McCain: Don't Believe Obama Will Cut Taxes

Republican Tells Crowd To "Hold Onto Your Wallet;" Again Brings Up Joe The Plumber

(AP)  Republican John McCain told a crowd in this battleground state Friday to "hold onto your wallet" because his Democratic presidential rival, Barack Obama, has talked of spreading the wealth around.

McCain suggested voters could not rely on Obama's promise of tax cuts while returning once more to the story of Joe the Plumber, a regular part of McCain's speeches since the Arizona senator first mentioned the tax concerns of Ohio plumber Joe Wurzelbacher in Wednesday's presidential debate.

Florida was McCain's first stop on a two-day tour through states, including North Carolina and Virginia, where he has surrendered his lead in polls during the past month despite their history of supporting Republican presidential candidates.

Last Sunday as Obama walked through Wurzelbacher's Holland, Ohio neighborhood, Wurzelbacher asked him whether his plan to increase taxes on those earning more than $250,000 a year would impede his ability to buy the plumbing company where he works. Obama replied that those making over $250,000 would be taxed more but that money would be returned to the middle-class through tax cuts. "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody," Obama said.

The McCain campaign seized on that remark.

"When politicians talk about taking your money and spreading it around, you'd better hold onto your wallet," McCain told the Miami rally. "Sen. Obama claims that he want to give a tax break to the middle class, but not only did he vote for higher taxes for the middle class in the Senate, his plan gives away your tax dollars to those who don't pay taxes. That's not a tax cut; that's welfare."

McCain, who bestowed the nickname "Joe the Plumber" on Wurzelbacher during the debate, claimed Friday that "the response from Sen. Obama and his campaign yesterday was to attack Joe."

In fact, Obama, his running mate Joe Biden and their campaign have barely mentioned Wurzelbacher. Obama and Biden both attacked McCain for portraying Wurzelbacher as representative of most blue-collar workers, asking how many plumbers make $250,000 a year.

Nonetheless, McCain elicited boos from a fired-up crowd when he said of Wurzelbacher, "People are digging through his personal life and he has TV crews camped out in front of his house. He didn't ask Sen. Obama to come to his house. He wasn't recruited or prompted by our campaign. He just asked a question. And Americans ought to be able to ask Sen. Obama tough questions without being smeared and targeted with political attacks."

News organizations eager to learn more about Wurzelbacher did besiege his house Thursday and discovered and reported that he lacks a plumbing license and owes back taxes.

Despite his criticism of the Democratic ticket, McCain himself has kept Wurzelbacher in the spotlight, mentioning him repeatedly in his appearances Thursday.

"Joe's the man!" McCain told a rally in Philadelphia's suburbs.

Later, both McCain and Obama gave traditionally lighthearted speeches to the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Fund Dinner. in New York. McCain made light of questions about the plumber's income with a joke at his own expense.

"What they don't know is that Joe the Plumber recently signed a very lucrative contract with a wealthy couple to handle all the work on all seven of their houses," said the senator, who owns that many homes and investment properties with his wife, Cindy.

In Florida, McCain got a boost from his close friend Sen. Joe Lieberman, the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee who now is a political independent. Lieberman, the first Jewish candidate on a major-party ticket, still has a strong following among Jews living in Florida and he came along to introduce McCain in Miami and later in Melbourne.

Lieberman responded to receiving a huge ovation from the audience at Florida International University by saying, "Here's what that says to me: On Nov. 4th, John McCain's going to carry Florida."

Recent surveys have shown Obama opening as much as a 5-point lead in Florida. The two are essentially tied in North Carolina, but Obama has opened a nearly double-digit lead in Virginia.

The state findings were echoed in an Associated Press-Yahoo News poll released Friday.

It showed people's regard for the Republican presidential nominee has deteriorated across the board since September, with McCain losing ground in how favorably he's seen and in a long list of personal qualities voters seek in White House contenders. Meanwhile, perceptions of Obama have improved or remained steady.

[terrapin78]

YOUR LIVES AND LIVELYHOODS, AS WELL AS THE SURVIVAL OF THIS COUNTRY IS AT STAKE.

CHOOSE YOUR VOTE WISELY!

Posted by OneAmerican7 at 05:27 PM : Oct 17, 2008

That is why Obama is the man to vote for.

Voting McSame will just give MORE money to Big Oil and Business.

