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.

[gailb7]

Miss Libra, that''s right we should stand behind all the innocent muslims that struck down the buildings in New York, we should continue closing our eyes, remain morons and forget the Barack is tied to more terrorists, that sounds like sound advice to lay down and let more of them kick us again.

[indepedent01]

IF YOU VOTED FOR ''W. BUSH'' TWICE, THEN YOUR OPINION IS NOT CREDIBLE.

Think about it. It is bad enough that you didn''t see Bush''s incompetence prior to his first term, but to repeat in 2004 your voting mistake in light of clear evidence of Bush''s poor judgment is a wretched shame! And now you two-time Bush-backers have the audacity to pen your opinions on this commentary in support of a FAR WORST presidential ticket than Bush-Cheney. McCain-Palin is so pathetically worst than Bush-Cheney, that if Obama-Biden were not an available option, I would write-in Bush-Cheney for another 4 years.

YOU TWO-TIME BUSH-BACKERS HAVE NO CREDIBILITY ON THIS COMMENTARY. IT IS BETTER THAT YOU SAVE YOUR DIGNITY THAN TRY TO PROVIDE ANOTHER OPINION.

GOD Bless the United States of America!
GOD Bless the Obama-Biden Leadership Team!

[libra127]

Barack Obama lies about his ties to Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright and ACORN.

Posted by john43218 at 03:13 PM : Oct 18, 2008

Don''t know where you''ve been hiding out. Obama has explained his relationship with Ayers, Wright, and ACORN several times. He''s been quite clear. No credible evidence has been presented suggesting he''s told any "lie" on these issues. Only political smears by the opposition.

[libra127]

He is not one of us.

Posted by ragnar30066 at 02:40 PM : Oct 18, 2008

I disagree. We should all stand with innocent Muslims if they are subject to persecution. That is the American way.

[libra127]

"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."

Posted by standlee5 at 10:29 PM : Oct 18, 2008

The McCain statement that you quote is an outright LIE on McCain''s part. Obama has said he''ll give a tax cut to 95% of WORKING people. He''s said NOTHING about giving money to people who don''t pay taxes.

[standlee5]

"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."


Obama is the biggest spender we''ve seen ever. If you look at what he''s said from the very beginning it''s astounding. Universal healthcare, daycare, preschool, free college tuition, I mean it just goes on and on.

[standlee5]

Obama will have no problem on recanting his promise to cut taxes. He''ll say and do whatever it takes to win this election than when he gets in office, who knows what to expect. I''ve asked dozens of supporters and they don''t even know what to expect of him.

[dnsallday]

Is this an example of how McCain/palin would lead this country?
Rather than lose an election the RepubliCONS will destroy the COUNTRY FIRST!

[stand4justus]

http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?=about_main

The FairTax Act (HR 25, S 1025) is nonpartisan legislation. It abolishes all federal personal and corporate income taxes, gift, estate, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare, and self-employment taxes and replaces them with one simple, visible, federal retail sales tax administered primarily by existing state sales tax authorities.

The FairTax taxes us only on what we choose to spend on new goods or services, not on what we earn. The FairTax is a fair, efficient, transparent, and intelligent solution to the frustration and inequity of our current tax system.
-Americans For Fair Taxation-

This is our answer! We all need to stand behind this to get it into law! Why is it that neither candidate has supported this??
Spread the word if you agree! If our voices, votes and petitions count, we should be able to get this enacted! Then, those who have lots of money can pay taxes on their spending, [ie AIG at their $500K party after bailing out!], while those who are frugal will save money by only buying what they truly need!

[john43218]

Barack Obama lies about his ties to Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright and ACORN. He has not been asked by the mass media to explain his many other radical affiliations. He should be thankful for that. If the voters of this country knew this man''s true agenda, he would still be community organizing in Chicago. As it stands, these lies alone irrefutably demonstrate Barack Obama''s glaring unfitness for the important job he seeks.

[john43218]

Missouri campaign Senator Claire McCaskill have attached the stench of police state tactics to the Obama-Biden campaign.

%u201CWhat Senator Obama and his helpers are doing is scandalous beyond words, the party that claims to be the party of Thomas Jefferson is abusing the justice system and offices of public trust to silence political criticism with threats of prosecution and criminal punishment.

%u201CThis abuse of the law for intimidation insults the most sacred principles and ideals of Jefferson. I can think of nothing more offensive to Jefferson%u2019s thinking than using the power of the state to deprive Americans of their civil rights. The only conceivable purpose of Messrs. McCulloch, Obama and the others is to frighten people away from expressing themselves, %u201CBarack Obama needs to grow up. Leftist blogs and others in the press constantly say false things about me and my family.

