How would Obama define middle class?
|
|
Published November 1st, 2008
Just how low can they go?
The Obama campaign first said that the middle class would be defined as anyone making $250,000 and under.
Then, that figure was revised to $200,000.
But that was still too high.
Biden just recently said that the middle class was $150,000 and lower.
But chief surrogate, Gov. Bill Richardson, thought he could do better, and said middle class was really $120,000.
I wonder why the number keeps going down? Why can’t the chief spokesmen agree on the definition?
Could it be because the candidate feels that the true definition of middle class is even lower?
Yep.
In 2003, Obama said that middle class was between $50-70K.
It’s pretty obvious to see where this train is leading.
on 
on
He’ll settle in at $42k.
I can’t believe people are actually going to vote for that guy.
Here’s how i understand those various markers:
$250K - married filing jointly making less than this, your taxes will not go up.
$200K - single making less, your taxes will not go up. married filing jointly making less, your taxes will decrease.
$150K - single making less, your taxes will decrease.
$120K - your taxes under Obama will be lower than under McCain (not sure about single vs married, hadn’t seen that broken down at this point).
Thats how the various analysis i’ve read break it down, and have since it was first proposed. This “lowering over time” thing is a pure fabrication, by folks who either a) haven’t taken the time to actually investigate the plan, or b) are looking desparetly for a way to paint Obama as a liar and backslider.
If he’s elected and pulls a Clinton (or should i say a Bush 41) on taxes, then the label may fit, even if (as in Poppy and Clinton’s cases) it was shown to be a good economic choice.
Regarding the $50K - $70K video, i didn’t hear the words “middle class” anywhere. I heard “working families”, not the same thing. A family making $25k can be a working family, but likely isn’t considered middle class. I also heard a specific mention of the FICA tax, which topped out at $87K in 2003, and such would be more burdensome to someone in the range mentioned by Obama than someone making $200K. You’re reaching Jim.