ABC's Roberts did not challenge McCain's claim -- reportedly rebutted by his own economic adviser -- that Obama "wants to raise people's taxes"
SUMMARY: ABC's Robin Roberts did not challenge Sen. John McCain's claim that Sen. Barack Obama "wants to raise people's taxes" -- a claim that McCain's own chief economic adviser reportedly said is inaccurate.
During an interview on the October 31 edition of ABC's Good Morning America, Sen. John McCain claimed that Sen. Barack Obama "wants to raise people's taxes -- that's clear." McCain continued: "And so, we're going to fight it out on the economic grounds." Co-host Robin Roberts responded only, "Especially here, that's what they want to hear here in Ohio." She did not challenge McCain's claim, even though McCain's own chief economic adviser, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, has reportedly said it is inaccurate to say that "Barack Obama raises taxes." In fact, Obama has proposed cutting taxes for low- and middle-income taxpayers, while raising taxes only on individuals earning more than $200,000 per year and families earning more than $250,000 per year.
In its analysis of Obama's and McCain's tax proposals, the Tax Policy Center concluded that "Obama would give larger tax cuts to low- and moderate-income households and pay some of the cost by raising taxes on high-income taxpayers. In contrast, McCain would cut taxes across the board and give the biggest cuts to the highest-income households."
Media Matters for America has previously documented Good Morning America failing to challenge allegations by Republicans that Obama will "raise taxes."
From the October 31 edition of ABC's Good Morning America:
ROBERTS: Looking at, you know, how you've been crossing the state and everything like that, and we heard in David Wright's piece, you hear from Barack Obama, and he has a new ad out saying, still, that you mirror a lot of President George Bush. And we have new polling out this morning that are -- the voters are -- about half of them feel that same way. You've been unable to shake that perception that --
McCAIN: I think we have largely, otherwise, we wouldn't be tightening in the polls. I think, in the last debate, when I told Senator Obama that if he wanted to run against President Bush, he should have run four years ago. I think, you know, a little humor always helps a little bit --
ROBERTS: Sure.
McCAIN: -- but this is a tough race. We're in a tough economy, we're in tough times, but Joe Biden gave us a great opening, frankly, when he said that this young inexperienced president would be tested by an international crisis. I've been tested. And we've been able to point out that Senator Obama's economic policies has been the far left of American politics, and ours is in the center. He wants to raise people's taxes -- that's clear. And so, we're going to fight it out on the economic grounds.
ROBERTS: Especially here, that's what they want to hear here in Ohio.
McCAIN: Oh, yeah.
FACT CHECK IN THE USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The wealthiest 5% are people too.
MMFA is way off base here.
Not cool. LOL
Haha! I miss TruthJusticeUSA troll. She was fun to play with :)
That was sort of a wingnut composite tribute, Kyle. A little truthy, a bit of Shoes, and a MissDeeranged closing "LOL". They're all wonderful idiots, and I miss them when they go away.
Can I be a wingnut too? They seem to have a very rich fantasy life. :-0) I WANT ONE TOO, DAMN IT.
Rich fantasy life?
If we're taxing Sam (Joe) the Laborer's (Plumber's) fantasy small business then we sure as hell had better tax the wingnuts fantasy lives too.
It's only fair.
$250,000
$200,000
$150,000
$120,000
The next step, announced shortly after the election, will probably be in the $80,000 range.
I'm ok with him taking all of our money as long as he keeps giving me drugs and stays my sugar daddy.
Who's your (sugar) daddy? BHO don't have the money to support you as it doesn't even appear he has enough to support his extended family.
Oh he has the money. He's a typical liberal hypocrite who gives little to charity or to his own bro but wants to take your money and give it to others.
That storys been though here a few times. Obama's bro does'nt feel he needs any charity, sanctimounious or honest charity.
Who might need charity. How in a world of need and poverty did you determine that this person is deserving of your time and effort?
