Obama Questions Whether ‘Desperate’ McCain Thinks Reagan Was a Socialist

ROLFMAO!
McCain wants to make it nasty, so Obama will play him as the fool.
Just desserts.

Obama namedrops Reagan a lot. Strange coming from a Democrat …

I love it. Reagan would be profoundly disappointed at the Republican party today.

Right hook, uppercut! One week to go, then — Knockout!
OBAMA ’08

WHAT is DESPARATE is how often ObaMao invokes REAGAN when he gets backed up against the ropes?
CURIOUS name calling from a die hard Left DEM –
wonder what he will do when the polls get tighter – accuse McCain of having a IN with the FOUNDING FATHERS because he too believes in the CONSTITUION as a document of AMERICAN ideals and philosophy that is NOT flawed?

Thank you Obama for hitting back on this STUPID socialism charge.
David Gergen said it right last night on CNN. He said that Teddy Roosevelt who was a Republican president was a big advocate of the progressive tax system. Was Teddy Roosevelt a socialist?
Also David Gergen (who worked for Reagan) said that Ronald Reagan created a program called “Earned Income Tax” credit. This was a program was to get people out of proverty. What it was was a program in which people who worked but were below the poverty line would get money back although they didn’t pay taxes. Where did they get the money from? It was from the wealthy. Now this is wealth redistribution. Was Ronald Reagan a Marxist?

Paige
No that is not why Obama drops Reagan’s name! There are a lot of “Reagan Democrats” these are Dems who voted for Reagan! He does not want to lose the Reagan Dems to McCain! It has nothing to do with Republican’s voting for him.
You people need to educate yourselves!

I love it. John McCain is using Joe the plumber to make his point. Joe is not even a real plumber (unlicensed), would get more of a tax cut under the Obama plan, and the company he wants to buy doesn’t even make $250,000 a year. Joke.

No that is not why Obama drops Reagan’s name! There are a lot of “Reagan Democrats” these are Dems who voted for Reagan! He does not want to lose the Reagan Dems to McCain! It has nothing to do with Republican’s voting for him.
You people need to educate yourselves!
_____________________________________________
Hmmmm….. My ENTIRE Republican family is voting Obama/Biden and we are pretty damn educated.

Paige
Yea right!

Spin Spin Spin or flip flop
That’s all obama does because he can’t take a stand, he’s only “present”.

No we think Obama is a Solialist! All the stuff the Main Street Media is not finally covering on this guy! This is what Obama wrote in his own Bokk!
Obama himself acknowledges that he was drawn to socialists and even Marxists as a college student. He continued to associate with Marxists later in life, even choosing to launch his political career in the living room of a self-described Marxist, William Ayers, in 1995, when Obama was 34.
Obama’s affinity for Marxists began when he attended Occidental College in Los Angeles.
“To avoid being mistaken for a sellout, I chose my friends carefully,” the Democratic presidential candidate wrote in his memoir, “Dreams From My Father.” “The more politically active black students. The foreign students. The Chicanos. The Marxist professors and structural feminists.”
“In search of some inspiration, I went to hear Kwame Toure, formerly Stokely Carmichael of Black Panther fame, speak at Columbia,” Obama wrote in “Dreams,” which he published in 1995. “At the entrance to the auditorium, two women, one black, one Asian, were selling Marxist literature.”

Dear CC:
Reagan gave everyone a $5 check, I mean everyone. He wanted everyone to take that $5 dollars and put it into savings. Unfortunately, most didn’t. And yes, Obama’s tax cuts would be lower than Reagan’s. I would know since I worked in the banking industry in the 1980s.

Some one posted: “Oh my gosh…Obama is so smart! I can’t see straight and I’m getting shivers up my leg. Anyone who’s smart enough knows that Reagan’s tax plan was nothing like Obama’s!
I’m undecided and now I feel like Obama’s getting desperate!”
I am an independent and voted for republican (not this Bush). Not this time to McCain, though I decided to vote him until I noticed his transformation to almost radical republican. Look if you are still undecided—stay undecided. Please use your head and think.

Ryan (that one) – wouldn’t a Reagan Democrat be a Blue Dog Democrat on today’s political scene?

“While McCain was serving as chairman of the International Republican Institute (IRI), McCain distributed several grants to the Palestinian research center co-founded by Khalidi, including one worth half a million dollars.
A 1998 tax filing for the McCain-led group shows a $448,873 grant to Khalidi’s Center for Palestine Research and Studies for work in the West Bank. The relationship extends back as far as 1993, when John McCain joined IRI as chairman, yet now McCain wants to smear Obama with a relationship with the same guy.”
I believe that is called hoisting one upon their own petard.

Well I do know that Obama and McCain are More Of The Same.
Ron Paul is not.
The United States was that close to saving itself from a socialist state.
Ron Paul was the answer that America would not give. Rome probably had a Ron Paul too.

Phil Gramm was a Democrat in 1982, then saw a chance to win as a Republican in 1984 as US Senator from Texas. He is for Gramm and no one else.

i have to hand it to obama. he is VERY good at candy coating things. amongst the best we have ever seen. that is extremely scary.

John McCain has never had an organized team running his presidential campaign since it started and it shows.

