Counterpunch
WASHINGTON – In a counterpunch to Barack Obama's economic policy kickoff yesterday in North Carolina, John McCain told the National Small Business Summit that his rival's economic policies will hurt small businesses, thwart global trade and increase taxes.
Noting that tough economic times are prompting calls for change on both sides of the aisle, McCain asked, "The question is what kind of change? Will we enact the single largest tax increase since the Second World War as my opponent proposes, or will we keep taxes low for families and employers?"
In Raleigh yesterday, Obama compared McCain to President Bush, who ran as a fiscal conservative. "Instead, we got the most fiscally irresponsible administration in history," Obama said. "And now John McCain wants to give us another."
McCain today shot back saying that he would return the Republican party to spending discpline, but that Obama's policies would cause the kind of across-the-board tax hikes that stifle economic growth.
"Under Senator Obama's tax plan, Americans of every background would see their taxes rise -- seniors, parents, small business owners, and just about everyone who has even a modest investment in the market," he said.
The Arizona senator also went on to criticize Obama's "habit of talking down the value" of foreign trade agreements like NAFTA, which the presumptive Democratic nominee has proposed to overhaul.
Another point of contention for McCain regards the estate or "death" tax, a piñata for conservative Republicans that played a prominent role in the GOP primary. McCain said that he would "keep it predictable and keep it low," in contrast to an increase of up to 55% proposed by Obama.
McCain was introduced by Ebay CEO and national campaign co-chair Meg Whitman, whose name has been tossed around as a dark horse candidate for the vice presidency.
A few minutes into his talk, McCain was interrupted by three female protestors in quick succession, who yelled their objections to the Iraq War and were led out. McCain used the interruptions to call for civil general election debate.
"One of the things they're tired of is people yelling at each other," he said. "Americans want a dialogue."
After the second outburst, he won laughter and applause from the audience for quoting conservative icon Ronald Reagan's famous one-liner: "There we go again." And as the impatient crowd booed down the third of the hecklers, McCain quipped wearily, "I'm running out of funny lines."
(NBC/NJ's CARRIE DANN)
>>>hurt small businesses, thwart global trade and increase taxes
Bwaaa ha ha ha. Hilarious. That's the standard GOP line for everything.
Are you better off today than you were 4 years ago?
It's the economy, stupid.
I worked for a Small Business Development Center for 8 years. Under the Bush administration, funding was cut every year. The R's only think of themselves and how they can profit. They are not your friend. They talk the talk but don't walk the walk.
I worked for a Small Business Development Center for 8 years. Under the Bush administration, funding was cut every year. The R's only think of themselves and how they can profit. They are not your friend. They talk the talk but don't walk the walk.
I worked for a Small Business Development Center for 8 years. Under the Bush administration, funding was cut every year. It would seem that they talk the talk but don't walk the walk.
I don't dislike the very rich, small business or corporations...I just want them to pay the same % of taxes I have to pay as a single parent! It's clear the republican governmnet is there only for the top 5% of wealthest people. If these people wouldn't be so greedy to as not to ship all our jobs oversees, change employment practices so as avoid employing full time instead of trying to get over and employ only part timers so as not provide benefit, more of us regular folks would be able to spend money and they'd be making a profit...**** is rolloing up hill, don't they get it?
I don't dislike the very rich, small business or corporations...I just want them to pay the same % of taxes I have to pay as a single parent! It's clear the republican governmnet is there only for the top 5% of wealthest people. If these people wouldn't be so greedy to as not to ship all our jobs oversees, change employment practices so as avoid employing full time instead of trying to get over and employ only part timers so as not provide benefit, more of us regular folks would be able to spend money and they'd be making a profit...**** is rolloing up hill, don't they get it?
After having read and listened to both McCain’s and Obama’s speeches on economics, I have to say that the devil is in the detail… or the lacking of detail in McCain’s speech. Instead of arguing substance, McCain’s usage of generalizations, subjectively partial facts, incorrect calculus and faulty logic was shocking. Add in the addition of his standard “holier than thou/ad-hominum” debate tactics and the results were disappointing to say this least. I can only say the man doesn’t know what he is talking about, or is simply blowing smoke.
Though Obama’s propagated intentions still do not have the volume and detail Clinton’s had, they do have logic, leaving me with the hope to hear more in the future.
McCain, I’m sorry, I still have the gut feeling that the man wants the job, for the job sake only. That his intentions are only to serve his time out as President of the United States of America, to have his dinner place secure at the table of history, to end his honorable career with the highest of honors. And, that is dangerous for America.
In 2000 I would have voted for him. In 2008, with the problems we are facing, sorry no way. He’s a great senator, but unless he shows reason and need of his presidency, he should stay as senator until he retires.