In a September 15 article, The Detroit News reported that Ben Porritt, a spokesman for Sen. John McCain, “criticized what he said were [Sen. Barack] Obama's plans to raise taxes and increase spending.” The article also quoted Republican National Committee spokesman Chris Taylor's assertion that "[t]oday's economic news should serve as a wake-up call to Senators [Joe] Biden and Obama: When the economy is in a downturn, higher taxes are not the answer." But the News did not note that Obama has proposed cutting taxes for low- and middle-income families or that McCain's own chief economic adviser, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, has reportedly said that it is inaccurate to claim that “Barack Obama raises taxes.”

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.”

From the September 15 Detroit News article:

McCain spokesman Ben Porritt dismissed Biden's remarks as “salesmanship not leadership,” and criticized what he said were Obama's plans to raise taxes and increase spending.

Added national GOP spokesman Chris Taylor: “Today's economic news should serve as a wake-up call to Senators Biden and Obama: When the economy is in a downturn, higher taxes are not the answer.”

Biden's tough line came as the Obama campaign releases a new television ad citing media critics describing McCain's campaign tactics as “vile,” “disgraceful” and “dishonest smears.”