Obama, McCain Clash Over Job Losses

Democrat Cites Sept. Jobs Report As Sign Of Failed GOP Policies; McCain Says Obama Will Raise Taxes, Spending

(CBS/ AP)  Democrat Barack Obama used word of the nation's worst monthly job loss in over five years Friday to argue the polices of his Republican opponents "are killing jobs in America every single day." Republican John McCain retorted that Obama's tax and spending plans won't solve the problem.

The government reported employers cut 159,000 jobs last month, the ninth straight month of job losses. The crowd gathered to hear Obama at a Pennsylvania high school football field booed when he told them the numbers and again when he told them McCain recently said the economy is fundamentally strong and has made great progress under President Bush.

The Illinois senator encouraged voters to change the Republican leadership in the White House that he said hasn't worked. He disputed McCain running mate Sarah Palin's claim in a debate Thursday night that own spending plan would be a job killer.

"When Sen. McCain and his running mate talk about job killing, that's something they know a thing or two about," Obama said. "Because the policies they've supported and are supporting are killing jobs in America every single day."

Hours later at a town hall meeting in Pueblo, Colo., McCain himself said Obama's plans would hurt the economy.

"He wants higher taxes, more government, higher spending, and frankly that record is not something which has been good for America and we won't let it happen," McCain said.

Obama is proposing tax increases only for those earning more than $250,000 but would cut taxes for those making less - details that McCain and Palin don't mention.

Their dispute came as Congress approved a $700 billion measure to bail out the financial industry. Both campaigns said their candidates called lawmakers on behalf of the bill. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus credited Obama with changing their minds, including Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and Reps. Elijah Cummings and Donna Edwards, both Maryland Democrats.

McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said, "He's made a number of calls today. We are not releasing specifics at this time." But Republican Rep. Sue Myrick of North Carolina, who switched her vote to favor the measure, said she hadn't heard from McCain. "They told me he was going to call me. He didn't," she said.

Speaking to reporters upon landing in Flagstaff, Ariz., McCain took credit for helping push the bailout through Congress. Last week he briefly rearranged his campaign schedule to go to Washington as lawmakers began considering the package. He left to debate Obama but returned last weekend before the first House vote.

"I'm glad I suspended my campaign and went back to Washington to bring, to help bring House Republicans to the table," McCain said.

Despite Congress' passage of the bailout, there was no indication the Wall Street crisis would give way to other campaign issues and more economic woes could be ahead.

Speaking in battleground Colorado, McCain defended the bailout, which he voted for in the Senate on Wednesday.

The Arizona senator said he is a "proud opponent of waste and pork barrel spending," possibly a reference to pet projects and sweeteners tucked into the rescue measure to win more votes after the House defeated it Monday with 133 Republicans and 95 Democrats voting no.

"But I also have to tell you that the government has to step in at this time and save Main Street from the challenges and the disaster that's looming," he said.

Later, a member of the town hall audience asked why the government is bailing out Wall Street first instead of helping individual homeowners.

"I know that a lot of people view this as a 'bailout for Wall Street.' I'm not interested in helping Wall Street in any way," McCain said. He said rescuing the financial industry will give Americans confidence in the economy and help stabilize the housing market, which would eventually benefit homeowners.

With that grim economic backdrop, Obama is seeking to solidify his lead in national and battleground polls, while McCain looks for a game-changing development to close a gap that grew in part because McCain struggled to respond to the financial crisis and because economic woes tend to push voters toward Democratic candidates.

Polls show Obama has made progress in persuading voters that he's ready to be president and that McCain would continue Bush's economic policies. But the Illinois senator still has work to do to lock down his lead in case outside events or campaign blunders change the campaign conversation.

Obama planned to continue to use the economy and McCain's 90 percent support for Bush in the Senate to hammer his opponent and to argue that the GOP ticket has failed to articulate how it would be different from the current administration. Aides still view the race as very close.

McCain's campaign is trying to regroup from a disastrous two weeks. As Wall Street crumbled, McCain struggled to strike the right note. Palin's qualifications came under fire from GOP critics after she appeared ill-informed in TV interviews. The GOP nominee's poll numbers slipped everywhere, dropping so far in Michigan that the campaign pulled the plug. It diverted resources elsewhere, even moving to shore up Republican bastions like Indiana and North Carolina.

