RNC's Pushback Against Obama Speech

After the jump, see the Republican National Committee's response to Barack Obama's town hall meeting in Springfield, MO today.

"It is not surprising that a candidate as inexperienced as Obama would resort to exaggerations, but it is surprising that he would take as many liberties as he does with his own record, much less Senator McCain's," said Danny Diaz, the RNC's communications chief.

SPRINGFIELD SHOWDOWN Obama's Rhetoric Duels His Record At Springfield, Missouri Event         _____________________________________________________________________    OBAMA'S RHETORIC VS. OBAMA'S RECORD ON TAXES   Today, Obama Said He Wouldn't Raise Taxes On Families Making Less Than $250,000:   Obama: "Let me be clear: if you're a family making less than $250,000, my plan will not raise your taxes - not your income taxes, not your payroll taxes, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Springfield, MO, 7/30/08)   But Obama Voted In Favor Of The Democrats' FY 2009 Budget, Which Would Raise Tax Rates For Americans Earning $32,000 Or More:   Obama Voted Twice In Favor Of The Democrats' FY 2009 Budget Resolution. (S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #85: Adopted 51-44: R 2-43; D 47-1; I 2-0, 3/14/08, Obama Voted Yea; S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #142: Adopted 48- 45: R 2- 44; D 44-1; I 2-0, 6/4/08, Obama Voted Yea)   The Democrats' Budget Would Raise Taxes On Individuals Earning Approximately $32,000 Or More. "Under both Democratic plans, tax rates would increase by 3 percentage points for each of the 25 percent, 28 percent and 33 percent brackets. At present, the 25 percent bracket begins at $31,850 for individuals and $63,700 for married couples. The 35 percent bracket on incomes over $349,700 would jump to 39.6 percent." (Andrew Taylor, "Presidential Hopefuls To Vote On Budget," The Associated Press, 3/13/08)   The Budget Would Also Let Capital Gains And Dividends Tax Relief Expire In 2011, Nearly Doubling The Capital Gains Tax Rate And More Than Doubling The Dividend Tax Rate. (Andrew Taylor, "House, Senate Debate Democratic Budget Plan," The Associated Press, 5/21/08)   And It Allows "More Than 20 Million Middle-Class Taxpayers To Be Hit By The Alternative Minimum Tax" After Next Year. "The Senate Wednesday approved a $3.1 trillion election-year Democratic budget blueprint that leaves to the next president the task of sorting out a host of fiscal problems. ... It also manages to predict small budget surpluses by 2012, but only by permitting several of President Bush's tax cuts to expire as scheduled at the end of 2010 and by allowing more than 20 million middle-class taxpayers to be hit by the alternative minimum tax, or AMT, after next year." (Andrew Taylor, "Senate Approves Stand-Pat Democratic Budget Plan," The Associated Press, 6/4/08)   Today, Obama Said He Would "Protect Retirement Security" For Seniors By Reducing Their Tax Burden:   Obama: "And to protect retirement security, I'll eliminate taxes for seniors making under $50,000 a year." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Springfield, MO, 7/30/08)   But In The Senate, Obama Voted To Keep Higher Income Taxes On Retirees' Social Security Benefits:   Obama Voted At Least Three Times Against Repealing The 1993 Income Tax Increase On Social Security Benefits. (S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #52: Rejected 47-53: R 47-2; D 0-49; I 0-2, 3/13/08, Obama Voted Nay; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #28: Motion Rejected 42-51: R 41-4; D 1-45; I 0-2, 1/25/07, Obama Voted Nay; S. Con. Res. 18, CQ Vote #74: Adopted 55-45: R 50-5; D 5-39; I 0-1, 3/17/05, Obama Voted Nay)   The 1993 Measure Raised Taxes On Retirees Earning As Little As $34,000 By Increasing The Portion Of Social Security Benefits Subject To Income Taxation From 50 Percent To 85 Percent. "The 1993 measure increased to 85 percent, from 50 percent, the portion of Social Security benefits subject to income tax when a retiree's income, including half of his or her annual Social Security benefit, exceeds certain levels. Those levels are $34,000 for a single person and $44,000 for a married couple." (Richard W. Stevenson, "G.O.P. Seeks To Repeal Tax On Social Security Benefits," The New York Times, 7/17/00)   NOTE: Obama's Tax Plan Acknowledges That The 1993 Tax Increase On Social Security Benefits Places Strain On Lower And Middle Income Seniors. "Lower and middle income seniors are struggling as their expenses on health and energy skyrocket while their incomes do not keep pace. This strain