Guest Columnist Jesse Jackson
Campaigns are n as everyone knows n not the time for a high-blown policy debate.
The increasingly dishonorable McCain campaign is classic in this regard n with much of its advertising devoted to diversionary attacks on Barack Obama. His partner on the ticket n Sarah Palin n has begun calling Obama “socialist,” while embracing the “pro-American” parts of the country.
This isn’t really ugly; it’s just silly and depressing.
Neither candidate n in motion daily, giving speeches repeatedly, scrambling just to stay in touch with the news n has the opportunity to review in depth what we are facing, and to begin to develop a clear and comprehensive response to the worst economic challenge since the Great Depression.
We know where McCain’s passion is. He wants to cut domestic spending and, of course, eliminate earmarks. He pledges a freeze on all domestic spending. He’d add more tax cuts n largely for corporations and the wealthy n on top of the Bush tax cuts, which he would sustain. He wants to raise military spending.
Put those together and you are talking about deep cuts in domestic spending, with Medicare and Medicaid at the top of the list.
Obama is virtually the reverse. He would roll back the top-end Bush tax cuts on people making over $250,000 a year. He would end the tax breaks to corporations that move jobs abroad. He’ll give a tax break to middle- and low-income earners. He calls for major investments in new energy and conservation, retrofitting buildings and putting people to work. He wants to double the loans going to the auto industry, while demanding that they make the new electric and hybrid cars here at home.
Even when grilled by the debate moderators, he doesn’t back down from his commitment to investment in new energy, health care and education.
McCain correctly calls himself a foot soldier in the Reagan revolution. McCain wants smaller government, lower taxes, less regulation. So he would tax employer-based health care as income n a $2,000 to $3,000 tax on most working families n in order to accelerate the move from employer-based health care to individual plans. He’d give you a tax credit to negotiate on your own with the insurance companies. Similarly, he’d privatize Social Security. He’d seek vouchers to pay for private schools.
Obama, in contrast, is for sensible regulation of the banking sector. He’s for supplementing employer-based health care with a choice n keep the plan you have or choose to join a public plan, like that enjoyed by members of Congress. He’d protect Social Security and Medicare.
This is the basic choice Americans must make. How do we get out of the hole we are in? More top end and corporate tax cuts? Or more public investment in things we need?