Taxes are for everyone according to Obama. Is someone, or a couple, who makes $150,000 a year rich? Obama/Biden think so.
In a recent Obama ad (below) Obama says that he wants to cut taxes for “95% of Americans” or those “Making less than $200,000 a year”. This starts at :24″ into the ad. From BarackObama.com and posted to YouTube on October 24, 2008.
Joe Biden, not to be out done, has let the real cat out of the bag. He said the tax cuts should go to, ‘middle class people — people making under 150,000 dollars a year.’ See video below for the source. Hint, its at 0:30″ into the clip. From WNEP Scranton and posted October 28, 2008.
According to the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), people who make up the Top 5% (or the opposite of the 96% of Americans that Obama/Biden want to help) make over $153,542 a year. This is a far cry from the $250,000 earners that Obama/Biden originally wanted to raise taxes on.
The Obama campaign media site, The Record, quotes Tucker Bounds, spokesman for McCain-Palin saying, “By adjusting his tax increases to include anyone making more than $200,000, Barack Obama has reversed himself and issued a shifty new call for at least 1 million more hardworking Americans to be added to his plans for higher taxes.”
The Record immediately rebutted Bounds, insisting Obama’s plan has always included a tax hike on Americans making more than $250,000, but the tax cut is only for those making less than $200,000.
The site then quotes Obama at the Oct. 7 presidential debate: “If you make less than a quarter of a million dollars a year, you will not see a single dime of your taxes go up. If you make $200,000 a year or less, your taxes will go down.”
Biden’s comments yesterday, however, have heated up criticism again.
“You getting an idea of what’s on their mind, huh? A little sneak peak,” McCain said, according to Fox News. “It’s interesting how their definition of rich has a way of creeping down. 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.”(1)
You listen to the candidates and you decide. I know what I heard and it wasn’t Biden saying anything about not raising taxes on those making between $150,000 and $200,000.(2)
Here is an Obama transcript of the candidate saying just that. That $150,000 is middle class -- not $250,000 as he has said all along. He even, quite properly, said that 95% falls at $150,000.(3)
HEMMER: You mentioned the economy. You travel back to the U.S. this weekend. You’re going back to a country with a limping economy, “ailing,” I think, is one of the words The Economist used at the end of last week.
You have suggested that taxes will be raised on some Americans. You have also suggested that taxes will be lowered for some Americans. In a limping or an ailing economy, why raise taxes on anyone?
OBAMA: Well, the — because we also have a $400 billion or so budget deficit, because we’ve also got to invest in infrastructure. We’ve got to deal with the fact that a lot more people are unemployed and are going to need unemployment benefits. We’ve got to shore up the housing market because people are experiencing foreclosures.
And that’s why I’ve structured a change in the tax code where if you are making $150,000 a year or less, you’re getting a tax cut, 95 percent of the American families will get a tax cut.
HEMMER: What do you consider…
OBAMA: And the people who are going to see their income taxes raised, go up, are making more than $250,000 a year. So you and I will pay a little bit more in taxes because we can afford it. And what that allows us to do is to help the vast majority of Americans who are really hurting in this economy.
HEMMER: I know we’re pushed for time. Can you give me a definition of the middle class based on income, within a range?
OBAMA: You know, what I would say is, if you are making more than $250,000, than you’re more than middle class. You’re doing better. If you are making less than $250,000, then you are definitely somewhere in the middle class.
And if you’re making $150,000 or less, than I think most Americans would agree that you’re middle class. So that’s why the fact that if you are making less than $250,000, you will not see your taxes go up under an Obama administration. And you will get tax cuts and more money in your pocket if you make less $150,000.
I think that’s the right way to promote the kind of bottom-up economic growth that’s going to make a difference in people’s lives.
From ABC News Fact Check -
Obama has called for higher taxes on income, capital gains and dividends for individuals making $200,000 per year; his tax plan imposes higher taxes on couples starting at $250,000 a year.
Emphasis mine.
And the sheep for Obama say nothing…
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