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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

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Obama's two minutes on the economy

Posted: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 11:38 AM by Carrie Dann
Filed Under:

From NBC's Carrie Dann

An extended version of the latest Obama ad on the economy hits airwaves today.  The two-minute television spot, airing in "key states," hits McCain for relying on "the old trickle-down theory" and responds specifically to the claim that Obama's economic plan would raise - and not cut - taxes on the middle class. 

"My plan offers three times as much tax relief to the middle class as Senator McCain's," says the Illinois senator, who addresses the camera directly throughout. "If you make less than a quarter million a year, you won’t see your taxes raised one penny under my plan."

The ad is very similar - and looks as though it may have been filmed at the same time - as the one minute spot  "A Stronger Economy" released by the campaign last Wednesday.

TEXT:  (BO) For eight years, we've been told that the way to a stronger economy was to give huge tax breaks to corporations and the wealthiest Americans, and somehow prosperity would trickle down.

Well now we know the truth.  

It didn't work. 

Instead of prosperity trickling down, pain has trickled up.

Working family incomes have fallen by two thousand dollars a year.

We’re losing jobs. 

Deficits are exploding.

Our economy's in turmoil.

I know that that we can steer ourselves out of this crisis.

But not by driving down the very same path.

And that's what this election's all about.

On taxes, John McCain and I have very different ideas.

Instead of giving hundreds of billions in new tax breaks to big corporations and oil companies, I'll cut taxes for small and startup businesses that are the backbone of our economy.

Instead of more tax breaks for corporations that outsource American jobs, I'll give them to companies who create jobs here.

Instead of extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest -- I'll focus on you.

My plan offers three times as much tax relief to the middle class as Senator McCain's.

If you make less than a quarter million a year, you won’t see your taxes raised one penny under my plan.

And seniors making less than fifty thousand, who are struggling with the rising costs of food and drugs on fixed incomes, won’t pay income taxes at all.

The tax code we have today is over 10,000 pages long.

Almost every bit of it was shaped by some lobbyist taking care of some special interest.

Well, it's time we had a President who puts you first.

I hope you'll log on to BarackObama.com and read my full plan.

It will help jump-start our economy, create millions of jobs, and bring back our
Main Streets all across America.

The old trickle-down theory has failed us.

We can't afford four more years like the last eight.

I’m Barack Obama, and I approved this message because I know that with a new direction, and new policies focused on jobs and the middle class, we can lift our economy and our country.

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Comments

This man knows what he is doing. While McCain is off babysitting Palin and trying to rescue his nosediving political career, Barack Obama is addressing us--the American people--with a common sense approach and calm, effective leadership skills that will lead us out of this Republican-created nightmare. It will probably take years to recover, but Barack has the right ideas about where we need to put our first steps and he is addressing the needs of regular people.

BRAVO!

Obama/Biden '08/'12
This longer version of the ad directly answers some LYING charges from the McCain camp. And what a stark contrast: Obama looks straight into the camera while talking to the viewer, compared to McCain at the debate never once looking at Obama and appearing to all the world like a grumpy old man.
Great add, hits all the right notes.
With false assertions, Bush long ago lost any credibility in making the case for any need to take drastic action.

McCain demonstrated his credibility in dealing with economic problems when he claimed to suspend his election campaign until he secured the resolution of the current crisis he helped create. Why is he now campaigning?
am i the only one who thinks that these 2 ads are more effective than all of the general election ads run by both Obama and mccain combined? it's got this authentic feel to it. it's got this pragmatic feel to it. and it criticizes and forges your opinion on the mccain and bush philosophy without turning anyone off and in the same breath, lay out a clear, succinct, detailed plan to fix the economy. count me amongst those who've been persuaded to go from lean obama to definitely strong obama.
Nice ad!
Excellent. The American people are ready to pay attention.  We can all comprehend this.  McCain has tried to distort these facts. To quote Howard Fineman I think we are now seeing the start of the Obama presidency.  
Anyone thats been paying attention to the candidates and their stances and has at least attempted to judge them based on facts and not political party affiliation please share your thoughts. As an independent, I would like to hear what you have to say without hearing the same old partisan cliches. Endorse a candidate based on agreeing with their views and share your reasons for agreeing with those views. Thanks.
Very very strong ad by Barack Obama. This is where his decision to forgo public financing really comes into play.

