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.
Tonight on Rachel Maddow's show, conservative David Frum criticized Maddow, essentially saying that the humor and sarcasm on her show is equivalent to the shouts and jeers of McCain's campaign supporters about Obama...the likes of "kill him," "he's a terrorist," etc.
Maddow had notes and questions for discussion of issues, not discussion of the tone and format of her own show. Nonetheless, she responded quickly and directly, saying that the tone and humor used in her show is a method of delivering news, but is in no way comparable to actual violent threats that are made by McCain supporters and which are left un-denounced by McCain during his rallies.
Personally, I have been more angry over the past couple months than I can ever remember as a result of what's going on in the news. Maddow's humor actually allows me smile on occasion in the face of ethical, political, and media failure, without forgetting that these failures are serious and cannot be sustained. Thank you Rachel for helping me not feel so alone in this ridiculous, maddening, and sometimes unbelievable time.
Friday: A legislative investigator found that Palin violated state ethics laws and abused her power by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper.
Saturday: "I'm thankful that the report has shown that there was no illegal or unethical activity there" - Gov. Sarah Palin
This weekend, John McCain vowed to "whip" Obama's "you know what" in the final debate on Wednesday. Hmm...old white dude promises to publicly whip young black dude. Really?
Though McCain has dishonorably criticized Obama for being a Muslim, a Christian, and an Arab all at once, he's not stupid or racists enough to harken back to the days of slavery discipline when saying he'll "whip" Obama in the debate. It's just a lipstick on a pig figure of speech.
Even though McCain's not a bigot (really...I don't think he is), it's just not wise to say he'll "whip" his younger black opponent in public. Once again, McCain displays a Joe Biden-like quality of gaffing in his rhetoric.
My advice to McCain: slow down, breath, think, think again, revise your sentence, speak.