The Arizona senator's advisers argued that Palin's debate performance quieted GOP critics and reassured other skeptics enough to stop McCain's slide, but it was too early to verify that. McCain advisers also hope Congress' approval of the bailout will help turn the page to other issues. They say McCain will go hard after Obama by emphasizing liberal positions Obama has taken in Senate votes.

In other campaign news, Sen. Joe Biden bid safe farewell to a Delaware National Guard unit that includes his son Beau, reports CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric. The Guard troops will soon be deployed to Iraq.

Meanwhile, Gov. Palin and her husband Todd released their income tax returns for the last two years. In 2006, they earned about $128,000. That figure jumped to $166,000 in 2007 as Palin was elected governor. Alaska's first family paid nearly $37,000 in federal taxes over those two years and gave about $8,000 to charity.

[sbnilsson]

With Obamas program 95 percent of all American families would get a tax cut. He offers three times more tax relief for the middle class than McCain does. This fact will be decisive in the election.

[terrapin78]

McSAme voted FOR the bailout. Even with $150 BILLION of PORK added to WOO House REPUGS!

It worked!

More pork and John McCorpse VOTED FOR IT!

So much for 100% truth from the McLie campaign!

[walt1944-2009]

It has been learned that a giant 450 pound pumpkin has been stolen from a farm in Michigan!

Although police are looking for the culprit, Michigan residents suspect that John McBush McCain may have had something to do with it. Rumor has it that McCain, ticked off over spending so much campaign money in Michigan, only to have the state go over to Obama, had a temper tantrum and ordered a truckload of his campaign "advisors" to descend on the pumpkin patch and grab the huge gourd as payback.

Police will be watching the McCain campaign committee very closely to determine if McCain begins giving out free pumpkin pies at his rallies in the remaining "battleground" states he is still campaigning in.

SIG HEIL, I''VE SAVED WALL STREET (BUT NOT YOU!!!), BUSH!!!
sig heil, HE JUST DOESN''T UNDERSTAND!!!, McBush!!!
sig heil, WE CAN''T LOOK BACK AT THE PAST 8 YEAR''S OF MISTAKES; WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 4 YEAR''S OF MISTAKES!!!, Palin!!!!

[samthetvcat]

---"The Arizona senator said he is a "proud opponent of waste and pork barrel spending," possibly a reference to pet projects and sweeteners tucked into the rescue measure to win more votes after the House defeated it Monday with 133 Republicans and 95 Democrats voting no."---

Well look, everybody knows McCain doesn''t have line item veto powers and a Dem majority Congress isn''t going to give it to him.

McCain needs to start thinking of new ways to put forward his tired old messages - what about asking Arnold Schwarzenegger to take a higher profile to describe what a nightmare it''s been to manage the budget of California. Tax increases (not popular), vetoing 1/3 of spending bills from the Dem State Senate (mostly popular), declining revenues and credit freezes, natural disasters . . .

[credibility2]

Obama is naive to think that his higher tax plan on businesses, those earning over $250k, capital gains, oil companies, etc. won''t create a worsening of the jobs and economic situation. Go ahead you tax happy and spend neanderthal Dems. Go ahead and tax and guess what, jobs will be cut, jobs won''t be created and the price of goods will go up since businesses that will be forced to pay higher taxes under an Obama administration will show up in the form of higher priced goods. The Dems are just as much to blame for the economic turmoil, including job cuts. Their bloated spend and entitlement programs have choked the throat of job retention and creation.

[samthetvcat]

---"More pork and John McCorpse VOTED FOR IT! So much for 100% truth from the McLie campaign!"---
Posted by Terrapin78

There was that too - geez . . .

[ibzjem]

WOW! 9 consecutive months of job loss? Are we in a mental recession yet?

[ibzjem]

Um, care to say anything substantial?

[noloyalisti]

The Government of Pigs (GOP) WILL steal the election again. This time we have to be ready, millions of us to go out in the streets. We must stop the fascism this time before it becomes Nazi Germany.

