By Ross Balano, Midwest Voices Columnist 2008
Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama had a change of heart yesterday about one of his major campaign issues; the Bush Tax Cuts.
The Associated Press quotes Obama as now saying that “he would delay rescinding President Bush's tax cuts on wealthy Americans if he becomes the next president and the economy is in a recession, suggesting such an increase would further hurt the economy.”
Two things struck me about this comment.
First; he uses the term increase. This is the first time I’ve heard him admit that rescinding the Bush cuts would in reality be a tax increase.
Second; he admits that an increase would hurt the economy.
For about as long as he has been running for president, which seems like forever, Obama has been preaching the woes of the Bush Tax Cuts. For those of you in Alma, those are the tax cuts pushed through congress by President Bush that Obama and fellow Democrats claim were “tax breaks for the rich” and are “shrinking the middle class.” Repealing that work of the evil Bush administration was “job one.” So why the change of heart?
Has Obama had an awakening to the fact that the Democrat economic policies of more taxes are flawed? Or, have Democrats decided to abandon the ugly policy of class warfare politics? No to both.
Obama’s hedging his bets are a result of one thing and one thing only; polls! Virtually all of the polls are now showing John McCain either ahead or tied with Obama. USA TODAY has McCain up by 4 and Real Clear Politics, the average of all the major polls, show McCain up by one. This wasn’t supposed to happen, was it? This was supposed to be a cake walk for Obama.
The bloom is off the rose. The American people are too savvy to be fooled for very long. Obama is losing appeal and is getting desperate. Why else would he embrace one of Bush’s ideas?
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squirrels and nuts
The squirrels are out Ross .....chasing the nuts that are going away......Obamas lead, Olbermanns right to continue distorting everything that is not in line with his Obamobsession .......they are finally really worried.
Frankly though, I put no more faith in the polls now that McCain leads than I did when Obama was ahead. .....Historically, polls are meaningless until October.
But I agree with your postulation that the bloom is off the rose......when the fully vetted Annenberg Challenge papers are disclosed the rose will wilt entirely.....
Hey tooled
Did you know that the minimum wage went up again this summer? Should it come as any surprise that a short time later, unemployment is on the rise? Is it a coincidence or have those who predicted this, like myself, been proven right? I think that next year when the MW goes even higher the situation will get worse no matter who is president.
If more Americans would only learn that government is the problem and not the answer life would be better for us all. If there were fewer taxes and regulations, business people would not be forced to use the types of tax deductions that you so eloquently described in your post. You are dead right about the AMT. But we ALL deserve to keep more of the fruits of our labor.
Talk about getting tooled; if you believe Obama will lower taxes for anyone you are mistaken. He has never voted for a tax cut, ever! It will be the same as when Clinton was elected. A couple of months later, remember, “I really wanted to give the middle class a tax cut. I really did, and I worked harder than I ever have in my life to try to get it but I just couldn’t find a way to make it work.” Remember that? I was paraphrasing but that’s basically what he said. Vote for Obama only if you believe in the concept of redistribution of wealth.
Ross Balano Midwest Voices 2008
That aint a rose you are smelling Ross.
Exactly what do the vaunted "Bush tax cuts" do for the vast middle class? Unless you have/had children under 16 years old to claim an extra one thousand dollar tax credit (for each child) when filing your federal tax return, you got zip, zilch, nada, nothing from it. But those with the ability to manipulate how they derive their income by converting it to mostly dividend income have had a windfall federal flat tax of 15%. That’s a deal I want!
Oh that's right; somehow those with the most "jack" have more of a right to shelter their income from the tax man than the rest of us. The ideologues claim the wealthiest are the job creators and somehow more "deserving" of keeping the fruits of their labor. Rising unemployment belies how well that thinking is working. The REAL job creators in the US are overwhelmingly small business folks who file their tax returns as sole proprietors and get completely "hosed" by current tax policy.
Small businesses were given accelerated depreciation schedules for capital expenditures. Only problem is that using it is like being a crack addict, the more you use it, the more you are reliant on it before you self-destruct and owe the taxman piles of money.
The Republican Party sure did not use their position and power to eliminate the AMT when they had a chance- something that would have really helped many in the middle-class.
