The Republicans have pushed me over the edge with their latest lunatic ranting. The most impressive thing about McCain’s — very funny — appearance on Saturday Night Live last night is that he managed it without visibly looking under the Weekend Update desk for commies hiding under it.
I’m not going to link to all of the videos of Republican candidates and talking-point spewing mouth breathers slandering Obama by calling him a socialist, Marxist, or communist; they’re available on in the ‘tubes. Google “Obama socialist” and you’ll find plenty. Let me get through the stats for the week and I’ll give you my rebuttal.
Miles run today: None. The Mrs. is singing excerpts from the Faure Requiem at church this morning, and I don’t miss her performances except for emergencies. She’s got a wonderful voice.
Words written: 590 words of the short story I’m working on. Between a tough week at work and election coverage at night, I haven’t been getting much writing done. Back on track after Tuesday!
And now, my Keith Olbermann-style special comment:
REAGAN WAS A SOCIALIST!
Okay, Republican neo-McCarthyites, what in your mind makes Obama a socialist? Is it his support for the progressive income tax structure (increasing marginal rates as income goes up)? McCain/Palin support the same structure, they just differ over the rates. Let’s assume that you don’t believe we’re living in a socialist state today. The top marginal income tax rate is currently 35%. Obama has proposed raising the top rate to 39.6%, which is where it was during the boom years of the 1990s. Are you saying that the line between a capitalist society and a socialist society is crossed somewhere between 35% and 39.6%? Where is that line, exactly? Is it 36%? 37? 38.2%? Were we socialists during the tech boom?
I also think that it’s unfortunate that you’re defaming Ronald Reagan by calling him a socialist. If Obama’s a socialist for proposing a 39.6% top marginal rate, Reagan must have been positively Stalinesque in his support for the communist system, because under his self-proclaimed “tax reform” the top marginal rate from 1982 through 1986 was 50%. What a pinko! Now, to give credit where credit is due, maybe the Gipper saw the light, because in 1986 he signed another tax bill that lowered the top marginal rate to 38.5%. Perhaps that’s the line we should never cross – 38.5%=capitalist market economy, freedom, and the shining city on the hill, while 38.51% = socialism, tyranny, oppressed masses, and another Evil Empire. Who knew the red revolution would be so subtle, and yet so well defined?
All tax systems are redistributionist, even a flat tax. Back in 2000, McCain called the Bush tax cuts “irresponsible.” So is going back to the pre-2001 top rate “socialistic” or simple fiscal responsibility?
MCCAIN FUNDED RADICAL PALESTINIAN TERRORIST!
As for Khalidi, while McCain served on the board of the International Republican Institute, that organization gave Khalidi several hundred thousand dollars in grants in the 1990s. Obama spoke at a dinner where the guy was in attendance, and says that in a couple of conversations Khalidi challenged some of Obama’s biases. Assuming Khalidi is some kind of radical terrorist (a charge for which there doesn’t appear to be any evidence), which association is more offensive?
Let’s get this straight: Obama, not a socialist, not someone who pals around with terrorists. He’s just the guy who’s kicking Republican ass.
The Unfocused Life 
My in-laws better not read this post. They are on the ‘Obama is a Socialist’ bandwagon big time. Basically they will vote for any Republican no matter who it is. I was always a believer in voting for the person I agree with the most, regardless of which party that person is in.
And yes, McCain did a good job on SNL. I’ll give him that.
Ah, see, in my family, I’m the “conservative.” Both of my parents are further left than I am. I’ve always voted Democratic for the big races, but for anything other than President, Governor, or Senator, I generally consider candidates on a case-by-case basis; as a result, I’ve voted for a number of Libertarians, and the occasional Republican. This year, though, I wanted to send a message and voted straight ticket Democrat.
(Sigh) Mike is right. The in-laws, aka my parents, are completely on the socialist bandwagon. In a break from our “we can’t talk about the election” moratorium, my mother ran down the littany of Palin accusations against Obama, taking them all as fact. When I asked her if she thought that Obama was a terrorist planning to take over the country and cause harm, she said yes. Very, very scary from an otherwise intelligent person. Maybe she was just upset that my sister was heading to Indy to volunteer for the Obama campaign.