Obama: Was McCain A Socialist In 2000?

Democrat Defends His Tax Plan, Addresses Biden's Remark About Him Being "Tested"

(AP)  Barack Obama brushed aside Republican charges Wednesday that his tax proposals amount to socialism, and said he wants nothing more than to reverse the cuts for wealthy Americans that John McCain opposed when they were enacted.

"Was John McCain a socialist back in 2000," when he opposed President Bush's proposals? Obama asked at a news conference.

"It's not a very plausible argument," he said of the late-campaign allegations launched daily by McCain and Republican running mate Sarah Palin.

Obama made his remarks at a news conference after meeting with national security advisers.

Regardless of the winner of the Nov. 4 election, he said a smooth transition is essential "so that others don't take advantage of us."

He also sidestepped a question of whether he would attend a summit of world leaders the Bush administration has called for Nov. 15 to discuss the global economic crisis.

"We have one president at a time," he said.

The Democratic presidential candidate was asked about a comment by his own running mate, Sen. Joseph Biden, that Obama could expect to be tested early in his term.

He said the Delaware senator has occasionally engaged in "rhetorical flourishes," but the essential point was that the new president could expect to be challenged no matter who wins.

He said President Bush has pursued "bluster and unilateralism and ideology" over the past eight years, "but we're about creating partnerships around the world to solve problems."

McCain-Palin campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds responded, "It's s not leadership for Barack Obama to promise to be straight with Americans, only to dismiss serious statements and concern from his own running mate as simple rhetorical flourishes. Joe Biden guaranteed a generated international crisis if Barack Obama is elected, and a smile-for-the-cameras press conference isn't going to mitigate the risk of an Obama presidency."

Obama denied the meeting had been called because of political damage stemming from Biden's remarks. He said the foreign policy and national security experts attending have busy schedules so arrangements for the meeting began two weeks ago to assess major foreign developments during the campaign.

With 13 days remaining in the race, most polls show Obama leading in his bid to become the nation's first black president. He was campaigning in Virginia on Wednesday as he kept to an itinerary devoted almost exclusively to states that voted Republican in 2004, an indication of his confidence about the state of the race.

McCain launched a new attack over the weekend, saying Obama's plan to provide a $500 tax credit would include even those who pay no taxes and "convert the IRS into a giant welfare agency, redistributing massive amounts of wealth at the direction of politicians in Washington."

Obama's response at the news conference did not address the $500 tax break. Instead, he said that overall, he wants to reverse the cuts that went to the wealthiest Americans when Bush's plan was enacted in 2001 and use the revenue to give tax cuts to workers who make less than $250,000 a year.

Mr. Bush's reductions provided across-the-board cuts for all income levels, and McCain opposed them at the time, because they were not accompanied by spending cuts.

The Obama campaign e-mailed an excerpt from a McCain statement on the Bush tax cuts in 2001 in which McCain said, "I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us at the expense of middle class Americans who most need tax relief." The Democratic e-mail also cited a McCain statement from the 2000 campaign that "I really believe, that when you are -- reach a certain level of comfort, there's nothing wrong with paying somewhat more."

Now McCain wants to extend those Bush tax cuts and argues that anything else amounts to a tax increase.

Obama arrived in Virginia on Tuesday night after spending two full days campaigning in another GOP state, Florida.

There, he criticized McCain for offering little more than "willful ignorance, wishful thinking, outdated ideology" to an economy in crisis.

With the chairman of the Federal Reserve and even Bush now indicating support for more economic stimulus spending by Washington, momentum is building for Congress to pass a second package after the election, an idea Obama has encouraged. But McCain has remained cool, saying only that he wants to keep his options open.

At boisterous Miami rally with his wife, Michelle, Obama seized on that, as well as a report that a top McCain economic adviser said the Arizona senator prefers to first evaluate the impact $700 billion financial rescue plan passed earlier this month.

"I've got news for Sen. McCain: Hardworking families who've been hard hit by this economic crisis — folks who can't pay their mortgages or their medical bills or send their kids to college — they can't afford to wait and see. They can't afford to go to the back of the line behind CEOs and Wall Street banks," Obama told a crowd of more than 30,000 that filled a waterside park.

