Home > Opinion > Sam Dealey > The Post’s Cooked Poll and Obama’s Tax Class Warfare

The Post’s Cooked Poll and Obama’s Tax Class Warfare

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People do not believe Obama because his claims are patently incomplete and mathematically impossible. He claims to offer 95% of Americans a tax cut, but in the latest tax year more than 50% of Americans paid NO taxes. The last time I checked, 100% minus 50% who pay no taxes only leaves 50%, at most, eligible for a tax cut. HOW CAN YOU GIVE A TAX CUT TO SOMEONE WHO ALREADY PAYS NO TAXES? Obama's approach bespeaks a fundamental disrespect for the mental abilities of his audience, a sort of effete intellectual snobbishness that is so typical of his (extreme left) wing of political persuasion: "Just give us your money and get out of the way; we know better how to spend it than you do, so give us what we demand. We will tell you only what we think it will take to appeal to your stupid, short-sighted, self-interest; JUST GIVE US WHAT WE WANT!!!" The result of such disingenuousness, predictably and rightly, is disbelief.

Steve Moseley of TN 7:57PM September 17, 2008

Sam,
This is the kind of serious discussion that the rest of the press SHOULD be doing.
I am on the fence about who to vote for and I tend to be a limited government guy and am skeptical about Obama's plan for the economy but I do want to know what he really plans.
He says he will lower taxes on the non wealthy but how much does that group even pay in taxes now? I thought the amount of federal taxes (and the president doesn't set what you pay in state taxes) paid by the non wealthy was minimal.
Also, if the wealthy wound up paying MORE to the government by having a lower rate (making more money and being taxed more often) then why does he want to raise taxes on them? Just to stick it to them? If the goal is to bring in as much revenue to the government as possible and that happens to be LOWER taxes on the wealthy then why mess with it? I don't get it.

Mark E of IL 1:45PM September 14, 2008

Attacking other nations might be good business for well-connected reconstruction firms, but it is a form of wealth transfer, through the tax system, from the American public to the shareholders of such firms.
McCain will certainly do this, and this is a form of taxation.
The American public can be easily manipulated into accepting this sort of tax increase by stoking its sense of shallow patriotism. Raising taxes to increase their welfare, on the other hand, is much harder to do. This paradoxical situation is the result of cultural brainwashing, where the public is unable to tell what is in its best interest. Bush severely damaged their nation, yet they are ready to replace Bush with a war mongering simpleton to continue the job.

Domingo Tavella of CA 10:11AM September 13, 2008

Vote McCain if you are concerned with your personal short term happiness and wealth. Vote Obama if you are concerned with your children and grandchildren's happiness and wealth.
I think its pretty greedy to be the top wage earner that actually would be getting taxed more to have a huge problem with it. The Bush tax cuts were unjust and have failed. You rich folks have been riding the gravy train for eight years. The rest of us can't afford gas to drive ourselves to the doctor let alone afford the doctor! And a lot of us are working 40+ hours a week doing crappy jobs that need to be done to keep our society going. Why should you be punished with death because your calling in life is to be a nurse's aide or carpenter? Because not having health insurance but making too much money to get medicaid is pretty much a death sentence if an illness comes up. Or you'll go bankrupt just to stay alive. And if you've been putting in full time hours at any job then why the heck should you be put in a predicament like that?

of VA 6:40AM September 13, 2008

Giving the greatest tax cuts to those who have gained the most economically in the last 8 years - increasing the spread between the haves and the have nots is insane.
The only way to bring an end to the
growing economic recession is to put money into the hands of those who will spend it, the middle class and to those who are in poverty - not to those who will merely squirrel it away for their great grand-children.
Obama's tax proposals are the only ones that make sense.

Martin Hannes of NY 5:08PM September 12, 2008

Did the Rasmussen poll use the term "class warfare?" If they didn't, then Dealey himself is cooking the poll's interpretation.
Rasmussen: Who wants Class Warfare?
American citizen: Me! Me! Put me down for some of that!
As if.

Kath of CA 12:04PM September 12, 2008

The productive members of American society are getting "taxed" into the poor house. This is the libs idea of growth? This election cycle has become incredible.

Kansasgirl of KS 10:13AM September 12, 2008

Admitting that Both parties have been reckless in spending in recent years, Democrats Are the Party of increased taxes. Obama is representing that Party. John McCain has promised to fight the establishment in DC, something his history lends credence to. Obama appears to be trying to buy the election through class warfare. He imagines a public whos greatest concern is who's going to send me what monies. Who's offering me "free" stuff? Who's ready to rob shareholders in oil to gimme sum? Who offers implied guarantees that govt. is capable of "running the economy"? Obama's promises of goodies is just the start. Democrats have years worth of pent-up desires, all which require increased taxes. Obama is a Democrat. There is no rooted Democrat philosophy which opposes tax increases on principle. do That math.

bluecollarbytes of CO 9:21AM September 12, 2008

If the JFK, Reagan, and George W.Bush tax cuts grew the economy and increased revenues to the Federal Government, why would the Democrats want to increase taxes?
Because raising taxes is not about increasing revenue. It's about power and control.
Aside from the fact that punitive taxation penalizes the most productive members of society and rewards the least productive, it does not work to grow our economy. It does work for politician's who pander to people who agree with the Government as an agent of wealth re-distribution and think the Feds owe them "free lunch".
There is good reason today's Socialist Democrats have adopted our democratic process as the means to advance their socialist agenda… Unlike communism at gun point, it works!?

Mike Dmo of MI 6:28AM September 12, 2008

Oh let's not forget a tax cut for 95 percent of the people and no taxes for retired people who make under 50K. Even if he could make good on 10% of his promises, the US would be drifting out of a democracy and into socialism. I don't think he means harm, I just don't think he understands democracy. Maybe he has spent too much of his life in other countries and just imagines the US differently.

Maggie of WA 2:57AM September 12, 2008