Wow, if Obama is backed up against the ropes, then I am going to be President in 2012. What a joke of a comment. He is up in all the polls, the election is pretty much over, and yet we have people saying he is up against the ropes. It looks like McCain’s backwards thinking has reached his avid supporters. Now they also live in this alternate reality that has McCain gaining in the polls and about to overtake Obama. What a joke Republicans are, they can’t stand losing. Well you better get use to it, your representatives have screwed this country for a long long time and people are fed up with it. It’s our turn to get a slice of the pie. We are sick of being ignored and trampled and do not want 4 or 8 more years of the same bs.

paul from virginia..
you act like voting in a “socialist” to our presidency isnt a big concern to some!!!! call him what you will, a liberal, a socialist, a marxist, whatever. we all know what we mean by these terms. and there is GREAT reason to be concerned on this.

Everyone must only read the articles they agree with, because the Reagan reference is neither an indication of Obama’s agreement with Reagan policies or to say that “Republicans have taxed the wealthy more than I will.”
Obama is merely stating that while John McCain has tried to invoke Reagan’s name to woo Reagan-Dems and moderates, his tax increases on the wealthy would still have them at pre-Reagan levels.
So what if Reagan was a turncoat Republican, McCain has all but cannonized him, and the point is still a good one.
The last good decision the Republican party made was in nominating John McCain. He was the only Republican that could have won my vote, and his clear lack of understanding of economic issues, poor decisions in selecting his staff, and failure to have the constitution to stand up to the far-right of his party has cemented my decision.
I would rather vote for an intelligent, deliberate thinker who surrounds himself with equally intelligent and experienced advice than a puppet on a string that’s going to dig the hole even deeper for this country.
Godspeed, Mr. Obama.

“I do not know with which weapons world war 3 will be waged, but world war 4 will be waged with sticks and stones.”- Albert Einstein
By the next election, if McCain is elected, the world will look like Fallout 3.

C’mon
We already have socialism in this country, Its called Medicare, Public Education, Public Grants to go to College, the list goes on and on.
I would guess that if we told Florida that McCain wants to get rid of Medicare that no one would be shouting “Yes – No Socialism”.

Read your high school history/political science books and educate yourselves!
==================
Obama’s comments have nothing to do with Reagan Democrats.
He is just stating that that McCain is being a hypocrite by running around yelling “socialist”.
McCain says Reagan is one of his personal heroes, and yet Obama is suggesting a tax structure with a LOWER tax rate than Reagan had. So how exactly is that “socialist”.
Reagan Democrats ARE voting for Obama. McCain is no way a fiscal conservative. His tax plan would add more to the national debt than Obama’s.
(And when Palin taxes the oil companies and then gives that extra money to the people of Alaska…isn’t that wealth re-distribution? Palin is just another hypocrite.)

Obama knows that he was caught in the act, and is now obsfucating his meaning. One thing is clear: he is a progressive who thinks the Constitution, or at least the think of the Founders is outdated. No doubt that part is the legislative process is redistribtion of wealth, but it ought to be done by competing interests, not by some who is aiming for “social justice,” which is in the eye of the beholder. And as an ethnocentric politician, thinks hius is the eye that should measure it.

The only reason you parrots are saying it is socialism is because Fox news and McCain told you that. If you would open up your minds, what they have been doing for the last 8 years HASN’T worked. It’s time to think about the future.

Promoting the masses to be greedy and covenantness by taking something that is not theirs to begin with through tax practices is sin and a terrible idea. While greediness should not be practiced in the first place, it should not be taught and practiced because its on;y logical conclusion is failure for all.

Obama say he wants to take away from the rich, Joe Biden said today rich is any make over $150,000. It started at
$250,000 by next week it should be down
to $50,000 which will be ever body. The
current tax breaks are about to expire in 2010 and Obama say he will not renew those tax cuts so it will increase everyone taxes by aleast 15%. When someone says he wants to take away from the people and give to the government.
Obama has said this to Joe the Plumber
if you gross over $250,000 he was going to take the money away. I call this socialist because Obama is a socialist because of the things he says and does.

DRG, you never bother to read factcheck, or truthorfiction, or any of the numerous websites for facts, right? You might be surprised about some of the McCain AND Obama truths.

I think it’s funny that everyone is concerned that Obama is going to turn the US into a socialist state, while GW Bush and his crew have done more to socialize the united states in the last 2 months than any president in US history.
The US government now owns more value banking assets than Communist China. Yet we’re supposed to be afraid of Obama socializing everything by giving tax breaks?

Man, there is nothing more to say.
All ya McCainiacs have left is stale baloney.
Enjoy that & we’ll stand by with the kool-aid.
VOTE VOTE VOTE
for
OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA

“As the President of a Small Business it is hard to be competetive in the Southwest and provide Health insurance along with paying Payroll taxes, Unemployment taxes, Workman’s compensation insurance”
Charles,
Obama plans for a 50% tax credit if you provide health insurance to your employees, he also seeks to eliminate capital gains taxes on your small business.

“The founders of our country who fought against all that Obama stands for were all considered criminals, too.”
Obama’s now a monarchist?

This has to be the most ridiculous claim of the McCain campaign. To try to paint Obama as a socialist. I mean really. Even McCain supports the progressive tax and voted against Bush’s tax cuts.
It’s too bad McCain can’t spend this final week acting in an honorable way. Instead he’s chosen fearmongering 24/7.