[pensacola98]

John McCain wants to spread the poverty!!!

Barack Obama wants to spread the wealth!!!

[leighg1]

McCain does not want to spread anything, just want to get into the white house. He does not care a bit about this country, as proven by his picking of Palin as his runningmate.

[ioweign]

McCain has morphed into Boosh...

[phillysage]

"John McCain wants to spread the poverty!!!
Barack Obama wants to spread the wealth!!!"
Posted by Pensacola98

Which is why even wealthy Republicans who have even an ounce of intelligence are also voting for Obama.

[tslogg1]

So Obama is same as McCain? What is the change?

[pjc27]

McCain is all washed up. Go on home a rest your weary old bones. And later days to Palin. Won''t not seeing her 13000 makeup strewn face be a nice change.

[pjc27]

Wow, just checked my mail, a 4 page McCain ''ad'' filled with glossy photos of Ayes pic beside a pic of Obama, and filled with fear monger crud.
Hey McCain, guess where you''re mail is going? In the wood burner! Idiot.

[walt1944-2009]

John McBush McCain continues to harp about Obama wanting to "spread the wealth around".

Frankly, perhaps people would like to see money spread around rather than the "fertilizer" that McBush and Palin have been spreading around for the past 9 months!

Citizens of the USSA have grown used to seeing the Great Emperor Bush II drag out his Scott fertilizer cart, loaded to the top with fresh doo-doo, and race around with it at news conferences and annual State of the Union speeches.

It was thought that McBush, who supposedly was to run a clean, honorable campaign and be a "stright-talker", would be above that.

RIGHT!!!!!

SIG HEIL, I LOVE MY FERTILIZER CART!!!, BUSH!!!
sig heil, THE GREAT EMPEROR BUSH II HAS LOANED ME HIS!!!, McBush!!!
sig heil, THE RNC IS GOING TO BUY ME A GOOD, EXPENSIVE ONE!!!, Palin!!!

[broncfan1661]

I am not a big Obama fan after the way his campaign treated Hillary and I was almost certain I would not vote for him.
But I can''t see how anyone in their right mind who is not a millionaire could vote for McCain after observing and (most) suffering through the last 8 years. And hearing his proposals and bull pucky lies the last several weeks.
So I will probably close my eyes, hold my nose and vote for Obama/Biden.

[irmcvet97]

She explained how all of this young idealogue, fresh out of the Ivy Leagues, Obama has painted himself to be, is just a giant facade.

She claims this guy is so un-American the "international crisis" Joe Biden is warning about is already underway in the planning stages. It''''s in fact being architected by Barack Obama....Not some other scum sucking dictator.

This pretty well explained why I''''ve long held that no real American will cast a vote for this 50%-Amerifrican.

The only folks who will vote for him will all be neo-Marxist hyphenated-Americans at best, and plenty more of you who are far worse.


Posted by AFactJack at 02:37 PM : Oct 22, 2008

I live in Chicago and YOU and your "Friend" are LIARS! What Obama did with the South Side of this City was absolutely amazing after those two mills closed. You people grow more desperate by the minute and you claims do as well.

[david1737]

CEOs of American corporations are paid 400 times the average wage of the employees who work in the positions below them.

Just like Bush, McCain is going to give these same CEOs tax breaks.

Tax breaks and deregulation isn''t a change.

[o_the_potus]

No, just a hypocrite.

[hypnotoad72]

I have to wonder if Obama has ever thought of "spreading the wealth around" as a global concept.


Aren''''''''t you far left liberals just a little torked that our jobs are going out of the country ? Wouldn''''''''t that be the result of spreading them around.


No so fun when you are the donnor, huh ?

Posted by Speakinup21
-----

Huh?

And what does Richard Donner have to do with this?

[whosaid1]

It use to be almost funny...now it is just disgusting how the media supports anything Obama says or thinks....he''s not the socialist McCain is!! Good work CBS!!

[o_the_potus]

Was McCain a socialist in 1989 when he and Charles Keating were just helping to redistribute some wealth? ... to themselves?