The guy lives on less than $1 a month and lives in a shack. I'm pretty sure that's poor even by the standards in Kenya. Don't you think he just might want a Coke and a smile once in a while?
$1 a month is good money in Africa. Haven't the Cons been telling us that folks working sweatshops overseas have it good because they money they are paid is good relative to the cost of living where they live?
No. Your local library probably has books on grammar and spelling. You might want to check one out.
Both McCain and Obabma are not being honest about taxes. Obama wants to lower taxes on some and raise taxes on others, yet I do not know what he wants to do about the tax cuts enacted under the Bush administration. If allowed to lapse, will Obama's tax cut make any difference? And what about the tax hikes on those "rich" people? Combined with the lapse of the Bush tax cuts how much more taxes will they end up paying?
McCain's tax cuts look miniscule in comparison but if he gets Congress to leave the current tax cuts in place then no one's taxes will increase. But I am not sure what his intent is or if can convince Congress to go along.
Either way, with the current economic mess we're facing, tax increases are probably not a good idea, even on the "rich". McCain is partly on the right track by wanting to curtail spending. He and Obama have got to figure out how to reduce the overall size and scope of the federal government; failure to do so will only increase federal spending every year with the attendant increase in deficits. Neither has offered any viable solution in that regard. We as a nation cannot do this for much longer.
There's no free ride. The deficit is the elephant in the room.
Obama has tax cuts for the middle-class and pays for them with tax increses on the wealthy. This is the responsible way to do tax relief for the middle-class.
McCain, however, doesn't pay for his tax cuts, thus increasing the already massive deficit. It's irresponsible and certainly not fiscally conservative.
I concur there is no free ride. Both major parties have engaged in deficit spending for so long that no amount of tax hikes on the "rich" is ever going to make up the difference unless there is drastic reduction in spending at the federal level. Neither McCain nor Obama have proposed such cuts because too many Americans are being fed in one way or another from that same trough. I think Ron Paul was the only candidate during the primaries to warn of financial crisis but he was relegated to "Crazy Uncle" status...seems like he's the only one who had the fiscal aspects of the election nailed. Thanks for the reply!
Hi Suzanne,
Here's a link that may help you to understand some of these things you're feeling.
Not mentioned in the treatment section is the fact if one moves from a tin or aluminum foil hat to one made out of molybednum, symptoms seem to disappera.
True, Oscar, but you're not arguing with my diagnosis, are you?
Nah, just adding a little treatment advice.
Where is it stated that 120K is the new threshhold? Hmm?
Bill Richardson, Gov D-NM, set the upper level of middle class at 120K per the way I heard the sound bite. In context, I don't know. But if he is saying 120K is the upper limit, then anything above that, I would suppose Suzanne would consider rich and therefore be a target for tax increases. That figure has been a moving figure per a post above. And remember, bills have to come out of Congress, so it is highly likely that Chas. Rangel would go for the 120K figure in the next Congress.
OYGB, I think Biden mentioned the 120K number the other day. I'm not sure if he just goofed on the number, or if he was picking a random income under the cut-off line, but the wingnuts are running with it.
If I'm not mistaken, the line where taxes will increase is 250k single and 200k household.If that number was changed to 120k, either it's very honest of the obama campaign to announce a change before the election, or they're not very politically savvy.
Oh, my point was, the GOP mouthpieces now have three numbers that they can frame as doubletalk to the simpletons. It's the 2008 version of "I voted for the 87 million...". A documented example of hypocrisy, for those who don't have room for two ideas in their skull at one time.
If it had been Biden alone, we could attribute it to a "gaffe" as he is prone in that direction. If it is indeed 120K, BHO should come forward and admit that today or tomorrow, it could have a difference with the undecideds. The point being, because we are in a big financial crisis in the country and with the federal budget, one of the candidates should have been honest enough to come forward early in the campaign (after it were narrowed to two, not in 2006) and tell us we were all going to have the sacrifice for the good of the country. Not sure that the next 18-24 months (perhaps longer) is the right time to raise taxes, but it will have to be done.