Candidate XXXXX is going to raise taxes. This seems to be

[Cleita]

the new Republican campaign mantra. I have seen it creep into ads against many of our candidates here in California. Apparently they used it against Howard Dean in Ohio, saying he was going to raise taxes by $2,000 per year per person.

I think those of us who have contact with the candidates like campaign workers need to let them know that they had better be prepared to counter argue this. Now I know we will raise taxes but it won't be taxes for the poorest, which is what the RW would like them to believe.

I believe that not denying that we are going to raise taxes would be the best strategy, but we have to repeat over and over again that it will be from the top down, not the bottom up. In other words that our candidates if they gain office will work towards repealing all the tax breaks that the Bushitas have give to the top 1% of our richest citizens.

However, what would be an effective way to do this? Any ideas? I'm meeting with my candidate this evening and would like to have something effective to pass on to her.

[shadowknows69]

1. New?

This has been their mantra forever.

[Cleita]

2. True but they are given it a fresh twist by actually putting numbers

on it, saying this is what the candidate wants to do and really having nothing to back it up but that never stopped them and it seems to be effective.

[bluerum]

3. Rather than mortgaging our future to China, Japan, and other countries

willing to buy our debt, we should pay our own way. The only way to do that is pay taxes.

We are spending millions of dollars a day in Iraq - the military contractors are raking it in and have never had it so good. They need to step up to the plate and give something back to society.

The energy (O-I-L) companies have been raking it in. They need to step up to the plate.

[Vincardog]

4. Our candidates are going to restore the fairness to the tax system

Those who make more Should PAY more Right?
Is their any fair way for the rich to pay a smaller portion than the poor?

If we raise the rich man's tax by $10,000 and do nothing to 4 middle class workers tax the AVERAGE is $2,000 each.

Numbers do not lie, statisticians lie all the time.

[tulsakatz]

12. you know what I never understood?

This country is (supposedly) run by the principle that the majority rules. Now I know there are way more poor and middle class people in this country than those who make 6 figures per year........so how and why do people vote against their own interests?

[Vincardog]

13. why do people vote against their own interests? It does not matter

who votes it matters who counts the votes.

Joe Six-pack is fooled into believing if he wants to be rich he should vote RepubliCANT.

If you want to live like a republican vote Democratic.

[hfojvt]

5. I would answer with deficit numbers

and distribution percentages from Bush tax cuts.

To me, Dean did make the mistake, and that's why I quit supporting him, of planning to reverse all of the Republican tax cuts since 2001. I always went with the 80-20 rule. Reversing the tax cuts for just the top 20% gets back 80% of the money.

[Initech]

6. New? It's been their standard election tactic since 1976.

It's as formulaic as the next sitcom - all the republicans have to do to win is easy - just reduce the credibility of your opponent and then reduce the elections down to a worship of money. And, sadly, it works.

[Cleita]

7. This is why we have to grab the bull by the horns and turn

it back on them. But how? So far there are some good suggestions posted above.

[Salviati]

8. For one thing, when democrats elaborate on their tax plans:

They need to stop using percentiles in explaining who will feel changes in their taxation. Stop saying "we will repeal the tax breaks on the top 10%" and instead say "we're going to repeal the tax custs for those making over 500k/year" because 50% of the people believe that they are in the top 10%.

People need to know, yes I will be affected by this, or no I will not, you can't leave them guessing...

[Cleita]

9. Good idea.

What's needed is a way to let the electorate know that they most likely wouldn't be affected.

[brooklynite]

10. Dems also need a tagline...

Everyone knows, that "Tax and Spend" goes with Democrats, because Republicans have been saying so day in and day out for decades. We need to come up with a similar tagline that resonates with the voters. My initial thought is something like "credit card Republicans" "or spend and mortgage Republicans", because it will hopefully trigger thoughts about the voter's own difficulties with paying off their personal debts. The key however, is to be as numbingly repetetive as the Republicans are.

[tulsakatz]

14. Bill Maher made a comment once...

...about the way Republicans have vilified 'tax & spend democrats'. He said.....if tax & spend is bad, isn't no tax & spend even worse?

[tulsakatz]

11. that's not new....it's their MO

Anytime anyone mentions a democrat, it's the first thing they bring up! As if it's a fate worse than death!!!

Back in 2001, I was talking to a guy and, of course, I was talking about voting for a Democrat. This guy told me if I did vote for him, he would raise taxes. I told him I thought that was pretty petty. In this new (at the time it seemed new) age of terrorism, there are more important things to be concerned about than taxes!

[Cleita]

15. I have always brought up the fact that Jerry Brown left

a surplus as Governor of California whenever the tax and spend talking point was brought up about Democrats. Now I add that Clinton also did so as President. Usually, the mouth drops because they didn't know (about Jerry, anyway). I then tell them if you don't believe me look it up.