[DCropp]

McCain can''t handle the truth.

Joe the not really a plumber was caught lying so now McCain thinks everyone will believe him.

Every news agency except Fox News has reported that Joe the not really a plumber will get 3 times the relief under Obama''s plan.

McCain''s plan was exposed to give the richest man in America (Warren Buffet) a 50% tax break and the average American less then $100 in tax relief.

[element51]

OneAmerican7....I would love to see you in person as you make statements like those in your posts. Do your eyes bug out, do you foam at the mouth, do the veins in your neck look like they''re about to pop? You make such ridiculous statements that it''s almost laughable. So you think that Palin/McCain have been unfairly treated by the media. They haven''t. The fact is that Obama has been the focus of the media much more so than Palin/McCain. And when things have come out about Palin, they have been quickly swept back under the rug. And McCain''s associations in the past have not been reported on hardly at all. As for turning America into a dictatorship, what an absurd notion. We have a form of government that is designed to never let that happen, even if Obama wanted to do it. He couldn''t. And poor Joe the plumber. What a farce this is. This guy claims that he is wanting to buy a 250 thousand dollar business but is afraid of being taxed to death. The fact is that this guy could hardly afford to buy a bag of beans, he can''t even pay his taxes. And the "business" he was talking about isn''t worth spit. He put himself in the spot light and was foolish to think that people would not want to know about him. McCain just used this guy and continues to use him because he believes that the public will feel sorry for him. Your post contains no facts at all, just opinion. Stop being such a drama queen.

[brundage3]

McCain must be new to political campaigns!

It did not dawn upon him that if he went on television before 50,000,000+ people mentioning "Joe The Plumber" and told his story about "Joe" wanting to buy the business he has worked so hard in for all these years. 10 and 12 hour days, but "Joe" simply asked Obama a question and found by the answer that he could not afford to buy it because of Obama''''s tax plan,,,, etc etc etc.

Gee and golly. Mc Cain just had no idea that telling the story,,,identifying Joe by name, would make people curious. That HIS action would assure that reporters would want to talk to "Joe."

McCain says it is Obama caused this fame for "Joe."
I am very saddened by Senator McCain. He is SO "bitten by the Presidential bug" as lincoln called it, that he did not even bother to get Joes last name right.

At least when he jumped on his Vice Presidential selection he did use the right last name.

I host a talk radio program. A year ago I said McCain was the lone Republican I might consider voting for.
I said that was because I believed so strongly ion his ethics, I would consider him even though I disagree on many of his specific proposals.

Since then, he has swung very far to the right and flipped on even the ideas I could agree with AND lost his moral rudder. (But having read what many of those who associated with him from the 1960''''s on believe, I think that rudder may have been a fabrication too.

[jimbo554]

McCain continues to babble on about Joe the Plumber even after it has been shown that he would pay less tax under Obama than under McCain.

I guess it''s like the Ayers thing. Debunk the lies all you want to but McCain continues to blab on about it. It''s called beating a dead horse, and the majority of us are sick and tired of it.

[grouchyjohn]

"Republican John McCain told a crowd in this battleground state Friday to "hold onto your wallet" because his Democratic presidential rival, Barack Obama, has talked of spreading the wealth around."





Other than him, Cindy, and his campaign people, i wonder how many people were in attendance that made OVER $250,000, and would lose money under President Obama?

[norepubs]

McCain is pathetic. His lies have grown tiresome. I felt sorry for him initially,but at this point he is beneath contempt.......

[david1737]

McCain''s plan include $4 Billion more in tax breaks for big oil.

Enough is enough.

McCain isn''t Able!

[steamed2]

It''s really getting bizarre out there. After the McCain campaign is forced to backtrack on the nastiest Presidential campaign in modern history, we get guys like OneAmerican7 whining that their candidate(s) are being maligned. Then he immediately calls anyone that doesn''t think the way he does a communist and waves the American flag. Wow! Please, do everyone a favor, run don''t walk, to your nearest neighborhood mental health professional, or go back on your Meds.

[usclimey]

Element51 - thanks for lending your eloquent hand to the diminuation of OneAmerican (thank God he''s only one huh). This is the third story to which I''ve seen this particualar screed attached. One of them had three copies posted in 15 minutes. I guess paranoia and desperation are pushing the GOPers over the edge.

