"Same as Bush" - Response to Dishonest McCain/RNC Attack Ad

July 11, 2008

John McCain and the Republican National Committee recently launched a dishonest attach ad aimed at Barack Obama and his tax policies — an dishonest ad that was quickly debunked by a number of independent sources.

The McCain ad makes the false claim that Obama voted to raise taxes on Americans who make as little as $32,000 per year. But the non-partisan FactCheck.org shot down that assertion.

In response, the campaign released a new 60 second radio ad, "Same as Bush."

“Obama’s plan cuts taxes on the middle class – and won’t raise taxes on anybody making less than two hundred fifty thousand a year,” the husband in the ad says to his wife. “But McCain wants billions in new corporate tax breaks…and no way to pay for it.”

The new spot is running on radio stations in northern Virginia and Dayton, Ohio where the RNC reportedly aired its misleading attack ad.

According to an analysis done on the tax plans put forward by Obama and McCain by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, FactCheck.org writes that a “hypothetical taxpayer with the $32,000 in taxable income would get a $502 tax cut under Obama’s plan. McCain’s plan, by contrast, would leave that person’s taxes unchanged.”

According to FactCheck.org, “We do find that the McCain campaign is simply wrong to say Obama supported raising taxes on those making ‘as little as $32,000 a year.’”

You can listen to the ad below…

You can read the full script below…

“Same as Bush,” :60 seconds

MAN: Oh man – he’s starting already…

WOMAN: What now, honey?

MAN: John McCain. He’s got new ads attacking Barack Obama on taxes.

WOMAN: Well, that’s not new. Bush, McCain, Karl Rove – that’s how those guys work.

MAN: Oh yeah, but this is shameful. He’s just makin’ stuff up.

WOMAN: Yeah?

MAN: But get this. Independent sources are putting McCain in his place. I went to FactCheck dot org. They said quote “it’s not true.”

WOMAN: Huh.

MAN: And look what Time says. Quote, “It makes sense that McCain is returning to the old playbook. But that doesn’t mean he can just make up his own facts.” End Quote.

WOMAN: Yowza! So what’s the truth?

MAN: Obama’s plan cuts taxes on the middle class – and won’t raise taxes on anybody making less than two hundred fifty thousand a year. But McCain wants billions in new corporate tax breaks…and no way to pay for it.

WOMAN: Hmm. Sounds like George Bush all over again.

MAN: Guess that’s why they say: John McCain – McSame as Bush!

WOMAN: Uh-huh.

Voiceover: On taxes, get the facts. Visit BarackObama.com

Obama: I’m Barack Obama, candidate for President, and I approve this message.

Paid for by Obama for America.