has been greater since 1993, when taxes on social security benefits were raised. Millions of seniors saw their net benefits go down." (Obama For America, "Barack Obama: Tax Fairness For The Middle Class," Fact Sheet, www.barackobama.com, Accessed 1/8/08)   OBAMA VS. OBAMA ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THE DEFICIT   Today, Obama Said He Would "Restore Fiscal Responsibility In Washington":   Obama: "I'm running for President because I believe we can choose our own economic destiny. We can choose to go another four years with the same reckless fiscal policies that have busted our budget, wreaked havoc in our economy, and mortgaged our children's future on a mountain of debt; or we can restore fiscal responsibility in Washington." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Springfield, MO, 7/30/08)   But Obama Has Admitted He Wouldn't Be Able To Eliminate Deficit Spending In Eight Years:   "Not Only Does Obama Say He Won't Eliminate The Deficit In His First Term, As McCain Aims To Do, He Frankly Says He's Not Sure He'd Bring It Down At All In Four Years, Considering His Own Spending Plans." (Nedra Pickler, "Analysis: Obama Won't Try For McCain's Budget Goal," The Associated Press, 7/8/08) Obama Told Reporters He Won't Promise To Reduce The Deficit By 2013. "'I do not make a promise that we can reduce it by 2013 because I think it is important for us to make some critical investments right now in America's families,' Obama told reporters this week when asked if he'd match McCain's pledge." (Nedra Pickler, "Analysis: Obama Won't Try For McCain's Budget Goal," The Associated Press, 7/8/08)   Obama Also Said He Wouldn't Be Able To Eliminate The Deficit In Eight Years. Obama: "Now I want to go ahead and tell you the truth, which is, we will not eliminate the deficit or the national debt in the next four years, or even in the next eight years." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Fairfax, VA, 7/10/08)   Obama Economic Policy Director Jason Furman Said The New Deficit Figures Would Not Affect Obama's Campaign Promises. "[Obama economic policy director Jason Furman] insisted that yesterday's new deficit figures would not affect Obama's campaign promises. 'He absolutely not only can do what he's promised to do, but must do what he's promised to do,' Furman said." (Jonathan Weisman, "Record $482 Billion '09 Deficit Forecast," The Washington Post, 7/29/08)   OBAMA VS. OBAMA ON ENERGY   Today, Obama Criticized John McCain On Energy Issues:   Obama Criticized John McCain, Accusing Him Of Backing Oil Companies And Not Offering Any Solutions To Solving The Energy Crisis.  Obama: "We can go another four years without truly solving our energy crisis; we can choose my opponent's plan to give $4 billion in tax breaks to oil companies at a time when they're making record profits, or we can finally make America energy independent so that we're less vulnerable to oil price shocks and $4 a gallon gas. We can invest in renewable energies like wind power, solar power, and the next generation biofuels. And we can create up to five million new, green jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced. That's what we can choose to do in this election." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Springfield, MO, 7 /30/08)   But Obama Voted For The 2005 Energy Bill, Which Provided Billions In Tax Breaks For Oil And Gas Companies:   Obama Voted For The 2005 Energy Bill. (H.R. 6, CQ Vote #213: Adopted 74-26: R 49-6; D 25-19; I 0-1, 7/29/05, Obama Voted Yea)   John McCain Criticized The 2005 Energy Bill's "Handouts To Big Business And Oil Companies," Calling Them Irresponsible. McCain: "This bill does little to address the immediate energy crisis we face in this country. The handouts to big business and oil companies are irresponsible and will be disastrous for people of Arizona. I cannot in good conscience, vote to pass legislation that does not adequately address issues related to energy efficiency, security, and energy independence." (Sen. John McCain, "McCain, Kyl Say No To Flawed Energy Bill," Press Release, 6/28/05)     McCain Voted Against The 2005 Energy Bill. (H.R. 6, CQ Vote #213: Adopted 74-26: R 49-6; D 25-19; I 0-1, 7/29/05, McCain Voted Nay)   The 2005 Energy Bill Included $2.8 Billion In Subsidies For Oil And Natural Gas Production. "The conference agreement provides for $14.6 billion in tax breaks and credits between 2005 and 2015, including: -- $2.8 billion for fossil fuel production..." (Toni Johnson, "CQ Bill Analysis: HR 6," Congressional Quarterly's "CQ Bill Analysis," www.cq.com, Accessed 7/14/08)   And Obama Says No To Real Energy Solutions:   Obama Opposes Allowing States To Decide If They Want To Drill Offshore To Increase American Energy Independence. Obama: "The politics may have changed, but the facts haven't. The accuracy of Sen. McCain's original position has not changed: Offshore drilling would not lower gas prices today, it would not lower gas prices next year and it would not lower gas prices five years from now." