In last night's debate, when the issue of healthcare was brought up, Sarah Palin delivered her memorized her McCain talking points very well and shot out this gem:
And I want to give you a couple details on that. He's proposing a $5,000 tax credit for families so that they can get out there and they can purchase their own health care coverage. That's a smart thing to do. That's budget neutral.
And this is how Joe Biden BRILLIANTLY responded:
Now, with regard to the -- to the health care plan, you know, it's with one hand you giveth, the other you take it. You know how Barack Obama -- excuse me, do you know how John McCain pays for his $5,000 tax credit you're going to get, a family will get?
He taxes as income every one of you out there, every one of you listening who has a health care plan through your employer. That's how he raises $3.6 trillion, on your -- taxing your health care benefit to give you a $5,000 plan, which his Web site points out will go straight to the insurance company.
And then you're going to have to replace a $12,000 -- that's the average cost of the plan you get through your employer -- it costs $12,000. You're going to have to pay -- replace a $12,000 plan, because 20 million of you are going to be dropped. Twenty million of you will be dropped.
So you're going to have to place -- replace a $12,000 plan with a $5,000 check you just give to the insurance company. I call that the "Ultimate Bridge to Nowhere."
The Obama camp made this into a short, but incredibly effective ad that will be across the nation beginning today!
Transcript:
PALIN:
He’s proposing a five thousand dollar tax credit for families so that they
can get out there and they can purchase their own health care coverage.
BIDEN:
... do you know how John McCain pays for his five thousand dollar tax credit?
He taxes as income every one of you out there, every one of you listening
who has a health care plan through your employer.
Taxing your health care benefit.
I call that the "Ultimate Bridge to Nowhere."
Gwen: Thank you Senator.
BO:
I’m Barack Obama, and I approve this message.
The Obama camp does not play around. This is very effective in that there are 2 quick, easy to understand sound bytes that are devastating to the majority of us who do get our health insurance from our employers. Great job team Obama!!!
UPDATE I:
Just saw this on Americablog. For the past 2 debates, the audiences polled have been in complete disagreement with the pundits about who "won" the debate. Chuck Todd answers this very nicely. It really IS the issues this year!!!
UPDATE II:
Where's McCain? Heck, where's McCain's campaign team? It is now 11:19 am EST, and I see no John McCain ads have been released yet. There has been some post debate punditry posts popping up on my RSS feed, but none of the usual McCain zingers coming from Schmidt and/or Wallace, etc. Supposedly Palin did so well last night, you'd think they'd be spreading it deep and wide, but so far, nothing. Thoughts?