McCain Calls Obama Insensitive To Poor People

[CatWoman]

CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Sunday called Democratic rival Barack Obama insensitive to poor people and out of touch on economic issues.

The GOP nominee-in-waiting rapped his Democratic rival for opposing his idea to suspend the tax on fuel during the summer, a proposal that McCain believes will particularly help low-income people who usually have older cars that guzzle more gas.

"I noticed again today that Sen. Obama repeated his opposition to giving low-income Americans a tax break, a little bit of relief so they can travel a little further and a little longer, and maybe have a little bit of money left over to enjoy some other things in their lives," McCain said. "Obviously Sen. Obama does not understand that this would be a nice thing for Americans, and the special interests should not be dictating this policy."

The Arizona senator deflected questions about his record on the Bush administration's tax cuts -- he initially opposed them but now supports extending them -- by again criticizing Obama.

"Sen. Obama wants to raise the capital gains tax, which would have a direct effect on 100 million Americans," McCain said. "That means he has no understanding of the economy and that he is totally insensitive to the hopes and dreams and ambitions of 100 million Americans who will be affected by his almost doubling of the capital gains tax."

In an interview with "Fox News Sunday," Obama said McCain "not only wants to continue some of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and corporations, he actually wants to extend them, and he hasn't told us really how he's going to pay for them. It is irresponsible. And the irony is he said it was irresponsible."

Obama also said he would not raise the capital gains tax higher than it was under President Reagan and added, "I'm mindful that we've got to keep our capital gains tax to a point where we can actually get more revenue."

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/pages/News/Politics/Detail?contentId=6405489&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.14.1

[iamjoy]

1. Cutting The Gas Tax Is Stupid

Oh, I know it is largely a regressive tax and in the short term cutting it will help lower and middle income people, but in the long term it is a disaster.

We have to consider two things: 1 - that the price of gas is at least partially based on supply & demand; and 2, the gas tax helps funds transportation projects such as roads, public transit, etc.

If we cut the gas tax, what is to stop companies from keeping prices the same and pocketing the rest as profit? Oh, sure, you could monitor that in the short term. But, since gas prices fluctuate, over a period of weeks they will make their way right up to where they are now or higher. So, at best gas will be marginally cheaper than it would have been without the tax. But meanwhile, the government has less money for roads and public transit. That means they will rely more on toll roads (a user tax that hurts the poor the most) or, people will just be stuck in traffic longer, spending less time with their families and, oh, yes, burning more gas.

I'm curious to see how Obama will hit back.

[oregonjen]

2. Hmmm....cue the pics of McCain and Bush eating cake while Katrina victims suffer

[Hutzpa]

3. The chickens are coming home to 'ROOST'

:evilgrin:

[LeftishBrit]

4. How can any current Republican call anyone else insensitive to poor people?

That merits the Pot and Kettle Award of the Year!

[ginchinchili]

5. Raising the capital gains tax will not win Obama votes from the middle class.

Investing in mutual funds and directly in the stock market is the most popular way for the middle class to increase their savings. True, it will take more money from the wealthy, but the middle class will feel it more. This will hurt Obama with middle class voters and he needs them to win.

[leftofcool]

6. You got that right!

[pansypoo53219]

7. make the BUSH TAX CUTS TO THE RICH PERMANENT

and the stupid sheeple get a teeny tax cut on their gas, TEMPORARILY.

yeah, he feels our pain.