The real story behind the McCain NM ad buy
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Tags: 2008 Presidential Election in New Mexico, John McCain, media, political ads
Tags: 2008 Presidential Election in New Mexico, John McCain, media, political ads
What's really going on with the "big news" that the McCain campaign is making its first national ad buy in New Mexico? The NY Times, AP, CNN - and the Albuquerque Journal - all dive into the story like synchronized swimmers, stroking the same line in unison: "For now, the 60-second ad will air only in New Mexico - a signal that McCain plans to compete in that swing state come the fall…"
But the media watchers at News Corpse Blog cut through to the real story about the MSM's non-story:
What middle class tax relief?
As usual, what the MSM refuses to do is analyze the actual claims made in these ads.
Take one example in the new McCain, the embedded headline in the ad from the Phoenix Business Journal: "McCain Promises Middle Class Tax Relief."
A check of the article cited in the ad reveals that no substantive policies for reducing the tax burden on working are offered. Only one idea is floated - a ban on Internet and cellular phone taxes.
A new report from the Center for American Progress takes a hard look at what passes for McCain's "relief" plan:
The McBush Plan… more of the same
Bottom line: McCain's tax plan is continuation of the Bush agenda, favoring the wealthy over the middle class:
* Provides only 9% of its benefits to the bottom 80 percent of taxpayers
* Provides 58% of its benefits to the top 1 percent
* Would require, if paid for, massive cuts in benefits for middle-class taxpayers
The McCain plan also promises that a 10% corporate tax cut would provide immediate savings of $3.8 billion dollars to the top five U.S. oil companies - all of which have reported record profits due to surging oil prices and the downward diving dollar.
But the media watchers at News Corpse Blog cut through to the real story about the MSM's non-story:
The truth, however, is likely quite different than these portrayals suggest. The McCain campaign, like most politicians and interest groups these days, knows that they can purchase a small amount of airtime in inexpensive television markets like New Mexico and announce the release of the ad to the press. Then the media will dutifully regurgitate the ad repeatedly, giving the campaign what amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of free airtime.
What middle class tax relief?
As usual, what the MSM refuses to do is analyze the actual claims made in these ads.
Take one example in the new McCain, the embedded headline in the ad from the Phoenix Business Journal: "McCain Promises Middle Class Tax Relief."
A check of the article cited in the ad reveals that no substantive policies for reducing the tax burden on working are offered. Only one idea is floated - a ban on Internet and cellular phone taxes.
A new report from the Center for American Progress takes a hard look at what passes for McCain's "relief" plan:
The McBush Plan… more of the same
Bottom line: McCain's tax plan is continuation of the Bush agenda, favoring the wealthy over the middle class:
* Provides only 9% of its benefits to the bottom 80 percent of taxpayers
* Provides 58% of its benefits to the top 1 percent
* Would require, if paid for, massive cuts in benefits for middle-class taxpayers
The McCain plan also promises that a 10% corporate tax cut would provide immediate savings of $3.8 billion dollars to the top five U.S. oil companies - all of which have reported record profits due to surging oil prices and the downward diving dollar.
