Democratic Rivals Split on Tax Plans
By MIKE GLOVER
Associated Press Writer
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Waging a testy fight over taxes, Democratic presidential rivals accused the front-runners in Iowa of adding to the burden of struggling middle-income taxpayers by proposing to repeal popular tax cuts.
Howard Dean called the charge "hogwash" and said he was simply giving voters a dose of budget reality.
"The fact is, we've got to balance the budget," Dean said Tuesday during a campaign debate, arguing that he's already done that as governor of Vermont. Promising programs without having the money to pay for them is the path to budget deficits, he warned.
Some of his rivals saw it differently.
"Howard Dean has a program to raise people's taxes," warned Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, who is running third behind Dean and Dick Gephardt in the race to win Iowa's Jan. 19 caucuses. "He's going to increase the burden on middle-class Americans."
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"Respectfully, what John just said is hogwash," Dean shot back.
For once, however, Dean wasn't the only target. Rivals gleefully noted that Gephardt also has called for ending President Bush's tax cuts, including portions benefiting middle-income taxpayers.
"I don't know of a case where a Democratic candidate for president has been elected who called for a massive increase in taxes on the middle class," said Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman. "These are our people."
In response, Gephardt said his proposal for universal health care was worth $3,000 per household, more than most people got in tax cuts.
The exchanges came during a two-hour campaign debate with six of the nine Democratic presidential candidates. The second of three forums in a week, this one was unusual in that it was broadcast only on National Public Radio. A third debate is scheduled for Sunday.
Hunched over tables in a makeshift studio, the candidates donned headsets to answer questions posed by listeners. Topics of discussion ranged from various foreign policy hot spots to religion to taxes, among other subjects.
Most polls show Dean and Gephardt in close competition for Iowa, and their rivals took care to aim their fire at the two.
Lieberman said he's the only candidate who is not only defending tax breaks for the middle class, but calling for new reductions.
"They need the tax cut that we fought for over the last three years and frankly they need more," Lieberman said.
Lieberman, whose strategy has been to portray himself as an alternative to Dean, criticized the anger that has fueled the former governor's rise to the top of the Democratic field.
"I'm a unifier," Lieberman said, the Democrats' vice presidential nominee in 2000. "I've worked for 30 years in public life to reject the extremes on both sides of the partisan aisle."
Dean trumpeted his endorsements from the two Democrats who competed for the nod in 2000, including Lieberman's running mate.
"If I can begin to bridge the gap between Bill Bradley and Al Gore and bring in people who have served long periods of time in Washington and all the enthusiastic supporters we have, then I think I may be the right candidate to beat George Bush," Dean said.
Competition between the top-tier Democratic rivals has grown in intensity as the first nominating contests near. Iowa's leadoff caucuses on Jan. 19 are followed eight days later by the New Hampshire primary, a one-two combination that is likely to winnow the field.
Besides absorbing fire, Dean and Gephardt found occasion to chart differences between themselves. Gephardt repeated his assertion that Dean, during the 1990s, favored an effort by congressional Republicans to scale back Medicare. He also said Dean favored free trade deals that have shipped jobs overseas.
"I will not cut Medicare, period. I will not cut Medicare, Dick, I want to make that clear," said Dean. "We'll talk about trade later."
Lieberman and retired Gen. Wesley Clark have chosen not to compete in Iowa. But, perhaps feeling left out of the spotlight, Clark said Tuesday he hasn't ruled out a trip to the state before the caucuses.
Edwards, who skipped the debate along with Clark and Al Sharpton, stuck with his strategy of appearing above the political fray. Eager to avoid the debate bickering, Edwards campaigned throughout the state, pushing his education proposals.
Former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich have waged lesser-financed campaigns for Iowa's caucuses, but joined in the latest campaign debate.
Kucinich repeated his call for pulling American troops out of Iraq and said the election should be a referendum on that war.
"The way that we teach peace is through example," he said.
Braun said she's the most unique candidate in the field running as a black woman.
"I want to take the men-only sign off the White House door," she said. |
