Obama said he could pay for every dime of his spending and tax cut proposals by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens. Thats wrong his proposed tax increases on upper-income individuals are key components of paying for his program, as well. And his plan, like McCains, would leave the U.S. facing big budget deficits, according to independent experts.
He twisted McCains words about Afghanistan, saying, When John McCain said we could just 'muddle through' in Afghanistan, I argued for more resources. Actually, McCain said in 2003 we may muddle through, and he recently also called for more troops there.
He said McCain would fail to lower taxes for 100 million Americans while his own plan would cut taxes for 95 percent of working families. But an independent analysis puts the number who would see no benefit from McCains plan at 66 million and finds that Obamas plan would benefit 81 percent of all households when retirees and those without children are figured in.
Obama asked why McCain would "define middle-class as someone making under five million dollars a year"? Actually, McCain meant that comment as a joke, getting a laugh and following up by saying, "But seriously ..."
Obama noted that McCains health care plan would "tax peoples benefits" but didnt say that it also would provide up to a $5,000 tax credit for families.
He said McCain, far from being a maverick whos "broken with his party," has voted to support Bush policies 90 percent of the time. True enough, but by the same measure Obama has voted with fellow Democrats in the Senate 97 percent of the time.
Obama said "average family income" went down $2,000 under Bush, which isn't correct. An aide said he was really talking only about "working" families and not retired couples. And math teachers, please note he meant median (or midpoint) and not really the mean or average. Median family income actually has inched up slightly under Bush.
FactCheck.org: FactChecking Obama
When it comes down to it, "progressives" don't so much object to lying, they just accept lies designed to mask invasive, bigotted government.