Hey Mary,
Believe me I check the fatcs. I read Obama’s words and listen to his speaches.
There is no need for “reading between the lines” or interpretation.
Obama is a flaming socialist. If you would just open your eyes and mind you’d see it.

I’m voting for Obama partially because I would rather pay a little more tax on much higher profits, than a lower tax on smaller (if any) profit. I call this capitalism. Just look at the complete mess both small and big businesses find themselves in today under 8 years of Republican rule. Enough already!

Reading here it is plain that McCain has done a disservice to America for trying o paint Obama as a socialist. They both voted for the bail out. The current admin has created the most socialized banking ever. McCains political swan song is a sad legacy.

Uh, the top rate was 28% when Reagan left office, down from 70% under Carter. That’s not the same as it would be under Obama. Obviously, that is a pretty big cut.

To those of you concerned that BHO is a socialist: Where is the screaming and crying of redistribution of wealth when your politicians “bail out” companies with your tax dollars? With as much cash has been given to private companies by both parties, I’m surprised any politicians call themselves conservative in this country. Oh ya, politicians lie, so all of you supporting those “conservative” candidates please remain blissfully ignorant.

Tim,
There are actually very specific definitions for Socialist and Marxist, and Obama doesn’t fit either. Yes, he is a liberal, but in case you haven’t noticed, having an ultra-conservative hasn’t been very good for us the last eight years.
SOCIALISM: Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.
MARXISM: A theory and practice of socialism including the labor theory of value, dialectical materialism, the class struggle, and dictatorship of the proletariat until the establishment of a classless society. (Commonly mistaken as Communism)
I live in Santa Barbara, CA, where the average rent for a studio apartment is over $1000 per month. The minimum wage is $8, so working a 40 hour week, a minimum wage worker can wrangle $1400 a month ($16640 per year divided by 12.) Now, it’s just a personal opinion, but I feel that if someone loses their job and has to take a job at minimum wage, they shouldn’t have to relocate to another city – like they could afford to do that anyway.
Government intervention, whether it is at the State level or the Federal level, is necessary to ensure that anyone who works hard and contributes to society has what they need. Our tiered tax system has ALWAYS been about the redistribution of wealth. The difference is that people who make more tend to pay less because they can spend and save their money in ways that are not available to people making less.
I personally make more than $250,000 per year, and I will have to pay more under Obama – but I think it’s worth it to see a few less people struggling on the streets and give some of the hard working people in my city a few extra hours with their kids each week. Furthermore, I think it is necessary to see our country back on the right track.
So, these are just my opinions, but to label someone a Socialist or Marxist out of fear of change or because they believe in fairness… that’s just ignorant at best and malicious at worst; we don’t need the rebirth of McCarthy-ism in this country.

I suggest the GOP hypocrisy carefull listen to Obama’ sword and–better look at a transcript. Obama is obsfucating his meaning, because in this country socialism is a dirty word. But Obama is perfectly clear in his interview that he is in favor of reparations. Of course, he has a point: the Republican Radicals were not socialists in the strict sense, but they likewise wanted to take away the slave holders’ lands and distribute them among the freed blacks. Obama believes in the modern version of Forty acres and a mule.
But beyond that, Obama is viewed favorably in Europe because his thinking is the airy-fairy version of socialism that prevails in Europe, which feeds off of capitalism while condemning the American form of it. I short, Obama is at best a left liberal but more likely a social democrat like so many Europeans.

cy…
you’re right. AMERICANS SHOULD BE TOTALLY OUTRAGED ABOUT THIS BAIL OUT!!! I KNOW I AM!!! thats why i try to tell everyone to look at who, from their state, voted NO to the bailout. both times, the ones that have a back bone and still voted nothe second time around. WE HAVE TO HOLD THE PEOPLE IN CONGRESS ACCOUNTABLE. vote them out, simple as that.

All of these comments about socialism never would have occured to any one of us here unless Mr. McCain hadn’t wrongfully imprinted it their with his divisive propaganda.

Colorado conservative writes: “38% of tax filers pay $0 in income tax. Obama can’t give 95% of taxpayers a tax “cut” as that isn’t possible … unless he redefines tax “cut” to also include tax credits.”
But, filers who pay $0 in income tax are not (income) tax payers. Giving a tax cut to 95% of taxpayers would be to 95% of the 62% of tax filers who actually have to pay taxes.
And lets not kid ourselves. Without progressives pushing things like the minimum wage and labor rights a whole lot more people would be poorer than they are, the middle class would be even less robust or secure. Conservatives ought to be thanking liberals for all their clean air and water, work place safety, labor rights, rent control, anti-trust laws, and the safety nets (like Social Security) which keep people from living on the streets begging and/or thieving.
And as for taxes: they pay for roads, they pay for police, they pay for national defense, they pay for voting booths, they pay fire fighters, they pay scientists to give us expert advice on policy; taxes pay for the courts, they pay for the street cleaners, the garbage dumps, the waste management, the buses, the trains…need I go on. But anti-tax freaks are too damn stupid to see that they benefit from what they pay for. Or is it that they’re just giving the finger to everyone else? tell the truth, but people in the U.S. who whine about taxes are just that: whiners. Taxes are of the people, by the people, and for the people. More time should be spent on being vigilant about how taxes are being spent than about paying taxes.

mark b…
you bring up some really good points, and i agree with alot of what you said. i believe, and i think the MAJORITY of american people believe, in a certain amount of “socialism”. we already have that here. its a very broad topic. but ill ask you what i asked chris: where do we draw the line? and how do we as a nation get to a point of agreeance on “how much help is too much” from the government?