[miles1967-2009]

Since when did rolling back tax cuts for the rich to Clinton-era levels and giving middle class a tax cut equal Socialism?!?!?

Sounds like what we should have been doing all along. Trickle down does not work...

[repforbarack]

John McCain IS a socialist!

[irmcvet97]

Gee, this guy just doesn''''t get it does he ?



You have to be far left like he is to be called a Socialist. What an idiot.

And Obama is Presidential material ? No wonder he has problems with Foreign affairs. He doesn''''t recognize a Socialist when he is one!

Posted by Speakinup21 at 03:02 PM : Oct 22, 2008


This from a 6th grade drop out!! LOL You obviously need a Night Course of two there Sparky! Socialism is when the GOVERNMENT runs Business... YOU know kinda like Bush and the Neocon''s are doing as we speak. Now you should also be aware that there are night courses at most High Schools... go take a few courses and YOU won''t be fooled by these things. IF you are McSame and YOU are this far behind you''d call the other guy a frog if you thought it would help! It''s called DESPERATION!!

[tkforchange]

McCain-Palin policy-
"Redistribute the wealth among the Wealthiest!
Rich get Richer and the Poor get Poorer!
The middle-class bears the brunt of it all!!
$150,000 on a Palin wardrobe??- Where are all the ''Joe the Plumbers''-Dont you want a part of this??

[noloyalisti]

McSame and his party are incompetent, corrupt and misguided. They keep voting for welfare for the rich, sounds like socialism to me. By the way, there is nothing wrong with social programs. In fact, I like my socialist school and fire and police departments.

The Grand Oil Party are OK with socialism as long as it is to their benefit. Corrupt hypocrits all of them.

[biff-b]

Obama is being accused of being a leftist, socialist, anti-American because he sat on a commitee with Bill Ayers. By that definition, JOHN MCCAIN is an anti-American socalist. He sat on a commitee ,(i.e. the U.S. Senate), with Obama and other leftist people. John refered to Barack as a good man. He even joked and palled around with him at a fund raiser. What a hyprocrite. Archie Bunker lives on.

[noloyalisti]

Don''t you love our current system here in Amerika. Where it is socialism for the rich and capitalism for the poor. Time for real change!

[liberalpatri]

One of our Founders on the necessity of taxing the wealthiest: "...it should be remembered that it is impossible to devise any specific tax that will operate equally on the whole community. It must be the province of the legislature to hold the scales with a judicious hand and balance one by another. The rich must be made to pay for their luxuries, which is the only proper way of taxing their superior wealth."--ALEXANDER HAMILTON, "The Continentalist, No. VI", (16th paragraph) in The Works of Alexander Hamilton, etc., etc., edited by J.C. Hamilton in 7 volumes, Vol II, pp 194-201.

[t5556661]

Obama is a pure communist. He will repeal the insurance policy of the constitution, the 2nd amendment, and then What? Hitler did the same thing, a new world order, think about it. Where did his monsterous campaign donations come from? The working man? No, world elitist. NATO. The nation of Freedom is nearly over. After the guns are gone, he is free to control, or be controlled by world aristocrats. No freedom of speech, no bill of rights, pawns at there mercy, and defensless. If you even think of voting for Obama, you should charged with treason.

[dmgenet]

Socialism. Like a lot of words it evokes a spectrum of feelings. I love when the right wing starts yelling ''socialism'' and then bail out companies with poor management.

What about the Emergency Room. It is the area of the public hospital that does not make money. It has to take anyone and everyone. No matter what the malady. Sounds like socialism to me. Especially since the business units of the hospital that DO make money are probably inflated to help keep the hospital open. Sounds like socialism to me.

All it is is another bumper sticker ploy to agitate the right wing of the Republican Party and gets some noise. Pure B.S.

