On Eve Of Primary, Hillary Drops Negative Mailer Hitting Obama On Taxes

[babylonsister]

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2008/01/on_eve_of_primary_hillary_drops_negative_mailer_hitting_obama_on_taxes.php

On Eve Of Primary, Hillary Drops Negative Mailer Hitting Obama On Taxes
By Greg Sargent - January 7, 2008, 6:46PM

Check out this new mailer -- forwarded our way by a Dem operative -- that Hillary has dropped in New Hampshire, attacking Obama on Social Security taxes (click on below images to enlarge):





As the Obama campaign has argued in response to previous Hillary attacks on this topic, this involves Obama's proposal to create a "donut" in the taxable income for Social Security payroll taxes, which as of this year's indexation would affect people making over $102,000 per year -- something akin to keeping the current cap, creating a "donut" to a $200,000 or $250,000, and then taxing income above that level at the same rate.

Getting rid of the cap completely would indeed raise revenues by $1 trillion or more, but over the next ten years, according to both the centrist Tax Policy Center and the right-wing Heritage Foundation.

There just one problem: Obama has only proposed raising the cap, not scrapping it.

Late Update: It's worth highlighting some of the phrases in this mailer. "New Hampshire families need to keep more of their hard-earned dollars -- not less..."

And: "We need a President that will help hard-working families keep more of what they earn..."

There's also a reference to New Hampshire families sending more of their "hard-earned dollars to Washington."

Noted without comment.

[skipos]

1. Ain't gonna work. Sorry Hillary. nt

[Flabbergasted]

4. Nope. I'm not sure that she wants to equate herself with GOP talking points either. nt

[K Gardner]

9. I know ! It looks like a Republican mailer !

[Thrill]

2. The Status Quo will attack Happy Warriors for Change

[Joe the Revelator]

3. But she's such a sympathetic figure! We FEEL sorry for her!!

:rofl:

[zulchzulu]

5. Would you expect a Clinton to be honest?

Trust the Clintons at your peril.

[Cha]

7. Not anymore but

she has a lot of people fooled or they just don't care.

[K Gardner]

10. You know, Zidzi, after everything we know about HRC and all she stands for and all the

lies and dirty tricks.. I've just come to the conclusion that they just don't care. The general public might be foolish enough to believe her and ignore the tactics, but not the people here.

[thoughtcrime1984]

11. Yup, she's in attack mode now

and pulling all kinds of stunts, very desperate and PATHETIC.

[Cha]

14. Exactly...that's why

I offered that last part. She could do anything and they'd come up with a red herring.

[K Gardner]

6. OMG... she's channeling Edwards word for word ! And totally lying about

Obama. She really wants to go down in flames, doesn't she?

[origin1286]

8. *sigh*

Hillary just doesn't get it

[Cha]

15. Yeah, and that's why

I haven't liked her for a long time now.

[ellisonz]

12. Look at the pictures!

Nope, not gonna work Hillary. People aren't stupid.

:rofl:

[sandnsea]

13. lol, after the biggest tax increase in history?

That's what every person is going to say when they see this. And conclude that Hillary will really say anything. Unbelievable.

[geek tragedy]

16. Rightwing talking points from the queen of them.

I am going to enjoy seeing her humiliated.

[Pachamama]

17. I think this and any negative from Clinton on Obama (or Edwards) is going to backfire in her face

She gets teary and shows her "sensitive" side, nice touch, but this kinda stuff and going negative is what will make her lose each time.

I have this funny, funny feeling that the wise voters of NH won't fall for it and that she isn't going to be doing quite as well tommorrow as she thinks or hopes.

I predict another big win for Obama and even a very stellar performance by Edwards that either surpasses Clinton or comes close, certainly closer than the polls seem to be showing.

[Jim Lane]

18. Question for the Clinton supporters about Social Security

According to the Clinton flier, her approach is to "address Social Security without putting burdens on hard-working families or seniors." I'd take that as flyerspeak for "no tax increases, no benefit cuts".

This surprises me because I thought that Clinton's position on Social Security was to appoint a bipartisan commission and that "all options are on the table." Perhaps some of her supporters here could give us a precis of what options she's endorsed, ruled out, or left to be considered later.

Social Security certainly isn't in "crisis", as the Republicans claim. Although one set of assumptions about the economy shows a Social Security shortfall a few decades from now, those assumptions are open to serious question. Nevertheless, many progressives, such as Paul Krugman, believe that some tweaking of the system is appropriate. Raising or eliminating the cap is one good option. It would improve the system's financial picture while making it less regressive. If Clinton chooses to attack another Democrat over the cap issue, she ought to be prepared to articulate an alternative. (Note to Clinton supporters: "help hard-working families keep more of what they earn" is, by itself, not enough to qualify as articulating an alternative.)

[dailykoff]

19. Huckabee is going for the tax angle too.

Personally I like when Dems support other Dems.

[mckeown1128]

20. Kick and Rec...

Come on folks lets kick and rec this to the front page so everyone can see the Rovian tactics being used. Step up to the plate and send this filth into the light!!!

[MethuenProgressive]

21. It's "negative" because it's true?

ObamaNation has become an Abomination.

[mckeown1128]

22. It is rovian and you know it!!!

It is misleading and dishonest.

[MethuenProgressive]

23. What part isn't true?

[mckeown1128]

25. The part that is untrue is:

The part about Obama wanting to take money from "hard working families." Hard working families implies middle class....which isn't what Obama's policies are referring to. It is misleading. He is lifting the cap for those who earn OVER 200,000 dollars. While those earning that much are probably hard working, this flyer is deceptive in it's word usage. It is rovian. Face it. Hillary is fighting dirty.

[CTLawGuy]

24. looks like it was written by a Republican candidate

doesn't Hillary believe in raising the caps as well?

[AtomicKitten]

26. Time to pick a president?

Okay. I pick Obama.