This is encouraging. Perhaps the press really is beginning to turn on McSame and the republicans (as Somerby has speculated). More editorials like this, and, more importantly, more stuff like this is needed on tv. Then again, the talking heads are all millionaires so they will likely not like Obama's superior tax plan.

Yes, I'm proud of them for factchecking McCain's tax plan. Now they should address the issue of debt and deficits, which Obama must not let pile up either.

Obama needs a tax cuts for journalists plank to really get fair hearing in the media.

That's Just What I Said

Isn't the fact that McCain is lying about taxes actually a news story worthy of the front page, rather than buried inside on the editorial page?

At least they're calling him onit. Maybe McCain's new surliness toward the press is paying dividends now.

Hiatt must be on Nantucket or somesuch. Some soon-to-be-fired staffer undoubtedly wrote that.

McCunt's campaign ad isn't lying about taxes, it just fails to mention that the 'recipe for economic disaster.' taxes are only on rich people.

You see, since all taxes on rich people are bad, the fact that Obama is going to give 95% of Americans a tax break is not important. What is important is that Obama will let the top income tax rate rise to the same level that Bill Clinton set it and that Boy George II originally agreed it should be at in 2010 to cover the costs of the baby boomer retirement in order to get his (deficit ballooning) tax cuts passed.

As everybody knows, because the 39.6% tax rate on rich people just destroyed the economy (no, that's not right?) and reduced the living standards of Americans (no, that's not right either) and reduced the size of the upper middle class (Don't think that's right either wingnut) we have to keep the tax rate at 36% so the economy will grow stronger...

...just like it did over the last eight years (yah, right!).

Orange

I agree with Dale that McCain's lies should be a NEWS story. The WaPo should have front page articles on this issue. But, I'm grateful for the editorial. Just wondering, perhaps Ron Fournier of the AP will report on McCain's lies?

Regarding this --

"his campaign's message is peddling a 'phony, misleading and at times outright dishonest' line"

-- I defy anyone to differentitate by definition between phoney, misleading and dishonest. McCain is a liar. But the reason we can't say he's a liar is that all politicians are, by their very nature, and by the nature of their profession, liars. At least by omission.

But couldn't we differentiate by audience? Couldn't we say that a politician is lying TO VOTERS? As opposed to, say, another politician, or North Korea?

John McCain is lying to voters in order to get elected. That's really all you need to know about him, and all you need to know about the lessons the Republican Party has learned in aftermath of the George W. Bush presidency.

*

Hey mhr, how about McCain's adulterous then remarrying relationship with a woman who stole narcotics from her own charity, his direct dealings as part of the Keating Five, etc. I agree Ayers is a dick for being unrepentant but Obama, sadly like most politicians, overlooked his past and possible character flaws for political necessity. McCain has no such excuse about K5 and his marital (and VP-vetting) judgment.

"The nature and extent of Ayer's [sic] relationhip with Obama is still pretty much of a mystery."

Not really. They collaborated on some projects in Chicago decades after the US Government declined to prosecute Ayers on any charges. Otherwise, there's nothing else there. Which is why nobody but mhr and his fellow wingnut trolls talk about it.

McCain lie to get elected?? Hey, Country Last, right?

McCain has repeated demonstrated the willingness to say almost anything to get elected. But that's just the tip of the iceberg.

The biggest problem is that, just like Bush, there is no indication that he will even do what he says if he is elected. Remember all the lies Bush spouted about restoring integrity and governing for all the people? Then once appointed, doing pretty much whatever he wanted without regard to Congress or due process of law. Do you think McCain would act any different? I think he'd be even worse. Heck, there are many examples on the net of Congress critters in his own party indicating what a disaster he would be as President due to his temperament and lack of judgment. And this was in his "area of greatest expertise" national security.

Obama is no doubt aware of McCain's deceptive attacks, and emphasized his tax plan in his acceptance speech in Denver on Thursday: "You know, unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America. I'll eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow. I will -- listen now -- I will cut taxes -- cut taxes -- for 95 percent of all working families, because, in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle class."

But first, Obama will let some/most/all of the Bush tax cuts expire. That will impose a substantial tax increase on all tax payers, because the Bush tax cuts cut all rates and increased by millions the number of taxpayers who paid no income tax at all. Eliminating capital gains taxes for "small" companies is a step in the right direction, but like all preferential policies for "small" companies it penalizes the expansion of succesful "small" companies when they get close to being "large". Lastly, Obama is not going to institute a tax cut for "95%" of taxpayers, he's just going to raise taxes on the upper 5% and effect a transfer payment to some of the lower level wage-earners.

