New Bush-Cheney Ad: Misleading America Again Says Kerry Campaign

3/25/2004

From: Stephanie Cutter or Chad Clanton, 202-712-3000, both of John Kerry for President

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- The following is a fact check released today by the Kerry campaign on a new Bush-Cheney ad:

Once again, George Bush is misleading the American people. In his new attack ad released today, we saw this President's "Truth Gap" grow even wider. George Bush didn't tell us the truth about the economy, about job losses, about the deficit, about weapons of mass destruction and more. So it's not surprising he's not telling the truth in his television advertising campaign, or in his trip to Boston today.

BUSH SAYS: "Kerry voted to increase taxes on Social Security benefits."

TRUTH: Bush and Republicans BLOCKED repeal to preserve cuts for the wealthy.

The 1993 increase on the wealthiest beneficiaries was successful in extending the solvency of Medicare and eliminating the deficit.

Democratic efforts to REPEAL the 1993 Social Security tax last year increase were thwarted by Republicans who were bent on enacting George Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy.

Tax Reductions -- Social Security Tax Repeal

Kerry voted to repeal the 1993 income tax increase on Social Security benefits. It was blocked by Republicans who preferred to pass dividend tax cuts and upper income tax rate reductions. (S1054, 5/15/2003, No. 149)

It's George Bush who is leading Medicare into bankruptcy. Just this week we learned that his failure to lead has shaved 10 years off the life expectancy of Medicare.

BUSH SAYS: "Voted against giving small businesses tax credits to buy health care for employees"

TRUTH: About 1/3 of John Kerry's health care plan is tax cuts largely for small businesses. John Kerry has proposed a refundable tax credit up to 50 percent of coverage to small businesses and their employees to help subsidize the cost of health insurance.

-- Kerry voted to CUT taxes for small businesses

-- Kerry voted to allow businesses for one year to write off $75,000 in investment, create a 50 percent tax credit for small business health care expenses. (2003, No. 167)

-- Kerry voted to extend the business research and development tax credit through 2013. (2003, No. 154)

-- Kerry voted to extend R&D tax credit and increase first-year write-off for small business. ($4.3 billion tax cut) (1993, No. 326)

It's George Bush's failure to address spiraling health care costs that have hurt small businesses.

BUSH SAYS: "Kerry even supported raising taxes on gasoline 50- cents a gallon."

TRUTH: John Kerry has never sponsored or voted for a gas tax increase of that magnitude.

Sen. Charles Robb introduced legislation in 1993 that phased in a 50-cent increase. John Kerry did not vote for or co-sponsor this bill. (S. 1068, Introduced 5/28/93)

It's George Bush who has broken his promise to lead the way to a sustainable energy policy. His refusal to stand up to his big oil contributors has contributed to the highest gas prices in history -- an effective $245 tax increase on American families and commuters.

BUSH SAYS: "John Kerry's plan will raise taxes by at least $900 billion his first hundred days in office."

TRUTH: No he wouldn't. John Kerry has proposed keeping the middle class tax cuts that provided marriage penalty relief and lowered rates. And he will work to pass new tax cuts to help families afford health care and pay for college. In order to help us afford health care, improve education, fight terrorism and improve homeland security while bringing the deficit down, John Kerry has proposed repealing the Bush tax cuts that only benefited those making more than $200,000 per year.

-- Associated Press: "Kerry has never proposed a $900 billion tax increase"

"Kerry has never proposed a $900 billion tax increase, as the ad suggests. The Bush administration, which has overseen the loss of government surpluses and an explosion of deficits, comes up with the $900 billion figure by calculating the cost of Kerry's programs." (Fournier, Associated Press, 3/25/2004)

-- NY Times: Bush "commercial's assertion is misleading"

"Even Mr. Bush's campaign cites figures saying that such a move would bring in (or cost taxpayers) $250 billion over a 10-year period -- not $900 billion...Though independent analysts have questioned how Mr. Kerry can play for his plan, the commercial's assertion is misleading." (New York Times, 3/13/2004)

-- Washington Post: Bush ads fall short of minimum level of honesty

"Voters are entitled to a minimum level of honesty in the argument. On that score, Mr. Bush's initial attacks fall short...Likewise, it's fair to ask how Mr. Kerry's spending plans can be squared with his pledge to cut the deficit and whether he's overpromising. But the Bush campaign takes an unjustified leap in accusing Mr. Kerry of plotting to "raise taxes by at least $900 billion" because that is the estimated cost of his health care program." (Washington Post, 3/14/2004)

-- Bush uses a "made up number"

"The Bush administration now has an old-fashioned credibility gap. If numbers are released saying that the economy is perking up, why should anyone believe them? After all, it counts hamburger flippers as manufacturing jobs. The context of the election only magnifies the issue. New Bush ads charge that Kerry wants to raise taxes by $900 billion. This is a made-up number; Kerry has no such proposal. But even if he did, voters would not be able to take the Bush campaign's word on it, because its word is no longer good. The challenge for the Democrats is to resist the temptation to make their own phony claims, or to hype the usual petty distortions of politics into "lies." The truth is damaging enough." (Alter, Newsweek, 3/29/2004)

BUSH ALSO MISLEADING IN BOSTON TODAY

George Bush is going to be in Boston today saying the economy is on track and that his Administration has done great job on housing. But the truth is George Bush has done little to ensure that all Americans live in safe, affordable housing. While close to 3 million jobs are lost, Bush has proposed to abandon programs that house American families. And under Bush, more American households are facing foreclosure and bankruptcy. Foreclosure and mortgage delinquency rates are higher now than when President Bush took office. Household bankruptcies set a record in 2003 at 1.6 million and experts believe the number will be even higher in 2004. (Mortgage Bankers Association of America; NOW With Bill Moyers, 2/6/04; Washington Post, 2/1/04; Orlando Sentinel Tribune, 2/15/04; NBC Nightly News, 2/23/04)