Desperate Dean Distorts Kerry’s Tax Position In New TV Ad

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Kerry wants to protect middle class tax cuts, repeal Bush tax cuts for the wealthy; Dean wants to raise middle class taxes, refuses to disclose budget plan



Unable to explain his indefensible plan to repeal middle class tax cuts in debates, town halls or press conferences, Howard Dean has launched a misleading new 30-second television ad in New Hampshire charging that John Kerry and other candidates were “defending Bush tax cuts.

The fact is John Kerry voted against the final Bush tax legislation and as president will repeal the Bush tax cuts that benefit the wealthy and will preserve and protect the middle class tax cuts, such as the child tax credit, elimination of the marriage penalty, and reduced marginal tax rate on the first $14,000 of family income.

Dean has spent the last week explaining, clarifying, backtracking and continually changing his own position on middle class tax cuts, including saying that the middle class “never got a tax cut.” After his own advisors admitted that his trillion-dollar tax increase would cost middle class families $2,300 a year, Dean came under pressure to unveil a new middle class tax reform plan.

Most recently, Dean said that any middle class tax cut would have to wait until the budget is balanced (he has estimated that will take six or seven years) and he has yet to offer his plan to actually balance the budget.

“If Howard Dean has a plan to dull the pain of his own middle class tax increase and balance the budget, then he has a duty to share that plan with the people of New Hampshire before they vote on January 27, rather than hiding behind slick and misleading 30-second TV ads,” said Kerry spokesman Mark Kornblau.
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0113c.html

[cavebat2000]

1. Yeah right

Dean seems REAL desperate.

"Unable to explain his indefensible plan to repeal middle class tax cuts in debates..." did you know see his caucus for change in Iowa? Oh probably not.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. Then why is Dean putting out this false and misleading ad?

You say it's not because Dean has seen the polls that show voters are starting to examine the truth of his positions. You say it's not because Kerry's message of tax fairness is resonating with Iowa voters. You say it's not because Dean knows that his plan to raise taxes on the middle-class is also raising doubts about his candidacy.


So if those aren't the reasons, what are the reasons for Dean to lie in this new ad?

[Cuban_Liberal]

3. "Desperate Dean" is not terribly objective.

It's hardly an accurate assessment of dean's position at all, actually. If anything, Dean has the superior position in this race, and the only desperationIi see is from those who are irrationally attacking him.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. Well, why is he lying then?

If it's not desperation, what is the motive?

[Cuban_Liberal]

7. The last time I looked, Dean wasn't under oath.

this is a 'you say to-MAY-to and I say to-MAH-to' thing, and it frankly makes Kerry (who I deduce you are supporting) look silly. This is the grown-up world of big time politics, and if this is the best the Kerry cfampaign can come up with, it's doomed.

[blm]

10. Some of us Dems respond to honest positions.

That's why we don't like or trust Dean.

[Cuban_Liberal]

11. How nice for you.

Dr. Dean is no more and no less honest than any of the politicians running.

[AP]

19. Actually, if you were keeping score, Dean probably would probably be least

honest.

How many times has he had to appologize or refine his message to account for the truth? Also the post 2002 Dean is totally incompatible with the pre-2002 Dean.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

12. New Dean defense: I wasn't under oath, so it was ok for me to lie.

I get it, you don't care whether we elect a liar as President or not.

At least that is the only conclusion I can come to if you are seriously saying truth is irrelevant, it is ok to lie in your campaign ads.


And someone who points out the lie -- isn't acting 'grown-up'?

:wtf:

[Cuban_Liberal]

13. The American electorate are not Jesuitical

The same does not hold true for DU, obviously. Just how many angels CAN stand on the head of a pin, by the way?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

14. Your off-topic post aside, Americans actually do care about whether or not

their President can be trusted to tell the truth. And that is one of the big advantages we have going into the general election. Many of Bush's lies have been exposed and this has become a vulnerability for him.

It will take an honest Democratic candidate to exploit that vulnerability. If we put up a candidate who is constantly having to explain the inconsistencies and inaccuracies of his past statements, we'll have given up that advantage.

[Cuban_Liberal]

15. Off topic?

My post is not 'off topic', if REALITY is the topic. After next Tuesday, no one but the people at DU will give a flying fuck about what dean did or didn't say in the commercial. THAT'S called reality.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. I understand your desire to obscure the facts.

The fact is, Dean's campaign lied about Kerry's tax position. Just like they lied a few days ago about how he voted on the 'Freedom to Farm' bill.


Apparently, you are so sure that no one cares about this that you feel compelled to repeatedly post to this thread to say so, lol.


Just how much time do you plan to spend on belittling this as a non-issue not worth your time? :eyes:

[Cuban_Liberal]

17. As much as it takes.

It's not an issue with America, and represents an incredible waste of time, energy and money. Kerry needs to get positive about himself; if he did, he might still get my vote. (Yes, I'm undecided)

[Feanorcurufinwe]

18. Could you explain again

about how you are willing to spend however much time and energy it takes to discuss this issue that you say is an incredible waste of time and energy?

Maybe while you are at it, you could also explain again why lying in a political advertisement is not something worth discussing.

lol

[maddezmom]

4. Good for John Kerry for calling him out on this

:)

[cindyw]

6. Thank you John Kerry for sticking up for my family.

My family may not have needed those middle class cuts before, but we do now. I hate Bush for making us need them, but we do. That Dean is even messing around with the idea of taking it away from us, when we are hurting the most, tells me that he doesn't have the ability to understand middle class families. About the only issue he seems to understand that affects people like me is health care and even in that he used words like "slowing the growth" without talking about cutting underlying costs. He has no idea what it means to be middle class.

Thank you John Kerry for understanding my families needs and not letting the popular rhetoric of anger, shape your policies. It may not be popular to keep a portion of the tax cuts, but thanks all the same. Now fight to get rid of the upper end and stick it to those who believe in this stupid supply side, reward the rich stuff.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. Desperate? Kerry or Dean?

I wonder which one?

Spare me.

[Cuban_Liberal]

9. See my reply #7.

:hi:

[w4rma]

20. Kerry is distorting Dean's tax position in this press release. (n/t)

[Feanorcurufinwe]

21. Your assertion is false, which is probably why

instead of trying to discuss the issue, you chose to post a headline-only message.

Just what is the supposed distortion? Let's hear it. Let's discuss it, if you're able.

[oasis]

22. Let's get to the bottom of this.(n/t)

[Gore1FL]

23. Is there a link to the ad (preferably a transcript of it)

I'd really like to know what the ad said vs what the Kerry Webiste article said vs the tax plans being discussed.

Without that infomration, I really don't know who is spinning or how fast, nor do I wish to make an honsesty judgement without knowing said facts.

[bowens43]

24. Kerry used a title like on his page?

He should have be ashamed of himself. He's no longer #2 on my list.