Is Obama Really the Liberal Reagan?

I also wonder if people know what they are getting with Sen Obama. His approach to taxes, in particular, may help balance the budget for 2008 (since everyone will do whatever they can to "realize" unrealized gains, thereby inundating the IRS will tax payments), but prospectively there will be a great tendency to figure out tax schemes to convert ordinary income into capital gains and to avoid estate taxes. Lawyers (such as he and his wife) flourish in that environment, but people striving to move up the ladder will struggle unless they can convert their earnings to capital gains. I guess other groups that will love him are hedge fund managers and private equity types who can avoid these stiff payroll taxes by shifting money away from W2 income. Does he (and do his supporters) realize the tremendously negative effects that this several trillion dollar tax increase will have on the economy? It is hard to believe that they do (unless, again, they are hedge fund managers or private equity people or lawyers, all of whom will prosper). One suspects that this has become more of a cult of personality than the Reaganesque movement of ideas, though that is really less the fault of Sen. Obama and more that of his supporters'.

Dave of PA @ Feb 12, 2008 15:47:59 PM

I don't think Obama will raise taxes. I received several calls from his campaign last week and all of them said he won't.

Charles P. of MD @ Feb 12, 2008 15:47:28 PM

NObama

"Obamacrats"??? that right there is the problem with the obama cult. they look at sen obama as some kind of virtuous entity. HE IS A POLITICIAN!!! the difference between clinton and obama is that she knows how to work the system. I absolutley despise what the obama cult is doing to the party. if he is the nominee, we will get spanked in november, and deservadly so. the one bit of good news about this fiasco, is that we will not have to deal with empty-suit candidates for at least 20 years.

mark my words, after this election the country will be more divided than ever. this time blacks will hate whites because whites will back mccain (although one doesnt have to be white to like mccain over obama. all you need is a brain). there is no way you can look at a white guy vs a black guy and not have it boil down to race. it happens in basketball, golf, and especially boxing. and just think mccain is beating or tied with obama BEFORE he even starts to campaign against him. i am going to love seeing the "obamacrats" kick and scream either in denver or in november.

fred of VA @ Feb 12, 2008 15:47:22 PM

Obama is the real deal -- Syle AND Substance!

I and most of my fellow Obama supporties are neither naive nor blinded by the glow of his candidacy. Obama is full of substance and we've taken the time to get past the surface and verify it. Still, without his impressive style and superb oratory, few would bother to pay attention (remember Chris Dodd, Bill Bradley, etc.). Obama's style is the key that unlocks the door for the nation to notice him and then when he's elected, benefit from his intellect, commitment, good sense, and eagerness to bring us together to solve the many tough problems we face. The terms "liberal" and "conservative" have become so distorted that they no longer have any real meaning. But in the traditional meanings of these terms, most Americans are conservative on some issues and liberal on others. Purists on either side are few and far between.

So, to draw on some of Obama's assessment of Iraq, I state that I'm not against all taxes, I'm against dumb taxes. I'm not against all government programs, I'm against dumb government programs. Barack Obama recognizes this in his very nature and can be relied upon to seek the best resolutions to our challenges, not just the best sound bites. Read his book, The Audacity of Hope, and you will understand this well.

In the past I've voted Republican nearly as often as I've voted Democrat (less often though since the Republican party has been nearly captured by the right-wing faction) and I've sometimes voted for 3rd-party candidates. More often than not, I've been underwhelmed by the candidates for President over the years. Barack Obama is the freshest political breeze to come along in my voting lifetime (since the mid-70's) and I'm not only pleased but am genuinely excited at the prospect of the good that he can enable us all to accomplish. It's about time. Don't get stuck by the cynicism that you may have fallen into these past decades. Open your minds to new possibilities. Can we really work together to make America truly great once again? Yes, We Can!

Zooter of TN @ Feb 12, 2008 15:43:23 PM

An interesting commentary worth reflecting upon on now and periodically in the future.

One comment about Larry Kudlow --- he's turned into a one-note, deaf-earred Johhny. His mantra is "high taxes on the wealthiest Americans are bad" --- but he has no regard for middle and lower income taxpayers (i.e., those with AGI under $150,000 or even $200,000). Obama has focused on cutting taxes for the later group and letting the wealthiest Americans pay a bit more in taxes. Perhaps Kudlow should answer the question "shouldn't high income individuals --- perhaps those making over $500,000 a year --- pay a bit more in taxes because, afterall, it's not necessarily their brilliance or ability that allowed them to secure their wealth as much as the accident that they were born in this country at a particular time and place that afforded them opportunities that many others --- including many middle and lower income taxpayers --- may not have had?"

Robert G Williams of NJ @ Feb 12, 2008 15:41:36 PM