McCain – Higher Taxes OK By Me, & Hillary Would Be a Good President!
From a February 20, 2005 interview between Tim Russert and John McCain and Hillary Clinton… Russert asks this question of McCain:
MR. RUSSERT: Let me turn homeward on an issue that is very important to people watching this morning, and that is Social Security. Senator McCain, there’s a big debate in your Republican Party about whether or not, as part of the solution to Social Security’s solvency problem, that you lift the cap so that you would pay payroll tax, Social Security tax, not just on the first $90,000 of your income, but perhaps even higher. Could you support that as part of a compromise?
Before we look at McCain’s answer – realize what we’re talking about here.
American workers a large amount of Social Security taxes. If you’re employed, you pay at present, 6.2 percent of your income to Social Security and your employer pays the same percent for a total of 12.40 percent of your income. This doesn’t count Medicare hospital insurance which takes another 1.45% from you and 1.45% from your employer.
When this interview took place, the first $90,000 was subject to social security taxes. After that, you and your employer no longer pay the total of 12.4% tax to Social Security.
What Senator John McCain is being asked here, is whether he’s willing to increase the amount of income that is subject to this tax. This is a tax increase folks. And it is typical class-warfare kind of language as well. Its the standard, “Sock it to the rich, and we’ll all feel better” approach.
So, McCain’s answer:
SEN. McCAIN: As part of a compromise I could, and other sacrifices, because we all know that it doesn’t add up until we make some very serious and fundamental changes. I’m proud of the job that Senator Lindsey Graham has been doing in his leadership position on this issue and showing some courage.
Are we being a bit unfair to McCain? Perhaps he’s really not in favor of tax increases. Perhaps he was just having a bad day.
Not quite. Just remember that McCain twice voted against Bush’s tax breaks.
Thanks John.
Finally, Russert asks toward the end of the interview:
MR. RUSSERT: Senator McCain, a serious question: Do you think the lady to your right would make a good president?
McCain’s answer:
SEN. McCAIN: Yeah, you’re breaking up. I am sure that Senator Clinton would make a good president. I happen to be a Republican and would support, obviously, a Republican nominee, but I have no doubt that Senator Clinton would make a good president.
Great. Just great.
July 30, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I think you are splitting hairs. How can you take an interview from 2005 and compare it to today? The economy was much better then. Can’t a person, even a President, change his or her mind, based on current conditions? The same holds true for the war in Iraq or any other subject. It is not acceptable for the media to nit pick over comments made 3 years ago, or even 3 months ago for that matter. Things change, and we have to change with them. Stop trying to dig up old bones!
July 30, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Senator McCain.
I am a Democrat who is worried about the prospect of Obama leading our country.
I want YOU to win this presidential election because I trust your integrity and commitment to the American people. I hold the greatest respect for your wife Cindy, for the wondeerful Humanitarian work she has done in povety-stricken countries with the most deprived and malnourished, needy children. Cindy would be an excellent and well-loved First Lady. I would love to meet both of you.
However, your presidential campaign needs a BOOST and a turn-around if you are going to succeed in November. You are a great person but not your campaign SO FAR
The best thing to do, i believe to energize your campaign is to talk Hillary Clinton into running as your VP as a Republican and ddialogue with Hillary on getting better PR and media coverage, and important issues to the NOBAMA people who are totally
dosgusted with the DNC, the Obamanauts, the terrible media coverage you have recieved…the list goes on. McCAIN AND CLINTON IS THE TRUE DREAM TEAM!
July 30, 2008 at 7:16 pm
THIS WEBSITE IS A RAG