The ghosts of Reagan and Roosevelt
Is the choice between Obama and McCain a choice between the legacies of two presidential icons?
This muddy campaign is concluding "on a remarkably substantive argument," said E.J. Dionne in The Washington Post. Barack Obama promises to end the Republican experiment of trickle-down economics, which hinges on the idea that "the way to help struggling working people is to give more money to the wealthy." Obama's novel idea is to make "the wealthy pay more so that most Americans can pay less."
Precisely, said National Review Online in an editorial. Obama isn't just liberal—he advocates higher tax rates than any Democrat in 20 years. John McCain is a moderate who "has a solid record of opposing economically damaging tax increases." McCain would make a fine commander-in-chief, and he'd also make sure that Obama and other liberals in Congress "do not have a free hand to remake our country."
At last, something both campaigns agree on, said David Sirota in The Denver Post. In the last days before the presidential election, both camps "effectively say a vote for McCain is a vote to continue Reagan's trickle-down tax cuts and free-market fundamentalism," and a vote for Obama is a vote to resurrect Franklin D. Roosevelt's "regulations and redistributions." Since the choice is so clear, the winner will have an undeniable mandate.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Rupert Murdoch's behind-closed-doors succession court battle
The Explainer Media mogul's legal dispute with three of his children over control of his influential empire begins today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Ruska: experience Finland's magnificent autumn foliage
The Week Recommends The 'fleeting' season lasts just three weeks
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Trump assassination attempt: do former presidents need more protection?
Today's Big Question Secret Service director says 'paradigm shift' needed after second Trump attack sparks calls for more resources
By The Week UK Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPB
Speed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published