Gibson allowed the 'tax pledge' question through. Quicksand for JK?

[AirAmFan]

Gibson had time to think this decision through and recall "Read my lips--no new taxes!" from Daddy Bush. Do you think Gibson was trying to hurt Kerry and help Stupid by letting this question get asked in front of 50 million people?

[AirAmFan]

1. .

[fujiyama]

2. IF Kerry ends up raising taxes

after getting elected, then yes it will become a Bush Sr. type of statement.

I don't think this is impossible though. With a competant and sensible fiscal policy I think Kerry can live up to his promise. Even if catacylsmic events do occur - terrorist attacks, wars (let's hope we're done with that!), and recessions, etc...Kerry can do something else to stimulate revenue. For one he could probably end up raising taxes on those making 200K+. At the moment he proposes a roll back to Clinton era levels. Of course, it may end up being necessary to raise taxes to higher levels.

There is a strong possibility of a republican congress bringing up roadblocks to raise taxes to those making a lot of money. They may actually find a way to raise taxes for those making under 200K.

[Deja Q]

3. Raising taxes for those who make less than $200k

Kerry made that quite clear.

And the republcons, they'd get rid of the minimum wage if they could so I can see them raising taxes on us as well. Indeed, over the last 24 years, our workload has increased, our pay has remained more or less the same, CEO pay has jumped 600+%, and the tax burden has been shifting toward the non-wealthy.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

6. What one should respond with if confronted with "Kerry will raise taxes."

Just remind them that this record deficit is a tax on our children and grandchildren. JK did that tonight when responding to Bush on spending for the Iraq war.

[AirAmFan]

5. I like the way Kerry answered the question. The tax pledge may NOT

become the overwhelming sound byte "Read my lips" did, because Kerry took a pandering, throwaway tone.

[mtnester]

4. Noticed Bush did not make the same pledge

nt

[SoCalDemocrat]

7. Gibson is a jackass

He was not qualified to moderate that debate.

That question was one example. Letting Bush continually trash the rules and shout over the moderator is another.

[w4rma]

8. It was a good question. One of the few I liked. And Sen. Kerry

answered it wonderfully by standing in front of the camera and making that pledge.

[BillZBubb]

9. I don't like pledges like that. There is too much that can happen.

You cannot predict the future well enough to guarantee you won't have to raise taxes. Kerry did the best he could with a bad question.

And yes, Gibson was trying to hurt Kerry. There was a string of four or five questions near the end that were all Repugs. But, the final question to Bush* was a good one for us. Once again the Chimperor can't admit any mistakes.

[AirAmFan]

10. No other Commander-in-Chief would have painted himself into a corner

where he can't EVER admit a mistake or apologize for a screwup ("What mexed missage would that send?"). If you listen closely to Stupid's answer to tonight's last question, it sounds as if he WOULDN'T have guarded that ammo dump if he had it to do over again!