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Press Availability, Jacksonville, FL, 6/20/08)   Obama Opposes Immediate Gas Tax Relief For American Families. Obama: "I think John McCain's proposal for a three month tax holiday is a bad idea." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Campaign Event, Blue Bell, PA, 4/21/08)   Obama Called John McCain's $300 Million Prize For A Better Battery A "Gimmick." Obama: "In this campaign, John McCain is offering the same old gimmicks that will provide almost no short-term relief to folks who are struggling with high gas prices. Gimmicks that will only increase our addiction for another four years." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Campaign Event, Las Vegas, NV, 6/24/08)   Obama Recently Criticized Expanding Nuclear Power. Obama: "That might make sense in Washington, but it doesn't make sense for America. In fact, it makes about as much sense as his proposal to build 45 new nuclear reactors without a plan to store the waste some place other than, guess where? Right here in Nevada at Yucca Mountain." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Campaign Event, Las Vegas, NV, 6/24/08)   Obama's Energy Plan Does Not Provide Short-Term Relief For American Families:   FactCheck.Org Pointed Out That Obama's Energy Plan Does Not Provide Any Short-Term Relief.  "On closer examination, his proposal is to spend $150 billion over the coming decade on energy research. Ten years doesn't sound all that 'fast' to us, and there's no guarantee that the research will result in less oil being imported. ... We do object to implying that a decade-long program, which in all probability could not even begin until sometime in late 2009, is a 'fast track' to anything." (FactCheck.Org, "Straining A Point," www.factcheck.org, 7/17/08)   OBAMA VS. OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN STAFF ON SUBPRIME LENDING   Today, Obama Criticized The "Reckless Few" That Brought On The Housing Crisis, And Claimed He'd Provide Relief:   Obama: "When a reckless few game the system, as we've seen in this housing crisis, millions suffer and we're all impacted. ... To help end this housing crisis, I'll provide relief to struggling homeowners." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At A Campaign Event, Springfield, MO, 7/30/08)   But Obama's Top Economic Adviser, Austan Goolsbee, Defended Subprime Lending In 2007:   In March 2007, Goolsbee Wrote "An Economic Defense ... Of The Sub-Prime Loans" That Spurred The Housing Crisis. "He's written extensively ... He even penned an economic defense in March 2007 of the sub-prime loans that have helped trigger the nationwide housing crisis." (Kevin G. Hall, "Obama Relies On Untested Advisors," McClatchy Newspapers, 4/3/08) Goolsbee Said Cracking Down On Subprime Mortgages Could Hurt "Exactly The Wrong People" - Those Who Previously Would Have Been Denied Loans. "Also, the historical evidence suggests that cracking down on new mortgages may hit exactly the wrong people. ... It has allowed them access to mortgages whereas lenders would have once just turned them away." (Austan Goolsbee, Op-Ed, "'Irresponsible' Mortgages Have Opened Doors To Many Of The Excluded," The New York Times, 3/29/07)   Obama's National Finance Chair, Penny Pritzker, Headed Up A Bank That Specialized In Subprime Lending:   Penny Pritzker Is The National Finance Chair For Barack Obama. "And Penny Pritzker, a Chicago philanthropist, serves as Mr. Obama's national finance chairman even as her brother, Jay Robert, holds fund-raisers across town for Mrs. Clinton." (Jodi Kantor, "In Democratic Families, Politics Makes For Estranged Bedfellows," The New York Times, 2/4/08)   Penny Pritzker Was Chairwoman Of Superior Bank's Board When It Adopted The Subprime Business Strategy That Ultimately Led To Its Collapse. "Obama's national finance chairwoman, Penny Pritzker, was chairwoman of the board of a Chicago-area bank in 1993 when it adopted a subprime business strategy that regulators say ultimately led it to collapse in 2001." (Ken Dilanian, "Campaign Advisers Tied To Lending Crisis," USA Today, 4/3/08)