John McCain compares Barack Obama's policies to socialism
The Republican makes frequent use of the galvanizing term while campaigning in North Carolina. His Democratic opponent fires back in front of a 100,000-strong St. Louis crowd.
Concord, N.C. -- With the presidential campaign entering its final stretch, Republican nominee John McCain today accused Democratic rival Barack Obama of seeking to impose socialist-style economic policies on America. Halfway across the country, Obama drew what appeared to be the largest American crowd of the campaign, an estimated 100,000 people who covered hundreds of yards at a park in downtown St. Louis.
Here in the heart of conservative NASCAR country -- a longtime stronghold for the GOP -- and later in Woodbridge, Va., McCain drew far smaller crowds of several thousand. He used both events to hammer Obama's tax plans as an attempt to "redistribute the wealth" and "just another government give away."
In a national radio address earlier this morning, McCain declared that Obama's policies "sounded a lot like socialism" and amounted to a "phony tax cut."
"At least in Europe, the socialist leaders who so admire my opponent are upfront about their objectives," he said.
McCain's language was striking because Republicans have portrayed Democrats for decades as liberals who favor 1960s-style big government solutions to national challenges, such as poverty and health care.
Socialist theory is more radical, and arguably more sinister to American ears. It calls for collective ownership of most private enterprise and the creation of an egalitarian society. Karl Marx argued that socialism was a transitional phase between capitalism and communism.
Ironically, the Bush administration's emergency $700-billion bailout of major banks and other troubled financial institutions involves the kind of government ownership of private institutions that Socialists favor. Both McCain and Obama voted for the rescue package, which aims to shore up the credit markets and stabilize the economy.
Obama fired back at McCain while in Missouri, another battleground state that is leaning toward the Democrats. As he has in the past, he accused McCain of distorting his tax proposals.
"Under my plan, if you make less than $250,000 a year, which includes 98% of small business owners, you won't see your taxes increase one single dime," Obama said. "Not your payroll taxes, not your income taxes, not your capital gains taxes, nothing."
McCain wants to cut taxes for "folks making out like bandits, some literally," Obama said to a roar from the massive crowd at the foot of the Gateway Arch. "I want to cut taxes, cut the taxes of 95% of all workers."
