McCain Pledges Not to Increase Taxes
Even a young child posed a question to the Republican presidential candidate: “Will you raise our taxes?”
McCain answered simply: “No.”
The rising concern among economic conservatives about McCain’s commitment not to raise taxes followed complaints from the financial watchdog group Club for Growth, which questioned a recent statement by McCain that nothing — presumably including a payroll tax hike — is “off the table” as a solution for fixing the solvency of Social Security.
McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds did his best to put down the speculation
“There is no imaginable circumstance where [McCain] would raise taxes,” Bounds told FOX News on Tuesday.
In making a contrast to Barack Obama, McCain has claimed that his Democratic rival has voted in the Senate for “tax increases on income taxes, capital gains taxes, dividend taxes, Social Security taxes. Pretty much anything that you can tax.”
Excellent? McCain himself seems to make this a question nearly every other week. His voting record isn’t exactly the standard bearer for the no new tax crowd. How is this excellent in your mind? This issue is settled for you now? You no longer have questions about McCain’s position or record on taxes? You’re moving on?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 29, 2008 at 2311 hrs
Yep, just put that half a trillion $ deficit on my tab
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 29, 2008 at 2315 hrs
Cutting spending is the answer - not raising taxes.
Maybe he doesn’t succeed at this - but I prefer someone who at least starts out in the right direction as opposed to ‘O’ who is ready to raise every tax we have plus add some new ones.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 30, 2008 at 0013 hrs
More from the Straight Talk Express.
ABC News’ Anamarie Rebori reports: Sen. John McCain made clear this weekend that when it comes to fixing Social Security, “everything is on the table,” including a possible payroll tax increase.
“There is nothing I would take off the table. There was nothing I would demand,” McCain told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos in an exclusive interview on “This Week.” “I think that’s the way that Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill did it—and that’s what we have to do again.”
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 30, 2008 at 0539 hrs
“Excellent” is not the correct response. “Adequate” is the correct response.
Holding the line on taxes is only 1/3 of the battle. Spending must be cut as well. Then we can cut taxes.
Where should we cut spending? I’d start with wealth redistribution programs, farm subsidies and business subsidies.
I don’t think McCain has the fortitude to do all of this - especially with a Democrat-controlled congress. The best we can hope for is 4 more years of stagnation. In the meantime, one or two justices will leave the Supreme Court. To me, this is the real consequence of the November election.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 30, 2008 at 0818 hrs
The reality.
Unsurprisingly, I prefer the Obama plan. Not only do I get a bigger cut, but it is easier on the debt than McCain’s plan and also takes a step toward more progressivity. Win win win.
Oh, I know. Taxes are theft. The wealthy pay all the taxes in the first place. I won’t be happy until we’re all communists. Yadda, yadda.
Posted by scott on July 30, 2008 at 0852 hrs
I would start with defense spending, which should get massive cuts. Social security could be quickly fixed by stopping distributions to people making, say, $75,000 a year.
Some farm subsidies should be cut, be we enter dangerous territory there, farm subsidies are in reality distributions to anyone who eats and the results of cutting that would be unexpected by a lot of people.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 30, 2008 at 0856 hrs
Why is it again Scott that you deserve a bigger cut? Why is it I should hope that Obama puts a few more dollars in your hands while at the same time taking hundreds of thousands more out of the hands of those who actually create jobs and invest so much more?
Frankly I hope we all get a tax cut ... every last one of us ... but what makes YOU so special that you should get one and others not? What is your special contribution to the nations well being, other than trying to figure out how to take more money out of the hands of one class of people and give it to someone else (namely yourself, it would appear).
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 30, 2008 at 1250 hrs
Are you against progressive taxation in principle, TD?
Posted by scott on July 30, 2008 at 1351 hrs
Do you always answer a question with a question Scott?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 30, 2008 at 1427 hrs
Why don’t you tell me?
Posted by scott on July 30, 2008 at 1455 hrs
Have you been an asshat your whole life? Or simply since reaching adulthood?
Did I break the rules of the childish game you started by answering your question with two questions of my own?
When you choose to answer my question I’ll be happy to answer yours. If you choose to continue to be an asshat, I’ll choose to continue to point it out
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 30, 2008 at 1503 hrs
I’m sorry, but you have forfeited your right to call anyone else an asshat after writing comment #8, in which you demanded to know why I personally should get a tax break while someone else does not.
Look, if it makes you feel better let me rephrase comment #8 since you seem to be offended by its punctuation.
“It sounds like you have a problem with progressive taxation in general. I don’t.”
Posted by scott on July 30, 2008 at 1523 hrs
Good grief. It’s about whose taxes get raised, not about whether. ;^)
CNN excerpted out the Tax Policy Center’s analysis here: Obama McCain Taxplan comparison
Check the “Breaking Down The Numbers” chart to the right.
What’s particularly interesting is the change over at around the $200k mark. Those of you making more than that [as I said the other week before getting cussed out] should definitely vote for McCain.
If you make less than that but still want to pick up a larger share of the tax burden, you should also vote for McCain. After all, Hallibuton VP’s have kids in college too, and those kids need new cars, dammit. You proles don’t expect their kids to drive Detroit models, do you?
hiho
MpPosted by Mpeterson on July 30, 2008 at 1538 hrs
What offends me Scott is that the first reason you list for supporting the Obama plan is that it lines your pockets the most. You constantly rail against the greedy rich who benefit at the expense of the little guy, yet the first thing you look at is how you can benefit the most financially from the plans on the table. Progressive to liberals like you means nothing more than taking money from those who have more than you and making sure you get a cut of it. Every now and then the ‘progressive tax’ supporters show thier true colors though ... its really all about THEM ... not the poor and disadvanted they simply use to build support for thier own greedy self interest. Personally, I prefer to see those who create the wealth, create the jobs, take the risks to create the products and services we want and need to do more job creation, investment and product development get a break, rather than further punished by the class warfare hyporcrits. I have no issue with across the board tax cuts, but I start getting hacked off when I see phonys like you who want to stick it to the producers and risk takers so they can get a few more bucks in their paychecks, and then pose for holy pictures claiming they care so much about the ‘little guy’.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 30, 2008 at 1652 hrs
I happen to be a very middle-class guy, struggling to keep a very middle-class family afloat. I and people like me work hard and play fair, and we have seen our incomes stagnate while the wealthy have seen theirs skyrocket. It is we who need a tax cut, not them. If that offends you, that’s your problem. I don’t care.
Posted by scott on July 30, 2008 at 1736 hrs
I heard today on rush limbaugh that new york gov told the press that the state of new york is in a recession.
they are taxed heavily from the top on down.
so how does raising taxes help the economy?
how many poor people hire people?
my 2 cents worthPosted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 30, 2008 at 1753 hrs
Right, the only money that helps the economy is the money in the rich guys’ pocket.
When poor or middle class people have more money in their pocket, they spend it. That creates jobs every bit as much as a capital investment.
Posted by scott on July 30, 2008 at 1756 hrs
Actually, the massive tax break for the rich in 2001-2003 worked so damned well, we need another one. Can you imagine the growth in the economy if we simply made the taxes ZERO for the wealthy, and then they could trickle some of it down to us? Wow, are we missing a good bet!
(Yes, I’m being sarcastic.)
Posted by Jack Lohman on July 30, 2008 at 1937 hrs
And incidentally, Scott, the capital investment which we once knew is now going into foreign investments and offshore tax havens. Not a very good deal for Americans.
Posted by Jack Lohman on July 31, 2008 at 1025 hrs
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