wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

The caller who claimed that he knew what socialism is failed to define it. McCain is claiming that Obama is socialist because he wants to spread the wealth around, this is probably ill chosen words, however tax policy always redistributes money. Government build roads, schools etc. Everyone does not drive or have children that go to school, thus if I am taxed for these things money is taken from me, but society in general benefits from transportation and educating the young etc.
If you examine the data, since the 16th amendment was passed around 1913 which ushered in the modern income tax there have been about 17 president, 10 Republicans and 7 Democrats (If you count Teddy you get 18 but I believe it was ratified under Taft). The income tax rate may have varied but under all of those presidents it has always been progressive. There has never been a flat income tax in the US. So it amazes me that people would say that Obama is trying to introduce socialism when a progressive tax has existed under 17 other presidents, most of them Republicans. As I read it Obama's plan would raise taxes on those making in excess of $1/4 million by 3%. Incidentally, Obama should have clarified to "Joe the plumber" that taxes are paid on net income not gross, i.e. you deduct all your business expenses and then pay taxes on that income.

I wish more immigrants from Eastern Europe who now live and work and care for this country would call the show and counter the comments from the caller from Rockland, NY about what Socialism is.
We know what it is, lived in it and whatever any candidate is or will ever propose or achieve politically can't come even close.

I just don't understand these Hillary-idiots. What in the world do you want!? She ran, and she lost. Period. We call that politics. Do you all want a concession prize? A gift bag? And after all of the nasty smears that came out of her campaign, while Obama and his people were by-and-large unfailingly respectful of her. It's just ridiculous. The media treated her horribly but that's beside the point. The only question now is, do you want "bomb-iran and deregulate the rest-McCain" and "complete-joke Palin: in the white house or not?

But giving tax breaks to big businesses and high end developers is Socialism for the rich. That is what we have under the republicans.

The thing is that many people live in this illusion based on cold war fear and the badge 'terrorist' has just replaced the badge 'communist/socialist'.

This sort of fear mongering is used to suspend constiuttinal roight as well as routing money through tax breaks and loopholes to private industry which hoards the wealth. Look at the pay of top ceo's for example, or the privatization of prisons or the military or health care (1 billion dollars last night for the ceo of United, this is absolutely unjustified but somehow we live under this idea that this is the most naturla way, that ceo's somehow deserve or earned this right to live as kings)

This is robbery of the people, this extreme capitalisnm (or what amounts to socialism for the rich) is what most radically undermines democracy and creates inequality because it is based on fear.

All the chatter about voter fraud, voter suppression, and long waiting lines cries out for a radical change in how voting should take place.

Instead of holding Election Day on the first Tuesday of Nov, we should vote on the 1st 2 consecutive wkends of Nov.

All state polling places should open and close at the same time.
Ex: Have polls open from 9am EST - 11pm EST on Saturday and Sunday.

The 1st wkend of Nov should be restricted to voting for President.

The 2nd wkend of Nov should be set aside for voting for Senate races, Governors races, Intiatives and Referenda, and all other local elections.

{6} Robert from NYC
You can watch CNN for free? You receive the transmission directly to your head? You don't pay for cable service? Or internet service if you watch online? And what about those ads on CNN -- someone has to pay. WNYC is probably costs less than CNN -- depending on how much you contribute to WNYC for membership.

This guy who thinks Obama is a socialist is NUTS.

Brian, Why are you no covering other 8 Presidential candidates? It is a great traversity that in a domecratic country these candidates don't even get mention leave alone the issues.
I wish NPR/WNYC could have been more pro democracy then pro/anti only two very similar parties.

25, I also was thinking what is she talking about?! But did you really expect Brian to question that? I've given up on real media coverage here.

Haha Bob Barr...

Bob Barr is the poster boy for the _only_ reason those who previously voted for Bush are not voting for McCain - economics.

It doesn't matter to these people that we've killed hundreds of thousands in Iraq, illegal wiretapping, katrina, prison torture, habeas corpus, detainee status, cheney not being part of any branch of government...

none of those issues matter to Libertarians. It's all about looking out for number one.

Donna Brazile was NOT neutral in the primaries, as she stated.

I'm voting for Nader because he is white, no other reason. How's that?

One caller asked a question about people voting for Obama because of race. In the case of Black voters, the fact is that Al Gore a Democrat got some 95% of the Black vote, Kerry some 93% and Clinton some 88% etc. Since the above were all White men, the evidence seems to reveal at least that Black voters do so disproportionately for Democrats not because of race.

Everything you need to know the difference between a Republican and a Democrat is in this woman's voice.

Obama is looking more and more like a win and she's saying Obama will/should reach out to McCain.

Compare this to the 2004 election. Tight race, Bush takes it as a mandate. No reaching out to the Democrats.