Brian
<a href="http://www.politicalinaction.com">THE GREATEST BLOG IN HISTORY</a>
Sure, Obama is brilliant and has a comprehensive plan for the economy and an intelligent, thought-out approach to foreign policy. But McCain was a POW and Palin has five kids, so it makes sense that people are torn between the tickets.
If you support Barack Obama, Google Barack Obama donor match.

Doubling your impact is pretty darned smart.
We should listen to McCain - he has experience bailing out crooked bankers and investors named "Bush."

Seriously, I don't know who's to blame for the deregulation - smells suspiciously repug to me - but I do know there's been whole sale thievery, and I know damned good and well BushCo has known for years that our economy was being held up by bad loans (witness, if you will, how Bush let the credit industry rewrite the bankruptcy laws in '06 - that was no coincidence) and some heads need to be placed on some flaming pikes. "Golden parachute" my ass - criminal court and jail time followed by endless civil court.
Just as GW Bush and ALL of his predecessors, there are many goals and ideals that each of these candidates honestly has a conviction to stand behind. Also like the ones before them, they will realize that between unforeseen world events and domestic tragedy as well as the fact that there are two other branches of government that contribute to the leadership of our country, these dreams and ideals will certainly be both modified and compromised. Welcome to real life!
This is exactly what we need to kick start our economy. Obama is smart to highlight the differences between himself and McCain. The time is now, Americans need to wake up.

Obama/Biden '08/'12
Obama is going to win this election.  People are sick and tired and fed up, and it's obvious that McCain is more of the same.  OBAMA/BIDEN 08!
Blunt and OTHER REPUBLICANS SAY THAT PELOSI IS NOT TO BLAME.
SO!!!!

The GOP would rather cry over being called what they are instead of suck it up and do whats right.
HOW DARE THEY BLAME CLINTON!!!

While Obama talks to Presdient Bush and puts out specific steps and proposals to help the economy and to perhaps to alleviate some concerns regarding the bail out Bill, McCain says " I called Bush too" and calls an economic round table for God knows what purpose. My understanding is that when Bush met with Obama and McCain during their meeting in Washington it was Obama who took charge of the meeting repeating the protections the American taxpayer deserved and needed in this bail out Bill while McCain sat here like a bumb on a log.

Ever notice how McCain says a lot without saying much of anything. Every time he opens his mouth out spews generalizations that have no substance whatsoever. But I suppose because Mccain loves the troops and he was a POW he certainly knows how to resolve this econiomic crises. He might even have some time to try another erratic approach if he can keep from having to bail out Palin during all her interviews.

Hey, now there is something McCain does (but here again not so well) He bails out Sarah Plain.  
Interesting that the ad doesn't use any real numbers, just rhetoric.

Try these numbers:  Obama's tax increase on small business would mean that small business owners would pay SIXTY TWO CENTS in taxes on each dollar.  Put another way, it would mean that they would only retain Thirty-eight cents of every dollar earned.

Change is the only thing he'll let us keep.
McCain thinks he is Mighty Mouse
Here I come to save the day...

Too bad he is Mermaid Man or more like Mighty Dog the dog food
this ad is a lie.

McCain's lowering of corporate tax rate is accompanied by the loss of the current tax break for offering health plans to workers.

The loss of that tax break will force health care companies to sell directly to individuals, increase competition and IMMEDIATELY drive down the cost.

COST IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WITH HEALTH CARE NOT UNIVERSALITY!

So the realized tax will remain close to the same (around 11%), but with lower health care costs so that more people can afford it.

People, government has a role to play in our lives BUT I don't want them touching my health!
So we can look forward to Obama, Reid and Pelosi?  And your saying my taxes won't go up?  How are you going to pay for everything.  During the debate there wasn't one are that BO didn't want to spend money.  Healthcare, education, military including an expansion of the war in Afghanistan.  There are to be no cuts in Medicare or Social Security.  It seems to me that BO wants to continue down the same road as Bush.  Complete fiscal irresponsibility.  That's change I can believe in!
This issue of taxes is the one that most perplexes me about both Sen Obama and Sen McCain. With our country's deficit out of site, and with a possible massive bailout for financial institutions in the near future,how can either of them say they will cut taxes?  Absent large cuts in spending, from where will the money come?