Obama may believe that he is telling the truth, and so may his supporters, but the whole program is a false claim.

McCain has his faults, as this site delights in telling me, but if you overlook Obama's faults you are making a big mistake. There is a serious risk that an Obama presidency could do more damage to American GDP growth than any other president in our history. Hoover, after all, merely failed to act, but Obama's policies could be directly damaging.

I like what Phantom said: John McCain is lying to voters in order to get elected. That's really all you need to know about him, and all you need to know about the lessons the Republican Party has learned in aftermath of the George W. Bush presidency

I is worth repeating over and over. Maybe some of the trolls will wake up. (We can dream)

Here's a typical example of a republican fan with selective hearing: MatthewRMarler said: Lastly, Obama is not going to institute a tax cut for "95%" of taxpayers

Let me show you the correct words used by Obama:

Lastly, Obama is not going to institute a tax cut for "95%" of working families

FYI: Working families and taxpayers do not represent the same 95%

By all means, please go on misrepresenting facts. You're good at it, and all you've got.

oops, for some reason the 'strikeout' didn't take on the NOT part ....

Obama is going to institute a tax cut for "95%" of working families

Fixed it in a different way

Obama is lying about cutting taxes just like Clinton did when he was elected.

He speaks conservative when we wants to get elected.

I am however pleased to see so many progressives in favor of tax cuts.

I'll eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow. I will -- listen now -- I will cut taxes -- cut taxes -- for 95 percent of all working families,

I wish he had gone all the way here, and said something like "listen now - McCain is running ads which tell lies about my positions on taxes"

But first, Obama will let some/most/all of the Bush tax cuts expire. That will impose a substantial tax increase on all tax payers, because the Bush tax cuts cut all rates and increased by millions the number of taxpayers who paid no income tax at all.

(Italics mine). So which is it? Some? Most? All?
I believe the answer is some, the ones affecting high-income Americans.

I am so glad to see the media or some media are doing their job and calling out McSame for his lies.

Republicans just make things up. Truthiness is absent. The proper way to for Obama to explain his Tax plan is to say "I will cut taxes for everyone, except John McCain's."

Everyone will get the idea. But just to ensure everyone understands McCain's postion, Obama needs to say "John McCain will give himself a $300,000 Tax Cut. Fair and Balanced sacrifices must be made in times of economic suffering."

Republicans just make things up. Truthiness is absent. The proper way to for Obama to explain his Tax plan is to say "I will cut taxes for everyone, except John McCain."

Everyone will get the idea. But just to ensure everyone understands McCain's postion, Obama needs to say "John McCain will give himself a $300,000 Tax Cut. Fair and Balanced sacrifices must be made in times of economic suffering."

I think it's important to stand right back from the situation and to take a whole perspective . And I'm talking about everything - what the Republicans are doing - Bush and Cheney's approach - McCain and Palin's approach - the Democrats in Congress and Senate approach - the situation with the country .

This thing is that the USA is owned . How did this come about ? - the USA - government and people ran up huge debt . They did this by massively funding luxuries ( in the broadest sense of the word ) that they could not afford . This debt is owned - hence the USA is owned .

The owners of this debt want to protect their investment and to do this they need to minimize the associated risks . They have done this by imposing all the restrictive legislation . Hence the 'Fascist State' is purely an exercise in risk management . All the goings on in the last 8 years - false flag operations , war , security legislation , Republicans and Democrats passing acts such as the Patriot Act , massive amounts of propaganda etc. - have just been acts of risk management .

Luxury is funded by a number of means :-
1) usage of slavery .
2) usage of favorable exchange rates .
3) overworking .
4) cheap energy .
5) lack or morality \ moral character . Doing things on the cheap . Not doing a proper job .
6) building in of long life of goods ( a more traditional way ) .

The usage of favorable exchange rates along with cheap energy and overworking have been the common methods used in our times . However the people doing the manufacturing along with the energy suppliers and the financiers are becoming the owners - the tables are being turned .

Lack or morality \ moral character . Doing things on the cheap - not doing a proper job - etc. - is also prevalent and is causing massive problems . It's a sickness in society .

How do you get out of this mess ? - very simple - pay off your debt . Considering the size of the debt it wont be an easy exercise but it will be character building . But don't forget - the people who hold the debt won't want it paid off - they want you to maintain and increase the capital value of the debt and to provide them with a constant income .