Obama Backer Distorts McCain Health Plan
EmailABC News’ Teddy Davis and Michael Elmore Report: While speaking to reporters on behalf of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., on Friday, former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley falsely charged that Sen. John McCain’s, R-Ariz., health-care plan would not provide low-income Americans with help towards the cost of health insurance.
"They get nothing out of that proposal," said Bradley. "It’s just another tax giveaway to people who can afford to save and those are primarily people who are upper income."
Bradley based his unfounded allegation on the mistaken belief that McCain had proposed a tax deduction which would only help those who make enough money to owe taxes rather than a refundable tax credit which provides financial assistance to those who do not make enough to pay income taxes.
While Bradley’s criticism would have applied to former GOP contenders Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani who proposed tax deductions, it does not apply to McCain.
Although it received next to no media attention, McCain proposed a plan last year which includes a refundable tax credit of $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families. The McCain campaign believes that its refundable credit will provide help to as many as six million more low-income Americans than a deduction.
The McCain campaign reacted to Bradley’s inaccurate comments by saying that it was not surprised.
"It’s typical of a campaign that clearly values style over substance," said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers.
An Obama adviser said that Bradley’s confusion stemmed from a reporter including the words “tax deduction” in the question. The Obama camp also noted that while McCain’s plan is more beneficial to lower-income Americans than the ones which were proposed by Romney and Giuliani, it does not go as far in terms of subsidies or cost control as the one backed by Obama.
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Obama is following Hillary’s platform and just mixing it up a bit and passing it off as his. But the blind supporters embrace it as if it has been presented by Moses as the 11th commandment. Blessed are we that hear obama.
Give me a break
At this point I am so sick and tired of obama and his sheep that I really look forward to the day when McCain and the Republicans go after him. I am creating a scrapbook which I will be happy to send out to the obama supporters when McCain gets started.
Just so you know – if obama gets the nomination, McCain is your next president and I for one will vote for him.
Posted by: Lou | February 15, 2008, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm
Lou — the really sad thing here is while Bradley can (and probably will) own up to making a simple mistake, Hillary doesn’t seem to ever have that in her. So how about you?
Your mistake is in thinking its blessed are we that hear Obama. The correct version is blessed are we that Obama hears us.
That makes ALL the difference in the world for a nation founded as of the people, by the people, for the people. When Hillary hears as well me, I’ll consider her too.
Posted by: SE Croft | February 15, 2008, 7:54 pm 7:54 pm
Your mistake is in thinking its blessed are we that hear Obama. The correct version is blessed are we that Obama hears us.
See , these are the statements from Obama’s supporters that make me nervous. They see him as the second coming or a deity. He is just a politician hell bent on becoming president since he was 5 years old. Why do his followers equate him as the new messiah? Just a little to much for me.
Posted by: Jordan Clinton | February 15, 2008, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
I also have read some pretty disturbing comments from some Obama supporters with a lot of religiosity behind it. Most of them think he truly can do no wrong and can truly walk on water. The new buzz word for them is “movement.” It’s no longer a campaign but a “movement.” Whatever………
Posted by: JH | February 15, 2008, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm
Excellent article from Philadephia Daily News by Christine Flowers
“…It occurred to me that this must be the only explanation for my complete and utter immunity to Barack “Yes We Can!” Obama. When he stands at the podium and delivers those words of hope and uplift, the crowds roar back in support.
And here I sit, trying to figure out what it is that keeps me from succumbing to the enchantment of this political messiah when so many intelligent people are falling in line – and in love.
After all, if even some conservatives are in sync with his siren song, like the farmers in Kansas and the denizens of the Louisiana bayous, why am I indifferent to his manifest charms?
Well, I never understood the attraction of those old-time revival meetings, either, where people with personalities even bigger than the churches they were preaching in, could sway the crowds by the sheer force of their passion. I need actual red meat, not the wispy promises of a sweet-talking neophyte.
So perhaps I should ask the candidate myself. Tell us, Sen. Obama, how would your plan for withdrawal from Iraq keep that country from devolving into a fratricidal cesspool, threatening surrounding nations and our own?
Don’t just say, “I was against the war when Hillary voted for it.” That ship has sailed. What in your experience qualifies you to sit at a table with other world leaders and inspire confidence that you know what you’re doing, not just that you know how to say it eloquently?
Explain, in simple terms for the nonbelievers like me, how being a community organizer in Chicago, your friend Oprah’s hometown, prepared you to deal with al Qaeda, the looming crises in Lebanon and Syria, the ominous rise of a nuclear Iran and the threat to Israel?