[kathyjay1]

Wisdom from a Wasilla hillbilly who''s only qualifications are being good at being a windup toy and taking six years to struggle through four of the lowest ranked schools in the world. WOW!
McBush has ordered her to be his Chatty Palin Doll because he can''t talk longer than 5 minutes without forgetting what he''s talking about. Sure she''ll do it, then he''ll kick off and the repubs will use her the same way. What a MORON she is.It''s a sha,e her kids have to see her as a puppet.

[ibzjem]

Posted by Credibility2 at 05:50 PM : Oct 03, 2008

How bout some credible research?

[tawpdawg111]

"McCain will go hard after Obama by emphasizing liberal positions Obama has taken in Senate votes."
======================

In Obama''s own words, if standing up to George W Bush failed policies Of the past eight, long ywears makes one a liberal, then I stand guilty as charged.

[stevemccoy7]

WHO IS OBAMA REALLY ANYWAY?

[ioweign]

Iraq, McCain''s 100 year "Earmark"...

[samthetvcat]

---"Wisdom from a Wasilla hillbilly who''s only qualifications are being good at being a windup toy"---
Posted by kathyjay1

I think women do themselves a huge disservice by deluding themselves into thinking anybody respects women who trash other women in a transparent attempt to differentiate themselves from the one taking the heat.

Because everybody knows this is approval and security based and to garner ''respect'' from the likes of you, you actually focus on the MEN from whom YOU''RE seeking approval and you''ll fall in line.

[dburfears]

Anyone notice that McCain crams his "Town Hall" meetings with 100% supporters?

Just like BUSH. He cannot handle an audience or questions that are not pre-screened and 100% Pro-McCain.

Just Like BUSH, McCain has had those who DO NOT SUPPORT HIM ARRESTED OR EVICTED simply because they carry a sign or wear a T-shirt he does not like.

Just like BUSH, we can expect a President McCain to use the Secret Service and local law enforcement to keep ANYONE NOT SUPPORTING HIM FAR FAR AWAY- preferably IN JAIL (Just like BUSH).

This is NOT AMERICAN. THIS IS FASCIST, OR COMMUNIST, OR LIKE EVERY OTHER TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENT.

McCain= Republican= DICTATORSHIP. PERIOD.

[ixoye_02]

McCain/Palin = Bush''s 3rd term. If Bush and McCain weren''t so stupid, the real Osama Bin Laden might have been captured when there was a real opportunity. Instead, Bush decided that his vendetta against Saddam was far more important than any real reasons that America should have invaded Iraq.
Morever, the economic mess was caused by the republican trifecta when the congress and the presidency were controlled by one party. The trifecta resulted in the economic and foreign policy disasters that Americans are now living with.
So why would we believe a political hack like McCain would really be for change and reform when he voted along with his party on policies that are disasterous for Main Streeters? The republicans have taken spewing lies and made it an artform. The party of the religious right is ironically the party of liars, cheaters, and uncompassionate people. Evangelicals are no longer credible as they mix their politics with faith and follow the teachings of pharisees and ungodly person. Enough is enough!!

[the74blaster]

The Dems are just as much to blame for the economic turmoil, including job cuts. Their bloated spend and entitlement programs have choked the throat of job retention and creation.

Posted by Credibility2,

Really? I suppose the three trillion (this includes future costs)dollars we flushed down the drain in Iraq has nothing to do with the decloine of the dollars value and the subsequent increase in costs?

Lets state some facts here!

The driving force of the economy is the middle class and when they utilized the trickle down plan it does not work. These CEOs wanted more so they got it by shipping the middle class jobs out to gain a competitive edge over their peers who subsequently did the same.

Lets add the effects of some layoffs and now you have middle class workers taking pay cuts that result in less buying power. This leads to a decline in the economy because there are simply not enough millionaires to consume all the goods the middle class does.

Is it any wonder why we have so much debt that the economy is as bad as it is?

I am voting for change and Obama provides the best chance because McCain is member of political establishment that got us here.

