Democrats are constantly lagging behind in defining the issues in a light that benefits them. They constantly let the "liberal tax raiser" theme go on unchallenged, and they fight back with wordy, hard to comprehend platitudes and arguments.
It's time to fight back HARD. John McCain is a tax raiser for the middle class! Compared to Barack Obama, McCain will raise your taxes!!
Source: Washington Post
It's simple. Don't say that "Obama's going to give more of a tax break than McCain." It doesn't have the same scaremongering appeal that "McCain's going to raise taxes for the middle class (compared to Obama)." Start releasing advertisements calling McCain a tax-raiser, and force him to defend himself.
Jesus. I'm sick of getting beat on this tax stuff. The Obama campaign has lately ratcheted it up a notch, but they're still a notch behind. Ruin any trust McCain has with the middle class. There are so many conservatives and independents that are still latched on to this notion that they're going to have higher taxes with a Democrat in office. These people could care less what the oil companies have to pay. They don't trust government one bit, and for all they care, the oil companies shouldn't have to pay any taxes, either. They care about their immediate household, and that is all. And in that regard, John McCain is going to tax them far more than Barack Obama.
People are mad at the government. They don't want ANYONE'S money going there. Mostly, they care about their own money, but making the oil companies pay more taxes isn't an argument that's going to gain any traction with them.
Please, Mr. Axelrod. Frame this issue right already. John McCain is a tax raiser for the middle class.