Stallion Cornell's Moist Board

MIAMI — Republican presidential nominee John McCain said on Friday an Ohio man dubbed "Joe the Plumber," who raised questions about Democrat Barack Obama's tax plan, was being smeared by Democratic attacks.

McCain spent the day campaigning in Florida, trying to fend off a strong challenge from Obama in a state the Republicans have taken in the last two presidential elections but is up for grabs on November 4.

Obama was in Roanoke, Virginia, a traditionally Republican state that is also tilting more Democratic this year. The Illinois senator attacked McCain's health care plan.

Leading national opinion polls and surveys in key battleground states, Obama picked up the endorsements of The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times.

The Post said both Obama and McCain are "unusually talented and qualified" candidates, but it questioned McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate because she is "not ready to be president."

Speaking at a lively rally in Miami, McCain said Joe Wurzelbacher, of Holland, Ohio, was being punished for asking Obama a legitimate question.

"Last weekend, Sen. Obama showed up in Joe's driveway to ask for his vote, and you know what Joe did? He asked Senator Obama a tough question. I'm glad he did; I think Senator Obama could use a few more tough questions," McCain said.

"He wasn't recruited or prompted by our campaign. He just asked a question. And Americans ought to be able to ask Senator Obama tough questions without being smeared and targeted with political attacks," he said.

Democrats have been sharply critical of Wurzelbacher in the days since "Joe the Plumber" questioned Obama's plan to tax Americans making more than $250,000 a year.

MCCAIN: 'HOLD ONTO YOUR WALLET'

The tax question prompted Obama to say he wanted to "spread the wealth around," a comment that McCain and Republicans have jumped on as a sign that the Democrat would pursue income redistribution policies if elected.

Obama and McCain brought up Joe the Plumber more than two dozen times at a debate on Wednesday night. Wurzelbacher's brush with fame has come at a cost. The New York Times reported that Wurzelbacher does not have a plumber's license and owes back taxes.

The Arizona senator ridiculed Obama's remark about spreading the wealth, saying, "When politicians talk about taking your money and spreading it around, you'd better hold onto your wallet."

Obama, trying to blunt McCain's appeal in retiree-haven Florida, told about 8,000 supporters that McCain's health care proposal to give Americans a $5,000 tax credit to help pay for health insurance would require taxing health benefits, and cutting the Medicare insurance program for seniors by $882 billion.

"If you count on Medicare, it would mean fewer places to get care, and less freedom to choose your own doctors. You'll pay more for your drugs, receive fewer services, and get lower quality care. I don't think that's right," Obama said.

McCain economic adviser Doug Holtz-Eakin charged that Obama has "consistently lied" about McCain's health care plan.

Holtz-Eakin said McCain's tax credit "will not only shield millions of families from a tax increase, but will actually give them more dollars to invest in their health care needs."

"The McCain plan does not tax medical expenses like the cost of a procedure or medication," he wrote in an e-mail memo.

Joe has hurt Obama. Well, Obama hurt Obama by admitting he is a socialist. Can't lie his way out of it now. Polls down to 2% lead. They are scared. Time to trash a regular Joe now.
Joe has hurt Obama. Well, Obama hurt Obama by admitting he is a socialist. Can't lie his way out of it now. Polls down to 2% lead. They are scared. Time to trash a regular Joe now.

Spiderr, do you believe that expanding the size of government, increasing spending of government, and raising taxes is the way to reverse the economic downturn? There is a significant history that states that's not the way to do it. Many things have contributed to this and only a little of it is Bush's doing. So why throw the baby out with the bath water? Sounds like an irrational tantrum to me. Socialism won't fix the economic problems. Do we need to do some things differently, yes. Do we need to go big governement socialism, NO. Change for the sake of change is not the answer.

do you believe that expanding the size of government, increasing spending of government, and raising taxes is the way to reverse the economic downturn? There is a significant history that states that's not the way to do it. Many things have contributed to this and only a little of it is Bush's doing. So why throw the baby out with the bath water? Sounds like an irrational tantrum to me. Socialism won't fix the economic problems.

First I'd like to introduce myself and say hello. I just showed up on the scene and started dishing out the dirt. Came across this site and couldn't believe all the Yul Brenner stuff I was seeing. Before there was Mad Maxx there was The Last Warrior and I love Yul with his macho self in that. The politcial page caught my eye.


Lester:

All I can say about this topic is that it's a shame that a citizen can ask a simple question of a candidate and when the candidate blurts out truthful answer the Media and Democrats did into the citizens life and try to derail the truthful blurt. "Redistributing the wealth" along with things like national health care are so obviously socialist that it kills me that supporters of his just can't bring themselves to say it. As for Obama, his record as a Senator can't begin to touch that of his running mate or McCain's. If experience really mattered Biden would be the top name. People like the fact that he's new to the scene and hasn't been part of the "Ol' Boy Network". He speaks with passion and ideals that appeal to his base. He's no real experince on the national level when compared with others in this race and he's no executive experince. The Republicans were finished until Palin showed up. Certainly with no less experience than Obama. I think what angers Democrats is that she energized her base. It may not be enough to win but no one else was going to breath life into that ticket. Palin is being faulted for not speaking well in public. Like the other candidates are pros!!??!!


Gaffes and blunders are to be expected. After all, based on what I’m reading here, many people would think that the following link is about on par with what they expect from McCain.

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/325.html


I’m curious as to how many think these clips accurately portray Obama & Biden.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHHxBwXeIhY


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BnLozS-TnM&eurl=http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/06/barack-obama-says-he-is-not-experienced.html

(The above clip does make me wonder why he changed his mind after spending such a brief time in the U.S. Senate?)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDVUPqoowf8

(The above clip seems, in part, to confirm what Obama stated four years ago? )


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM19YOqs7hU&NR=1

(Can you imagine what would have happened had Palin said this? )


I can see supporting a candidate for political ideology reasons. I don’t see how some can claim candidates they oppose are inept for making gaffes while letting gaffes from candidates they agree with being confused at a given moment. In the end, political ideology aside, all we have to go on for the most part are sound bytes and staged television events to judge a candidate based on personal appearances. I don’t think Palin is any more inept than the rest of those running for office when it comes to public speaking.

Ehm, it worked during the New Deal.

And Kynes agrees with that!