The Truth About Obama's Tax Cuts

I was asked by a self described Conservative Jeffersonian friend to respond and give voice to a Wall Street Journal Article on Obama's "sleight of hand" tax cuts. The article appears in WSJ's opinion section, and utilizes an Obama Tax Increase graphic from the American Enterprise Institute which discusses tax rates, but not tax credits which offset the tax rates under Obama's plan. The tax credits which are highlighted and deplored in the text of the opinion, but ignored in the AEI graphic, are not leftist policy as the WSJ suggests. (Tax credit is actually the crux of McCain's healthcare/tax solution).

The opinion criticizes Obama's plan, calling it a "clever pitch, because it lets him pose as a middle-class tax cutter while disguising that he's also proposing one of the largest tax increases ever on the other 5%." Well, this is nothing new or clandestine. Obama has been very upfront about opposing tax cuts for the top 5% (who won't feel it in their everyday life), and providing more economic help to low income Americans. McCain, unfortunately, supports a healthcare tax credit which doesn't give enough to Average Joe, but provides tax cuts to the super wealthy which perpetuate the favors given to the top 5%. By comparison, Obama appears to be a Robin Hood-like figure. Is it welfare for the poor? Is it a tax credit, cut, or handout? Whatever verbiage you use, you cannot deny that Obama is making an effort to help those who need it. McCain's effort to help those who need it is lacking. Lacking in his rhetoric, in practice, and in the WSJ opinion piece. In fact, there is only one mention of John McCain's efforts to help normal Americans in the entire piece. I count seven different efforts on the part of Obama in this piece to help normal Americans.

So what's the point here? It's partially a political rant, but moreover, this is more evidence to be careful about what you read! Compare multiple sources, don't be afraid to question the writer/publisher, and be sure to educate yourself. Don't rely on others with their own agendas to educate you.