The Ad:
Title: “Recipe” From: Republican presidential candidate John McCain Type: Attack ad against Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
When/Where: Aug. 8, 2008, as a radio ad on YouTube
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iDkg_clAsI
What It Says:
The one-minute attack ad is delivered by a narrator. Since it is for radio broadcast, there are no pictures or video.
Crowd chanting: “ Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama…”
Announcer: “Life in the spotlight must be grand for Barack Obama. But is he ready to lead in tough economic times? Official records document Barack Obama has a history of raising taxes even on middle-class Americans making just 42,000 dollars a year. If elected president, Obama’s promises would mean even more taxes on income, electricity, oil, small business, seniors, your life savings your family — painful taxes when times are tough enough. The Las Vegas Review Journal calls Obama’s ideas ‘a recipe for economic disaster.’ The Washington Post says Obama’s policies are ‘poorly crafted and will result in higher prices at the pump.’ And a Wall Street Journal reports Obama’s plans will ‘stunt small business’ and threaten ‘Americas economic competitiveness.’ More taxes higher gas prices a recipe for economic disaster. That’s the real Obama.”
The Facts:
• “Official records document Barack Obama has a history of raising taxes…”
This is a misleading statement. Obama was elected senator from Illinois in 2004. Project Vote Smart is an independent, non-partisan group that collects and analyzes information on political figures. Project Vote Smart records show since 2005, Senator Barack Obama could have voted 90 times on tax, budget and spending issues. Of the 90, he voted yes to 29 of them, no 12 times and he was not available or didn’t vote the other 49 times.
Factcheck.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that monitors political statements. It says a quarter of the votes McCain’s campaign is referring to were votes against changing taxes, not to increase the tax.
• “…raising taxes even on middle class Americans…”
Also inaccurate. The Tax Policy Center is an independent, non-partisan group that analyzes tax-policy issues. The Tax Policy Center finds Obama’s plan would not increase taxes for middle-class America. The group says, “Obama would permanently extend certain provisions of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts primarily affecting taxpayers with incomes under $250,000.”
• “Obama’s promises would mean even more taxes on income, electricity, oil, small business, seniors, your life savings your family –”
This statement is misleading. Obama’s tax proposals increase some Americans taxes, but not all. For seniors, The Tax Policy Center reports, Obama has outlined plans to eliminate any income tax on seniors making less than $50,000. dollars. The analysis concludes Obama’s “proposal will eliminate income taxes for 7 million seniors and provide these seniors with an average savings of $1,400 each year.”
On the other hand, the policy analyses shows a tax increase for families making more than $250,000 individuals making more than $200,000 and a 2-percent income tax paid for some businesses.
Conclusion:
The Tax Policy Center reports that some of Obama’s proposed tax cuts will be beneficial for “workers, retirees, homeowners, savers, students, and new farmers.” The tax-increasing track record Obama is accused of cannot be checked because the McCain campaign did not provide any specific examples of Obama voting for higher taxes.
Obama’s tax plans will not increase taxes on middle-income families or senior citizens. The U.S. Census says the 2007 median income for American families is $61,173. Obama’s tax proposals will increase taxes for high-income couples and single Americans making more than $200,000.
(Chloe Sommers is a graduate student in broadcast journalism.)
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