I received this “chart” in my email today from the McCain-Palin campaign:
This chart in an outright assault on the truth. It wouldn’t even be true in the McCain-Palin “fantasy-land” where both seem to be living–where truth is based on belief, not reality. Don’t believe me? Let’s do a reality check:
Taxes
Both McCain and Obama will lower taxes, on net. McCain will lower taxes more (-2%, on net), but, Obama will lower taxes as well (-0.3% on net). The only way that this claim is true is if you make more than $603,403 per year, in which case, yes, Obama will raise your taxes (to their 1990’s level), and McCain will cut your taxes.
Fact: 60% of taxpayers make less than $66,354 per year, and will receive much larger tax cuts under the Obama plan than the McCain plan.
Economy
The claim that Obama will “destroy jobs” has no more basis in reality than the claim that McCain will “create jobs.”
Fact: Obama will eliminate tax-incentives for companies that outsource jobs, and will create a tax-credit for companies that create jobs in the United States.
Energy
John McCain has consistently voted against funding for alternative energy research. Obama has provided a more comprehensive and thorough energy plan, and has pledged the funding to support it.
Fact: the time horizon for taping American off-shore petroleum reserves is similar to the expected time horizon for many alternative energy technologies to come online — 10 to 20 years.
Healthcare
The McCain healthcare proposal, not the Obama healthcare proposal is likely to “break employer coverage” by taxing (for the first time) employer-provided healthcare benefits as earned income. The economic data is clear: this will lead to fewer employers providing health insurance for their employers. Moreover, the economies of scale of group plans make group policies cheaper, meaning that a greater portion of premium payments are used to pay for treatment, rather than administration.
Fact: the McCain healthcare proposal will drive employees from employer-provided policies, which will increase the per-capital administrative costs of healthcare, reducing spending on treatment.
Reform
Barack Obama has been a driving force behind ethics reform in the Illinois and National Senate. Sarah Palin has endorsed the man who is only the fifth-ever Senator to be convicted of a felony while in office. Over the last twelve months, McCain has “reformed” the vast majority of his “reformer” positions that earned him the title in the first place.
Spending
John McCain will increase spending. According to data from the Tax Policy Center, McCain will increase spending, on net, more than Obama.
Education
John McCain’s sole education reform proposal is to extend the “voucher” program in Washington D.C. to allow more parents to send their children to private schools. Obama’s plan will increase funding for early-childhood education, which studies have proven effective. Furthermore, Obama has pledged increased funding for schools–who have seen the relative caliber of teachers decline hand-in-hand with the decline in relative income.
Fact: America needs education reform well beyond the confines of Washington D.C..
Iraq
Didn’t we already declare “mission accomplished” in Iraq? Didn’t we already “win”? The sole difference between Obama and McCain on this issue is that Obama favors the withdrawal of the majority if American troops from Iraq on a 16-month timeline. McCain opposes any sort of timeline, and has vowed one-hundred more years of war, if necessary.
Fact: neither candidate favors immediate, careless or hasty withdrawal from Iraq. Obama favors a withdrawal timeline, which McCain opposes.
This whole chart is so far out in “fantasyland” that it can’t even be adequately be responded to. To the McCain campaign: denying the truth doesn’t change reality. One can only hope such outlandish lies don’t change the minds of undecided voters. The American people deserve better than unabashed lies of the Bush administration and the McCain campaign.
So, reader …
Vote.
Put an end to this madness.
-m
