ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"> <title>OnlineColumnist®.com: Putin Punishes Georgia</title> <meta name="generator" content="Adobe GoLive 4"> <style type="text/css"> .style2 { font-size: large; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; } .style3 { height: 69px; } .MsoNormal {} .style4 { text-align: left; } .style5 { font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; } </style> </head> <body bgcolor="white" vlink="black"> <center> <table cool width="624" height="2719" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" gridx="16" showgridx gridy="16" showgridy> <tr height="79"> <td width="133" height="118" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="110" width="62" src="images/discobolos.logo.transp.gif" border="0"></a></td> <td width="7" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="482" height="79" colspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="140"><img height="75" width="450" src="images/banner.GIF"></td> <td width="1" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="79"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="79"></td> </tr> <tr height="39"> <td width="182" height="39"></td> <td width="300" height="39" valign="top" align="left" xpos="322"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="14" width="267" src="images/divisionofNEW.GIF" border="0"></a></td> <td width="1" height="39"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="39"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="624" colspan="6" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style3"> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#99ffcc" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td align="center"> <div align="left"> <a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> HOME</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> &#8226; <a href="articlesindex.html">ARTICLES</a> &#8226; <a href="books.html">BOOKS</a> &#8226; <a href="teflon.html"> THE </a><a href="teflon.html">TEFLON</a><a href="teflon.html"> REPORT</a> &#8226; <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com"> REACTIONS</a> &#8226; <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">ABOUT DISCOBOLOS</a></strong></font></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr height="2"> <td width="133" height="2">&nbsp;</td> <td width="489" height="2576" colspan="3" rowspan="2" align="left" xpos="133" content valign="top" csheight="2573"> <p class="style2">McCain&#39;s Tax Smoke</p> <p><b><font face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica">by John M. Curtis</font></b><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b><a href="books.html"><br> </a></b></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b> (310) 204-8700</b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><i>Copyright October 18, 2008<br>All Rights Reserved. </i></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="style5">A</span>ttacking Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama s (D-Il.) plan to lower taxes for the middle class, GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain blasted the 47-year-old first-term senator from Illinois for trying to  spread around the wealth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>True to Supply Side Economics and trickle down theory, McCain s plan would give an additional $300 billion in tax breaks to the top one percent of wage earners, those earning $298,000 or more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>At the Hofstra University Oct. 15 debate, McCain reassured CBS News anchor Bob Shieffer he ll close the $500 billion budget deficit and balance the budget by 2011, through taking out a meat cleaver to the non-defense side of thel budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He promised, as president, to cut any and all non-defense-related programs, jeopardizing the safety net, including Social Security and Medicare, needed more in these hard times than ever.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>McCain s plan would give the well-heeled, including himself, more tax breaks while the vast middle class foots the burden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Hold onto your wallet, McCain told campaign rally in Miami, as if he were speaking to millionaires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Ninety-five percent of McCain s Miami crowd earn under the $250,000, standing to cash-in on Obama s plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>McCain pretends his audience enjoys the same inherited wealth as his family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While there s nothing wrong with being rich, there s something sick about politicians blowing more smoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>McCain knows that giving more breaks to people in his tax-bracket, would double the size of the federal budget deficit, now standing at an unprecedented $500 billion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Obama s plan gives relief to the middle class while collecting that loss from those capable of paying more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Giving the wealthy more tax relief makes no sense.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>McCain s basic premise on taxes involves the discredited  trickle-down theory that if you give the wealthy more tax breaks, it filters down to lowly wage-earners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Former President Ronald Reagan promised a balanced budge in 1980 while running against former President Jimmy Carter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Reagan inherited a $63 billion deficit in 1981 and handed off a $263 billion deficit to his running mate President George H.W. Bush in 1988.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>McCain s budget forecast doesn t accommodate all of his defense plans, including a permanent fleet in the Persian Gulf, the restoration of the fleet to 300 ships, the expansion of the national reserve, the  Star Wars missile defense plan, missile intercepters for Eastern Europe, continued funding for the Iraq War, possible contingency plans for Iraq and escalation of forces in Afghanistan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Without middle class tax relief, the economy looks sluggish.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>McCain talks about how Barack s tax plan robs  Joe the plumber from his dream of buying the plumbing business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Ohio resident Joe Wurselhacher is actually an unlicensed plumber who owes back taxes, claiming he d like to own a $250,000 plumbing business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Nothing in Obama s tax plan prevents any entrepreneur from owning a business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It gives 95% of all employees earning less the $250,000 immediate tax relief, generating the kind of cash-flow needed to stimulate the economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Barack s plan creates a massive stimulus to the anemic U.S. economy, giving the lion s share of taxpayers more money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When McCain says  look out for your wallet, he referring to his plan to reduce taxes for top-wage-earners at the expense of the rest of the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Eight years of Supply Side Economics has left the country in the worst shape since the Great Depression.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>McCain talks as if he s speaking to a vast majority of millionaires at his rallies and stump speeches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Warning about Barack s tax plan creates the myth that McCain s plan somehow benefits working people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> When politicians talk about your money and spreading it around, you d better hold onto your wallet, McCain told a Miami rally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Nothing could get more Orwellian than telling voters a tax cut would raise their taxes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Sen. Obama claims he wants 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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>That s not a tax cut, that s welfare, said McCain, exactly the opposite of Barack s plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>McCain doesn t mind tax breaks, corporate welfare and preferential treatment for the nation s most wealthy companies just not needy individuals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span> </p> <p class="style4"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Completing his prodigious smoke-blowing act, McCain s  Straight Talk Express has morphed into this year s prize-winning spin machine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>McCain is concerned about his own wallet and those of other affluent taxpayers, expected to pay more under Barack s tax plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Let there be no mistake, Obama s plan puts more cash into the pockets of middle class taxpayers, providing a real stimulus for the economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Pretending that that raises taxes goes to heart of McCain s propaganda that ordinary folks get hurt with Barack s plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Calling Obama s health care plan  a single-payer government plan totally ignores how it differs from Hillary-care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>McCain knows that Barack s tax plan provides middle class tax relief while his heath plan offers quality insurance to ordinary citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>McCain frequently asks, Who is Barack Obama?:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He s the guy who ll lower your taxes.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> &nbsp;<bAbout the Author</u><b>John M. Curtis</b> writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.&nbsp; He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of <i><a href="books.html">Dodging The Bullet</a> </i>and <i><a href="books.html"> Operation Charisma</a></i>.</p> </td> <td width="1" height="2576" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="2"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="2574"> <td width="133" height="2574" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><img height="172" width="111" src="images/johninframe3.jpg"></td> <td width="1" height="2574"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2574"></td> </tr> <tr height="1" cntrlrow> <td width="133" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="133" height="1"></td> <td width="7" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="7" height="1"></td> <td width="182" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="182" height="1"></td> <td width="300" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="300" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="597"> <tr> <td><font size="1" face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica"> <hr noshade size="1"> </font><a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> Home</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> || <a href="articlesindex.html">Articles</a> || <a href="books.html">Books</a> || <a href="teflon.html">The Teflon Report</a> || <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com"> Reactions</a> || <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">About Discobolos</a></strong></font> <div align="left"> <p><font size="1" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">This site designed, developed and hosted by the experts at</font><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"> <a href="http://www.cmeonline.net" target="_blank"><img height="30" width="138" src="images/cmelogoANIM.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></a></font></p> </div> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">©1999-2005 <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"> Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.</a><br> (310) 204-8300<br> All Rights Reserved. </font></td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>