With respect to taxes, and some other issues, I feel as though the candidates are simply telling me what they think I want to hear.
Obama doesn't have a clue. A crisis occurs, and he sits on the sidelines. Does he have a plan? Nope. Does he have an opinion? Nope. Does he work with both is party and the Republicans on a compromise plan? Nope and nope. No, he just sits there and waits for his advisors to tell him what to say. The man is clueless.
Someone in the media needs to remind the American public about the LAST time we had this kind of major econmonic issue-the S&L Bailout-and who was at the heart of the scandal associated with it.  It seems that the media is afraid to say the words "Keating Five" and "S&L Bailout" as they talk about how the government managed to work through the S&L problem and actually come up with some profit.  As much as the Bush white house, the media has managed title this "The Wall Street Bailout" and not provided a clear description to the American people about what this all really means to Main Street.

So can you please talk about the S&L bailout (throw in the Keating Five) and how the government managed to work through that crash and come out ahead.
Barrack will pay for a lot of his programs by cutting tax loopholes for Wallstreet and end that 10 billion a day war in Irag that has already cost the tax payers almost a trillion dollars.  Need I say more?
YES: You nailed it Sen. Obama, kudos.
It is becoming clearer and clearer.  When you are honest with the American people, they will support you. When you lose your credibility Americans will turn you off like a light switch.  It's lights out for John McCain.

Twenty-seven percent of the American people still support George W. Bush.  Less than 45 percent will ever support McCain...and we have only 35 days to go until the election.
If you don't want your country sold out AGAIN to corporations that only care about $$$ and care nothing for your job, your family or you; then go and donate $10 to the Obama campaign.

McCain is planning on a HUGE push of lies about Obama in the next few weeks through 3rd party expenditures. The only way Obama can counter this is with your help:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/Americans4ChangeJC
An Obama, Reid, Pelsoi, leadership possibility isn't htat scary. We see what the people wanted is how the Congress voted yesterday. These three hard and far left-wingnuts would really struggle to govern the country. And after two years, just like when Clinton  tried his brand of Socialism from '92 to '94 - Pelosi and Reid will lose their houses, and then some sense of reason will once again occur in Congress. Obama, if President, wouldn't work well at all with the Republicans - it's not in his nature. So he too would be thrown out after his term is up. Democrats are just too dumb to be feared.
Couple of problems with this
1) Obama is supposed to be soft.  This ad suggests that he's not going to sit around and play footsie with McCain and let McCain lie about him.  I think this is just an over the top, too strong message from someone who is supposed to be soft.

2) it tells the truth and is therefore very difficult to refute.  So, now Team McCain will ahve to come up with an even bigger whopper to get around all this truth that Obama, who's supposed to be a liar, is telling.

For anyone who doesn't get my sarcasm, I LOVE this ad.  It's Obama at his finest.  The only thing I wish he'd do, and I'll do it here, is show the DIFFERENCE in his tax plan for the middle class and that of McCains.
Income           McCain   Obama  Difference
$66K-$112K -$1,009 -$1,290 -$281
$38K-$66K -$319 -$1,042 -$723
$19K-$38K -$113 -$892 -$779
Under $19K -$19 -$567 -$548

So, when Obama says 3 times as much for middle class, he's speaking specifically to those people in the $42-65,000 income bracket.  
And, even those who're in the $80-120 tax bracket, Obama still gives you more of a tax cut than McCain.  Not three times as much, but still, a little more money.