[likeitis5050]

You can''t possibly expect Obama to understand his dangerous policy toward the economy when he''s spent 20 years listening to the anti-American rants from Wright and the numerous gatherings in the presence of anti-Americans like Ayers and his wife. Obama doesn''t know any thing else. He''s been emersed in this kind of thinking for so long he''s never bothered to really consider his ideology as socialism. To treat earnings over $250,000 with a punitive tax, to redistribute to people who don''t pay taxes in the first place simply because ''it''s fair'' in his mind will not create incentives to build the small businesses we need. In fact it will cost jobs for the small business owners who won''t be able to keep those additional workers AND pay the punishment tax...and that is what it is...whether Obama can come to admit it or not. Obama is not change...this has been tried before and it was a dismal failure. Those who think they are finally going to get a piece of the pie are in for some major disappointments. But Pelosi and Reid and Frank are bellying up to the buffet table as we speak, anxious to get the big government programs rolling. You think the bail out was obscene...just wait until they get finished.

For those with a dream of one day being in the upper bracket because they''ve worked their azzes off to get there...Obama is waiting for you. Just tell yourself what a patriot you are as he cleans you out.

[likeitis5050]

Eight years of destruction by the neocons gives us at least eight years to clean it up, fool. It''''s always easier to destroy, than to create - as you well know.


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

Posted by Centerfall93

What an idiot!!!

[scottdavene]

Although, I personally am so far to the left, that even the even the democrats appear to me to be "right-wing," I certainly hope that they win this election. If they don''t, I fear that this country, indeed the entire planet is in serious trouble. The war that the conservatives have rekindled against the Muslim nations is already likely to last for years, if not centuries. Hopefully, Obama can do something to ease the tension.
This war is really a continuation of the holy wars that began so many thousands of years ago. And unfortunately, it appears that religion has shown itself to be the biggest catalyst of hatred that the human race will ever see.
I invite you to my website: www.FreetheGods.com. There you will find a political discussion forum where political ranting is highly encouraged, especially opposing viewpoints!

[jone775]

Obama will win, despite the hatred and lies.

Obama/Biden

[slayrre007]

Let me start by saying that I voted against George W. Bush in both elections and in both elections I predicted he would lead this country to ruin.

Now I will be voting for John McCain in November for many reasons...including having the insight to recognize that our country is better off with a moderate Republican than a far left hardcore liberal like Obama (with a Democratic controlled Congress).

As for Barack Hussein Obama...once Barack, as Commander-In-Chief, is given our countries top military secrets... he will find a way to give the information to his "brothers" in the middle east. For anyone that doesn''''t think this is possible...think again.

How soon Americans everywhere forget how unprepared we were for 9/11. Intellectually we could not accept the real danger of such an attack. Now we are unprepared to accept the real threat that the next attack to destroy America will come from within....that threat is Barack Obama.

This country has sold out common sense and intelligence in their efforts to prove that a black man can become elected President. Not measuring Barack Obama''s character and political allegiance by his association with people like Rev. Wright, Louis Farrakhan, Tony Rezko, and William Ayers or organizations as corrupt as ACORN... is unforgivable.

Obama will finish the job of ruining this country started by George W. Bush...but Barack will prove to be the catalyst to the final fall of America and the ending of the American way of life.

[slayrre007]

Obama comes from corrupt Chicago politics and has the most liberal voting record in Congress...when he decides to vote. Obama has 130 %u201Cpresent%u201D votes on controversial issues. That...in itself...is a strong sign of someone who lacks leadership.

William Ayers is a terrorist who should have been executed years ago. This terrorist got off on a technicality. In 2001...when Obama was in Ayers back pocket...Mr. Ayers made the statement that he did not bomb enough.

ACORN is a very corrupt political organization (voter registration fraud, intimidating voters, etc) supporting the Democratic party. This is why Barack gave them almost a million dollars recently.

NONE OF US KNOW IF BARACK IS A CLOSET RADICAL MUSLIM OR NOT. What we do know is that he had two radical Muslim fathers, attended a Muslim school at one time, adopted a preacher for 20 years that is anti-American and anti-American way of life, strongly endorsed by Louis Farrakhan, supported by terrorist groups like Humas and dictators like the Castro family. YOU DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS%u2026!

IF BARACK OBAMA IS A RADICAL MUSLIM%u2026.all the signs were there from the start. He has gravitated and aligned himself with people that hate America. To not consider this when electing a man to the Presidency of the United States...may prove to be a generational mistake that may forever damage this country. ARE WE REALLY STUPID ENOUGH TO TAKE THAT RISK%u2026?

