The presidential campaign is bubble-gummingly, substance free. It’s fun to criticize McCain’s old liver and Obama’s plagiarism because it reminds us all of what we love best: Miley Cyrus. She’s fun.
But we forget that one of these people will determine whether you get a tax break, if your aunt from abroad can live with you forever, and if you can smoke doobies while driving. So let’s take a quick look at how these these dashers match up on the big ones:
IRAQ:
“I agreed with the President’s difficult decision to go to war in Iraq. I remain fully supportive of his determination not to leave Iraq until the freely elected government of that country and its armed forces are able to defend their country…” –Statement before Congress, Aug. 25, 2006
“I know that invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East and encourage the worst rather than best impulses in the Arab world… I am not opposed to all wars, I am opposed to dumb wars.” –Statement before Illinois legislature, Oct. 2002
TAXES:
Will raise the personal exemption for each dependent from $3,500 to $7,000. Will cut estate tax rate to 15 percent and exempt estates under $10 million. Will cut the federal corporate tax rate to 25 percent from 35 percent and allow corporations to immediately deduct the costs of new equipments and technology. Require three-fifths vote in Congress to increase taxes. Proposes an alternative tax system, while keeping the current one in place for those who want to use it, with “two tax rates and a generous standard deduction.†–McCain’s website
Will cut taxes by $80 billion a year for workers, homeowners and retirees. Give credits to working families; eliminate income taxes for elderly workers making $50,000 or less. Keep estate tax. Raise capital gains taxes to as much as 28 percent. –Foreign Affairs, August 2007 issue