Obama and McCain campaigns resume bickering over taxes
A McCain ad says the Democrat is out of touch with common people. Obama's backers call the assertion a lie and counter that he would give 95% of families a tax cut.
As the Olympics in Beijing began this morning, the presidential campaign found itself in a bit of a lull, but that breather was quickly ended by a renewed fight over taxes.
Democrat Barack Obama headed to his native Hawaii for a vacation, leaving former rival Hillary Rodham Clinton to campaign in Nevada on his behalf. Republican John McCain headed to the Iowa State Fair.
The McCain campaign, in an advertisement released today, returned to its favorite theme, that Obama is a celebrity who is out of touch with regular people and wants to raise taxes. It makes the same points in an ad earmarked for Spanish-language radio.
"Life in the spotlight must be grand, but for the rest of us times are tough," the English-language ad says. "Obama voted to raise taxes on people making just $42,000. He promises more taxes on small business, seniors, your life savings, your family. Painful taxes, hard choices for your budget. Not ready to lead. That's the real Obama."
The Obama campaign immediately denounced the ad.
"This ad is a lie and it's part of the old, tired politics of a party in Washington that has run out of ideas and run out of steam," said spokesman Hari Sevugan.
The Obama campaign has been smarting from McCain's attack on celebrity, comparing Obama to Paris Hilton, who is famous largely for being famous. The charge is that Obama lacks the experience to lead the nation and is out of touch with most people's economic difficulties.
To support its claim, the McCain campaign cites two Obama votes in favor of a budget resolution. Obama's yes vote means he voted in favor of ending the Bush tax cuts, "effectively raising taxes on those making $41,500 in total income."
The Obama camp has repeatedly complained that McCain is distorting Obama's position on taxes. The vote was for a non-binding budget resolution that did not include any tax increase, though it does assume that the Bush tax cuts will end. It bears no relation to the tax plan that Obama has announced, the Obama campaign said.
"Even though a host of independent, nonpartisan organizations have said this attack isn't true, Sen. McCain continues to lie about Sen. Obama's plan to give 95% of all families a tax cut of $1,000, and not raise taxes for those making under $250,000 a single dime," the Obama campaign argued. "The reason so many families are hurting today is because we've had eight years of failed Bush policies that Sen. McCain wants to continue for another four, and that's what Barack Obama will change as President."
michael.muskal@latimes.com