And you might have heard that your father’s homeland Kenya is having a few problems these days.
Any suggestions on how to approach the ethnic cleansing there, not to mention the genocide in Sudan, the continued conflicts in Sierra Leon, the highly combustible situation in Algeria, the deterioration in Chad . . . ?”
I’m waiting to hear some solutions, not just a trite slogan like “Yes We Can,” which is beginning to sound like “Can’t we all just get along.”…
Full article here
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/20080215_Christine_M__Flowers__IM_IMMUNE_TO_THE_OBAMA_SWOON.html
Posted by: Frank | February 15, 2008, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm
Im surprised you guys in the media didnt SQUASH this story, as it doesnt look for the BELOVED idiot Obama.
But you guys are so sure he will win the nomination, the time to TURN ON HIM so he will lose to Mc Cain is getting a head start.
ITS ABOUT TIME.
Posted by: tom | February 15, 2008, 8:50 pm 8:50 pm
Frank; LOVE YOUR POST! You’re not a Republican are you? If you are it’s okay, you sound well, SMART. Just in case; Go Hillary!
Posted by: irma | February 15, 2008, 9:08 pm 9:08 pm
“It’s typical of a campaign that clearly values style over substance,” said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers.
Great, Fantastically excellent reply!
Posted by: irma | February 15, 2008, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
Until this week, all the mud-slinging and dirty politics was intra-party; now it will be inter-party until November!
Posted by: rmberryman | February 15, 2008, 9:24 pm 9:24 pm
Steve, a little harsh. Bill Bradley certainly doesn’t have a reputation as a liar. Bit of a political tin ear, maybe, but not a liar.
But you know what struck me about this story. Forget about the candidates, and step back for a second. We have campaigns for a Republican and a Democrat arguing over which health care proposal does more for low-income people. And the Democrat acknowledging the Republican’s plan is better than other Republican plans.
Wow. Has the political landscape changed in 15 years or what?
Posted by: Paul | February 15, 2008, 10:20 pm 10:20 pm
Obama has you where he wants you as Sympathetic supporters.
Oh, he will listen to you, sympathize with you, and drum up sympathy for himself and his mother. He gives false hope.
He lacks the experience,knowledge
Posted by: seah | February 16, 2008, 1:45 am 1:45 am
Hillary Clinton has NO LEADERSHIP experience.
Truth is, there are not many policy differences between Hillary & Obama.
People who say they’ll vote republican over Obama, have other hidden motives.
If the country means that little to you philosophically, vote for McCain (Bush again).
Posted by: Right on Day1 | February 16, 2008, 2:50 am 2:50 am
Many here have pointed out the obvious – When a man with a gifted mouth can sway so many supposedly intelligent people with trite expressions and “major speeches” the substance of which he copied from Clinton I have to ask did no one learn a darn thing from the Bush years! Instead of opening a can of “Wup ass” our NEW Hero is making an empty headed “Yes, we can” march toward the White House while his equally empty headed followers swoon in his path. You would think by now that most Americans would have had really enough of falling for subjective statements of nothingness yet HERE WE GO AGAIN!!! While you Obama supporters are busy wallowing in your anticipated glory you might want to take a moment to ask yourself. . . If this guy actually gets elected who will REALLY be running the country? Give it some thought you’ll!
Posted by: chuck, Illinois | February 16, 2008, 4:10 am 4:10 am
Barack Obama represents leadership by illusion rather than leadership by solutions.
The choice between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton is one between ILLUSION and SOLUTIONS
Posted by: Angel | February 16, 2008, 7:29 am 7:29 am
The interview by the Houston Chronicle shows who is the candidate supporting and committed to NASA and John F. Kennedy dream sending humans into space. It is also clear who has more knowledge about a big Texas issue, space exploration.
Barack Obama said: “a practical sense of what investments deliver the most scientific and technological spinoffs — and not just assume that human space exploration, actually sending bodies into space, is always the best investment.”
Hillary Clinton said: “I intend to pursue an ambitious agenda in both space exploration and earth sciences,” “I want to support the next generation of spacecraft for a robust human spaceflight program.”
Illusion vs Solutions
Posted by: Angel | February 16, 2008, 8:55 am 8:55 am
rubish hound – so basically you’re saying that since your own state broke scheduling rules and now doesn’t get to seat delegates, you’re going to support Republicans, though your personal views are more in line with Democrats.
