The Hypocrisy of John McCain and Joe the Plumber

There is a new pattern arising out of the McCain campaign. This pattern can be described as an anti-tax populism. John McCain continues to call Obama a socialist and, despite evidence of countless errors in his story, to use Joe the Plumber as his anti-tax populist propaganda tool! In fact, John McCain is now on a "Joe the Plumber" tour of Florida. So clearly McCain's strategy is to attempt to create some sort of populist movement around taxes. For the following reasons this argument is hypocrisy at its finest.

First, McCain offers no corresponding proposal to cut spending or end the incredibly expensive wars in which we are engaged. So his plan may cut taxes for everyone, including the wealthy, but it also exacerbates an already unmanageable national debt? So under capitalism, a Country can spend as much as it wants and not pay the money back? No wonder everyone wants to be capitalist! I guess socialist nations the ones who pay their debts?

I would also remind McCain that going back to 1917, before he was born believe it or not, there has been a progressive tax system in the country. In fact,in order to fund the war effort during WWII, the top tax bracket was 94 % for income over $1 million!!! Would it have been patriotic to stop funding WWII? Was the WWII generation socialistic or did they just pay their debts?

Second, Sarah Palin, in her debate with Joe "the Senator" Biden, said that where she comes from it is not patriotic to pay taxes. However, Sarah Palin comes from the most socialist State in the Country, handing out checks to every citizen of the State. The oil resources, are collectively owned and redistributed! If that is not socialism, than what is? It may be not be patriotic to pay taxes where she comes from, but it sure is patriotic to take checks from the government! I did not hear her repealing that socialist program in Alaska!

With regard to the patriotism of paying taxes, Thomas Friedman had a startlingly appropriate response for Palin reminding her "if paying taxes is not considered patriotic in your neighborhood, who is going to pay for the body armor that will protect your son in Iraq?"

Third, for those who forget, take a look at John McCain in 2003 vehemently arguing against the Bush tax cuts in war time!:



Finally, to the extent that Joe the Plumber, who actually makes $40K, will actually be buying any business he would likely see no tax increase, and may actually get a bigger cut, under Obama's plan than John McCain's. As has been pointed out by a variety of sources, here are some interesting facts about Joe the Plumber:

1) An official at Local 50 of the plumber’s union, based in Toledo, said Mr. Wurzelbacher does not hold a license.
2) He also has never served an apprenticeship and does not belong to the union.
3) According to some tax analysts, if Mr. Wurzelbacher’s gross receipts from his business is $250,000 — and not his taxable income — then he would not have to pay higher taxes under Mr. Obama’s plan, and probably would be eligible for a tax cut.
4) The truth about Joe is that he is not a licensed plumber and he's never made more than $40,000 dollars a year in that trade.

So Joe the Plumber is voting based on his dream scenario, not reality. In reality John McCain and Joe the Plumber in his fantasy world may benefit under John McCain's tax plan. However, even under Joe the Plumber's fantasy scenario, he would likely see no tax increase under Obama's plan because I think his dream plumbing business has 250K in revenue, not profit! Only profit is taxes, not Revenue, which includes owner's salary!

So lets remember that in reality, the real Joe the Plumber, making $40,000, would do a lot better under the Obama's tax plan. Oh, and I'm sure Joe the Plumber could use some healthcare relief as well and that $5,000 tax credit John McCain is offering him won't help him one bit. But I guess healthcare would be socialistic so Joe the Plumber can continue to fantasize about owning a business making 250K while he scratches and claws to pay his bills and to provide healthcare for his children. Or he could just get real and vote for Obama!