WE CANNOT AFFORD THE POLICIES OF JOHN McCAIN
Changes proposed by Obama’s campaign would mean the national debt would grow by $5.7 trillion over 10 years, while proposals spelled out by McCain’s campaign would add $10.9 trillion, according to the Tax Policy Center.
SPEND SPEND SPEND but no one ever pays for it is John McCain’s “plan”.
Pubs have ALWAYS been spend happy and just pass their debts to the next generations. That’s the irony of the Republican “fiscal responsibilty”.
No way he can cut the bodget by 25%. So,
THE ONLY WAY FOR McCAIN TO PAY FOR HIS POLICY IS BY RAISING YOUR TAXES!
Because you know he won’t raise taxes on the wealthy. Bush didn’t so why would he?

Yeah about that socialistic bail out. They got their first increments of cash from us the generous tax payers and their first order of business is to grant execs Christmas bonuses some around 100K. That sounds like something different from socialism. More corporate-ism as usual for one.

John Schuh ,
“But beyond that, Obama is viewed favorably in Europe because his thinking is the airy-fairy version of socialism that prevails in Europe, which feeds off of capitalism while condemning the American form of it.”
The only time I have ever wanted to abandon this country and move to another was under the Bush administration’s rule. Yes, other countries have emerged as better places to live than the U.S.
Obama will correct that, thank God! The American dream will be revived once the republican crooks get their feet off our necks.
Obama/Biden 08!

QUOTE:
I have read our country’s history for decades and no where have I ever seen anyone pushing for an agend like what Obama will bring us
RESPONSE:
What history books have you been reading? What specific parts of the agenda are you talking about?
1. The war in Iraq? – Hmm… seems it took an election to get us out of Vietnam
2. Federally mandated health care? – Hmm… looked at a paystub lately, seems to me that your federal retirement (Social Security) isn’t optional
3. Tax distributions? – Hmm… seems the only difference is that instead of giving $700B (that’s around $2000 for every American over 18) in free money to the banks that sank our economy and the CEO’s that piloted the ships, Obama wants to give that money back to the people who work hard to earn it
4. Afghanistan? Hmm… Seems you disagree with the entire US Armed Forces general staff
I don’t want to sway your vote. I want you to vote your conscious, and I think John McCain is a decent man who has been misguided and ran a bad campaign. I don’t want you to spout ignorant analysis of policies its clear you haven’t read. Where did you read your US history, because I can find foundation for every initiative Obama has laid out in his executive agenda.

SOCIALISM: Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.

cc…
thank you!!!!! i would have INSTANTLY voted for whatever canidate that came out STRONGLY against the bail out. sadly, this didnt happen.

Hi BHO, is it reparation for now … and then remuneration after Nov. 4.

Tim,
Sorry if my post seemed to attack you. I agree that there has to be limits, and I don’t personally feel Obama’s proposed policies cross the line. Your post was the last one I read before I posted, and I was getting a little miffed that the words Socialist and Marxist were being thrown around so freely.
You can read my other post on Obama’s agenda, but he really isn’t proposing action that is atypical of the position taken in other times of crisis. Our failing economy is now affecting the world economy and that poses a dire national security risk.
If reallocation of tax burden – in a fair way – can help restore our economy, restore faith in America, and help grow our National product, then I have to be on that side of the debate. McCain just hasn’t offered any proof that he can do that. He seems to be playing a game of buzz word bingo and adopting whatever position is scoring the most points.

“Obama said something very telling to me: He said that the Constiution is a wonderful document which has got us to where we are now, but that it has a fundamental flaw. I first thought he meant racism. but then I listened again. He said instead that it does not provide for an equitable distribution of wealth.”
John Shuh goes onto eloquently state his views against socialism while completely misrepresenting what Obama said or the context which it was stated.
When you begin with a lie, you have lost all credibility.

Marc: the $250,000 figure is a red herring. And you are assuming that he will be hanbding out goodies to the “middle-class” somewhat like the
“rebates” that Bush and the Congress handed out earlier this year. What if he decides realy to mess around with the tax code, and some groups get permanently advantages and your taxes go up and down unpredictably. Joe the Plumber, I think, probably, has a better appreciation of the vagueness of his proposal than you do. You may be thinking tanksgiving turkeys and he something more like a capital lien on your business.

mark b..
thank you for clarifying, although i knew where you were comming from. i didnt believe you were attacking me, but thanks for making that clear. first off, let me say, im not a fan of mccain. im not a fan of the republican party as of late either. i clasify myself as an independant, and honestly, am sick of BOTH parties. i honestly feel i cant trust ANY politician right now, and it sucks. but as far as my values go, im definately more conservative. but not an extremist.. lol i believe our nation, being the greatest, richest nation the world has ever seen, SHOULD be able to take care of those who actually NEED help. but we have crossed that line, in so many different areas, it just sickens me. i could go on forever about that, but i cant type that fast.. lol as far as taxes go, look at our nations modern history. it shows that no matter what tax policy is in place, revenue generally remains the same. it vary’s a bit, but for the most part, remains the same. what does that tell us? ITS A SPENDING PROBLEM!!! all we are talking about right now is “which canidate will put more money in MY pocket”. we should be saying, “which canidate is going to put the brakes on spending”!!! as citizens, we have our interests completely backwards on this. i know revenue and spending go hand in hand, but we NEED a president who is going to cut spending. and in a serious way. thats the only thing that will save us. and sadly, neither of these two clowns are anything close to the answer.

