Make no mistake that McCain is trying to promote the meme that Obama is not only popular (an irrelevant point on whether he is ready to be president), but that he is the leader of a cult of wild-eyed, screaming teenagers who faint and have the vapors at the very sight of him. Bonus “he’s luring your white daughters” footage included:
I also like the fact that the claims in this ad have no cites, unlike most of Obama’s attack ads. I’d like to know where McCain came up with the $42,000 figure of who would have their taxes raised. I’m guessing it’s some sort of creative accounting where he counts taxes cuts Obama may eliminate but doesn’t count new ones he may implement.
In any case, it’s not shocking that McCain is horribly wrong. Indeed, those making $42,000 in a joint return will see a tax break of about a $1000 tax break, and those making $42,000 individually would probably see something along the lines $500 to $600 I’d guess.
Looking at the chart, there is another possibility of where McCain is getting his numbers: The income level where you would get a bigger tax cut from McCain than Obama. In every bracket with a joint filing of $111,646 (or an individual filing of $55,823), you would do better under McCain than Obama. I don’t know what the difference is within the block below that, but it’s possible that those making $42,000 would do better with McCain than Obama.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that they don’t get a tax cut, they just get a bigger one with McCain. However, it’s quite possible that McCain is defining receiving a smaller tax cut than you would have gotten with him as a tax increase.
That is a truly remarkable definition if that’s how they’re calculating it. It reminds me of what the GOP used to do back when when they count votes against tax cuts as a vote for a tax increase in ads that they ran against Democrats. So they would say “X has voted to increase taxes 157 times!) when in fact they probably voted to increase taxes 3 times and voted against lowering one tax or another 154 times.
In any case, getting back on track (I was on a track before?), this ad is clearly meant to scare people away from Obama, trying to show him as winning the Democratic nomination only because of a bunch of dreamy-eyed, know-nothing losers who like Obama because he’s pretty (did I mention they’re playing the ‘Obama is effemite’ theme again?)
Next thing I’ll know, they’ll be comparing Obama to Ron Burgundy or something.
