THE NEWS STATIONS WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR NIGHTLY SEGMENT ENTITLED===MCCAIN''S SENIOR MOMENT===OR===THE MCFLIP-FLOP SEGMENT:

I WON''T RAISE YOUR TEN YEAR OLDS'' TAXES, BUT I WILL RAISE YOUR GRAMMA''S TAXES ON SOCIAL SECURITY

MAKES YOU FEEL ALL WARM AND FUZZY INSIDE, DOESN''T IT???

[liberalme]

Each position Obama has taken the GOP seems to flip and change their policies to mirror Obama''''''''s position.

- talks with Iran...NOW Bush wants to talk
- 16 month withdrawal timetable from Iraq...NOW McShame agree''''''''s, but with military approval.

Everything they say is after Obama has given his position.

Posted by Stzon at 01:07 PM : Jul 29, 2008

That is absolute fact and you watch--the repugs will turn it around to make it look like something they were going to do all along.

America is listening to every word these fools are saying and they can no longer fool us (the majority that is).

[citadelma]

Posted by Tawpdawg111 at 02:25 PM : Jul 29, 2008

lets see here.... 45 plus, uh...39....equals...yep ...84. When those 16% undecided all side with McCain it will be a LANDSLIDE on November 4.
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With this latest McCain flipflop gaffe, the more likely outcome will be a sweeping Obama victory. I can see this might be very painful for you, poor baby. So is there any chance you and the rest your right wing, goose stepping Neocon comrades will leave the country in protest...please?

[dothemath3]

"Sen. Obama will raise your taxes," McCain said. "I won''t."

It all comes down to the definition of "your."

If your income is over $200,000, and/or you believe in trickle-down economics, McCain is your man. Go ahead and vote for him.

If your income is under $200,000, please do yourself a favor and read both candidates'' plans instead of assuming that McCain is talking to YOU when he announces who will and will not raise "your" taxes.

You may also want to research McCain''s gaffes and decide for yourself whether you feel secure relying on any information he provides.

[hasher471]

I wonder waht all those conservatives are thinking now. "I thought mccain said he wouldn''''t raise taxes and now he saying he is thinking about it. Is it too late to draft romney?"
Posted by zerato
--------------------------------
Right! Do you remember "Read My Lips..No New Taxes, George H.W. Bush? They''ll say anything to get elected. The RepugToids believe them like the little small minded people they are.

[realpatriot1]

Wellhell3,

People making above $200,000 annually are exempt from the payroll tax. What''s being proposed is to end the exemption and make them pay into the system. It won''t effect the taxes of people already paying into the system.

You must be another McCain economic adviser.

[zerato-2009]

I wonder waht all those conservatives are thinking now. "I thought mccain said he wouldn''t raise taxes and now he saying he is thinking about it. Is it too late to draft romney?"