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Miscounting Obama's Tax Votes

Republicans claim Obama "voted 94 times for higher taxes." But their count is inflated and misleading.

By Lori Robertson | factcheck.org
Jul 3, 2008 | Updated: 3:09  p.m. ET Jul 3, 2008

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  • Posted By: jay_trainor@hotmail.com @ 07/07/2008 3:24:01 PM

    If Bush hadn't given away all of the tax surplus to the rich, we'd have better hospitals and could afford to replace our weakened infrastructure. We need someone like Obama who doesn't just talk a good game but practices what he preaches.

    • Posted By: neocon @ 07/07/2008 4:00:05 PM

      Jay, never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

  • Posted By: jay_trainor@hotmail.com @ 07/07/2008 3:23:33 PM

    If Bush hadn't given away all of the tax surplus to the rich, we'd have better hospitals and could afford to replace our weakened infrastructure. We need someone like Obama who doesn't just talk a good game but practices what he preaches.

    • Posted By: neocon @ 07/07/2008 3:35:52 PM

      What tax surplus? That was just Clinton plating fast and loose with the books. There NEVER was a tax surplus.

      • Posted By: neocon @ 07/07/2008 3:50:16 PM

        The claim is generally made that Clinton had a surplus of $69 billion in FY1998, $123 billion in FY1999 and $230 billion in FY2000 . In that same link, Clinton claimed that the national debt had been reduced by $360 billion in the last three years, presumably FY1998, FY1999, and FY2000--though, interestingly, $360 billion is not the sum of the alleged surpluses of the three years in question ($69B + $123B + $230B = $422B, not $360B).

        While not defending the increase of the federal debt under President Bush, it is aggravating seeing Clinton's record promoted as having generated a surplus. It never happened. There was never a surplus and the cold hard facts support that position. In fact, far from a $360 billion reduction in the national debt in FY1998-FY2000, there was an increase of $281 billion.

        Verifying this is as simple as accessing the U.S. Treasury website where the national debt is updated daily and a history of the debt since January 1993 can be obtained.

  • Posted By: Nins @ 07/05/2008 3:37:22 PM

    With all due respect, SKD, I really doubt that President Bush was actually trying to further any kind of democratic humanitarian agenda when he invaded Iraq. He SAID that his motive was the "weapons of mass destruction" but we all know that wasn't true, and he himself knew it wasn't true long before the American people knew. When you say you want to spread democracy and ease the suffering that man inflicts upon man, I respect those values tremendously. BUT if you are going to indulge in war in the name of nation-building, then I think you should start first in the places where (1) we can actually win, set up a democracy and make a difference, (2) there is already war or civil war going on and (3) we have the support of the international community in what we do. Iraq did not qualify in any of those categories. In fact, Somalia and Darfur were much more likely spots for us to go to work. And particularly Somalia, since the civil war there was created by AlQueda in a power-grab to further the spread of radical Islam in Africa. Whatever bad things can be said of Saddam (and there are plenty), he was NOT radical Islam. He was a dictator and sometimes ruthless, but he was very progressive when it came to religion. The nut-jobs like Hammas and AlQueda were exterminated in Iraq under Saddam, who ran probably the most progressive Muslim nation in the world, albeit with an iron hand.

    Honestly, I think that Bush was after the oil in Iraq. And he is such a bungler, that we didn't even get it, since the Iraqis blew up the wells and refineries. All we got was Halliburton companies (owned by Cheney) getting richer, our dollar devalued, our economy in tatters, and the National Debt increased beyond measure. This is not nation-building, this is nation destruction. Destruction of America as well as of Iraq, and a shot in the arm for the terrorists.

    Bush is an idiot.

    If you want more of the same, vote for McCain.

    • Posted By: neocon @ 07/07/2008 11:28:32 AM

      Here's a story you may have missed over the long holiday weekend: 550 metric tons of yellowcake uranium worth tens of millions of dollars were shipped out of Iraq to Canada. The material was transported in 37 military flights in 3,500 secure barrels, according to the Associated Press.
      There hasn't been much of a fuss about this material because it had been discovered already by United Nations inspectors after the first Gulf War. But it took a second American war in Iraq to move the material out of the Middle East. For all the talk about America's failure to discover Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, this is a big deal. We've reported on claims by top Israeli officials speaking on the record that Iraq smuggled its chemical weapons to Syria before America invaded in 2003.
      The uranium issue is not a trivial one, because Iraq, sitting on vast oil reserves, has no peaceful need for nuclear power. Saddam Hussein had already invaded Kuwait, launched missiles into Israeli cities, and harbored a terrorist group, the PKK, hostile to America's NATO ally, Turkey. To leave this nuclear material sitting around the Middle East in the hands of Saddam and the same corrupt United Nations that failed to stop the genocide in Darfur and was guilty of the oil-for-food scandal would have been too big a risk.

