Obama slams McCain for calling his work credit “welfare”
ST. LOUIS – Democratic nominee Barack Obama today called John McCain “the first politician in history to call a tax cut for working people ‘welfare,’ in a policy broadside aimed at McCain attacks that Obama tax credit for those who pay no federal income taxes amount to a government give-away.
“Lately, Senator McCain has been attacking my middle class tax cut. He actually said it goes to, “those who don’t pay taxes,” even though it only goes to working people who are already getting taxed on their paycheck,” Obama intends to say, according to excerpts of remarks released by the campaign.
“That’s right, Missouri – John McCain is so out of touch with the struggles you are facing that he must be the first politician in history to call a tax cut for working people “welfare.”
Senior Obama advisers say they must confront the ‘welfare’ charge directly to block McCain from portraying the Democratic nominee as using the tax code to promote welfare. Obama advisers say today’s speech may foreshadow TV ads on the subject, forcing McCain to defend his contention that workers who pay payroll taxes – but not income taxes – are somehow under serving of tax breaks.
In today’s remarks, Obama said the difference on the issue comes down to “values.” The values debate has often worked against national Democrats but Obama and his team are determined to fight the values debate on the economic battlefield – where Democrats have been trying to turn the debate since losing the 2004 election.
“We are both offering tax cuts” Obama’s prepared remarks say. “The difference is who we’re cutting taxes for. It comes down to values – in America, do we simply value wealth, or do we value the work that creates it? For eight years, we’ve seen what happens when we put the extremely wealthy and well connected ahead of working people. Now, John McCain thinks that the way to rebuild this economy is to double down on George Bush’s policy of giving more and more tax breaks to those at the very top in the false hope that it will all trickle down. I think it’s time to rebuild the middle class in this country, and that is the choice in this election.”
Obama also intends to turn the welfare debate against McCain by describing his call for an extension of the Bush tax cut and new tax cuts for corporations as amounting to welfare for the rich.
“The only “welfare” in this campaign is John McCain’s plan to give another $200 billion in tax cuts to the wealthiest corporations in America – including $4 billion in tax breaks to big oil companies that ran up record profits under George Bush,” Obama’s prepared remarks said. . “That’s who John McCain is fighting for. But we can’t afford four more years like the last eight. George Bush and John McCain are out of ideas, they are out of touch, and if you stand with me in 17 days they will be out of time.”
Obama advisers say McCain’s ”welfare” line of attack carries a subliminal racial component they believe McCain is stoking as they say he has with mailers and rob calls suggesting Obama’s affiliated with terrorists and cares more about Hollywood than America.
McCain advisers call the tax debate a vital policy dispute, one that shines a light on who and who does not pay income taxes – an argument exemplified, McCain advisers say, by the attention brought to the question ”Joe the Plumber” asked Obama about his call for higher income taxes on those earning more than $250,000.
Obama is offering “WELFARE” why should any of us work? Under the Obama plan we the hard working greasy wheels, will support the man next door who is too lazy to put on his shoes, who draws a workmans comp. check, a Public Assistance check Food Stamps and Free Insurance, I know there are people who are injured, and in need of Assistance, good people who have no other means. But in WV the workers comp. claims are more than the people who are working and I know many of the Fraud Freds and Mary’s who are drawing checks and working under the table. and people who need Welfare can not get it! I am tired of spreading my pay check to the people Obama calls Spread the Wealth I have no WEALTH. Democrats in WV are the reason our State is one of the Highest in Workers Comp. Welfare, and Fatness, Thoothlessness, 4th. in illiteracy and High Taxes. Obamas Economy plan is West Virginias plan and we need reform!!!
What the conservative media and McCain’s campaign are failing to say when they say that, “Mr. Obama’s tax plan is a redistribution of wealth,” is that ALL TAXES are a redistribution of wealth.
bring it out Major! Tell it…that is exactly what Obamas tax credit is…it is WELFARE plain and simple! It is just astounding that working class folks dont see what he will be doing! everyone pays payroll taxes but not everyone pays FEDERAL TAXES…and for those that dont pay FEDERAL TAXES they will be getting a check from the Government..What is so difficult to see?
Keep up the great work Major & FOX…..
McCain/Palin 08
Hmmm, well there is a way to think of any type of a tax cut, as welfare. Welfare to the rich. Meanwhile our national debt is going up by the trillions. How about the idea that the nation just SAVE the money and not spend it. We’d be in good shape right now if instead of giving out all those big tax breaks the money had been put into national savings. At least the money wouldn’t get sucked out of the system. Saving the money and not giving it to anyone would not be socialism.
How about if instead of a consumer-driven economy we turn in to a savings economy?? That is actually an old American value…a penny saved is a penny earned. Pro-American!
When it was called a “negative income tax”, it was defeated soundly. Dusting off an old socialist idea and wrapping it in a new label doesn’t change what it is.
The demagogy by Sen Obama (who refuses to provide a federal judge with a valid birth certificate to prove he is constitutionally qualified to run for president) is unbelievable.
