Barack Obama's campaign is running a TV ad called "Try This." The 30-second spot cites The Heritage Foundation and suggests we support his tax plan. Because the Obama campaign is playing fast and loose with the facts, Heritage has asked him to pull the ad. He has ignored our request.
Here's what you need to know about the false ad:
- The New York Sun ran an article in August incorrectly paraphrasing the view of Heritage policy analyst Rea Hederman on Obama's tax plan.
- Obama's ad uses language from the New York Sun reporter who interviewed and summarized Hederman's views erroneously.
- Even though Hederman never said what Obama attributes to Heritage in the ad, Obama continues to air the commercial.
Heritage has made it's views on Obama's tax plan well known:
- Shortly after Obama secured the Democrat nomination, Hederman wrote that Obama's plan would impose European levels of taxation on America.
- When an Obama surrogate wrote in the Wall Street Journal that Heritage favored Obama's tax plan, Hederman immediately sent a letter to the editor correcting the record.
- Heritage's Center for Data Analysis released a thorough analysis of both candidates' tax plans, concluding the McCain plan is better for the middle class. Under the McCain plan, after-tax income goes up by $5,100 for a middle-class family of four vs. $3,600 under the Obama plan. The economy performs better and twice as many jobs are created under the McCain plan.
Obama's refusal to correct the record or pull the ad does a disservice to voters who want factual and accurate information. As a result, Heritage's attorney wrote to TV stations airing the ad, requesting they pull it immediately. We encourage you to let us know if you've seen the ad air in your local market. Please leave a comment.