McCain aims for crucial senior vote

[maddezmom]

McCain aims for crucial senior vote
Obama now leads in states with many older voters.

By Linda Feldmann | Staff writer / October 14, 2008 edition
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Washington

Now, it’s all about the seniors. In a presidential race that is marching daily – but not irreversibly – toward the election of Democrat Barack Obama, Republican John McCain unveiled proposals Tuesday aimed foremost at benefiting older Americans hit hard by the gyrations of the stock market.

Seniors represent a critical voting bloc in states that Senator McCain has to hold onto to win the election – including Florida, Ohio, and Indiana – and that have been moving toward Senator Obama. Senior citizens are also crucial in blue states such as Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, where Obama now has double-digit leads and which McCain has worked hard to sway. He announced what he calls his Pension and Family Security Plan at an event in Blue Bell, Pa.

The plan includes a reduction of the tax rate on withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k)s to 10 percent. McCain also repeated his proposal to suspend tax rules that require seniors to begin selling off equities when they reach age 70 1/2. Obama announced his own economic plan on Monday, including tax credits for job creation and a moratorium on home foreclosures. But it is McCain who needs a dramatic shift in momentum, and his emphasis on seniors is telling: These are voters that McCain should be winning handily, and any sense that they may be drifting away from him is a warning sign.

“The bulk of the media’s attention has been on younger voters, not older; but older are the high turnout voters,” says Susan MacManus, a political scientist at the University of South Florida in Tampa. “Some feel like their concerns have not been addressed by the candidates.”

more:http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/10/14/mccain-aims-for-crucial-senior-vote/

[Wetzelbill]

1. See that's why he was wandering around on stage in the last debate

He wanted seniors to identify with him.

[sshan2525]

2. My mom's 88....

and she wouldn't vote for Gramps if he paid her a million bucks.

[pennylane100]

3. I am a senior and I would move back to England

rather than live with a McCain presidency.

[WI_DEM]

4. Obama needs to bring up privatization of SS

[napi21]

5. Under Obama's plan, most seniors wouldn't pay income tax anyway

The 95 percent-plus of the American population that earns less than $250,000 would see the following tax breaks: A $500-per-worker tax credit for people who earn less than $150,000 and do not itemize, and a $4,000 credit per child in college. Seniors who earn less than $50,000 would pay no income tax.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1031268,CST-NWS-tax30.article


Very few seniors earn $50,000+, and you are only REQUIRED to take 5% a year of your 401K once you reach 70 1/2.

It's smoke & mirrors time again folks!

[Cha]

6. Seniors may be older but they're not

fucking stupid.

What if mccain's and bush's proposal to privatize SS had already been a done deal?

[OwnedByFerrets]

7. McSame will cut your Medicare and Medicaid to shreds seniors.

[Barack_America]

9. Yup.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7449007

[crossroads]

8. My mom (a senior) can't stand McShame and Failin is the main reason!

Sarah stirs up memories of back when women actually were subservient to men! She told me Sarah embraces everything that she and her friends fought so hard against back in the 60s!
She also hates her shrill voice...lol
CR