[dburfears]

McCain has gone over to the "Dark Side".His campaign is so far from "Straight Talk" that there is no hope of finding their way back. It''s now "All LIES and DISTORTIONS, all of the time."

The McCain "LIE, LIE, LIE EXPRESS". Geez John. We know your campaign is now being run by ROVE hit men. Just give it up if you cannot muster even a little remaining HONOR.

Frankly, it is becoming OBVIOUS that McCain spent TOO MANY YEARS as a POW. He''s unstable and angry. He explodes under pressure. He is VERY dangerous for America.

OF COURSE all of those years as a POW left him emotionally damaged. To claim anything else is not to know what our limits are as humans.

I''m sorry McCain is so damaged from his years as POW. I sure as hell am not so sympathetic as to put McCain''s finger ANYWHERE NEAR THE ECONOMY or THE RED BUTTON.

[toby2957]

"WHO IS OBAMA REALLY ANYWAY?
--------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
--
Posted by stevemccoy7 "


Your next president.

Posted by slownewsdays at 06:19 PM

EXACTLY! Woohoo!

[ohmichael]

just been to fox tried to comment,guess what got fox bit in the a--you just can''t calm the nazis enough to talk sense to them. well mccaint WHAT will SOLVE the problem? how about a solid, straight ANSWER just for once just about ONE thing? attack and denigration are the last refuge of the desperate looser

[skeezix06]

I guess they have to find jobs now so that we can pay the massive debt that dumped on us. Right? (sarcasm and anger)

[mrmazerati]

Got nothing but love for ya, Republicans, but seriously; sit the next four years out for a change. You''re wrecking our economy.

[mrmazerati]

Got nothing but love for ya, Republicans, but seriously; sit the next four years out for a change. You''re wrecking our economy.

[mrmazerati]

Posted by CBScensorsU2

Why would CBS censor U2? They''re a great band.

[mrmazerati]

Posted by CBScensorsU2

I mean, who would censor Bono? He''s an incredible humanitarian. And a great singer, too...

[miamimama3]

Obama hasn''''t got a clue. He runs back to vote in favor of bailout legislation proposed by the clowns that put us in this mess.
Posted by rightbehind at 06:21 PM

So did your hero John McSame. Just like a brainwashed republican to only state half the facts. Are you taking lessons from Palin?

[ohmichael]

so, if, as obama said,he plans to rase taxs only on incomes over 250,000 and mccaint says we won''t allow it who is he proposing to protect? just the same ol.

[ohmichael]

hay, cbssinsor can you repete just one more time? i think someone put somethig in your methamusel or you got too much lipstick on.

[mccain08nc]

Got nothing but love for ya, Republicans, but seriously; sit the next four years out for a change. You''''re wrecking our economy.
Posted by mrmazerati

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


You know if someone could show me it was the republicans fault I might would agree with that. The problem the bread crumbs come back to the Democrats on this melt down. I know everyone who hate republicans can''t beleive that they were calling for reform and tighter regulations and it was the dems that block every thing the republicans tryed to stop this from happening but the dems were so deep in the pockets of fannie and freddy they ignored what was happening.

[mccain08nc]

so, if, as obama said,he plans to rase taxs only on incomes over 250,000 and mccaint says we won''''t allow it who is he proposing to protect? just the same ol.
Posted by ohmichael

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have to ask do you honestly believe wealth redistribution is the cure for what ails this economy or are you just looking out for self. I hanest believe libs could careless if Obaa''s tax plan would fix the economy as long as the rich get punished and they get more money every thing will be just fine.

[ohmichael]

CBSSINSOR I''M A LIBERAL.

[mccain08nc]

Doesn''''t say much for McCian''''s judgment eh?

Posted by Policrypt

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What does it say for Obama''s judgement he picks a man who couldn''t even muster 2000 votes in the primaries and then sits in front of national audiance and says he will be in on every meeting Obama holds. I guess he is saying that obama is to irresponsible to handle the meetings himslef so he needs Biden there to hold his hand.

[hazelknows]

It was so nice to see a cameo photo moment with Failin and her special needs child, then hands off the little guy to Failin''s young daughter, I guess she will be have a little one of her own soon, I guess it''s moms way of learnin her youngen.

