My very own aunt sent this McCain fan-club email under the guise of impartiality.
This email is very simple and very clever in its simplicity. In other words, this is what the Dem ticket is proposing without going further to explain "why". So on the surface, it seems like we are not benefitted at all by these proposals, even though some have long-term advantage (like taxes) and others are not cut and dry; they depend upon conditions (like abortion). Oh, and the inclusion of words such as "socialist" is an obvious ploy at creating fear. Nice.
I could go on, and on. But I just thought I'd share this with all reasonable, intelligent people of ANY party and see if you can't punch holes in this. After all, integrity is everything, right? So if you are a McCain fan, be sure to be objective for the sake of merit. (Barack's misspelled name was featured in the original email.) The email begins now:
"REMEMBER - DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER. See websites at the bottom to Verify.
Check the links at the bottom to verify the information....this is really good..
Stay informed on what you are actually voting for in November!
2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE COMPARISON
TALKING POINTS
Favors new drilling offshore US
JOHN McCAIN Yes
BARAK OBAMA No, but might consider
Will appoint judges who interpret the law not make it
JOHN McCAIN Yes
BARAK OBAMA No
Served in the US Armed Forces
JOHN McCAIN Yes
BARAK OBAMA No
Amount of time served in the US Senate
JOHN McCAIN 22 YEARS
BARAK OBAMA 143 DAYS
Will institute a socialized national health care plan
JOHN McCAIN No
BARAK OBAMA Yes
Supports abortion throughout the pregnancy
JOHN McCAIN No
BARAK OBAMA Yes
Would seek to pull troops out of Iraq immediately
JOHN McCAIN No
BARAK OBAMA Yes
Supports gun ownership rights
JOHN McCAIN Yes
BARAK OBAMA No
Proposed programs will mean a huge tax increase
JOHN McCAIN No
BARAK OBAMA Yes
Voted against making English the official language
JOHN McCAIN No
BARAK OBAMA Yes
Voted to give Social Security benefits to illegal aliens
JOHN McCAIN No
BARAK OBAMA Yes
CAPITAL GAINS TAX
MCCAIN
0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose any change in existing home sales income tax.
OBAMA
28% on profit from ALL home sales.
(How does this affect you? If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like to down-size your home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money you make from your home will go to taxes. This proposal will adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their homes as part of their retirement income.)
DIVIDEND TAX
MCCAIN
15% (no change)
OBAMA
39.6%
(How will this affect you? If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be paying equal to nearly 40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. The experts predict that 'Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains would crash the stock market, yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.')
INCOME TAX
MCCAIN (no changes)
Single making 30K - tax $4,500
Single making 50K - tax $12,500
Single making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 60K- tax $9,000
Married making 75K - tax $18,750
Married making 125K - tax $31,250
OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts)
Single making 30K - tax $8,400
Single making 50K - tax $14,000
Single making 75K - tax $23,250
Married making 60K - tax $16,800
Married making 75K - tax $21,000
Married making 125K - tax $38,750
INHERITANCE TAX
MCCAIN
- 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax)
OBAMA
Restore the inheritance tax - Many families have lost businesses, farms, ranches, and homes that have been in their families for generations because they could not afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will only lose them to these taxes.
NEW TAXES PROPOSED BY OBAMA
New government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet.
New gasoline taxes.
New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity)
New taxes on retirement accounts.
New taxes to pay for socialized medicine.
You can verify the above at the following web sites:
http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/election/2008/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.taxes.html
http://elections.foxnews.com/?s=proposed+taxes
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/politics/articles/mccain_obama_offer_...
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/barack_obama/
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/john_mccain/
Stay informed of the important issues!"
Just noticed that one issue is missing from this list of all-important issues: gay marriage rights.
Is gay marriage no longer an important issue? If it is, why is it missing from this impartial email? I'll tell you why: Both candidates stand in agreement on this issue.
Impartial, indeed.