The Incredible Shrinking Middle Class Tax Levels… So Which Is It Barack?

As I discussed before here

I think McCain says it all right here

During a rally in Hershey, Pa., McCain told supporters the gaffe revealed the Democrats’ true tax-and-spend intentions.

“It’s interesting how their definition of ‘rich’ has a way of creeping down,” McCain said.

“Senator Obama has made a lot of promises. First, he said people making less than $250,000 would benefit from his plan.

“Then, this weekend, he announced in an ad that if you’re a family making less than $200,000 you’ll benefit – but yesterday right here in Pennsylvania, Senator Biden said tax relief should only go to ‘middle-class people’ – people making under $150,000 a year.

“At this rate, it won’t be long before Senator Obama is right back to his vote that Americans making just $42,000 a year should get a tax increase.

Then there is the Wall Street Journal’s take on the situation…

Well, will families making less than $250,000 get a tax cut under President Obama, or not? Senator Obama has been saying this for months, but on Monday Joe Biden put the tax-cut income threshold at $150,000 in an interview with a TV station in his beloved Scranton, Pennsylvania. The Biden campaign later clarified — or at least tried to clarify — the matter by saying that anyone making between $150,000 and $250,000 wouldn’t get a tax cut but also wouldn’t pay higher taxes.

We suspect what’s going on here is more than Mr. Biden’s normal gift of gaffe. As with his admission that a President Obama would quickly be tested by our enemies, the Delaware rambler was stumbling into the truth. An Obama Administration couldn’t possibly pay for a tax cut for 95% of Americans by raising taxes on a mere 5%. Those 5% don’t make enough money, or at least they won’t after they find ways to shelter more of their income when their tax rates rise.

Just as Bill Clinton promised a “middle-class tax cut” in 1992 only to raise taxes on the middle class in 1993, Mr. Obama will quickly find that his tax-revenue math doesn’t add up. Add in the demands on Capitol Hill to spend more and to offset the Alternative Minimum Tax, and our bet is that even $150,000 would soon prove to be a moving tax target. Remember when the AMT was only supposed to hit 21 millionaires? Next year, without relief, it could hit 26 million taxpayers. Tax increases always hit the middle class because that’s where the money is.

Add this slip up to the reality of the tax plan explained here where the author explains 4 different ways that the Obama tax plan will result in higher taxes for everyone making $50,000 a year… and I am none too thrilled, not only with the tax plan but the continued lies and the pass on the lies the media gives him.

As McCain has said repeatedly… Obama is very eloquent, he will lull you into a sense of security with his beautiful words, but to get the real meaning, you have to listen to what he says very carefully.

Now, Bill Richardson has pegged the number at $120k…

FoxNews

For the second time in a week, a prominent Democrat has downgraded Barack Obama’s definition of the middle class — leading Republicans to question whether he’ll stick to his promise not to raise taxes on anyone making under $250,000.

The latest hiccup in the campaign message came Friday morning on KOA-AM, when New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson pegged the middle class as those making $120,000 and under.

Click here to listen to Richardson talk about Obama’s tax plan.

“What Obama wants to do is he is basically looking at $120,000 and under among those that are in the middle class, and there is a tax cut for those,” Richardson said in the interview, according to a clip posted on YouTube.

So which is it?

Obama To Announce VP Choice Tomorrow Morning… And It’s Not Clinton/Kaine?

From CNN

Sen. Barack Obama’s choice for running mate will be announced to supporters in a text message Saturday morning, senior Obama campaign officials told CNN on Friday night, and a senior party official said it won’t be Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Sen. Barack Obama says he has decided on his running mate but is not yet ready to reveal the name….

….A senior Democratic official who had spoken with Clinton told CNN late Friday that the Obama campaign has communicated to her through private channels that she will not be Obama’s vice presidential pick.

….Also, sources close to Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine said he has been informed he was not selected. One source told CNN that Obama personally made the call to Kaine.

Ok, so let me get this straight…

I would not be surprised if he didn’t pick Clinton.  The Obama’s made it ABUNDANTLY clear that they don’t like the Clintons.  I think NOT picking Clinton is a deathknell for Obama’s chances.  He has not united the party, and it doesn’t look like he will.  About half of Hillary’s supporters will not vote for Obama according to recent polls.  The “new people” that he brought into the party, like the youth vote, are losing enthusiasm quick, further dropping Obama’s polling numbers.

Kaine is a horrendous choice.  He is a freshman Governor and pro-choice.  So it would exasterbate the people worried about Obama’s experience level, and put a huge thumb in the eye of female Democrats.  It’s the inexperienced express to a Mondale sized loss.

Bayh gains him nothing.  Obama is not winning Indiana…  it just won’t happen and Bayh doesn’t get him that.  Bayh is a political softie as well.  He was given a keynote in the 1996 Convention and was moved back later in the night because he refused to harden up the speech against the Republicans.  His speech also flopped…  big time.  Obama needs an attack dog for a VP so that he can maintain his appearances of being above it all.

Chet Edwards is a HORRENDOUS choice.  He would have to be introduced to the country because no one knows who the hell he is.  He is a VERY conservative Democrat as well.  It gains him ZERO and probably would only make lots of people angry.  In addition, Chet is a CONGRESSMAN from TEXAS.  Well, Congressmen have no executive experience, so it doesn’t help with managerial experience.  Obama is not winning Texas…  period.  And there is no foreign policy credentials to be gained from him.  So, Obama gains nothing AND would have to spend time introducing him.  Not happening.

Richardson is not happening.  While Richardson is a very good and very well qualified statesman, he is not a leader…  at all.  Ambassador, Secretary of State, NSA, but not VP.

And then there is Biden.  I must say that I really like Joe Biden.  A lot.  But I am a poltical wonk.  He is not well known to the general public and would have to be introduced, though certainly not to the extent that someone like Chet Edwards would need.  Biden has ZERO appeal.  He is a competent statesman, but he is certainly not inspirational in anyway.  And while Biden can be a bit of a pittbull, he comes off like “Dad”…  and would be percieved as Obama’s metaphorical “Dad.”  Not a good image.

I will say right now, that whoever Obama picks…  at this point…  if it is not Clinton, Obama is screwed.