[ohmichael]

DID YOU REALIZE YOU YOU NEED TO BE A BILLIONARE TO GET VLISTED ON FORTUNE 500?

[averygard]

The definition of stupid is repeating the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

So we should vote in more Republican lobbyist-lovers? I mean, after all, we''re all SO MUCH BETTER OFF after 8 years of ''em, right?

[ohmichael]

LETS SEE.... IF SOME HAVE ALL OF THE WEALTH THRU GOV ADVANTAGE, AND OTHERS HAVE NONE THEN, YES A LITTLE REDISTRUBTION IS IN ORDER SO LOOK OUT FOR YOURSELF FOOL

[steeepe]

Nothing Obama has proposed is wealth redistribution. It is simply asking the wealthiest to pay more in taxes by rescinding the Bush tax cuts on the wealthy. The "trickle-down" theory of job creation, etc. obviously hasn''t worked, so there is no reason why the wealthiest can''t pay more. Even Warren Buffett supports Obama on this. McBush is wrong, as usual.

[ohmichael]

AVERY.. THAT''S THE DEFINITION OF "REPUBLICAN"

[stevemccoy7]

OBAMA / BINDEN ARE NOTHING BUT USED CAR SALESMEN. THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB AT FOOLING A LOT OF AMERICANS AND HOLLYWOOD AND THE LIKE ARE GLAD TO HELP.

[melpol1]

Good news is on the horizon. With the election of the most liberal senator in Congress we can expect positive changes to the way Americans view one another. An organization called Unity House will soon be lobbying for the job of bringing the nation under one roof. Once approved and funded by Congress one million educators will spread out over the nation with the task of promoting tolerance for diverse lifestyles. This will be done by the knocking on every door by groups of socially diversified educators. They will be spreading the word that we are all brothers and sisters that must learn to love one another. Each group will be made up of five educators. They will come from racially mixed and diverse backgrounds with a variety of mindsets with no lifestyle excluded. Another task this group will have is to find out if there is enough room available to accommodate a homeless person. If there is---free transportation with a food and clothing allowance will add another member to the family. Our nation has gone through years of civil unrest but it has finally coming to an end by having Americans tolerating, sharing and living together under one roof.

[shanev137]

Good news.

John McCain just said he''s going to create 500,000 new jobs.

Unfortunately they''re all in the Iraqi Army, and you get to pay their salaries with your taxes....ten billion dollars a month.

[ioweign]

Palin On Fox News: Couric Annoyed Me

Phil Gramm may have been right - "We are a Nation of ''Republican'' Whiners"

[kimmyjo4]

The dems got their "rescue package". Why couldn''t they do it Mon? They wanted to make sure they got some republicans to vote also so they wouldn''t be the only ones to blame if it all went south. The dems are responsible for this mess on wall street but they want all of us to pay for it. Now here comes pelosi''s state wanting their own 7 billion. When will it stop? How do all of you feel about the wooden arrows in Oregon for 3 million? Hey I''m a nascar fan but why should upgrades on a racetrack be in a rescue plan?
Hopefully this country will wake up on the next election and get rid of the sickos in washington.

[irmcvet97]

The dems got their "rescue package". Why couldn''''t they do it Mon? They wanted to make sure they got some republicans to vote also so they wouldn''''t be the only ones to blame if it all went south. The dems are responsible for this mess on wall street but they want all of us to pay for it. Now here comes pelosi''''s state wanting their own 7 billion. When will it stop? How do all of you feel about the wooden arrows in Oregon for 3 million? Hey I''''m a nascar fan but why should upgrades on a racetrack be in a rescue plan?
Hopefully this country will wake up on the next election and get rid of the sickos in washington.

Posted by kimmyjo4 at 07:26 PM : Oct 03, 2008

Sometimes I read post like this and wonder WHERE in the world these people have been the last 8 years. The "Dems got their bail out package"? You have to be pretty desperate and Pretty Uneducated to make a statement like that. LOL When you think back to the Nation that Bill Clinton handed Bush, McSame, and the Republican Party in 2000 and look at what we have NOW, you must wonder just how lost someone like this person has to be. COMPLETELY without a Clue and so willing to put their Party ahead of their Country they will vote to CONTINUE it!! LOL I have a Dog smarter than that!! HONEST!!