Change belongs to the Dems
Folks don't let the Republican puppets run by Karl Rove and his student Steve Schmidt distract us with Caribou Barbi. she is not the issue nor does she ever actually address one. The economy is terrible and Obama has not changed his mind on giving the middle class tax cuts and fixing the disaster brought to you by the former puppets Dick Cheney and George W. Bush. If you are better off now than eith years ago then pull the lever for Mc Cain and Palin if not then come to yor senses and bring in the new mechanics to fix your broken car. OBAMA BIDEN YES WE CAN AND WILL.
Mc Cain did not support the GI Bill that grants education benefits to my son returning from Iraq next month. Shame on you John Shame shame.
Trickle down economics don't work and no one reading here should wait for money to trickle down from the rich Republicans to you.
Commentary, not News!
I would like to Cite that this "news" lacks a couple things.
One: Citations-
Stating comments like "The Associated Press quotes Obama as now saying that..."(as quoted from original context) is not a true fact and is misleading and manipulative. Are we suppose to take Mr. Ross Bolanos word that these un-cited comments are not un-bias and true? If the AP really said these things, then please cite them so we can click on a link seeing this statement. It is truly not news when you can't support your facts with evidence.
Two: Bias-
It is more than obvious that Ross Balano is for McCain because there is not one good thing stated about some of Obama's strong-points/weak versus McCain's strong-points/weak. A statement such as "Obama is losing appeal and is getting desperate" is a personal opinion from the supposed statements in the article and the collaborative thought process of Mr. Ross Balano. Both candidates deserve some amounts of respect and viewers/readers deserve true and unbiased news. This kind of commentary is tailored for people ho want to hear all of the more reasons why not to vote for Obama.
Readers: Vote for your values, beliefs and hard evidence from credible FACTS.
To Mr. Ross Balano
I am sure you are a very educated man and mean very well.(as most humans do mean well).
My basis of writing this comment is to request citation on your alleged "Flip-Flop". I strongly believe that if you would like any one to take your comments seriously, there has to be evidence. I don't know you, nor am I going to take your word that this actually happened because you haven't provided the evidence. If you can, that great! Then and only then may this article be more than negative commentary taht should be disregarded as news.
Opinion should still be fair
I agree with 'spotts'. Mr. Balano, like many columnists, is an advocate of conservative thought first, journalist/columnist last where fairness and respect take a back seat. Mr. Balano, you immediately discredit yourself as soon as you say "Democrat party" or "Democrat presidential nominee". It is "Democratic party" and "Democratic presidential nominee." I realize this is a tactic by conservatives used to mock or dismiss out-of-hand the views of Democrats and liberals, but seriously, can't you just grow up and stand firmly on your positions without this kind of pettiness?
Since you asked so politely
Since you asked Spotts, I never claim to be a news reporter. I was hired to give my opinion on things in the news. That’s what I do, give my opinion. I never claim to be unbiased. I don’t feel the need to balance my columns though because, in effect, my columns ARE balance.
One week ago when Obama surged ahead in the polls, Yael posted two columns about it. You can still find them on this blog if you look back. Now, when McCain moves ahead in the polls, nothing from the editorial board. If I do not write about it you might not see it in this case.
The AP quote of Obama is true and you can find it here.
Ross Balano Midwest Voices 2008
Thank you, but still.
First and foremost, thank you for the citation Also, thank you for responding. Much respect! When it really comes down to it, we are all bias,indeed. Although I do need to point out some things again.
You forgot to place the "gripper" in your
opinion directly from the AP News article. So I have decided to place it in the comments where hopefully people will see it.
AP Article quote:
"The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's tax plan would benefit middle-income taxpayers more than McCain's. However, Obama would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year also would see taxes rise.
McCain's plan cuts taxes across all income levels. It would cut taxes for those in the top 1 percent by more than $125,000, raising their after-tax income an average 9.5 percent, the center concluded. "
You missed the point of the article and in a lot of ways misrepresent it. The biggest part of the AP article I feel makes me feel ill is "McCain wants to make permanent the Bush tax cuts, which are set to expire at the end of 2010."
"http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5isOFwdbq0tsqatW6vJpkDRTI1gMgD931VT500
thatand Obama is stating that he would let them expire, not raise taxes on the middle class, but on the wealthy, as he has been stating since the beginning of his campaign.
