Candidate WatchHow They Voted – Not Sugar CoatedBy Carolyn CormeyThis is such a strange election, don’t you think? Friends are divided from friends. Forwarded emails that confirm your Candidate, become the “truths” that confirms your choice? Huh? Has anyone really ever gone to www.senate.gov to check out the “facts” on how they really voted, or is it just too late?! TAXES: Senator Mc Cain – Over McCain’s 26 year legislative history, there have been times that he supported specific tax increases but generally he has been a tax cutter. Senator Obama consistently voted in favor of just about every tax increase for incomes of all levels, until becoming a Presidential Candidate. His voting record in the 109th and 110th Congress reflects that he voted: “No” to extending the 35,33,28, and 25 percent income tax rate structure to protect nearly 28,000,000 families and individuals, including small business owners, from having their tax rates increase to 39.6, 36, 31 or 28%” He has voted against a number of bills that tried to raise the death tax exemption to $5 million and reduce the maximum death tax rate to no more than 35%. Voted “No” to extending the student loan interest deduction and the teacher classroom deduction “No” to protecting senior citizens from higher taxes on their retirement income, dividends and Capital Gains If elected, he now promises no income tax increases to families or small businesses with incomes up to $250,000. If you are . . . a plumber named, “Joe,” hire a couple guys, run your business as an “S-Corp,” and leave a little money in your business, you reach this taxable income very quickly. Perhaps you decide it would be better now, not to hire the two guys and “plumb” on you own? ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: Senators McCain and Obama have both been strongly in favor of a “Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill,” that includes a pathway to citizenship (amnesty?) for the 12-20 million illegal aliens in the United States. Senator McCain – was a major sponsor of the 2006 and 2007 Bills that did not become law. Senator McCain sponsored an objectionable amendment that would have allowed Social Security benefits for illegal aliens from the time they first began working under a stolen ID. Senator Obama also voted for this. Senator McCain voted for an amendment to make English our “National” official language AND Senator Obama voted against it. Instead, Senator Obama voted for an amendment to affirm English as a “unifying” language AND Senator McCain voted against this alternative. “THE DREAM ACT,” in the “Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill,” allowing illegal aliens, “in-state” tuition in all state colleges and universities in all states, was supported by both Senators Obama and McCain. This was another privilege not available to born or naturalized citizens. After the first defeat of the Immigration Bill, Senators Obama and Clinton (along with a few other Senators, continued to try to attach the “Dream Act” to “must-pass” bills,” including hiding it among the many amendments attached to the pork-laden, Defense Bill. “Talk Radio” and www.NumbersUSA.com “outed’ this effort and massive calls from constituents to their Senators, caused this “Earmark” to be pulled from the Defense Bill. Senator McCain’s current position: Through this election cycle, he has told his base, “I get it. Secure the borders FIRST, get the Governors of the Border States to certify that borders are secure AND THEN, we can talk about a Comprehensive Immigration Bill.” However, during this election cycle, McCain has been the guest speaker at Illegal Alien Special Interest Groups, assuring them that he is still totally committed to a “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” Bill (leaving many of us still asking, where is the money coming from to do this?) Senator Obama’s current position: Before and during this campaign, he has attended Illegal Alien Special Interest Group Conventions, assuring them that in his first year as President, with a Democrat majority in both the House and the Senate, he is fully committed to pushing through a “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” with a pathway to citizenship (amnesty) for those 12-20 million illegal aliens who will be able to bring in their wives, children, sisters, brothers, mothers and fathers – who will then be able to bring in their . . . .(chain migration). While the “Press/Media” continues to say that the immigration is of little importance to the American public, to many of us . . . it is! With Social Security broken, Medicare nearly bankrupt and citizens with no health insurance, questions, we continue to ask, “where will the money coming from, to do all of this!?” EARMARKS: Senator McCain does not believe in them and has a 26 year legislative history of not “bringing home the bacon, that’d be PORK.” He promises that his administration would cook this goose. Senator Obama was a Earmark reformer, before he started requesting large Earmarks ($740 Million in first 3 years, 112 requests totaling $330 Million for 2008), but as a Presidential Candidate, he is once again an Earmark Reformer and has made no Earmark requests for 2009 In the House of Representatives, there are 435 Seats up for election. If the Democrats secure 290 Seats, they have the majority to pass legislation that then goes to the Senate. There are 35 Senate Seats up for election. The Democrats currently hold a secure 49 seats and 2 Independents caucus with the Democrats. If Senator McCain is elected, it is doubtful that he will have the necessary majority in either the House OR Senate, so whatever his agenda, it will be modified. If elected, Senator Obama will just need an additional 9 Democrat Senators to control the whole ball game and easily push through his agenda, that he has already told us will include including amnesty and tax increases. Your vote is important. Perhaps – “stalemate and gridlock” is the best we can hope for, in these days and times. What do you think? (Next “Candidate Watch,” Justices, Health Care, Abortion and “Style.”)
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