[x-republican]

READ MCCAIN''S LIPS: NO NEW TAXES

Where have we heard that before? (Bush Sr.) Republicans will tell any lie necessary to get elected.

[usclimey]

Posted by BO_SBD

If you''re so mesmerized by Bill Clinton''s accomplishments, why don''t you mention that the of his administration was the last time that we had an economic SURPLUS. Personally, I was better off in 1998 than I am now. 8 years of GOPig rule has ruined the country.

[dan9111]

There is no difference between these guys. If you believe either one will cut taxes, then you should not vote.

The reason is that if your tiny contribution to the vote total tilts the election your way (hardly a chance, but let''s say), then Congress will most certainly raise taxes! They would override McCain, and no way don''t think Obama would veto!

Stay home and stay safe on election day. A vote won''t change anything except to raise your blood pressure.

[grouchyjohn]

I mean how friggin stupid does one have to be to not be able to understand that a corporation who can''''t pass any such taxes through goes out of business, or moves overseas....Either way....The American worker is the one who takes it in the shorts due to the criminal behavior of the Demoturd Party of America.

Posted by BO_SBD at 06:07 PM : Oct 17, 2008





Then perhaps you can explain the ECONOMIC BOON under Clinton, and his "business taxes"?

And exactly how many taxes do you think they we''ve created due to Bush''s inaction on so many companies leaving the US?

Where do you think that shortfall is going to be made up?

[usclimey]

The American worker is the one who takes it in the shorts due to the criminal behavior of the Demoturd Party of America.

Posted by BO_SBD

It''s a good thing we''ll have AT LEAST 8 years to prove your sorry pessimistic @$$ wrong.

[steamed2]

Speaking of morons, BO_SBD says-"how friggin stupid does one have to be to not be able to understand that a corporation who can''''t pass any such taxes through goes out of business, or moves overseas." Yeah, they''re not going overseas right now faster than you can count them, huh? Apparently you answered your own question.

[usclimey]

OneAmerican strikes out again - can''t you at least like change the punctuation or somthing - ah no - that would mean you had to know what more the two keys on the keyboard are used for.

[usclimey]

I wonder what Failin'' thinks about being dropped a rung for Joe the not quite an licensed plummer.

[steamed2]

The most amusing thing about reading comments from people like OneAmerican7 and BO_SBD is there walking advertisements for why independent voters (and some former Republicans) are shunning the McCain campaign. Normal people get a little nervous when they realize the guy next to them is drooling, wearing a white sheet, and carrying a gun or a rope. Contrary to popular belief stupidity is not a virtue.

[usclimey]

I''''m so friggin optimistic that with only 18 days remaining, and all of you neo-Marxist so sure your boy has it in the bag, I have no doubt John McCain is gonna leave your Messiah who resembles HowdieDoodie in black face, waddling off trying to pull his azzhat back up off his eyes.

ROTFLMBAO!!!

Posted by BO_SBD

Please leave you butt on the floor and out of my thoughts. Otherwise I''d say your commentary, as pathetic as it was, was a little above average for a GOPer.

[downsteamjim]

To bellschotsch: The other 37% misunderstood the questions.

[usclimey]

Many believe (63%) that the Democrats will increase taxes on everyone.

Posted by bellschotsch

Sources, sources, sources?????

[usclimey]

I have ZERO sympathy for GOPigs claiming elction fraud. The victory will be wide enough (8 - 10%) to bury any such ideas.

[misha128-2009]

Doesn''t understand or Doesn''t comprehend. This is shaping up to be another one of those deer in the headlights moments like in the last debate when John McCain finally heard ZERO. Unfortunately, he forgot what he heard in the middle of his canned reply. What words will it take before Senator McCain finally understands Senator Obama''s tax proposal? These comprehension and retention issues are a serious problem.

[kansas1946]

This is a perfect example of McCain''s horrific lack of judgement. By bring up "plumber Joe" again, it is proof that he is seriously out of touch with reality. Joe the plumber is really not someone you want to hold up as a shining example of the hard working middle class American guy that McCain is trying to do. If he would have spent five minutes vetting this guy, he would know that. Joe is talking about SPENDING 250,000 on a business, not MAKING 250,000 as a plumber. Joe''s taxes will go down under Obama, which is maybe a good thing since he hasn''t paid his own state taxes and has several liens on his property for back taxes. He also is not a plumber and is not undecided.

