I Don’t Hate America!

Recent McCain ads and Sarah Palin charges have really pushed the idea that Obama is to raise taxes on all Americans.  Just look at this recent McCain ad that blatantly makes this false claim:

In reality, non-partisan FactCheck.org cited a recent report by Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center that explained how Obama was NOT going to raise taxes on the middle-class.

Let’s look at the numbers through clips from the Urban-Brookings report:

The Obama plan would reduce taxes for low- and moderate-income families, but raise them significantly for high-bracket taxpayers (see Figure 2). By 2012, middle-income taxpayers would see their after-tax income rise by about 5 percent, or nearly $2,200 annually. Those in the top 1 percent would face a $19,000 average tax increase—a 1.5 percent reduction in after-tax income.

McCain would lift after-tax incomes an average of about 3 percent, or $1,400 annually, for middle-income taxpayers by 2012. But, in sharp contrast to Obama, he would cut taxes for those in the top 1% by more than $125,000, raising their after-tax income an average 9.5 percent.

So the question is, do we want more money in our pocket?  Republicans are trying to make the case that McCain will help you keep more of your hard earned money, however, unless you are ridiculously rich (not the typical target audience of this blog may I add), then you will actually see a larger tax cut with Obama.

It is important for Americans to spread the word, especially to their Republican friends who assume McCain/Palin will be better off handling their money. It might be a good idea to turn their heads from conservative fanatics such as this guy anyway:

IDHA Side Notes:

I apologize for the lack of activity lately.  IDHA blogger DJ is unable to blog for a couple months due to his job. Since they are coming up, expect IDHA to increase coverage of local and national elections.  Welcome IDHA friend Chad Larimer to the blogging arena.  You can read Chad’s political and personal insights at A Day in the Life.

Welcome to this week’s edition of “Randy Demmer Begs You To Take Him Seriously As a Congressional Candidate” (man, I wish I were podcasting this, that would be fun, maybe I should down the road, hmmm) we follow up on a post at Bluestem about the GOP minority’s struggle to grasp at every little chance of making vulnerable, or potentially vulnerable, Democratic House members look like awful people.

If you ever watch C-SPAN (oh, come on, you know you’re as cool as me!) the tool most convenient for the GOP to accomplish this is the customary “motion to recommit with instructions” put forth immediately before final passage. From today’s “How a Bill Becomes a Law” segment, well, actually C-SPAN’s Congressional Glossary:

A motion to recommit returns a bill to committee, in effect killing it. However, a motion to recommit with instructions is a last opportunity to amend the bill.

The instructions to the committee direct changes to the text of the bill. If adopted, the chairman of the named committee immediately stands and reports the change back to the House. The next step is the House vote on final passage of the bill.

In essence, it’s the purist form of “gotcha’” written within the congressional rules. As many amendments are put forth only for the purpose of being able to put the result of the vote in a direct mailing, not taking into account of the reasons a member is voting against it, the motion to recommit accomplishes the same purpose.

Randy Demmer is already taking full advantage of this as evidenced by his latest mailing to his supporters:

Rochester — “I’m amazed that Tim Walz (MN-01) would vote for the “Death Tax”,” said Randy Demmer, Congressional Candidate for Minnesota 01. “His support of this onerous tax is in direct contrast to the interests of the families, business owners, and farmers he represents. By supporting Nancy Pelosi and voting the Democratic Party line, Walz in effect voted for a $1.35 trillion tax hike.

“Tim Walz’s vote is a serious blow to family owned businesses and farms and their ability to pass their livelihood on to future generations. In casting his vote, Walz showed he is more interested in growing government with increased taxes than he is in helping hard working families. Tim Walz is apparently so committed to raising taxes that he is literally following the American people to their graves,” said Demmer. “Walz is not the supporting the best interest of his constituents by voting to take money from their estates built up by a life time of hard work.”

The motion that Walz voted to kill was offered as part of the Tax Collection Responsibility Act of 2007 (House Roll Call 959). “Walz’s choice was simple. Instead of standing up and fighting for America ’s family businesses, he chose to continue his allegiance to the Democrat leadership by voting against a permanent repeal of the Death Tax.

“Tim Walz is showing that he is out of touch with his constituents by voting to raid the estates of hard-working taxpayers. Walz’s unwillingness to stand up for family-owned businesses and farms is an example of why we must defeat him in November 2008,” stated Demmer. “How much longer can we afford to let Walz and the Democrats raise our taxes and threaten the future of America’s small businesses and farms?”

After reading that, should I ignore the fears of gloom and doom that mailing tried to make me be concerned about, or should I stop laughing? I put forth these challenges to anyone reading this:

1. Can anyone read this mailing with a straight face? I mean honestly, not smile, chuckle or enter the “full belly laugh” stage which I did?
2. If you answered “yes” to question “1,” can you honestly think that this press release and the rhetoric presented added anything to the merits of the debate about the issue of the estate tax?

For real now, Randy?: “Tim Walz is apparently so committed to raising taxes that he is literally following the American people to their graves.” I don’t recall rhetoric anywhere close to this loaded and lacking in substance even from Gil Gutknecht. Sorry Randy, but the voters of the First are much too reasonable to accept blabber like that.  Stay in the Minnesota House where Marty Seifert and you can keep playing “gotcha” together.