[irmcvet97]

Obama Team ---
Al Sharpton
Louis Farrakhan
William Ayers
Anthony Rezko
Rev. Wright

Posted by mr22582 at 07:21 PM : Oct 03, 2008

Have you ever wonder how these people can get out in public without hurting themselves? Here we are with one of the WORST Economic Crisis in OUR history, Banks failing, HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of American''s losing their jobs and THIS poor uneducated gapped tooth Red Neck wants to put on his Hood and Sheet! Yeah I''d say they are a danger to themselves and EVERYONE around them.

[ramos937]

Speaking to reporters upon landing in Flagstaff, Ariz., McCain took credit for helping push the bailout through Congress. Last week he briefly rearranged his campaign schedule to go to Washington as lawmakers began considering the package. He left to debate Obama but returned last weekend before the first House vote.
-------------------------------------------------

McCain is some piece of work. He saw that he was slipping in the polls so he "suspenped" his campaign to try to work on the bailout. He got angry when Obama would not follow his lead. When McCain got to Washington, he was not allowed to join the Senate negotiating team. In fact, he was not even allowed in the room. When McCain was asked in the famous meeting with Obama and other leaders for his input, he said a few sentences of generalities and passed to the next speaker. Then he made the rounds trying to see GOP representatives, many would not see him.
He was still angry during the debate with Obama and showed it. During this round, he allegally called GOP senators/reps but no one recalls getting a phone call from him. If I was Obama, I would run ads on McCain''s last two weeks.

[irmcvet97]

OBAMA / BINDEN ARE NOTHING BUT USED CAR SALESMEN. THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB AT FOOLING A LOT OF AMERICANS AND HOLLYWOOD AND THE LIKE ARE GLAD TO HELP.

Posted by stevemccoy7 at 07:23 PM : Oct 03, 2008

Yeah?? Exactly how is that? I''ve read their economic proposal and it CERTAINLY is different than Bush''s AND it''s pretty close to the Clinton Plan... Now EVERYONE knows that plan works. Have you considered maybe picking up a night course or two... could help you read and understand these things.

[irmcvet97]

Barack Obama is a member of Chicago''''s Trinity United Church of Christ. Its minister, and Obama''''s spiritual adviser, is the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. In 1982, the church launched Trumpet Newsmagazine; Wright''''s daughters serve as publisher and executive editor. Every year, the magazine makes awards in various categories. Last year, it gave the Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Trumpeter Award to a man it said "truly epitomized greatness." That man is Louis Farrakhan.

Maybe for Wright and some others, Farrakhan "epitomized greatness." For most Americans, though, Farrakhan epitomizes racism, particularly in the form of anti-Semitism. Over the years, he has compiled an awesome record of offensive statements, even denigrating the Holocaust by falsely attributing it to Jewish cooperation with Hitler -- "They helped him get the Third Reich on the road." His history is a rancid stew of lies.

Posted by CPelzar at 07:34 PM : Oct 03, 2008

I LIVE in Chicago, I drive through that community twice or more a week. I know and have worked with the citizens of that Community and have found them to be as hard working and committed to being a good citizen as ANY I''ve ever seen. So in short YOU are a PATHOLOGICAL LIAR!! Just thought everyone should know that.

[dude1961-2009]

The Main Stream Media: USA Today, NY Times, Associated Press, Reuters, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, etc.

They no longer practice any sense of ethics, objectivity, or fairness that has been the bedrock of America%u2019s core values. They are nothing more than Advocates.

Shaving points in sports is wrong, lying under oath is wrong, selling the poor houses they can%u2019t afford is wrong, biased slanted reporting and polling is wrong!

Americans are ill served if they cannot rely on impartial fair representation of both sides of all issues in plain, unemotional, and unedited fashion, however boring it may be.

Without this, the better team doesn''t win, instead they are appointed.

Good ole fashioned honesty is taking a real hit this election

Yellow Journalism is alive and well here.