McCain backs off his no-new-tax pledge

[Pirate Smile]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Republican presidential candidate John McCain drew a sharp rebuke Monday from conservatives after he signaled an openness to a higher payroll tax for Social Security, contrary to previous vows not to raise taxes of any kind.

Speaking with reporters on his campaign bus on July 9, he cited a need to shore up Social Security, saying: "I cannot tell you what I would do, except to put everything on the table."
He went a step farther Sunday with his reponse on a nationally televised talk show to a question about payroll tax increases.

"There is nothing that's off the table. I have my positions, and I'll articulate them. But nothing's off the table," McCain said. "I don't want tax increases. But that doesn't mean that anything is off the table."

That comment drew a strong response Monday from the Club for Growth, a Washington anti-tax group. McCain's comments, the group said in a letter to the Arizona senator, are "shocking because you have been adamant in your opposition to raising taxes under any circumstances."
Indeed, McCain frequently has promised not to raise taxes.
At a July 7 town-hall meeting in Denver, he said voters faced a stark choice between him and Democrat Barack Obama.
"Sen. Obama will raise your taxes," McCain said. "I won't."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_taxes;_ylt=ApIN_AxzRjpnEi4H6rGF0eeyFz4D

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Hasn't he done this on every issue now?

Does he not remember what his plans are or what he has been advocating on any issue?

He seems like one extremely confused person or a liar who is unaware of video tape and written records.

His mental state is a REAL issue.

[stray cat]

1. He is right to leave it on the table - wrong to make promises that shouldn't be kept

in order to pander to voters or win the primary.

[Pirate Smile]

3. I'm sure he will say the opposite tomorrow. Since he no longer follows what he used to believe,

he seems to generally be confused as to what his current stance is on any issue.

He also seems willing to say anything.

[blue52power]

19. He is trying to split off the moderates and budget hawks

Is entire strategy has been to take the moderates and independents.

His base hates him and they will throw fits over this. But they wont vote Obama.

He also won't drill in ANWR, trying to take some enviro votes.

[Juche]

2. He supports a tax hike on the working and middle class

Since SS taxes are capped at 97k, this tax will fall on the middle and working class.

People need to rub this in. This isn't just him changing his view (which doesn't bother me, new info can come in) it is a statement about the GOP. Ther eis no way in hell McCain will backtrack on giving tax cuts for the wealthy. But tax hikes on the working class to pay for them? That is ok.

Democrats raise taxes on the wealthy and cut them on the middle class. Republicans cut them on the wealthy and raise them on the middle class. This is just another piece of evidence of that.

Ronald Reagan did the same thing. Cut taxes on the wealthy (income, dividend, capital gains taxes) and raised them on the working class (payroll). McCain will likely do the same thing.

Also when the GOp give massive tax cuts to the wealthy, the federal gov. can't assist state govs who are forced to raise more local revenue via regressive taxes that affect the middle class (property taxes and sales taxes).

The entire GOP economic model is based on misinformation. They dramatically raise taxes on the middle class. They are ok with raising payroll taxes and bankrupting the federal government which forces state govs to raise taxes on the middle class via property or sales taxes.

[Kittycat]

4. How in the hell did this guy become their nominee? I mean really - wtf?

[napi21]

5. The powers that be promised it to him when they slandered him and his

wife back in 2000. I have no proof of that, but I'm positive that's why he's the nominee now!

[Journeyman]

6. He became the Republican nominee because they have to lose this election. . .

The only chance the Republicans have is for McCain to lose. George W. has left the nation in such a shambles, it's difficult to imagine how anyone can set things aright. Another four years of McSame would doom the Republicans -- and they know it. Their best hope is for a Democrat to inherit W's disasters. Then, whichever way it goes -- if the Democrat can fix the problems, or if they prove uncorrectable in one or two terms -- the Republicans may be in a position to stage a comeback. It may take more than two or even four election cycles, but they'll have the opportunity. Unless, that is, McSame is elected, and all the disasters coming down the pike end up piled unequivocally on their doorstep.

[wurzel]

8. Yep. Clinton cleaned up Reagan's mess. Then back they came.

[bobd0]

7. "READ MY LIPS!"

"NO NEW TAXES!"

Yeah. Right.

What a surprise. Another Republican hypocrite -- McBush.

[nolabels]

9. At least poppy took months not just days to waffle

That McBush guy sure is a character :rofl:

[Historic NY]

10. I guess he isn't going to balence the budget either, then why vote for him.

[scarface2004]

11. i say raise taxes until amerikans knees buckle!

we are going another 1/2 trillion in the hole this year....eventually the entire federal budget will be committed to interest on the national debt!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

17. Closer to 3/4 of a trillion if you count the wars.

[Doctor_J]

12. Another flip-flop from the "straight-talk express"

this guy's gonna neeed traction pretty soon

[samsingh]

13. was he for raising taxes before being against them before being for them again?

why does mccain hate America?

[guitar man]

14. FLIP FLOPPER!!

Why aren't the talking heads repeating "flip flopper" every 5 seconds like they did in 04? Damn librul media! :sarcasm:

[Giant Robot]

15. Grrr you beat me to it!

"McCain Backs Off...." would translate to "Obama Flip Flops on Taxes" for us!

Fuckers.

[nolabels]

16. Actually the Blogosphere is the real progressive media

If there was a way we all could function out some way to report news without corporations in the loop, there would be some kind of mofo peoples power to reckon with.

The problem is establishment corporate controlled news deciding what the stories are and what the focus should be is how we got in the morass we are in.....

Sorry for the soapbox, just have having hard time figuring out how they are going to find enough lipstick to put on that McBush dude :-)

[OneBlueSky]

18. Deficit spending is a coward's tax . . .

The Democrats spend with a checkbook the Republicans spend with a credit card. Deficit spending is a nothing more than a coward's tax.

[JNelson6563]

20. Buh-bye Rethug base

All that matters to them is paying less or no taxes, no gay marriage, lots of war and no abortion.

Julie

[Xipe Totec]

21. McCain backs off his no-new-tax pledge

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Republican presidential candidate John McCain's signal that he may be open to a higher payroll tax for Social Security, despite previous vows not to raise taxes of any kind, is drawing sharp rebukes from conservatives.

McCain's shift has come in stages, catching some Republicans by surprise. Speaking with reporters on his campaign bus on July 9, he cited a need to shore up Social Security. "I cannot tell you what I would do, except to put everything on the table," he said.

He went a step farther Sunday on ABC's "This Week," in response to a question about payroll tax increases.

"There is nothing that's off the table. I have my positions, and I'll articulate them. But nothing's off the table," McCain said. "I don't want tax increases. But that doesn't mean that anything is off the table."


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080729/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_taxes_5

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How do you spell toast?

[maxsolomon]

22. flippity floppity

you better shore up your wacko base before you start running to the left, johnny.

[bamacrat]

23. Just wait till September when he says that he too thinks this war was wrong and wants to end it.

The media will hail him a visionary, I dont want Mr Magoo as president.

[llmart]

24. Flip flop, flip flop, flip flop......

Need I say more?

[LuckyLib]

25. I just saw a film clip of him saying, "I won't raise taxes. If you want higher taxes, vote for my

opponent." Which is it, McSame?