AP's AdWatch calls BS on McCain's "Painful"

[jefferson_dem]

...

ANALYSIS: The McCain campaign's oft-repeated assessment of Obama's tax proposals is based, in several instances, on outdated material that has been widely debunked. Obama has said his plan would raise taxes on single people making more than $200,000 and couples making more than $250,000, which by all measures doesn't add up to middle class.

The ad's most specific assertion — Obama voted to raise taxes on people making $42,000 — is based on a nonbinding Senate budget resolution early this year that the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 be allowed to expire in 2011 as scheduled. Obama has criticized the Bush tax cuts and called for ending them for the wealthiest taxpayers.

McCain didn't support Bush's tax cuts when they were passed but has said he supports them now. He contends that to allow the cuts to expire would be tantamount to a tax increase.

The broader charge that Obama promised more taxes on small businesses, the elderly, "life savings" and families — what the McCain campaign called "painful taxes" resulting in "hard choices for your budget" — is based on an overly broad reading of the Obama budget plan.

"Even though a host of independent, nonpartisan organizations have said this attack isn't true, Sen. McCain continues to lie about Sen. Obama's plan." Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan.

The ad continues the McCain campaign argument that Obama is a celebrity. By showing no men, the ad makes its appeal directly to women, a group polls show leans toward Obama. By saying Obama is not like "the rest of us," the spot also adds to what Obama contends is part of the GOP effort to make voters fearful of him personally.

In support of its ad, the McCain campaign cites the nonpartisan Web site Factcheck.org, which has been critical at times of McCain's spots, contending they contain false or misleading information. For example, the site says McCain's charge that Obama would raise taxes on small businesses is false, contending that the vast majority of small-business owners would see no change and that many others would see their taxes fall.

When a reporter on Aug. 1 asked McCain about Factcheck's criticism, McCain said he didn't respond to Web sites but added that "I have no idea what they're talking about."

Factcheck also points out misstatements and overstatements in ads supporting Obama's candidacy.

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/2008/08/08/D92E8AVO0_mccain_adwatch/index.html

[Coexist]

1. thanks for the non-Edwards thread - I can't Hide the damn things fast enough

its like whackamole.

[jefferson_dem]

2. Is something up with John Edwards?

:hide: