Some quick notes:
- The Abortion Issue. John McCain neglected to mention the fact that Barack Obama has backed the Freedom of Choice Act as his first priority. Essentially, this does away with all relevant restrictions against abortion (e.g., parental notification, partial birth, etc.) and federal funding of abortions. Second, John McCain failed to counterattack Barack Obama's disingenuous defense of his stonewalling of the Illinois Born Alive Act as a state senator. It should be noted that a similar bill was passed at the NATIONAL level with wording to ensure it was not taken to contradict Roe v. Wade (the abortion liberalization decision). The bill was passed unanimously and abortion advocate NARAL did not take a position. Barack Obama in tonight's debate claimed that the law was redundant. This is simply not tenable. First, that was not the decision he took during the Illinois debates of the issue--he was worrying about Roe v Wade, undue burden on doctors, etc. Second, the law was passed by a Democratic legislature and signed by a Democratic governor in 2005 (with Obama now in the US Senate). Why did the Democratic legislature and governor pass a redundant law? Third, Obama at one point said that he would have signed the Illinois bill if it had had the Roe v Wade protection language like the US Congressional bill. Then there was evidence discovered by an Internet blogger whom produced a 2003 voting record that shows when Obama chaired the committee, he voted to add Roe v Wade language to the bill, and then voted (with the majority) to kill the bill in committee. Finally, Jill Stanek, the pro-life nurse advocate behind the Born Alive Act, who witnessed firsthand aborted babies left to die without proactive medical care in a utility room at Christ Hospital, has pointed that the then pro-life Illinois Attorney General determined Christ Hospital's de facto infanticide policy of aborted babies was not a violation of existing Illinois law (and Obama's bringing up the Hippocratic Oath is just infuriating to any pro-life person such as myself, whom recall the part of the Hippocratic Oath that Obama conveniently ignores: "I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.") Thank God for people like Jill Stanek whom have had the integrity and courage to stand up to politicians like Barack Obama whom has built a political career on the graves of unborn babies.
- Health Insurance. This was an odd conversation to me because there seemed to be some confusion between a TAX CREDIT (which McCain supports) and a government-paid funding of health insurance. In positions as a permanent employee DBA, I've normally had deductions for health insurance (i.e., it wasn't paid only by the employer). The point about paying from pretax is that what I pay is from pretax dollars. The government is essentially subsidizing my health insurance payments--if I had a $400 payment and I'm at a 25% tax bracket, I'm paying $100 less tax than if I paid the same premium with aftertax dollars. So essentially I'm really paying $300 instead of $400 with an instant $100 tax credit. As for businesses shedding health insurance because of McCain's plan, I would have to be convinced. The business may have the size to negotiate favorable terms for employees vs. what they can manage on their own. What John McCain's plan does is equalize the playing field so ALL Americans--not just working for employers offering the benefit--get a tax break to help pay for their health insurance, plus enables Americans to shop for health insurance ACROSS states. This Obama claim that millions of people will see their tax bills hike because of the tax credit is absolutely and intentionally false.You get up to a $5000 tax credit towards the policy of your choice. I think I've seen numbers like $12,000 for family health insurance. So, instead of $12,000, you're paying $7000. Currently you have to pay $12,000. But say you could buy the same type insurance for $2000 less in an adjoining state, McCain will give you an opportunity to pay $5000 instead of $12,000 you are paying now. The only way you lose is if the amount of your health insurance for your tax bracket currently would create an additional tax of more than $5000--as McCain points out, that would be a goldplated plan--and then you would pay out only the amount of relevant taxes over $5000. McCain points out less than 5-10% of people with health insurance would pay more--and those people have the option of picking other plans.
- Best Unintentional Speaking Gaffe. McCain misspoke and called Obama "Senator Government". Might I suggest Senator "Big" Government?
- Obama's 95% "Tax" Cut. I'm very frustrated that John McCain did not forcefully refute Obama's propaganda about covering 95% of Americans with lower taxes. McCain needs to point out Obama's "tax cut" is actually the biggest welfare expansion since the Clinton regime: 40% of Americans pay no income tax at all! What about the moral hazard problem here? JOHN, YOU NEED TO POINT OUT YOUR PLAN IS A CONSISTENT TAX CUT; OBAMA WANTS TO EXCLUDE JOB CREATORS BUT GIVE 40% A REWARD FOR NOT PAYING TAXES. No wonder Joe the Plumber is mad. Another point John McCain missed: remember Bill Clinton ran on a tax cut in 1992, and what did he do in 1993? Raise taxes. And a third point John McCain needed to point out: what happened in 1977-1980 when you had a Democratic President and Congress? Do I need to repeat high energy costs, high interest rates, high deficits, high taxes, high unemployment? Is that what the American people want or need over the next 4 years? The bottom line is: Do you think that Obama is going to be able to raise taxes on just 5% of Americans and pay for welfare and $1T in new spending? Obama may argue he believes in "pay as you go" (find cuts for any new spending) but where do you think the $1T in new spending is going to come from? Domestic programs? Be careful, Defense Department and all taxpayers, BECAUSE OBAMA'S NUMBERS JUST DON'T ADD UP!
- Educational Vouchers/Charter Schools? I LOVED Bob Schieffer's question, whom pointed out that even though we spend more money on schools than any other country, our students are not internationally competitive. I think Obama is modestly pro-reform in that he actually pays lip service to things like merit pay or better pay for math or science teachers. Now, Mr. Barack Obama, you don't have a snowball's chance of hell of getting any relevant reforms past your own party in the Congress or your teacher union backers. As John pointed out, Obama sends his own girls to a private school, but refuses to allow other parents stuck in the DC school system from having an alternative to the public status quo. Now I don't want to bash Michelle Rhee, whom in fact I've recommended McCain put in his cabinet. McCain clearly routed Obama on this point.
- John Lewis. I haven't written anything on the Congressman, a legitimate civil rights hero, unconscionably playing the race card, accusing Palin and McCain of not policing each and every wacko shouting something inappropriate in a rally of thousands of people and equating them to the days of segregation and George Wallace (by the way, whom was a Democrat whom ran for President in 1972). (Who knows? Maybe they were Dems planted to embarrass the GOP.) I haven't done a hit analysis, but I bet that there are 10 times more Democrats on the Internet saying inappropriate things about McCain and Palin, people whom have worked across the aisle to the other party, are reformers and have attracted powerful political enemies whom resent their influence. What is particularly pathetic is that John McCain named John Lewis one of 3 people whom he would particularly listen to during the Saddleback Civic Forum; despite the political fact that he'll probably at best win 1 out of 20 black votes running against Obama, McCain has given an address at the National Urban League and apologized for once having opposed Martin Luther King Day near the Lorraine Motel in Memphis (i.e., where MLK was assassinated). John McCain acted in the manner of one hero to another, with honor and dignity. For John Lewis to accuse the GOP team, which in fact hasn't even raised the issue of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, is morally wrong and inexcusable; for Obama to leave it to his campaign team to pay lip service to distancing themselves from Lewis' statements is dishonorable. McCain's supporters, including myself, have been angry with McCain not attacking Obama, but Obama in fact seemed to provocatively invite, by saying that McCain hadn't talked about Ayers to him personally man to man. I'm totally mystified how anyone in America would trust their country and their own children's future to some grossly unqualified, narcissistic Empty Suit, whom is able to control his visible behavior, but whose real intent seeps through his facade, such as this mano a mano challenge... Obama, simply put, is a piece of work.
