Obama lashes McCain over rich claim

Herald Sun ^ | 19 August 2008

[Aussie Dasher]

DEMOCRAT Barack Obama has berated his White House rival John McCain as an out-of-touch economic illiterate who would make the rich richer at a time of financial pain for most US voters.

At a rally in a sweltering high school gymnasium in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Senator Obama mocked Senator McCain for remarking at a weekend forum with religious leader Rick Warren that only those earning more than $US5 million ($5.7 million) a year were really rich.

"This explains why his tax plan gives hundreds of thousands in tax breaks for people earning 2.5 million, because they're only middle class," the Illinois senator told a jeering crowd of 1800 people.

"Everyone making 2.5 million or more, raise your hands," Senator Obama said to laughter. Nobody in the audience did.

Mr Warren had asked Senators McCain and Obama separately at the forum in California to "define rich".

Senator McCain, whose wife is a wealthy brewing heiress, said "I think if you're just talking about income, how about five million".

[Aussie Dasher]

Sounds like the typical politics of envy and division again...

[wastedyears]

There is not a single politician that could give a rational reason as to why people can’t keep most if not all of what they earn, whether it be $30,000 a year or $25,000,000 a year.

[coconutt2000]

If the school gymnasium was “sweltering” I wouldn’t put it past Obama’s campaign if they made sure it was uncomfortable to make the audience more receptive to Obama’s “message.”

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Senator Obama? Bite me...

[BipolarBob]

There won’t be any middle class in the new Obama Nation.

[LegalEagle61]

McCain KNEW that comment, meant obviously as a joke, was going to be distorted, or actually LIED about by Obama.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’ll give you a rational answer. People are kept STUPID about the taxes they’re forced to pay for a reason. And educated public is a dangerous public as far as politicians are concerned.

Thwarting taxes in every legal way is my hobby and delight. :)

If more people would educate themselves as to how much money is STOLEN from them and REDISTRIBUTED to others each year, there would be a revolution.

But, thanks to ‘Publik Skrewel’ and the fact that Americans are lazy, that won’t happen any time soon. ;)

[stockstrader]

I guess Obama can’t distinguish between yearly earnings,,,and total net worth. Geeeez.

[bray]

How pathetic, McCain said that it would be twisted even though he said he was joking. Black Oblack will make everyone making 30K Rich.

Pray for W and Our Troops

[Soliton]

I think Obama is going to get nastier and nastier as the reality that he might loose kicks in.

[headstamp 2]

“Obama lashes McCain over rich claim...”

That’s an interesting way of putting it.

[Jeff Chandler]

an out-of-touch economic illiterate who would make the rich richer at a time of financial pain for most US voters.

Did Obama really say that?

[skeeter]

McCain KNEW that comment, meant obviously as a joke, was going to be distorted...

And laughingly said so right after he made the quip.

Its up to the media to impart the proper context to his remark, but of course they're more than happy to pass along the lie.

[elk]

Is McCain wrong? Obama thinks all the middle class are rich and he'd like to see that class disappear. All his ideas would lead to that result, anyhow.

My personal favorite is the SAHM -- all her labor from January to July is NOT taxable, unlike all individuals who work salaried jobs. Her work goes entirely to her family! How cool is that?

Shhhh...that's a dirty little secret.

[G Larry]

Obama is the economic illiterate, the historical illiterate, the Christian illiterate, the illiterate diplomat, the science illiterate, the geological illiterate, etc......

[clintonh8r]

RATs have no sense of humor.

[RedStateRocker]

IMHO a real problem is the witholding.
If everybody had to write a check for the total amount- THEN you'd see a revolution.

[Republican Wildcat]

Just as McCain predicted, Obama is lying.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Yes, you would. BUT...every paycheck I’ve ever earned keeps a running total of all taxes paid. Those numbers are pretty darn big by the end of the year!

It’s completely depressing. And I’m not sure that the ‘Fair Tax’ effort is ever going to gain any traction.

You know d@mn well Government is working against us. It’s up to each Citizen to arm themselves against this type of thievery. Grrrrr!

[An Old Man]

Sure there is:

Haven't you ever heard about from each according to his means, and the corollary to each according to his needs

All these socialists think that is the way to solve all the problems that beset mankind. It's been tried all over the world with the same dismal outcome each and every time.

However, maybe this time we have the right group of people who will do what all others have failed to do.

I hope you realize that both my tongue and cheek are stressed at this point.