[mcapek]

its obvious to anybody with elementary school education, if you promise to deliver lots of extremely expensive plans (healthcare for the masses for one), the money will have to come from someplace and it better not be "free" money from government presses, unless you want value of dollar to become zero. Obama and his Demokrat cronies will have to tax BIG, to deliver their promises. So big, that his plans will simply be unaffordable. His promises are hollow and he will not be able to deliver. It will be amusing to watch the disappointment of the idiots who voted for the Messiah.

[usclimey]

When Barack "O"bama ends the Bush''''s tax cuts of 2001, even someone making under $20,000.00 will pay over $300.00 more in taxes as they did under Bill Clinton.

Posted by bellschotsch

I say again;

Sources, sources, sources?????

[misha128-2009]

When Barack "O"bama ends the Bush''''s tax cuts of 2001, even someone making under $20,000.00 will pay over $300.00 more in taxes as they did under Bill Clinton.

Posted by bellschotsch at 06:32 PM

The law ends the tax cuts regardless of whether Senator Obama or Senator McCain becomes President; there really appears to be serious problems in education in this country. They both propose to pass laws before that change takes place that changes the tax brackets -- Obama generally provides triple the tax cut for people in the area you mentioned -- the middle class than Senator McCain proposes.

[misha128-2009]

When Barack "O"bama ends the Bush''''''''s tax cuts of 2001, even someone making under $20,000.00 will pay over $300.00 more in taxes as they did under Bill Clinton.

Posted by bellschotsch

I say again;

Sources, sources, sources?????


Posted by usclimey at 06:37 PM

Why ask for sources to a statement loaded with lies?

[newslink]

Are we suppose to believe MCcain? With him, we will not be able to afford a wallet.

[babooph]

Govt only gets $ thru tax-2 wars [on credit]& the massive payoff to corps.-will have to be paid for by a massive tax increase-the question is ,who will bear the brunt under each candidate?? The rich will likely get off easy-they are connected to lobbyists who will bribe for them.

[dan9111]

BO_SBD, it is not right to try excluding foreigners from the conversation. All of us have the government guns aimed at our heads. McCain wants to murder foreigners who disagree with him. Obama wants to murder US citizens who disagree with him. Just try to refuse them their wishes and see who breaks down your door. They are both killers only with differing bigotry. To vote for either one is to vote thou shalt kill.

[lindh4]

I''m not sure about the tax thing, but I''m starting to lean towards McCain. Not because of his tax policy but because of his Freudian slip in the last debate while speaking about Palin, "she brings a breast-breath of fresh air.." Now, besides Mccain, who wouldn''t want a fresh breast right out of the Yucon?

[misha128-2009]

Whatever he is, he is dang sure good enough to get your Messiah to step out and expose his true Marxist underbelly for the world to see.

Barak Obama is a student of Karl Marx....Make no mistake.

Posted by BO_SBD at 06:40 PM

You can actually present that as an argument given the proposals of Bush / Paulson and McCain. You could not be more wrong. Clearly Bush, Paulson and McCain were all students of Karl Marx.

[usclimey]

I haven''''t paid a dimes income tax in over five years now thanks to G.W. Bush''''s real tax cuts and capital investment incentives.

I almost had to pay some this year, but thanks to that "economic stimulus" check....I actually got money back.

Thanks G.W. Bush for being one of America''''s best ever.

Posted by BO_SBD

That means one of two things; 1) you do not earn enough to be taxed - in which case Obama''s not going to hurt you or 2) you''re a crook. If you want to publish your IRS returns on this board, I''ll check them for you. Otherwise,since you have a computer, I''d say you''re a crook.

[usclimey]

Why ask for sources to a statement loaded with lies?

Posted by misha128

I understand your point, but by asking for and not receiving, I believe they skewer themselves deeper.

[dan9111]

I figure an old pervert worshipper like you has a bag full of ''''em.

Posted by BO_SBD

BO_SBD, that makes no sense. Either you are condoning violence as a solution, or you aren''t. If you are, they you should stop posting, it isn''t violent enough for you. If not, then you can''t continue to support Obama or McCain -- both are thugs attempting to harm all those who disagree.

[misha128-2009]

Posted by bellschotsch at 06:44 PM

Random lie posting bot.