Is there logic missing somewhere I didn’t catch?
I can’t blame you for being mad. But I think your anger is misplaced. If I were you, I’d direct it at the people who decided to break the rules, even after the DNC warned what would happen.
Posted by: Paul | February 16, 2008, 9:28 am 9:28 am
Mannewell Darby – that whole messiah thing seems like a strawman theme of the week. Seems we periodically get waves of these objections. Can’t say their coordinated, but it comes across that way.
This week its that us Obama supporters are following our cult leader false messiah.
Its a trend that started last summer, when the first objection of the week was us Obama supporters being too sexist to imagine a female president.
Posted by: Paul | February 16, 2008, 9:33 am 9:33 am
Angel – let me see if I get your point. You’re saying that Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina should also be punished for going early?
I’m not sure how far you’ll get with that one.
By the way, don’t forget Nevada. It also was an early state.
Posted by: Paul | February 16, 2008, 10:46 am 10:46 am
Obama copies speeches and economic plans.
It is so stupid, all these celebrities endorsing him.
He is a joke!
Posted by: Pat | February 16, 2008, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
All primaries delegates including those of FL and MI should be counted. The Republicans also handed punishments to FL and MI taking half of the delegates. The Rules of no campaigning in FL and MI apply equal to both candidates, Clinton and Obama.
Again, for the FL and MI primaries this is an analysis by Jerome Armstrong:
“50 means 50, and far from over”
“Given the Obama supporters like him have stated that MI and FL shouldn’t count (“they broke the rules”), I hope they’ll be leading the charge to demand that the DNC apply their rules fairly– or does the 48 state Obama strategy to get nominated turn into a 45 state strategy?
No. The DNC has over-stepped their authority in the first place. Just as NH, IA an SC are not punished, so also will go FL & MI.
Here’s the state of the race that includes all 50 states:
Clinton leads Obama, 1127 to 1119, in pledged delegates.
Clinton leads Obama, 240 to 140, in super-delegates.
There are 393 remaining super-delegates.
There are 1301 remaining pledged delegates.
There are another 94 remaining delegates among the uncommitted, and John Edwards delegates
Posted by: Angel | February 16, 2008, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
we get the government we deserve..since no one actually wants to examine Obama. in any way just repeat his slogans over and over again, and vilify Hillary if she even ASKS a question about him,. he’ll be our candidate,and Republicans are gonna have a FIELD DAY.. listen to these blogs ..Obama is NOT uniting us!!!
yikes four more years of republicans.. .. Democrats just dont know HOW to win once on awhile the republicans will loose,, but we NEVER know how to win.. its very sad,
Posted by: Marina re | February 16, 2008, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
Marian—You are right Marina. We do get the government we deserve. By not paying attention, by not participating, by not demanding a higher standard, by not requiring that we be listened to and factored in. Guess who understands that the most of the candidates? Guess who’s track record proves that? Hint: the one who has consistently from the beginning said this is a WE thing. Because it is.
Frank — I can tell you why I am voting for Obama and I don’t have to cut and paste from an article to do it.
He has the world view that is badly needed now. He definately has the skillset, tested and validated in his track record. He has already been changing the mindset he said he wants to change. He is that capable to bring all the forces necessary to bear on a wide range of problems to be able to solve them AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
I can’t wait for any more wars, any more collapsed bridges, any more Katrinas, any more poisioned food, any more middleclass erosion, any more crime corporate or otherwise, any more insurance rate hikes. The problems we face have swelled enough.
Obama’s history and list of accomplishments to date is nothing short of stunning in comparison to both Clinton and McCain, pound for pound (read that as year for year). He gets it and he gets it done at a much faster rate than either of the “experienced” ones. Brains trump experience and frankly he’s got brains to spare. At the risk of seeming condescending which is NOT my intention, it may take brains to realise this which explains Obama’s appeal to more educated people. Sorry but this is just a fact. Do I agree with everything from him? Hell no! But I am reaaaaaaaally sick of having someone with half my IQ in the Oval Office and the ethics of a wild boar.
Jordan — Nowhere did I say he is the second coming or a messiah. He is what I said he is– someone who is badly needed NOW. That’s all. Find a real argument with me as that isn’t one. When you mischaracterize what I say and then argue against it, it implies inexperience in debate. Its called a strawman tactic and it’s tyipcally used by someone who can’t argue honestly. Your candidate Clinton does this often. And no, Obama does not, in case you just flew there in your head. He is making a point of knowing her positions accurarely.
