Organizing for America

DEBATE REALITY CHECK: TAXES

Tonight, Sarah Palin said: “Barack Obama had 94 opportunities to side on the people's side and reduce taxes, and 94 times he voted to increase taxes or not support a tax reduction, 94 times. Now, that is not what we need to create jobs and really bolster and heat up our economy. We do need the private sector to be able to keep more of what we earn and produce.” [Vice Presidential Debate, 10/2/08]

The Facts: McCain/Palin Claim On Taxes Is “FALSE”

OBAMA HAS NOT VOTED 94 TIMES TO RAISE TAXES

New York Times: Charge That Obama Voted 94 Times For “Higher Taxes” Is “False.” “McCain’s false charges have been more frequent: that Mr. Obama opposes ‘innovation’ on energy policy; that he voted 94 times for ‘higher taxes’; and that Mr. Obama is personally responsible for rising gasoline prices.” [Editorial, New York Times, 7/30/08 ]
CNN: The McCain Claim That Obama Voted To Raise Taxes 94 Times Is “Misleading.” CNN wrote that McCain’s claim was “Misleading. McCain's summary ignores the fact that some of the votes were for measures to lower taxes for many Americans, while increasing them for a much smaller number of taxpayers. A nonpartisan examination also finds that the 94 total includes multiple votes on the same measures and budget votes that would not directly lead to higher taxes.” [CNN, 9/21/08 ]
FactCheck: The McCain Campaign’s Claim That Obama Voted 94 Times To Raise Taxes Is “Inflated” And “Falsely Impl[ies] That Obama Has Pushed Indiscriminately To Raise Taxes For Nearly Everybody.” “It's true that most of the votes the GOP counts would either have increased taxes for some, or set budget targets calling for such increases. But by repeating their inflated 94-vote figure, the McCain campaign and the GOP falsely imply that Obama has pushed indiscriminately to raise taxes for nearly everybody. A closer look reveals that he's voted consistently to restore higher tax rates on upper-income taxpayers but not on middle- or low-income workers.” [FactCheck.org, 7/3/08 ]
OBAMA’s PLAN PROVIDES A BIGGER TAX CUT FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS THAN MCCAIN AND MCCAIN’s TAX CUT LEAVES OUT 101 MILLION MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES AND 37 MILLION SENIORS
Obama’s Plan Would Cut Taxes On The Middle Class Three To Almost Eight Times More Than McCain’s Would. “But when it comes to promises, it's worth pointing out that, according to the non-partisan Tax Policy Center's analysis of both candidates' proposed plans, Obama would cut taxes for those making in the range of $38,000 to $66,000 three to almost eight times more than McCain would.” [MSNBC, “First Read,” 8/8/08 ]

McCain’s Plan To Cut Taxes Leaves Out 101 Million Middle Class Households. “McCain's plan is tilted toward corporations and the most affluent, neglects middle-class Americans and lacks immediate solutions, Obama's advisers said today in a conference call with reporters held to unveil a report critical of the Arizona senator's proposals. … McCain's plan to cut taxes for the middle class by increasing the dependent exemption leaves out 101 million households without children, according to Obama's report. His plan gives tax cuts to the nation's wealthiest 2 percent and to large corporations, the report said.” [Bloomberg, 7/6/08 ; Tax Foundation Tax Policy Blog, 8/14/08 ]