Our voting system is a joke. We send election monitors to places like Zimbabwe to ensure fair elections, but if anybody monitored us we'd be laughed at. if people are voting two weeks early, how are there 4 hour lines? What is there, only one machine? The republicans mailed flyers to southern states saying that if John Kerry were elected, he would ban the bible. They call black voters to tell them to vote on a different day. The problem, is more than ethics. It's that the American public believes this stuff. The republicans tried to eliminate the Department of Education. Until we start spending money on schools and not tax breaks to Exxon, nothing is going to change.

Y'know, I'm sure Donna Brazile is a fine person, but I'm still stumped as to why she (and Bob Shrum, while we're at it) is considered an authority on presidential political campaigns. Yes, 2000 was a stolen election, but I hold her and Bobby responsible for the absurd effort that resulted in Gore not even carrying his home state. Thank God Obama kept the usual inept Dem machinery at a safe distance when choosing senior campaign directors...keep them on CNN so I'm never in danger of hearing their voices.

Everything Brazile is saying that Obama has inspired in us to vote, is because he is black. I only wish that one day people will allow themselves to be inspired by a woman.

Voting for somebody because they're a minority and not voting for them because they're a minority are both wrong, but they are not EQUALLY wrong. The simple reason is that one involves a positive reaction and the other involves a negative reaction.

Similarly, if you gave a person $5 because they were black, it would be better than kicking them in the shin because they were black. But both would be illegitimate reasons.

Voter registration is not rocket science. I am a naturalized citizen. I figured out how to register to vote and where to vote. I did not wait until the last minute when I first registered. Of course, for me to become an American I had to demonstrate an understanding of the American political process....something which appears to be completely lacking in a large percentage of Americans.

Come on Donna, to still continue to say "I am the first..." in the 21 Century is not complimentary!

I love Donna Brazile as being one of the brightest, level-minded pundits out there. You go girl.

The caller is clearly ignorant so does this mean his white supporters are voting for him because of his race also? Ridiculous!

I hear that 10,000 lawyers will be on site to help voters in key states where they suspect voting fraud might take place. Is this true? If so, I'd feel much better about the results of this election being correct.

This Democrat complacency about voter fraud DRIVES ME NUTS!!!

I don't understand why there isn't mass action to overhaul these faulty machines (or get rid of them completely). The democrats should be yelling from the rooftops about elections being stolen by these Republican backed machine manufacturers, and all I see them doing is shrugging their shoulders.

They should also be calling for prosecution for the idiots passing out these flyers misleading people about the voting date, methods, etc.

It's maddening. The country deserves a fairer shake than this.

I heard that 10,000 lawyers will be available to help voters in key states where they predict voter fraud might take place. Is this true? If so, I would feel much better about the outcome of this election being correct.

To say that people are voting for Senator Obama based on his race, caller, is ignorant. Believe it or not some of us can read and agree with his policies!

@6
totally agree.

One of the more disturbing things from the McCain campaign is to keep harping that Obama will redistribute wealth. It is aimed at the racist element that thinks that in an Obama administration whites will be taxed and the money will go to social programs that benefit poor blacks.

What will cause a poll-worker to turn away a valid voter? Is it true that a voter "CAN" be turned away for wearing a campaign button or logo to the polling place. as seen on an MSNBC story this morning? If so, if that voter removes the offending item(s) will they then be allowed to vote, or are they required to leave the polling place altogether?

Lately when I listen here I feel like I'm watching CNN!! Same ol'folks makin' the rounds and giving the same ol'blather. Aren't there others out there? Really! Who's next, Bill Bennett? I can watch CNN for free!

I saw a clip this morning in which John McCain called Joe Wurtzelbacher an American Hero. McCain also said Wurzelbacher was his personal Role Model.
Wurtzelbacher's claim to fame is that he was caught on tape asking Barack Obama a question. Within hours, the media revealed that Joe misrepresented himself and was a tax cheat.
What in God's name qualifies Wurtzelbacher to be considered an Ameriacn Hero or a Role Model?

What does it say about McCain's judgement that he uses these over the top superlatives to describe someone who is totally unworthy and undeserving of such adulation?

Brian,
Why do you keep repeating the line about Obama supporters being "desperately nervous"?
Look at the electoral map and the polls in many of the swing states. This is going to be a solid win for Obama.
There is no reason to fear the Republicans,they can't win an election anywhere. Their time has passed and their tired old tactics have failed.

If he were to do what George is suggesting he would just be taking the bait -- as John Kerry did when he allowed himself to be sucked in to the swift boat debate over and over again, and never did get to his real campaign

@1
Mostly because the evidence on which these claims are based is unfounded. Why would he need to defend himself against untruths and republican rove smear tactics. I think Obama is sticking to issues and not letting us all get distracted by the noise.
Every Time McCain is asked about the negative tone to the campaign he refers back to Obama not excepting his request. Its soooo ridiculous! He is basically saying "Yeah, he didn't do as I told him to so...."

Why hasn't the Obama campaign been more aggressive in countering the Muslim rumors? Why didn't Obama, say, devote his 30 minute infomercial to debunk rumors and attack McCain instead of soft focus and amber waves of grain?