Whether it is labeled a “Tax Credit (which isn’t limited to offsetting taxes paid)” or a “Negative Income Tax (which was soundly defeated when proposed)”, a rose by any other name is still a rose.
Obama shut up. All of us will not allow you to give our hard earned money away as Chavez does. If God forbid you do steal this election we republicans will have to do what you people doe best BOYCOTT and divide our country and keep our money. Obama and these socialist democrats want to take our money and turn it into more welfare. No we will lose our businesses and corporations under obamas.
Obama’s plan is welfare. Taxes are suppose to have 2 purposes: 1. Pay for the business of government. 2. Pay for our military. Not to “spread the wealth around….” Welfare was stopped went the Earned income credit was added to the tax tables. Why are the blacks so upset about it being called welfare? Is it because it was next to impossible for a white person to get welfare? Believe me, my family needed it, but were disqualified because we had a JOB.
If the shoe fits wear it.
The blatent statement the Obama made when an average everyday citizen asked a simple question about taxes and that Obama explained by stating “I want to spread the wealth around” says it all.
We are looking at the face of the “New Socialist America” whereby the SP’s Social Progressives or the Socialist Party dictates how much the average citizen is allowed to earn and then financially penalizes us for achievement and divies up the tax collection to those less ambitious.
If you are a hard working individual who believes in personal responsibility you are staring in the face of a new style of government that wishes to punish you for working harder in an attempt to achieve what is left of the American dream. These government officials are “Socialist Pigs” and they will stop at nothing to control our lives.
The very thought that the Democrats want to take more money from any one earning $250,000 or more is deceptive by nature. The fact of the matter is that “earned income” is taxed at 33% or more while interest income, the income of the truely wealthy, is taxed at 15%. In other words if you have interest earnings of $250,000 annually you pay 15% but if you work for a salary of $250,000 annually you pay more than 15%. Where is the logic in this kind of tax system?
Obama should be attacking the truly wealthy people who earn interest income. Interest income should be taxed equally at 33% not 15%. Then the truly wealthy would be paying their fair share. He won’t do this because it will effect not only his rich liberal supporters but also his own pocket.
Small business will be penalized under this idiot’s leadership whethe anyone believes it or not.
Socialism Sucks, Personal Responsibility is the right approach. If you lack personal responsibility in your life or if you choose not to take personal responsibility in your life then your life becomes more and more run by a government and less and less by you.
Read THE WEALTH OF NATIONS BY ADAM SMITH. SMITH FOUNDED THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM AND CLARIFIES THE TRUE MEANING OF CAPITALISM. THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM SERVED US WELL FOR OVER 200 YEARS. DON’T THROW IT AWAY BECAUSE BAD DECISIONS WERE MADE BY INEPT POLITICIANS AND STUPID MORTGAGE HOLDERS.
IF 95% OF US ARE GOING TO GET A TAX CUT AND ONLY 55% OF US ARE ACTUALLY PAYING TAXES THEN THERE WILL BE 40% OF US WHO RECEIVE WHAT? A TAX REBATE, A GOVERNMENT CHECK, WELFARE.
PLEASE SOMEONE TELL ME WHERE THE 40% WHO AREN’T PAYING ANYTHING ALREADY GET A TAX BREAK? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I DON’T GET THE PROGRAM.
DO YOU REALLY TYHINK OBAMA IS GOING TO GET THE REMAINING 5% TO PAY MORE? PLEASE PEOPLE WAKE UP. IT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN. 55% OF THE PEOPLE WILL JUST WIND UP PAYING FOR 45% OF THOSE WHO EITHER HAVE BIG LOOPHOLES THEY CAN USE OR DON’T ALREADY PAY INCOME TAXES.
FREEDOM not socialism
its easy
Mccain FREEDOM
Obama socialism
READ REVELATIONS
Of course Obama wants more people on welfare as do all Democrats. It’s the only way they can get votes. The more desperate people there are, the more likely those people will forgo decency and intelligence and vote the crooks into office. The Democrats and Obama want EVERY American to be forced to beg Government for handouts.
If Obama’s “tax credit” includes people who don’t make enough money to pay taxes in the first place, then that is welfare. There is no reason why any adult, regardless of education, can’t bring home enough money to pay back into the system. Unless they are disabled, in which case they are already supported by the taxpayers. Or, maybe they are smart enough to realize that it doesn’t pay to work. How is giving a tax credit to people who aren’t contributing to the system not socialism?
wake up it is welfare and ones that say its not just want hand outs well the ones that belive him only know hand outs get off your lazy butts get a job so the others dont have to pay your bills
Hey i say give more tax breaks for the Rich. They REALLY NEED IT. I know McCain needs it to furnish his 7 houses and put new stereos in his 13 cars…
Joe the plumber does not need it. He dodges taxes. Then again, hes not a plumber. Then again how is he going to buy a plumbing business when he dodges taxes and is not licensed to even be a plumber.
But the rich need those tax cuts and the middle class dont need them at all.