Lastly, those people in that under $100,000 tax bracket will spend the tax cut on needed things, including gas and heating oil.  Those in that over $250, they're going to hide their money in offshore tax shelters or spend it in luxury items that really don't benefit the economy.  But, don't take my word for it.  Ask a family member, a church member, a friend, a neighbor.  See for yourself.  And when these people do spend part of their tax cuts, that in turn will help the economy even more.  Just thought you might want to know a little truth behind the truth.
Everyone seems to froget that until it was politically expedient, McCain supported the economic policies of deregulation and lack of oversight for the financial institutions.  Now we are to believe that he is a "maverick" and has seen the light?!!!!!Check out his advisors who would now help him fashion an economic strategy for the USA should he be elected.  Doesn't it scare you?
Wow...I'm actually slightly impressed with this. Huh...makes you kind of think of how the two candidates have acted over the past week.
He has put out ad's where he actually talks about his policies and gives people a direct route for more details to those who want or need to go further with their information. In other words, treating the American people like intelligent adults. I have yet to see even one from the McCain campaign where McCain actually speaks directly to the camera about his policies to some detail.  I think that this type of ad shown here is all the Obama campaign would put out....that is if they didn't feel the need to counter attack to the McCain attack ads that started with belittling him to all looks-no substance Spears and Hilton.  I believe the younger than baby-boomer generations really look down on these attack ads and if McCain were smart, he would put up more ads like the ones that Obama has......and spend less on his sucker-punch ads. I don't agree with all of Obama's policies, nor do I agree with all of McCain's, which leaves me to choose the candidate that gives me more substance for their proposal of change and that I find most respectful in their candidacy...which is a change.  Even if it is a small increase in respectability, it is a step in the right direction for future elections and therefor the country.
I think I would rather pay a little more in taxes than have the USA owe it's soul to China. I also would rather know that our President would use good sound reason and judgment when making a decisions.  McCain scares me to death.  He does not appear to use good reson or comman sense and as for judgment....SARAH PALIN.  That about says it all.
How do you lower taxes on a class of people, lower middle class by Obamas definition, that don't pay income taxes? People in the lower 50th percential pay about 5% of the income taxes today. What's Obama's plan, to have them pay 0%? Nothing like the so-called non-tax paying "middle-class" voting themselves a raise anytime they feel like it. That's what Obama's world would look like, The Robin Hood society. Somewhere, Karl Marx has a big smile.
Obama is practicing the fine Democratic art of vote buying.
Some of you people are so misinformed.  Do you have any idea how much wasteful spending the govt. does?  ANY idea?  BILLIONS of dollars EVERY year!  EVERY SINGLE YEAR!  Sen. Obama has stately very clearly and slowly for you slow republicans that he will go through the budget LINE BY LINE and eliminate wasteful spending and use that money wisely.  The problem is Bush and his cronies don't want us knowing what they have been wasting the money on.  For you older voters that remember Watergate..  Nixon was pardoned by another republican.  Let's suppose for a second his VP was a democrat, like state level Gov./Lt. Gov.'s are elected.  Would he of been pardoned?  No he would of been put in jail.  Bush HATES McCain and McCain HATES Bush, but he would rather McCain guard the secrets than the democrats know the secrets.  And we haven't even started on Cheney yet...
BUSH knew what he was doing. Remember his way or the highway well welcome back OBAMMAs way or noway.ENJOY your hatred for each other as much as our enimies do.
Best ad of the campaign season by any presidential candidate from either party.  FINALLY, somebody is telling it like it is and explaining his plan. Obama has my support and I plan to work for him from now til the election!
The dems and repucks have played all of you for fools,keep giving them the money they know how best to spend it. They think we are a bunch of stooges and act accordingly.Rise up vote the incumbent OUT never again rely on a party to help you remember the parties of the past COMMUNIST<NATIONAL SOCIALIST PARTY THE WIG PARTY THE FEDERALISTS stop with the party affiliation and vote you heart and soul. YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO THROW THE BUMS OUT whats that every bum but my BUM.
What a novel concept Obama has...addressing the people like they're actual "human beings" and not "scum."

It flies totally opposite to the Repug approach...let's see if it works.
This is EXACTLY WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE SAID AT THE DEBATE!!
In 2005, there was a bill called the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act co-sponsored by John McCain while Barack Obama and Joe Biden were unusually silent. This act was to protect against exactly what has happened with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. McCain said at that time, "If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system and the economy as a whole." Liberals Chris Dodd and Barney Franks are the Chairmen of the committees which oversaw the very aspects of the process which led to the crisis we are now in.
Alan, NJ, How are you going to pay for everything?

Oh thats right, the Republicans gave so much money to big corporate wealthfares, and saved us so much money, Oh to bad thats your dream, our country now has a very large deficit, thanks republicans, you have done so much for us. At least Obama is thinking about us, you and me, and not the big assh*les, who already have to much. Healthcare is more importamt than giving millions to millionaires, Im glad you like having our country left behind, it is now time to move forward. Wallstreet is the biggest walfare case I have ever seen, yet, how many people like to belittle individuals that need financial help and are put through embarrassing means testing, hmmmmm, I wonder if Bears Stearns had any means testing?  


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