[misha128-2009]

Posted by bellschotsch at 06:47 PM

keep watching as states turn blue -- new report McCain needs to flip 7 or 8 specific states without losing one and he has no backups for any of them. Meanwhile Obama is making inroads into McCain''s Base states which will add to McCain''s woes.

[dan9111]

Barack "O"bama''''s slip of the tung, saying "spread the wealth around" to Joe in Ohio has exposed him as a TAXING DEMOCRAT. Everyone in the latest polls are changing their minds about "O"bama''''s tax plans.

Posted by bellschotsch

True. But McCain is the same way. He said spending freeze, and he listed things that wouldn''t be frozen!!! That is clearly an attempt at redistribution, if he gets to pick who is `needy`. McCain is Obama. Obama is McCain.

[misha128-2009]

Barack "O"bama''''''''s slip of the tung, saying "spread the wealth around" to Joe in Ohio has exposed him as a TAXING DEMOCRAT. Everyone in the latest polls are changing their minds about "O"bama''''''''s tax plans.

Posted by bellschotsch at 06:47 PM : Oct 17, 2008

we here in pennsylvannia and ohio heard that loud and clear, and minds are changing here in these two states.

Posted by hclinton2012 at 06:49 PM

The pollsters are having trouble finding the voter that switched among the ones switching to Obama.

[misha128-2009]

Barack "O"bama''''''''s slip of the tung, saying "spread the wealth around" to Joe in Ohio has exposed him as a TAXING DEMOCRAT. Everyone in the latest polls are changing their minds about "O"bama''''''''s tax plans.

Posted by bellschotsch

True. But McCain is the same way. He said spending freeze, and he listed things that wouldn''''t be frozen!!! That is clearly an attempt at redistribution, if he gets to pick who is `needy`. McCain is Obama. Obama is McCain.

Posted by Dan9111 at 06:50 PM

His Mortgage Buy Back Plan is redistribution to the RICH BANKERS.

[dan9111]

McCain can win in a landslide. He just has to disown the bailout, apologize for supporting it, and promise to get Ron Paul to replace Paulson.

[speets-2009]

They''ll both increase taxes, obviously. The big difference between Obama and McCain is that Obama will raise taxes for big well earning companies and McCain raises taxes for all of the middle class. Honestly, this will hurt all of you much and much more since none of you here on this site owns a big company.

[misha128-2009]

Posted by misha128 at 06:50 PM...that was last week, check out the polls after "Joe" in Ohio:

Gallup = "O"bama down to 49% and McCain up to 47% now over the last two days.

AP/Yahoo Poll: "O"bama down to 44% and McCain at 42%.

Rasmussen Poll: "O"bama at 50% and McCain at 46%.

Posted by bellschotsch at 06:58 PM

All shifts easily attributable to the polling sample.

[speets-2009]

The fact is, the economy will go down the *** with McCain in charge. But we Americans living abroad already know you''re all too blind to logic and reason.

We''re confident you''ll add 4 more years of economic misery. Go collect your foodstamps, you''ll need it under McCain''s rule.

[misha128-2009]

Posted by bellschotsch at 06:58 PM

Those Floridians loved hearing McCain spokesmen talking about cutting Medicare and even tinkering with Social Security -- not how to win voters in Florida.

[misha128-2009]

Isn''t it just amazing today to hear about the newspapers that have never endorsed a Democrat that endorsed Obama just today. There were even conservative pundits endorsing Obama today. No wonder there are reports that Gov Palin''s team keep her from watching the news.

[thisandthat1]

Another example of McCain''s poor judgement .... he goes out on a limb with this "Joe the Plumber" thing at the debate ... only to find out NOW that Joe the Plumber isn''t named Joe, isn''t a real, licensed plumber, never made more than $42,000 (not even close to the $250,000 he asked about) and is in trouble for not paying his taxes. McCain wants to be President but can''t even get this right before he gets egg on his face in a Nat''l debate?

[misha128-2009]

Posted by misha128 at 07:01 PM...more democrats than republicans in polling data. That means that mccain is really ahead of obama. jimmy carter had a 13 point lead on ronald reagan. jimmy carter got 8 states to 42 for reagan. obama is in hurt if he isn''''t up to 17 points over mccain before the election.

Posted by hclinton2012 at 07:09 PM

I know it''s a deep dark secret -- there are more Democrats and even more Independents than Republicans in many places.