[strangeworld]

McCain was spinning around so fast that when he saw an arse in front of him and tried to kiss it, he found that it was his own.

[strangeworld]

McCain has no honor left...the guy is lying on a daily basis. It''s time to send the republican party out the door from the local courthopuse to the Whitehouse.

[butterflyxo]

I was listening to a McCain rally and you know what he sounds like....A Rich Greedy Old Man. Like a 3% tax increase on people making more than 250K means Socialism. He''s just greedy. The tax code in this country is screwed up. If the middle class can''t survive the economy will collapse. McCain doesn''t get it, because he is a rich old man, who knows nothing about 95% of this country...The Working Middle Class. We may have high taxes in America, but in NO other Country in the world, can you make as much money as you can here. In an Obama Presidency, the rich will still be rich. BTW the CEO of my company is endorsing Obama, along with the CEO of Google, Warren Buffet and many many other very wealthy people who are not greedy. You can check out Obama''s endorsers on Wikipedia. He dwarfs McCain in endosements :O)

[butterflyxo]

Dear Wealthy 5% of America,
A father loses his job and with the economy so bad he can''t find a job to support his family. His wife works but only brings home 25,000 a year and can not afford to pay the mortgage, utilities, food and all the necessities of their children. Would it kill one making more than 250K to pay 3% more in taxes, so we could give a break to fellow Americans who are struggling dearly? Millionaires don''t need tax breaks..the Middle Class needs taxbreaks! Thank God I am not one of them struggling, but I see so many people that are. Why can''t we look out for one another as Americans?
WE WILL RISE TOGETHER AND FALL TOGETHER. WE MUST TAKE CARE OF EACHOTHER.

[letreasonwin]

This is the kind of president we need:

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1853025-1,00.html

[splainin2do]

In 2000 McCain was asked by a student at Michigan State if having higher tax rates on higher income people was not socialism. He repsonded it was fair.
It was taped on NBC and has been shown several places lately. If giving tax breaks to 95% of the public, or even tax redits to 40% of the public is socialism, then Palin heads the largest socialist government in America. Alaska regards its natural resources as a public good and taxes the oil companies and redistributes it as a check to all Alaskans. Palin increased this payment this year. If socialism is programs like Social Security and Medicare, which is what Republicans branded them at the time they were enacted, then they should call for the repeal of Social Security and Medicare, which was expanded to include prescription drugs under President Bush and a Republican ongress. Otherwise McCain and Palin should quit misleading the public.

[letreasonwin]

If McCain can''t even manage his own campaign, how can be a successful leader of the U.S.?

[anya136]

McCain wants to "spread the wealth" to the super rich - tax cuts for oil companies and million dollar CEOs.

Is this the America you want? Its tearing the fabric of society. Its taking us back to a divided and comabativ society where noone can feel safe anymore.

[scomovi]

On 10/21/08, John Stewart showed a video of McCain in 2000 answering a question about taxes by explaining that making those who earn more pay more taxes is not socialism. Why is it that the staff at The Daily Show is better at investigative journalism than the main stream media?

[john43218]

Yet, as we shall see, there have been in the past%u2014and are now%u2014many Antichrists! And underlying all of their deceptions is the "spirit of Antichrist"%u2014the wrong approaches and false doctrines which have blinded billions of human beings from understanding God%u2019s Truth. The "doctrine" of Antichrist is not understood by most of the world%u2019s religious leaders.
"How so?" you might ask.
Because there is a very real Satan the Devil. Jesus Christ twice called him the "ruler of this world" (John 12:31; 14:30). Satan is the great deceiver. The Apostle John made it very clear that Satan deceives the vast majority of mankind: "So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Revelation 12:9).
"But I am not deceived!" you might say.
Do not be too sure!

[mitch5511]

TheMasses1...you really need to get a life!

[patrik1974]

Is socialism really a bad thing? Do you think it is good that some hard working Americans make $30K a year, while others make $10Mil a year? I think it is this, everyone thinks that they will eventually be in the $10Mil a year category and when they get there they don%u2019t want to be punished with higher taxes. Well, come back to earth, most likely you will never be in this tax bracket no matter how hard you work.