Posted by: SE Croft | February 16, 2008, 7:01 pm 7:01 pm
Even Michelle Obama felt she had to humanize Barak by making comments about how he stinks and doesn’t put the butter back in the fridge so that folks wouldn’t “deitize” him.
So, yeah, his followers do tend to think he’s the second coming. Also, a lot of religious people in blogs keep saying he’s the anti-christ, but I’m not sure I’d give him that much credit.
Personally, I’m glad the other candidates are finally calling him out and should continue to do so. I’m sure he’ll scream how negative that is, but it’s the only way we are going to find out who Obama really is and how his actions speak louder than his scripted words.
Posted by: Belle, Seattle | February 16, 2008, 8:13 pm 8:13 pm
News flash to all the Obamanites who are touting the poor people of Florida and Michigan THE VOTERS WERE NOT THE ONES WHO CHANGED THE DATE BUT THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE PAYING THE PRICE BY BEING DENIED THE RIGHT TO HAVE THERE VOTE COUNT NEWS FLASH A PRESIDANT SWEARS TO UP HOLD THE cONSTITUTION NOT BEND IT
Posted by: girlinvt | February 16, 2008, 9:05 pm 9:05 pm
Hello Belle.
1. The potential for rock star status going to Obama’s head is the context of Michelle’s remarks. Nice try though.
2. People have been challenging him out from the beginning, as they should.
3. He enjoys being scrutinized. He objects to being mischaracterized. Hillary doesn’t seem to be able to discern the difference.
4. What is gaining him the support is upon examination people find his actions match his words better in comparison to other candidates.
5. Hillary would be the scripted candidate. Obama is referred to as having authenticity and Hillary foolishly resorted to having an authenticity makeover (that one crackes me up) in order to “appear” more authentic, more candid. Care to explain how that’s supposed to work?
Posted by: SE Croft | February 17, 2008, 7:17 am 7:17 am
Obama is not the one denying FL and MI delegates. It is the national party. It is fundamental retarded to even bring up MI considering Obama wasn’t on the ballot + how can you attempt to argue for either of these states counting? Sure Hillary won FL, but when you aren’t allowed to campaign in a state – who is that going to benefit??? The candidate with the last name CLINTON!
And EVERYONE (Obama and Clinton supporters) need to can it about the super delegates and FL and MI. The DNC laid out clear rules regarding both of these issues and it is asinine that Clintonites complain about the DNC excluding FL and MI because it is ‘undemocratic’ when it is mathematically impossible for Hillary to win the nomination without the super delegates.
Same thing for Obama supporters. You complain about the role of super delegates and don’t want FL and MI to count. To be fair though, the super delegates are plainly ‘undemocratic’. FL and MI are getting shafted (not really tho – any other year roughly 30 states would get no say in the nomination process, but we never heard this great of a fuss over it), but Obama was not allowed to campaign in the states. Perhaps, they could re-do FL and MI after letting both candidates campaign there. It would be ignorant to deny that Clinton has a major advantage in a state where neither candidate can campaign.
Posted by: boyindc | February 17, 2008, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
Its unfortuante that with 35 yrs in service Hillary still have to imitate Obama in every style and of course like any such imitations convert them to a very bad use.
Because she lacks the words to sell herself have resorted to negative ads and is it strange that all her followers do the same even here.
Posted by: Humanity | February 17, 2008, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm
Obamas inexperiance was what hurt him in Michigan,There were 4 out of 6 candidates names on the ballot.As too how I can bring up these states the damn Republicans were smart enough to take half the delagtes away.As to the we couldnt campaign no one got that chance,well my state hasnt voted and I’ve watched debates and CSPAN rally Coverage for all the candidates,read newspaper coverage and used the internet so thats a empty arguement, the Dnc has looked into the aligations Clinton was there.And that Obama had commercials aired(HE DID AS A NATIONAL COMMERCAL BLOCK THRU COMCAST THAT COULDNT BE BLOCKED)As to Clinton she did go to Florida after the voting was over.Its amazing that so many are spouting they broke the rules,how many men and woman have died to protect American rights so you could justify taking them away.Both states voters knew that the votes might not count but they voted in record numbers.They were not going to let others deny them the right to chose.Florida should get counted and half the delagates awarded.And in fairness to Obama a redo in Michigan for half delagates.Then maybe the party can start to work together for November before we lose it all.
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