Is that really benefiting America to give the 1% Americans a bonus? McCain also wants to cut taxes on all income levels, but as this article points out, Obamas plan would help out the middle class more than McCain's plan. Of course no one want to pay more taxes, but we do for love of this country and lot more.
People work hard for America and deserve rewards for their efforts, but does it make it right for someone in a larger tax bracket to benefit at the cost of someone like you and me? I am of course making the assumption that you do not make over $ 250,000 a year and will not benefit from McCain's tax cut for the rich. If you do, then this is the right move for you. But remember, all of the money and things in this world don't come with you when you die.
I thank you for writing on this topic, but I feel that sometimes people shoot themselves in the foot when they don't state both sides of the parties just state rhetoric like "The bloom is off the rose. The American people are too savvy to be fooled for very long" without giving a respectful point of view, which in my mind means facts and truths.
You state that you "don’t feel the need to balance my columns though because, in effect, my columns ARE balance." And you are right. But that is because you feel that you are right for your own reasons. Isn't everyone? And that is why people like you and I will continue to converse because we are both right. But what makes them really Balanced? balanced to me means being able to see where that person is coming from, walking in their shoes and not making an assumption based on witty statements.
I would like to leave you with a quote from someone that cam put what I am trying to tell you and everyone else better than what I have heard in a long time.
"All over the place, from the popular culture to the propaganda system, there is constant pressure to make people feel that they are helpless, that the only role they can have is to ratify decisions and to consume."
-Noam Chomsky
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/noam_chomsky.html
Nicely done.
Very well done, Tooled. Your post is a great example of how this blog should be used. I do wish more posters would make their cases in thoughtful, intelligent ways without curse words and name calling.
I would clarify one point however; when I said that my columns ARE balance, I meant that one would have no problem finding columns from those with a more liberal viewpoint. Mary, Barb and Yael will give you plenty of that. True balance that people claim to want would have to include some input from the conservative point of view as well wouldn’t you agree?
Point of view is everything or so it seems. In your Chomsky quote, “there is constant pressure to make the people feel as though they are helpless,” I’m sure you see something that expresses your point of view but when I read that quote I think, well, who is it that is telling the people that they are helpless? From where I sit, it seems to be Democrats. Aren’t they the ones who are telling you that you need them in order to succeed? They are the ones who tell you they will make things “fair” and stick it to those rich people who are standing in the way of you having health care which the government should provide because you are too “helpless” to take care of yourself. As I said it’s all in the point of view.
Ross Balano Midwest Voices 2008
You are welcome Mr. Balano,
You are welcome Mr. Balano, nice moustache!.
Slinging words on the internet are so short lived, why not make them half way worth while. There are already way too many people out there that waste their time typing obscenities when what they really should do is express their unique writing style.
I agree with you on the fact the democrats are telling us that they need them. But so do the Republicans. We need government to protect us and secure our way of life! Not fight global terrorism to all extremes, send majority of all our jobs slowly to China and become the frail, customer service industry we have become. political leaders should not just say things like, we are going to "win this war!"Sounds great! But who's winning? I don't feel better knowing that a missile built in Tucson, AZ by Raytheon is probably killing some innocent child and mother that had nothing to do with the Taliban or "terrorist Regime" I don't see it as a win or lose situation. There will always be people who take two steps forward for our nation, and people that will shove you to take two steps back.
1. We live in a two party system. 2. The last eight years have been so ridiculous(FISA, being the biggest insult to the bill of rights,which Obama voted for.Completely different topic)
I dislike that it has become a blue and red segregation. Us versus them. Either you are with us or against us. But it is in our mammalian nature to group. We are all Americans(humans ,really.) and deserve to live together as neighbors. Both conventions Seem like mis-allocation of time, energy and resources. We are all humans and deserve to be acknowledged as such, not just brushed off as "just one" of the billions of people that exist.
Mark 12:31
"And the second is like this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."
We all live on this earth together and I feel it is not a black and white world. But some people see it that way. The universal health care system to me is just like this bible quote. We pay for medicaid and medicare. I am sure there are stark differences, but it's the same concept. Take care of your own(humans that is). I pay my taxes because it does help the world function. For the people who want to re allocate them to bad things, well, they are going to do this regardless of what party it is. I am a firm believer of what goes around, comes around. I just happen to see more honesty when I look in to Obamas eyes.
