John McCain has jumped all over Joe Biden's remarks saying the rich paying taxes is a form of patriotism. Of course, John McCain said the same thing as Biden in 2003, back when he had some principles.
McCain opposed Bush's tax cuts for the rich in 2001 because:
"I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us, at the expense of middle class Americans who most need tax relief."
In 2003, on the eve of the Iraq war, McCain again opposed Bush's tax cuts--this time because tax cuts for the rich would hurt America's security until we have achieved victory in Iraq:
And it is far sounder statesmanship than cutting taxes in the dark, or running up spending, without due regard to our primary responsibility to the American people: their physical security.
Follow me over the jump to see how John McCain, back when he had a shred of principle left, completely agreed with what Joe Biden said today. He has, of course, abandoned all principle in order to make false and desperate attack on Obama and Biden.
First, it's important to note that McCain has already started lying about what Biden actually said.
From the AP:
McCain misstated Biden's remark when he told supporters at a rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, that Biden had said "raising taxes is patriotic."
"Raising taxes in a tough economy isn't patriotic. It's not a badge of honor. It's just plain dumb," McCain said. "The billions in tax increases that Sen. Obama is proposing would kill even more jobs during tough economic times. I'm not going to let that happen."
Here's what Biden actually said:
Democratic Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden want to “take money and put it back in the pocket of middle-class people," Biden told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Thursday.
"It's time to be patriotic,” Biden said. “Time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut. And the way to do that is -- they’re still going to pay less taxes than they paid under Reagan.”
Under the Obama-Biden tax plan, people (and small businesses) earning more than $250,000 a year would pay more in taxes while those earning less (95 percent of Americans, they say) would receive a tax cut.
There's nothing controversial about that; the wealthy paying their share to help ensure American economic and physical security has always been seen as patriotic.
In 2003, John McCain--back before he had abandoned any sense of principles--opposed Bush's tax cuts for the rich on the Senate floor on the eve of the Iraq War. Why did he oppose the tax cuts? Because he knew that giving tax breaks to the rich when the rest of the country is in need would hurt America.
Here's McCain on the Senate Floor:
Let us wait until we have succeeded in Iraq, and until we have some idea of what percentage of the costs of the aftermath of those hostilities we will have to bear. The best thing that can be done for the economy today is to win the war in Iraq quickly, completely, and to attract the coalition of partners necessary to help us meet our postwar objectives in that country. That is a far more necessary, and responsible stimulus to our economy at this time. And it is far sounder statesmanship than cutting taxes in the dark, or running up spending, without due regard to our primary responsibility to the American people: their physical security.
McCain knew that to fully support and supply our troops in time of war, which America's responsibility according to McCain, we cannot afford to giveaway billions of dollars to the rich in tax cuts.
In other words, tax cuts for the rich are unpatriotic. The rich paying their share--which Biden suggested--would then be patriotic. The old John McCain was at least right some of the time.
UPDATE 1: Wildcat6 reminded me of McCain asking: "Where's the sacrifice?"
Back when John McCain was somewhat of a an actual maverick, he had his Republican Party membership card questioned for asserting that tax cuts for the rich were unpatriotic:
As other House GOP members stood behind him laughing, Hastert, R-Illinois, then expressed doubt that McCain was indeed a Republican.
The exchange started when a reporter asked: "Can I combine a two issues, Iraq and taxes? I heard a speech from John McCain the other day..."
Hastert: "Who?"
Reporter: "John McCain."
Hastert: "Where's he from?"
Reporter: "He's a Republican from Arizona."
Hastert: "A Republican?"
Amid nervous laughter, the reporter continued with his question: "Anyway, his observation was never before when we've been at war have we been worrying about cutting taxes and his question was, 'Where's the sacrifice?' "
Hastert: "If you want to see the sacrifice, John McCain ought to visit our young men and women at Walter Reed and Bethesda. There's the sacrifice in this country. We're trying to make sure they have the ability to fight this war, that they have the wherewithal to be able to do it. And, at the same time, we have to react to keep this country strong."
He abandoned all of that Maverickiness in pursuit of the Republican nomination, and he's now proved himself to be just another typical Republican.