    • Posted By: lightnin @ 07/05/2008 4:29:30 PM

      Re Saddam, why don't you read averagejoe's post below (01:49:12), unless you simply prefer your opinion to facts (not unlikely, I should think.)
      Stalin was non-sectarian himself, not radical Islam at all. He, too, was a dictator, and sometimes ruthless, (to the tune of about 30,000,000 people before he was done, certainly eclipsing the mere one or two million Saddam offed.) Kudos to Saddam for running that "progressive Muslim nation", murdering millions, certainly hope the Progressives here in the "democratic party" never get his playbook (or have they?)
      YOU think Bush was after the oil? Well, let's just all do what YOU think! Perhaps you missed the memo about the wells being repaired early on in the war? Who is served by such disinformation, I wonder? Who is served by pretending that great progress has not been achieved, and constantly claiming that Iraq and the US are destroyed? Dare we guess whom you feel can lead us bravely into the warm sunbeams that will bless the world with its goodness, make the music play, the lion lie down with the lamb, and make peace, harmony, and prosperity for all? Bush is an idiot, huh? What you smokin', boy?

      • Posted By: stholas @ 07/07/2008 9:12:49 AM

        I'm sure those 12 million displaced Iraqis who are struggling for jobs and a place to live are feeling very prosperious indeed.

  • Posted By: willnotvoteobama @ 07/03/2008 5:59:39 PM

    WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BIG CORPERATION ARE GONNA DO WHEN OBAMA RAISES TAXES ?? THE SAME DAMN THING THEY DID WHEN CARTER RAISED THEM THEY WILL LEAVE AND TAKE THE JOBS WITH THEM BUT WILL STILL SELL THIER PRODUCT HERE IN THE GOOD OLE U.S.A. BUT THEY WON'T COME BACK BECAUSE MEXICO AND INDIA WILL BE A WHOLE HELL OF A LOT CHEAPER FOR L;ABOR AND TAXES

    • Posted By: stholas @ 07/07/2008 9:33:48 AM

      Er...newsflash....the jobs are already disappearing. Seen the latest unemployment reports? Have you noticed that the economies of China and India are booming? I wonder why...wait for it.....wait for it...got it - the jobs are moving over there! Phew, I knew I'd get it in the end.

  • Posted By: rwethereyet @ 07/06/2008 7:52:33 PM

    Reading these posts it becomes obvious that Americans don't really know diddley about taxes. Perhaps that should be a requirement in our educational system....Taxes and how they work.

  • Posted By: Nins @ 07/04/2008 12:42:21 AM

    This article is about how the GOP's claims that Obama has voted to raise taxes are NOT TRUE. This article is about how the GOP is lying to Americans.

    Despite the fact that this article proves the GOP allegations are false, there are several bloggers posting here acting as if the GOP lies were true, and talking about how Obama has voted to raise taxes on the middle class. Even after they are proven wrong, they still keep kicking and screaming. It's amazing.

    • Posted By: rwethereyet @ 07/06/2008 7:49:59 PM

      The wealthy are wealthy because of the America Dream and because they, or past family members, worked long and hard and made something of themselves...something "anyone" in America can do! Obama wants to "destroy the dream" for Everyone. The wealthy should not have to pay for everyone else. And before you say "I must be wealthy"...think again. Myself and my family live from paycheck to paycheck. We are ALL where we are in life because of the Decisions we have made along the way. I certainly don't expect the wealthy in America to "bail me out".

    • Posted By: NO OOOOOOOOO @ 07/04/2008 4:30:45 AM

      With all due respect, what's amazing to me is how Obama supporters can simply explain away anything remotely negative about him...that's AMAZING!

      • Posted By: hesingswithfrogs @ 07/04/2008 5:35:58 AM

        With respect to the topic of this article, I don't see anything negative about Obama believing that the top 1% with 38%+ of the wealth in the country should shoulder proportionately more of the tax burden than the middle class..

