McCain flip-flopped on Bush tax cuts

Reasons to agree:

• McCain talks up tax cuts now (which Jack Kemp points to as justifying his support for McCain), when we all know he fought the Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003. He claims the tax cuts he voted against should be extended because not to extend them would be the equivalent of a tax increase. No doubt about that, but he supports extending cuts he originally opposed, and refuses to acknowledge he was wrong about it. In fact, he now says he opposed the tax cuts because they didn't come with spending cuts. The truth is (as I've pointed out here before) that McCain's main argument in opposition to the cuts was that they favored the rich.
• Sen. McCain Voted Against The Bush Tax Cuts; Candidate McCain supports them. Anybody who watched my campaign should not have been astounded that I voted against the Bush tax cut …" – Sen. John McCain, 2001 (Kirk Victor, "McCain's Evolution," National Journal, 8/8/01) "I will not let the Democrats roll back the Bush tax cuts." – Sen. John McCain, 2007 (Liz Sidoti, "McCain: Retool Jobs Programs," The Associated Press, 10/10/07)

In Tonight's Debate, Sen. McCain Now Pledges To Make The Bush Tax Cuts Permanent:

Tonight, McCain Called For Making The Bush Tax Cuts Permanent. "I think one of the first things we have to do that I forgot to mention is make these tax cuts permanent because we've got to give certainty to families and businesses all over America that these tax cuts will not expire and then give them the effect of a tax increase." (Fox News, Unverified Transcript, Republican Presidential Candidate Debate, Myrtle Beach, SC, 1/10/08)

But In The Senate, McCain Voted Against The Bush Tax Cuts, Saying They Benefited The Wealthy:

In 2001, Sen. McCain Was One Of Only Two Republicans To Vote Against The $1.35 Trillion Bush Tax Cuts. The bill lowered marginal rates, eliminated the marriage penalty, and doubled the child tax credit. (H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #170: Adopted 58-33: R 46-2; D 12-31; I 0-0, 5/26/01, McCain Voted Nay)

• Sen. McCain Said The 2001 Bush Tax Cuts Benefited The Wealthy. SEN. JOHN MCCAIN: "I think there is a belief in America that too much of this tax cut still goes to wealthiest Americans. And maybe we could do something about those that still pay a significant portion of their income in payroll taxes." (CNN's "Late Edition," 3/11/01)

In 2003, Sen. McCain Was One Of Only Three Republicans To Twice Vote Against The $350 Billion Bush Tax Cuts. The comprehensive bill lowered taxes by $350 billion over 11 years – including increasing the child tax credit and eliminated the marriage penalty. (H.R. 2, CQ Vote #179: Passed 51-49: R 48-3; D 3-45; I 0-1, 5/15/03, McCain Voted Nay; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #196: Adopted 50-50: R 48-3; D 2-46; I 0-1, 5/23/03, McCain Voted Nay)

• Sen. McCain Said The 2003 Bush Tax Cuts Benefited The Wealthy. MCCAIN: "I want to see tax cuts, if they are necessary, go to working Americans, not the wealthiest." (Richard Ruelas, "McCain Isn't Saying 'Oui' To Bush's Tax Cut Plan," The Arizona Republic, 4/25/03)

And In 2004, Sen. McCain Said He Was Against Making All Of The Bush Tax Cuts Permanent:

Sen. John McCain: "They Want To Make The Tax Cuts For Higher-Income People Permanent, And I Don't Want That." (NPR's "Morning Edition," 6/16/04)

Sen. McCain Said He Would "Clearly" Not Support Extending The Tax Cuts. NBC's TIM RUSSERT: "Since the Civil War, every president who has been at war has increased taxes. Should the president consider postponing his tax cut?" SEN. MCCAIN: "I would have – I voted against the tax cuts because of the disproportionate amount that went to the wealthiest Americans. I would clearly support not extending those tax cuts in order to help address the deficit. But the middle-income tax credits, the families, the child tax credits, the marriage tax credits, all of those I would keep." (NBC's "Meet The Press," 4/11/04)

Sen. McCain: "I Don't Think We Should Continue To Cut Taxes." MCCAIN: "I don't think we should continue to cut taxes. I like – I think every American – I'm in favor of the middle-class, middle- income tax cuts, and I would vote to make them permanent." (Sen. John McCain, Remarks, Washington, D.C., 5/18/04)