On Hugh Hewitt Show, Politico's Allen said McCain suggestion that Obama will "raise your taxes" might be effective -- but doesn't note it's false

Summary: On Hugh Hewitt's show, the Politico's Mike Allen said that "Senator [John] McCain had a good week last week" and stated it may be because of the McCain campaign's "Celebrity" ad, which "suggested [Sen. Barack] Obama is going to raise taxes." Allen did not note that the claim is false. In fact, Obama has proposed cutting taxes for low- and middle-income families, and McCain's own chief economic adviser has reportedly said it is inaccurate to say that "Barack Obama raises taxes."

On the August 5 broadcast of The Hugh Hewitt Show, Politico chief political correspondent Mike Allen said that "Senator [John] McCain had a good week last week" and asserted that "people thought it was because of" the McCain campaign's "Celebrity" ad, but "[i]n fact, it may be because that ad suggested [Sen. Barack] Obama is going to raise taxes." Allen added: "Maybe that's the real Obama vulnerability ... if they start talking about how he'll raise your taxes." But, while noting what he said was the possible effectiveness of McCain's accusing Obama of planning to "raise your taxes," Allen did not note that McCain's claim is false. In fact, as Media Matters for America has noted, Obama has proposed cutting taxes for low- and middle-income families, and McCain's own chief economic adviser, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, has reportedly said it is inaccurate to say that "Barack Obama raises taxes."

An analysis of the candidates' tax plans by the Tax Policy Center found that "Senator McCain's tax cuts would primarily benefit those with very high incomes," while "Senator Obama offers much larger tax breaks to low- and middle-income taxpayers and would increase taxes on high-income taxpayers."

From the August 5 broadcast of Salem Radio Network's The Hugh Hewitt Show:

HEWITT: Mike Allen, after a bad week for Obama, and he's flipped again and slipped again here on Tuesday, the polls have drawn very close. Although the AP poll this afternoon shows Obama with a 6-point lead, some polls have McCain even a point or two ahead. Do you sense this is where we're going to stay through the conventions?

ALLEN: I think it is. I think that, if there was to be a big bounce for Senator Obama, it would have come after his trip. I think that it's undeniable that the trip had subliminal benefits for him, as far as people thinking about him in a commander-in-chief role. I think, in the fall, that will pay off. But did it -- I think you'll agree, it did not have any immediate, measurable impact. In polls, in fact, Senator McCain had a good week last week. I think people thought it was because of the "Celebrity" ad. In fact, it may be because that ad suggested Obama is going to raise taxes. Maybe that's the real Obama vulnerability, because if they start talking about how he'll raise your taxes.

HEWITT: You know what I think? It's partly that, but it's also gas prices, Mike Allen. And the Marie Antoinette Democrats, led by the speaker, just don't seem to care. They went home. I think the Republicans did a fine thing by staying. I think that issue goes on and on, in terms of people remembering every time they fill up their gas tank -- every single time.

—N.T.

Nathan Tabak is an intern at Media Matters for America.