  • Posted By: willnotvoteobama @ 07/03/2008 5:56:06 PM

    JUST GET YOUR CHECK BOOKS OUT TO PAY FOR FREE HEALTH CARE TO 15 MILLION ILEAGLES UNDER OBAMA'S PLAN!!

    • Posted By: lightnin @ 07/03/2008 8:26:35 PM

      And we certainly have no reason to believe that "giving" (paid for by middle-class taxes) free healthcare to those illegals would cause more of them to come here, do we? Once they do, if they can get a car, obama will also enroll them in social security and give them a driver's license, welfare, etc. He's VERY giving with our money!

      • Posted By: rwethereyet @ 07/06/2008 7:38:06 PM

        Obama has No Clue on how the economy works. None!! Ever heard of that expression..."things CAN get Worst, be Careful what you wish for".

  • Posted By: justme2727 @ 07/03/2008 5:36:45 PM

    malf54, while it is true there would be taxes, we're all paying for it right now. Who do you think is paying for the medical care of the 47 million uninsured right now? The emergency rooms have to spread those costs among patients who do have insurance, meaning you and I are being taxed right now, not by the government but through skyrocketing premiums. Why not make it more fair and universal? Aside from fairness, getting the uninsured earlier treatment and preventative medicine makes a hell of a lot of sense from a public health perspective and will save us all money while it saves lives.

    • Posted By: rwethereyet @ 07/06/2008 7:33:58 PM

      It's obvious you haven't done any research on socialized medicine in other countries and how much they Hate it. Why do you think they all come to America when they need some really big medical attention?? Do you research before you decide the "words" you're hearing are Really what you want for your family.

  • Posted By: sanane @ 07/03/2008 5:11:54 PM

    to rmenasco:
    since when can a country be the greatest in the world when there are 47 million without health insurance? an accident and their lives are destroyed. me moving to france wouldn't change that. but go ahead, close your eyes to your fellow citizens.

    • Posted By: rwethereyet @ 07/06/2008 7:29:33 PM

      America already has health care available to those that cannot afford it...it's called medi-caid. Why should ALL of America let the government make decisions for our health care?? This is "America"! We don't want the government making EVERY DECISION about our Own health care "for" us.

  • Posted By: rmenasco @ 07/03/2008 4:58:23 PM

    malf54, you are exactly right. Leave it up to Newsweek to do it's best to come to the rescue of their savior. Invest in teflon as the Obama campaign has to keep a fresh coat on hiim at all times.

    • Posted By: rwethereyet @ 07/06/2008 7:23:52 PM

      Well, there IS one thing that doesn't stick to Omaba like teflon....that's Patriotism. He is having a Very difficult time trying to get THAT to stick to him.

    • Posted By: Chris from NY @ 07/04/2008 6:27:37 AM

      The idea that this country will turn into a socialist country because of paying taxes as you earned is ridiculous. France and all those other European countries you mentioned are doing better than we are. And this because we like to answer the name giant to the world without walking the work. Our fathers made sacrifices for this country including their lives and we cannot even do the same with our money. Yet we claim to be patriotic.

  • Posted By: sanane @ 07/03/2008 4:53:33 PM

    to malf54:
    and what's wrong with turning this country into a "euro-like socialist society" ? i would be ecstatic to have health care, job security, long vacations, real food, longer life expectancy, less child mortality, fewer crimes, fewer abortions, more people who know that the earth circles the sun and not the other way around... i would be happy to pay higher taxes if it meant a better life for all of us.

    • Posted By: fiber artist @ 07/04/2008 10:01:11 AM

      Amen!

      • Posted By: rwethereyet @ 07/06/2008 7:20:28 PM

        IF...that's a Very Big word. Obama is Not the savior of the world. He's just another politician playing the old time political "games" to get your votes. I've heard all I need to know of Obama...his Change is Not what Americans Want. WHO "is" he anyway??

  • Posted By: mobaxter @ 07/06/2008 2:31:03 PM

    Demorcrats spend the all might dollar,for the wrong reasons. For you see DNC is spending to much and having problem raising money. Look at there convention in 2 month. OBAMA will cover the over run like he doing for Hillary Clinton debt. Money going to the wrong use. We gave money for OBAMA for Pres. Think aboutit!!!!!!!!
    Republican spend too much.