I would think that Pubs would want Obama to win.
The country is so screwed from the last 8 years, anyone elected will only get four years.
Americans have short memories and no patience. Obama will most likely get blamed for the economic aftermath of Republican “leadership”.
Then you can put the moose princess into the Oval office. And aren’t we all excited about that?

“What if he decides realy to mess around with the tax code, and some groups get permanently advantages and your taxes go up and down unpredictably.”
Love these what if worst case scenarios.
No bearing to reality or Obama’s proposals but I can literally smell the fear from right wingers who are trying to make the rest of us fearful.

John Schuh,
That is because those that didn’t have children did not want to pay for the education system. That was a republican argument. The republicans tend to believe that education is a ‘socialist’ notion, so why should they pay for poor people’s education.
End result.. You get what you pay for!
Republicans hate education unless it is tied to cronies or foreign labor initiatives. Lookup H1B visas. Find the date that degrees became criteria for obtaining all jobs — including jobs that a 3rd grader could do.
H1Bs filled the education system. This opened the door for insourcing and outsourcing all the college grads from India. First it was healthcare jobs, then it was education, next it was technology jobs, next it was accounting and now it is all customer service-related jobs.
Who needs to learn English (primary education skills), when the only thing that matters in the job market is whether or not you are cheap foreign labor? Republicans have hurt education, business and thereby the economy in their quest for cheap labor.
Foreclosed homes. Can’t buy autos every year or two any more. Dwindling retirement accounts. You name it. Education is the key, but that education cannot be given to us by foreigners that have only a grasp of the rogue capitalistic/republican “dupe ‘em” mentality.
Obama/Biden 08!

tim,
The ones that received the tax breaks didn’t create jobs. They are fired for not producing what was promised.
Obama/Biden 08!

common sense..
what do you mean by “tax breaks”? do you know where our nation ranks in CORPORATE TAX rates in the world. the second highest in the WORLD. THATS why jobs leave our country. let me quickly point outthough, that dont assume i agree with the “republican” agenda. i dont.

ryan…
ok, thats the “common knowledge” answer. but obviously, its not that simple. i want to know YOUR thoughts about how much is too much?

Paige:
In the radio interview:

“do you know where our nation ranks in CORPORATE TAX rates in the world. the second highest in the WORLD”
As deigned by the conservative Tax Foundation which only does a subset of countries.
“THATS why jobs leave our country”
Labor costs are probably a much larger factor.

thanks john. see, these are the questions i ask my liberal friends all the time,and never get a logical answer: if we have thrown ALL this money at the “poverty” issue, then why do we have more people in poverty in this nation per capita than ever before?! welfare? public housing? BILLIONS of dollars wasted, and thenumbers are INCREASING. i know its a general, broad topic, but the facts are there. but i ALWAYS get an answer blaming the republicans for it.. lol

Blaine:
School choice; Comprehensive energy plan; strong defense; win the war in Iraq and Afghanistan; lower taxes;
Whether you agree with these stances is beside the point. You intimate that McCain presents nothing. You just don’t agree that the federal government is less effective when it “does” more. It’s a difference of opinion. But your calling republicans “#####” and suggesting that they don’t have any ideas is not only offensive, but not that positive or bipartisan…thought Obama’ campaign was sooo inclusive..
Mark my words, what you see is not what you get from Obama. He has tailored his message to appear closer to the middle than he really is.
Repost from another blog here…
I figured out why I feel, subjectively, why Obama’s campaign is actually very negative, even more negative than McCain’s or Clintons. It goes beyond advertising. The negativity, ironically, springs from the very message that Obama’s campaign has a corner on “hope” and “change.”
The feeling is very similar to what you get when a born-again christian sort of intimates that they “get it” and you are going to hell. You, in contrast, are doomed, because you don’t believe.
Obama’s message has been uniform, even against democrats: I bring hope, he or she brings “the same old politics.” I am sure Hillary loved that.
The same message is directed at all republicans, of course. Obama is the future, who will bring us out of the benighted horrors of the dark one’s misery. And, well, if you happen to have a disagreement with regard to policy, you are getting in the way of hope.
So, if you oppose higher taxes during a recession on anyone, even the rich, and understand that lower taxes leads to more revenue for the government, you are not just wrong, you are bad.
To me, it is cleverly developed propaganda, so clever that it makes people feel that they are subscribing to a “movement” rather than just another Clinton/Kerry/Mondale/Kennedy democrat.
It seems to also make Obama supporters feel “righteous” (is it windy in here?)and that others who don’t support Obama…well, they might just be evil, racist, closed-minded, etc.
Long post, sorry, but the bottom line for me is that when one candidate claims that he or she is the bringer of hope, and change (remember the “lightbringer” article?”) to the exclusion of all others, it is a monolithically negative statement about any and all political opponents and ideologies.
Plus, the bonus is you sound positive all the time and can just basically say, “quit hatin on hope!” And if you say, hey I believe in hope and change too, just a different kind, yeah right!
Just my two cents.

ryan…
if you’re going to answer ANY of my questions, please answer the one about how much help is too much, in your opinion, from the government? where do we draw the line on becomming a socialist nation?

