I believe the most insidious lie that has percolated across the country is that Obama will raise your taxes. In almost every TV ad, John McCain, when referring to Obama, uses the phrases "He will raise your taxes." It was also repeated ad nauseam at the Convention last week. And we know that there is a viral email circulating that also pushes this idea. http://www.factcheck.org/...
It is time to push back with all of our might. We are 180,000 strong, Kossacks. We can push back to our family, friends. We can push back to the media. Ezra Klein, a few days ago, suggested the press ask McCain if he could explain Obama's healthcare plan. I would like to steal this idea and apply it to the tax question. My goal would be to have the press ask McCain one simple question:
"Senator McCain, you say that Obama will raise taxes. Whose taxes will he raise? Can you explain Senator Obama's tax plan to me?"
And if he can't answer, the plan should be explained to him, and then he should be asked again, what he thinks of it.
Follow me over the fold for more details and ideas for action.
I have heard several anecdotal reports of voters who were leaning Obama, but have decided to support McCain because of the tax issue.
Yesterday, Obama's surrogates and Obama himself were all over the airwaves pushing back on this lie. Rendell called on McCain to:
stop misleading, stop lying, about Senator Obama’s tax plan.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/...
On CNN's Late Edition, yesterday, James Carville broke it down into very simple terms for us (h/t From the Middle):
By every economic measure known to man, Democratic Presidents have out-performed Republican Presidents. And by the way if you believe the economy was better under George W Bush than Bill Clinton you’ve got a real clear choice here. If you think what America needs is a tax cut for people making over half-a-million dollars a year then vote for McCain. If you think middle-class people are struggling – that their incomes are going down and they need help – vote for Obama. It’s a very simple choice
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Beyond this, the Obama campaign unleashed a trifecta, although not directly about the tax plan, they used the "L" word. The Obama Action wire sent an email to all supporters asking them to push back on McCain "Lying on the Record." They released the "No Mavericks" ad, again using the word lie. Finally, Obama himself on Olbermann, stopped just short of calling McCain a liar:
http://www.jedreport.com/...
So, Kossacks, we are the Campaign War Room. As Obama surrogates, we can do the following. We need to be on message, consistent, and repeat ad nauseam. It may be boring, but it is the only way to reach these low information voters. If 180,000 people repeat this message every day for the next 50 days, will we win the election?
Talk to Friends and Family
If you tell people one thing about the Obama tax plan, tell them this:
- Obama will only raise taxes on the top 1 %, i.e., those making $600,000 or more. He will cut taxes for 95% of Americans: anyone making less than $250,000 will get a tax cut.
Ask them how much of a tax cut they will get under an Obama administration. If they don't know, and you happen to be sitting by a computer, show them this website
Use your email signature line
- I've added this signature line to every email I send out.
John McCain says Barack Obama will raise your taxes - McCain is Lying
Use this calculator to figure your Obama taxcut: http://www.obamataxcut.com
Write Letters to the Editor or other local media (TV/radio)
These are most effective if you send to your local paper. However, if you have a hometown connection to one of the 18 tipping point states (http://www.fivethirtyeight.com), then please write to these editors. Emphasize the one point above: Obama will only raise taxes on the top 1 %, i.e., those making $600,000 or more. He will cut taxes for 95% of Americans: anyone making less than $250,000 will get a tax cut. And ask them to have their reporters ask McCain this question: "You say that Obama will raise taxes. Whose taxes will he raise? Can you explain Senator Obama's tax plan to me?" And if he can't answer, the plan should be explained to him, and then he should be asked again, what he thinks of it.
More resources on Senator Obama's tax plan:
Factcheck.org dissects and refutes every single one of the lies circulating in the viral smear email
http://www.factcheck.org/...
Washingtonpost.com handy chart on the difference between the tax plans, based upon report by the non-partisan Tax Policy Center:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...