I do pay for my own health care and fortunately my employer pays for a big chunk of it, otherwise i would be without it. I have been fortunate(or unfortunate)enough to experience being injured having a giant bill to fit it. I hyper-extended my ankle while playing a sport, tore some ligaments and could not walk on my foot for about a month. I could have sworn it was broken, so that is why I went to urgent care. I sat in the waiting room for 9 hours, then waited in the patient room for another 3. They gave me an ice pack and charged me $1200 dollars for the doctor to say," yep, you sprained it pretty bad." Does that seem right to you?
Whether it be the gardener that pulls your weeds and it looks like he needs some water, or the executive that missed his flight and forgot his phone and wallet at home. Be helpful and wise.
Thank you for your Column, I look forward to commenting on the next!
Sam
It's markedly clear Balano is no news reporter
He can't even accurately quote his own sources. When we look at his sources, he invariably is shown to have misrepresented the positions stated.
Judge for yourself - here's the relevant portion of the AP article Ross used as his source. Note that Balano selectively neglected to mention Obama's support for middle class tax cuts:
"Even if we're still in a recession, I'm going to go through with my tax cuts," Obama said. "That's my priority."
What about increasing taxes on the wealthy?
"I think we've got to take a look and see where the economy is. I mean, the economy is weak right now," Obama said on "This Week" on ABC. "The news with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, I think, along with the unemployment numbers, indicates that we're fragile."
Obama was referring to the two mortgage companies taken over by the federal government Sunday in what could become a huge taxpayer bailout. The nation's unemployment rate climbed to 6.1 percent in August from 5.7 percent the month before, the government said last week. It was the first time in five years that the unemployment rate had topped 6 percent.
Obama and McCain have sparred over tax policy for months. Obama says McCain wants to continue Bush administration policies, noting that McCain had voted against the Bush tax cuts but then embraced them as he campaigned for the Republican presidential nomination.
"John McCain likes to talk about fiscal responsibility, but there is no doubt that his proposals blow a hole through the budget," Obama said.
Ah yes Interflop
Continue singing the praises of that Willaim Ayers supported community organizer.....don't you just know he is a tax-cutting fool!
[chuckle]
Amusing, as usual -- Obama displays common sense and demonstrates that he is not of the "raise taxes at all costs" school that the right-wingers like Balano want to paint him as, and gets castigated for that move.
Rest assured, Ross Baloney would have written another column trashing Obama if Obama had taken the opposite tack. Bias, bias, bias.
I'll take a common-sensical leader who knows there's not one answer to every situation, and one who is driven by reality rather than ideology.
We've had eight years of dogged ideological idiocy, and it's time to return to sane leadership. McSame and his utterly unqualified VP candidate ain't going to give us that leadership. Obama's vision, coupled with the experienced and vocal input of Joe Biden at his side, is our best shot at returning America to economic greatness.
Income tax cuts
Why is it that Republicans always want to cut taxes for the rich? That makes no sense at all. I mean think about it. The rich pretty much dictate what people are going to make anyway right? They get to set the wages. So let''s say someone make $30,000 a year and they pay $10,000 in income tax. That person actually only made $20,000 right? So let''s say the govt gets rid of income tax for someone making $30,0000 or less. That person just got a raise yes, but that company wouldn''t have to give that person a raise for the next year, or the year after that. And that could be very beneficial to the company right. And think about this, wouldn''t that make it easier for us to compete for jobs with the rest of the world? If companies didn''t have to pay someone $30,0000 a year, but instead only $20,000 a year then they would be more inclined to keep maunfacturing jobs here than ship them overseas, right. It makes no sense at all to give tax breaks to those that dictate our wages anyway. They just get to make more money, and the workers get whatever they want to pay us. I think Ron Paul is right on this issue. Getting rid of income tax, at least for low income workers might be the best move this country could make right now. You might want to think that over. To bring back jobs we need to lower the pay rate the companies are willing to pay here, and cutting the income tax would for the poor would do that. Either way when income tax is cut the rich benefit.