“i want to know YOUR thoughts about how much is too much?”
I am for minimum wage, single payer healthcare and social security as a safety net, not retirement program.

In the radio interview:
Posted by: John Schuh | Oct 28, 2008 7:47:17 PM
_________________________________________
That was detailed. If you are referring to the hot, newly uncovered one from 2001 – you may need another listen as you missed the point.
The context of the clip is regarding the civil rights movement, and the fairly commonplace observation (beginning with Martin Luther King) that the ’60s movement succeeded in winning African-Americans legal rights but stopped short of lifting them out of poverty.
Would YOUR candidate like to discuss his record on civil rights? If McCain disagrees with Obama regarding what is actually said on this clip, he should say so. Now that would make news.

Some of you may have read the stats on the gap between rich and poor. Turkey and Mexico are the only two that has a larger gap than the good ole US of A.So what is so dirty about the word socialism? Have you ever traveled? Lived in another country or two? Try Norway. They are as socialistic as they get. They also passed the good ole US of A in standard of living back in the 70s. Rave on for more of the same. Vote johnymac and moose hunter.
bj

Barack Obama Is No Socialist
What Barack will do for us.
Under the Obama plan, the bottom 20 percent of households in America would get a tax cut of $567, and the middle 20 percent would see their taxes drop by $1,042. But the richest 1 percent of Americans (those earning an average of $1.5 million a year) would see taxes go up by $116,000.
How McCain/Palin is going to screw all of us hard working middle class.
Under the McCain plan, the bottom 20 percent would get a $19 tax cut, the middle fifth would get a tax cut of $319, and the wealthiest 1 percent would see their taxes go down by more than $40,000.
Go Barack and Biden, I cannot believe after reading the above info that anyone would vote for McCain/Palin.

molly…
the bottom 20 percent dosent even pay taxes now.. lol

steal from the poor?! please explain…

tim,
It says in the constitution that “healthcare is a right” in the paragraph right after it says that “tax breaks for the wealthiest top 5% is a right” so your question is pointless.
The constitution is an evolving document. To think otherwise elevates our country’s forefathers to Gods expecting them to know that eventually, foreign-born doctors would abort American people’s children in hostpitals for “good salaries” that thereby warrant tax breaks.
Obama/Biden 08!

common sense…
you’re assuming that i agree with john mccain huh?! my question is NOT pointless. you’re just answering with an attack of sorts. the constitution may be a constantly evolving document, but should it be?! and who do we trust to make this “evolution”? democrats? republicans? the upreme court that is made up by a democrat or a republican? maybe we should just leave it alone, and let all of those who dont like it to voluntarily LEAVE THE COUNTRY if they dont like it. just a crazy thought.

common sense…
theres your “evolution” at its finest.. lol its called baby steps. do you think any one would have given him a chance in hell if he said he MANDATED government health care?! baby steps. eventually, it will grow larger and larger, while americans “expect” a government to provide this. THATS evolution.

tim,
I think you asked about how the rich stole from us, too. To that I answer this. Look up Paulson’s ties to Goldman and why Lehman failed. Look up Cox’s lack of enforcement against Goldman Sachs, Moodys and other “bears”.
Enjoy your reading and check out what analysts-come-lately have decided about how this economic melt-down beginning September 2008 came to be. Next, research the definition of cronyism.
Foreign nations are now also taking deep losses because Paulson and Cox sided with those that sought to destroy honest and fair investments in U.S. companies. How long do you think foreign nations will take a beating because of the Bush-appointed cronies helped their buds destroy economies?
Obama/Biden 08!

tim,
Re baby steps, I hear you and agree. All i can say is see GEICO (government employees insurance company). They started out great, but then increased their premiums by nickel and diming. Then they stopped honest customer dealings and hired lawyers to fight against their customers. In response, Allstate, State Farm and Nationwide got put back on the map. When the customer/consumer is cheated because your company isn’t capable of developing fair and equitable solutions (charging more for less is not fair or equitable), the competitors are challenged. Then and only then is an opportunity created for competitors to produce.
Same for the tax argument. When the top 5% cannot produce the wealth/growth that they received our tax breaks for, we fire them and move forward with the next plan. When the healthcare industry refused to budge, we the people moved towards a government solution that will also allow freedom of choice.
Note that gas prices are down because Obama will become President and the oil-producing nations know that once Obama’s initiaves take off (alternative energy, biofuels, wind-technology and other renewable energy sources), there will be limited wealth potential available to those same foreign nations. We will become their competitors instead of their dependents. We won’t even need to create fake wars to steal their oil any more, so the world is potentially safer.
The race is on, though. If McCain/Palin get elected, we will simply rely on same old stale oil drilling while the foreigners create what Obama has proposed and thereby create a new American dependency on their resources/technology.
Obama/Biden 08!