Usually, we ignore false and scurrilous accusations because the purveyors have no credibility. When necessary, we refute them. Enlisting Missouri law enforcement to intimidate people and kill free debate is reminiscent of the Sedition Acts - not a free society.%u201D

[louthesz9]

To those who are voting for McCain: If Bush and his representatives (including McCain himself) in Congress have failed to stop what the Democrats had started, i.e. the sub-prime lending pilot program, do you really, really think that that maverick McCain is gonna be able to browbeat the Democrats this time into doing what''s right for the country''s economy??? Does Sarah Palin have the guts and strength to do that (in case McCain drops dead in office)???

And to those who are voting for Obama: Why would you wanna vote for a Democrat if the Democrats themselves had started this financial uncertainty that led to this fiasco in the first place??? Go Libertarian!!

[ragnar30066]

''I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.''

Barack Obama
Audacity of Hope

He is not one of us.

[ofbyfor3]

''The crime of good men who can''t wrestle with change,
Or are too afraid to face this life''s misjudged unknowns
You''re not hurting anybody else''s chances,
But you''re disfiguring your own''

[cheteunice]

misha128, ''WRONG under Obama''''s plan anyone can opt to purchase the same plan provided for members of congress at very large group rates, bigger than their employers group that could reduce the premium even more.''

And pay for the insurance with what? They can''t afford it now!!!!!!!!!

[misha128-2009]

I''''''''m optimistic change is coming -- you on the other hand ...

Posted by misha128 at 12:54 PM : Oct 18, 2008

Kerry''''s won! He''''s WON! Kerry''''s 14 points ahead ahead ahead ahead echo echo echo...

Again I ask you, where is Kerry now?

Good luck! Lunch time!

Posted by FromTexwlove at 12:56 PM

Still not following actual history -- Bush was ahead at this point -- McCain continues to miserably underperform compared to Bush. How low can one candidate stay.

[misha128-2009]

Now how successful will your future negotiations be in the future when McCain allows the companies to force you to accept out of state jurisdiction and deal with out of state pencil pushers.

Posted by misha128 at 12:50 PM : Oct 18, 2008

Just as successful as I am right now, since most of the people I talk to are at out of state headquarters.

Geezus kerrrist, where are you that you are so mind bogglingly mired in self-castigation and bitterness?

Posted by FromTexwlove at 12:54 PM

When the new state laws allow coverage in terms of procedures and individuals to be dropped based on the adjustment of the state of jurisdiction and you accuse others of failing to understand bait and switch -- physician heal thyself.

[misha128-2009]

Don''''''''t be bitter because all your Republican candidates lied to you.

Posted by misha128 at 12:48 PM : Oct 18, 2008

Bitter? Now there''''s a laaugh when you''''ve been spewing your bitterness the whole morning, railing and ranting, when the rest of us enjoy our lives, support our government, understand what they''''re doing, and are perfectly content with what we''''ve been able to achieve.

Bitter old Oslima maggots hating everybody and everything. UGH!

Posted by FromTexwlove at 12:52 PM

I''m optimistic change is coming -- you on the other hand ...

[misha128-2009]

This from the a supporter of perverts that listen to other peoples phone *** and pass it around the office -- please.

Posted by misha128 at 12:44 PM : Oct 18, 2008

LMAO! They can listen to any conversation on my phone they want to and pass it around the office.

I hope they enjoy my grandchildren''''s conversations as much as I do....

And if they want to listen to my conversations railing at business people trying to skrew me...they can spread that around too! Good job!

However, Oslima is a person who can''''t be trusted, period. He''''s corrupt Chicago politics and he will use his powers for self serving gain while pushing his communist agenda!

Posted by FromTexwlove at 12:49 PM

to each his own but real conservatives will find this abhorrent.

[misha128-2009]

WRONG under Obama''''''''''''''''s plan anyone can opt to purchase the same plan provided for members of congress at very large group rates, bigger than their employers group that could reduce the premium even more.

Posted by misha128 at 12:27 PM : Oct 18,

What you don''''t seem to get is that I don''''t want some socialist democrap writing the selection criteria for what kind of health coverage is allowed for me!

Right now the only thing standing between me and coverage is an account at an insurance company, and I have fought and won against them many times. And I always have the option of the taking them to court.

You can''''t fight government selection criteria...it''''s basically the law of the land.

Posted by FromTexwlove at 12:44 PM

Progress has been made at least you concede Obama offers an alternative.

Now how successful will your future negotiations be in the future when McCain allows the companies to force you to accept out of state jurisdiction and deal with out of state pencil pushers.