  • Posted By: mobaxter @ 07/06/2008 2:24:48 PM

    Who cares.
    What count is lower taxes,cost cutting and better life.... That what counts save all might dollar.

  • Posted By: mobaxter @ 07/06/2008 2:23:02 PM

    Who care.
    Cut spending and lower taxes is what counts.

  • Posted By: lightnin @ 07/06/2008 12:11:38 PM

    The democrats want to spend "Federal Funds" (other peoples' money) for social programs and "Redistribution of Wealth" (Socialism) to get people to VOTE for democrats! (Vote-buying?) The Republican taxpayers are the (other people)! Guess who the democrats want to be in charge of the socialist state they're working so hard for?

  • Posted By: lightnin @ 07/05/2008 10:47:19 PM

    Lord, I HOPE there's a brighter America, at least significantly brighter than that one! Oy!

  • Posted By: lightnin @ 07/05/2008 9:11:47 PM

    The mere fact that the Obamorons want him as their candidate is sufficient reason to defeat him.

  • Posted By: a brighter America 08 @ 07/05/2008 8:36:07 PM

    Comment: Posted By: malf54 @ 07/03/2008 4:39:06 PM
    Comment: The number of tax votes in the past doesn't matter to me. The bottom line is that Obama and his supporters want to turn this country into a euro-like socialist society. In order to do that income taxes will go up for everyone, not just the rich. Most "free medical" care countries in Europe all have high income tax, Value added taxes (25%) on all purchases, high taxes on cigs, booze and cars (it goes on and on). So is it free?
    the richttt
    --------------
    Come on now, you KNOW nothing is free! Someone, somewhere has tol pay for it in one way or another. Listen to what the good Senator of Illinois has to say. And listen to what McCain has to say. I choose to believe Senator Obama, he believes in "A Government for the Peoople, by the People, and of the People". The Repubs are too wrapped up with corporations and lobbyists. Just how many lobbyists did McCain have and still has?? It is McCain who keeps changing his stance on issues, it has gotten to the point where many of us really do not know where he stands on any one issue on a given day. First he is for it, then he's against it----depending on his audience. McCain is an old relic from the past, he is not interested in building and lifting our country. His sole agenda and goal is that HE becomes President of the U.S.A before he keels over!! Isn't this his 3rd try?? I say put the old horse out to pasture. McCain cannot make wise decisions.....isn't he shaking up his campaign AGAIN??

  • Posted By: a brighter America 08 @ 07/05/2008 8:30:18 PM

    Didn't we get enough of the misspeaks, misspokens, and misheards from Hilliary? Are we doomed to four more months of outright lies being excused as misspeaks, misspokens, misheards and now McCain's "miscounts"?? Call it what is is: LIES AND DISTORTIONS TO FIT MCCAIN'S PURPOSE, that purpose being destroying his oponent! It did not work for Hilliary, why does McMiscount figure it will work for him? We are sick and tired of the politics of old, we are sick and tired of being lied to by the current Prez and his administration, we are sick and tired of the Repubs and what they have done to this country!!

  • Posted By: a brighter America 08 @ 07/05/2008 8:19:14 PM

    Posted By: malf54 @ 07/03/2008 4:39:06 PM
    Comment: The number of tax votes in the past doesn't matter to me. The bottom line is that Obama and his supporters want to turn this country into a euro-like socialist society. In order to do that income taxes will go up for everyone, not just the rich. Most "free medical" care countries in Europe all have high income tax, Value added taxes (25%) on all purchases, high taxes on cigs, booze and cars (it goes on and on). So is it free?
    the richttt
    --------------
    Come on now, you KNOW nothing is free! Someone, somewhere has tol pay for it in one way or another. Listen to what the good Senator of Illinois has to say. And listen to McCain has tol say. I choose to belive Senator Obama, he believes in "A Government for the Peoople, by the People, and of the People". The Repubs are too wrapped up with corporations and lobbyists. Just how many lobbyists did McCain have and still has?? It is McCain who keeps chaining his stance on issues, it has gotten to the point where many of us really do not know where he stands on any one issue on a give date. First he is for it, then he's against it----depending on his audience. McCain is an old relic from the past, he is not interested in building and lifting our country. His sole agenda and goal is that HE becomes President of the U.S.A before he keels over!! Isn't this his 3rd try?? I say put the old horse out to pasture.

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