“where in the constitution does it say that health care is a “right”?
The preamble calls to “promote the general welfare” among other things.
It only does a few well to interpret the constitution too cheaply. The constitution was always a guide of inclusiveness, not to exclusiveness.
Then again who needs safe drinking water, air traffic control, fire protection, disease control, and the like? After all they aren’t specifically mentioned.

“where in the constitution does it say that health care is a “right”?
WHERE DOES IT SAY YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO AIR ?
WHERE DOES IT SAY YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO SUNLIGHT ?

Socialism is where the government owns business. In our country big business has taken over our government. It’s still called Socialism. Supply-Side Economics (Trickle down theory of economics or Reagonomics) is the Economics of Socialism and Bush-McCain-Palin. What we now call Supply-Side Economics is Socialist Economics and has been throughout history. Every time in history when Supply-Side Economics has been adopted by a government, the government has fallen into ruin. Socialism is Big Business, wealth, assets, and power over the masses and government are in the hands of a few. We live in a socialist country. Thanks to the Patriot Acts 1 and 2. The Constitution is basically null and void.
History is repeating what the Republican’s did in the 1920′s and it lead to the depression of the 1930′s. The same Socialist Economics, the same types of investments now called derivatives and hedge funds (leveraged gambling). Commercial Banks and Investment Banks are again intermingling their financial activities, monopolistic big business and now monopolistic big media all these things lead to the great depression and our current financial crisis.
We fought the American Revolution with England to get away from Socialist Imperialism and taxation with out representation.
The Democrat’s lead us out of the great depression. It’s time for The Democrat’s to lead us out of this financial crisis. God and the rest of us know the Republican’s won’t restore our Democratic Republic.
Today McCain-Palin both said they embrace the great economic strategies of President Ronald Reagan. This is same old Socialist Supply-Side Economics of Reagan-Bush Sr. and Jr.-McCain-Palin. This is not real change people for the middle class and working poor. It is more of the same. McCain-Palin will destroy our country. We will become slaves of the very rich if McCain becomes our next resident. Vote Obama-Biden 08.

We already are somewhat a socialistic country. We have always done this. Our tax system has always been a progressive system. Republicans have brought us to this point. History is repeating- Republicans did it before and they have done it again. US Financial meltdown. Democrats have had to get US out of it in past. They can do it again. Under Republicans all is for the rich and corporations. System does not work.
John McCain Health Care – no one can get as good a policy as cheap as they do under their employer. This is impossible. History of medicine financial experts recognize costs are kept lower when number of insured are huge. Bargaining costs as a collective group will be lost.
Obama Health Care Plan is encouraging employer coverage for workers. Present health care insurers will rush to win a contract with government. This is not really preventing us from choosing our own doctors. Republicans said same about Medicare. Medicare did not prove to be socialized medicine at all. People must look t all the facts. Obama’s government pool is good idea. More business for these insurance corporations. The health care insurers would love to get and see tremendous growth of their corporation. At the same time these corporation must comply with lowering rates charged for premiums and must abide by regulations to protect the lives of those insured. Obama plan is so superior to John McCain Plan.
John McCain plan deregulating these insurance companies would leave no protection for people when malpractice occurs. Insurance companies mistreat, deny benefits, deny coverage, to sick people today. It will be lots worse with less regulations. John McCain said he would provide writers – but costs will be high. People will eventually be left without insurance, all because they can’t afford.
Read and learn. Tax Policy Center gives some analysis. John McCain throwing people off employer health care plans will cause many, many more people to not have any insurance.
John McCain Tax system gives 10% break to the wealthy, but only 3.5% tax break to anyone lower down, and many will see no break. But this has been Republican approach, just like Bush. The largest % of Americans will not get good tax breaks. This large per cent is hat makes up almost all of America. These people are the foundation of America. They are encouraging a system that only the rich are rewarded.
Obama Tax Plan is good as he is giving more to 95% of Americans. Yes, he is taking some away from the wealthy. But % he is taking away is small. Tax for wealthy will be no more than what it was before, and in some cases less. Go the Tax Policy Center to get facts.

