CONCORD, N.C. — John McCain sharpened his attack on presidential rival Barack Obama's economic proposals Saturday, accusing the Democrat of seeking to turn the United States into a socialist country and convert the IRS into a giant "welfare agency" that would dole out cash at Washington's discretion.
"The only 'welfare' in this campaign," Obama fired back during a huge rally in St. Louis, "is John McCain's plan to give another $200 billion in tax cuts to the wealthiest corporations in America." Police estimated the crowd at 100,000.
In recent days, McCain has seized on a comment that Obama made in defending his tax policies to Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, an Ohio man now better known as Joe the Plumber. Obama, who was canvassing Wurzelbacher's neighborhood last weekend, told him, among other things: "When you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."
McCain, delivering a national radio address before setting out for stops Saturday in North Carolina and Virginia, said Obama's approach sounded "a lot like socialism."
"At least in Europe, the socialist leaders who so admire my opponent are upfront about their objectives," the Republican nominee said. "They use real numbers and honest language. And we should demand equal candor from Sen. Obama. Raising taxes on some in order to give checks to others is not a tax cut. It's just another government giveaway."
Obama has said that his plan would cut taxes for 95% of working Americans, including Wurzelbacher. McCain has said 40% of Americans don't pay income taxes, either because they are elderly or don't make enough money.
"In other words, Barack Obama's tax plan would convert the IRS into a giant welfare agency, redistributing massive amounts of wealth at the direction of politicians in Washington," McCain said in his radio remarks.
Strategists for the Arizona Republican see Obama's spread-the-wealth comment as a major gaffe -- providing an opening on an issue that has worked to the benefit of the Democratic nominee amid the nation's financial crisis.
Socialist theory calls for collective ownership of most private enterprise and for an egalitarian society. Karl Marx argued that socialism was a transitional phase between capitalism and communism.
Obama responded to McCain's charges at a rally at the Gateway Arch.