Over the last month (24/7), I, while diligently keeping an open mind, took on the arduous and sometimes challenging task of conducting my own intense research relating to each Presidential candidate’s background, as a means of educating myself prior to casting my vote. In the process of accomplishing my task, I have discovered that, although, both candidates seem to have skeletons in their closets, I continue to have more concerns about casting my vote for Sen. Obama, due to my numerous unanswered questions relating to his background (e.g., who he really is, where he came from and, most important, what he stands for).
Along with a candidate’s knowledge, skills and abilities, I also consider their honesty, integrity, character, judgment and moral values to be just as important, especially when I am casting my vote for a candidate that will be our next President and who, among other demanding duties and responsibilities, will also be charged with setting the example for all of us. Although, some of my previous candidate decisions have been proven to be wrong, which I am man enough to admit, they have not caused me to get disillusioned and will not stop me from making this and other educated Presidential candidate decisions.
I am also concerned that, over the years, our society’s moral values seem to have hit rock bottom and, sadly, I attribute some of this to be a direct result of us electing individuals that, by their own actions, have been proven to have a gross lack of leadership skills, along with little or no moral values, which continues to negatively affect our image here at home, and, just as important, other countries around the world that expect us to set a positive example of a democratic society for others to follow.
Electing a President that has a proven track record of having excellent leadership skills, which includes being honest and trustworthy, along with a transparent background, is a must for me. This was set in concrete after 44 years of experiencing the tragic results of electing individuals into leadership positions, who, upon being elected, were proven to have had hidden agendas prior to being elected into those positions.
I believe that this happened mainly because, as candidates, they knowingly and purposely misled the public by promising everything under the sun, even if they, in their own hearts, knew that most of those promises were unachievable, along with making a concerted effort of not doing or saying anything that might rock the boat, which would subsequently raise too many eyebrows. These actions were put into place, solely, as a means of getting elected into a leadership position and, thereby, having the opportunity to put their hidden agendas into practice. The results of these actions usually ended up in negatively and permanently affecting other individuals, their families and major institutions (e.g., financial crises, fall of Enron etc.).
On one hand, we have a candidate who’s actions have historically been transparent and, although he may not be an eloquent and charismatic speaker, he does have a proven track record of being honest and trustworthy. He also has a record of saying and doing what’s on his mind and in his heart, which includes being man enough to admit any and all mistakes and/or poor judgment decisions that he may have made in his long career as a public servant. All this without worrying about whether or not others may think less of him for doing so. And, most important, he consciously continues to make decisions and/or take actions that are considered to be in the best interest of his constituents.
On the other hand, we have a candidate that is not as transparent with a seemingly shady background, that comes across as being an extremely eloquent and charismatic speaker, who promises all of us everything under the sun and goes out of his way to say only those things that he knows his audience wants to hear, which in this case is the American public.
Lessons learned: recently, we have come to realize the results of what tragically happens when we, over the years, have elected individuals that tended not to be very transparent in their actions and have been proven to be less than honest and trustworthy after being elected by their constituents to serve in leadership positions.
During these desperate and difficult times, that most of us are experiencing, we need to keep our heads clear and vote with our minds/hearts and not our emotions.
“Food For Thought”
Have A Great Day!

Obama wants to “Share the wealth”…he’s a “socialist!”
“We’re set up, unlike other states in the union, where it’s collective Alaskans who own the resources. So we share the wealth when the development of those resources occur.”
Sarah Palin to the New Yorker
The only requirement for this annual “sharing of the wealth” (this year’s check was for $3,200) is one year of residence.
Makes all the over-the-top rhetoric about “sharing the wealth” somewhat hypocritical and more than a little phony.

If you are unemployed, have no health insurance, lost your home, and your unemployment insurance has run out, who really cares what the tax rate is? I am willing to pay half my pay check for taxes if the other half will support my family. The last 8 years have shown me how NOT to vote. It should be a no brainer for a “work for wages” person
bj

David t, How do you make your money? I don’t think that I am noble for supporting a country that I am very proud to live in. How is it to survive if the people don’t support it?
Yes I am uneducated, but I have had the privilege of living and working in several socialist country, and although I do not wish to live in any of them, we the USA could take some good lessons from them. Forget about the gov. taking away your rights. They did that when GWB took over.
bj

When I was unemployed, irs got her eyes on my unemployment pay,she didnt even waive that deduction, because I was unemployed and I needed that money. my health bills even went up when I was unemployed, all these happened under GWB government and will happen under Mccain’s fake regime which is only kissing fat ass of rich people.No more voting for republicans!!

bjcoon writes:
“That’s noble of you to want to give half your paycheck to the govt… or you could have saved half your paycheck for a rainy day, go back to school,etc… Who know’s best how to spend your money– you or the govt???”
To this I say: if I’m buying a car, or food for the week, then me. But if I’m interested in defending the country, or undertaking basic research in science, well, I think the government needs to organize that. I don’t think running an army on a pay-as-you-go basis is really workable. So I’m afraid that I believe that we really do need taxes.

FORGET ABOUT VOTER FRAUD … HOW ABOUT CANDIDATE FRAUD !!!
Makes me think,
Sat in a Church for 20 years but didn’t know Wright was a racist, Did business with Ayers for 15 years but didn’t know he was a terrioist. Bought property from Resko but didn’t know he was shady. Didn’t know Dr. Khalid Abdullah was anti Semite. Didn’n know Auntie Zeituni is here illegally (living in Public Housing and contributing to his campaign illegally). Sent a Director from his campaign to a meeting with Islamic Terriost but didn’t know. Seems to me he doesn’t know some very important things….or did he and is not being honest! Obama is a dangerous man!
1. Occidental College records –Not released
2. Columbia College records – Not released
3. Columbia Thesis Paper – “not available”
4. Harvard College records – Not released
5. Selective Service Registration – Not released
6. Medical records – Not released
7. Illinois State Senate schedule – “not available”
8. Law practice client list – Not released
9. Certified Copy of original Birth certificate – Not released
10. Embossed, signed paper Certification of Live Birth – Not released
11. Harvard Law Review articles published – None
12. University of Chicago scholarly articles – None
13. Your Record of baptism – Not released or “not available”
14. Your Illinois State Senate records– “not available”