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>>Obama's prime-time ad skips over budget realities >> >>By CALVIN WOODWARD, Associated Press Writer >> >>WASHINGTON – Democratic presidential candidate Barack >>Obama was less than upfront in his half-hour >>commercial Wednesday night about the costs of his >>programs and the crushing budget pressures he would >>face in office. >> >>Obama's assertion that "I've offered spending cuts >>above and beyond" the expense of his promises is >>accepted only by his partisans. His vow to save money >>by "eliminating programs that don't work" masks his >>failure throughout the campaign to specify what those >>programs are — beyond the withdrawal of troops from >>Iraq. >> >>A sampling of what voters heard in the ad, and what he >>didn't tell them: >> >>THE SPIN: "That's why my health care plan includes >>improving information technology, requires coverage >>for preventive care and pre-existing conditions and >>lowers health care costs for the typical family by >>$2,500 a year." >> >>THE FACTS: His plan does not lower premiums by $2,500, >>or any set amount. Obama hopes that by spending $50 >>billion over five years on electronic medical records >>and by improving access to proven disease management >>programs, among other steps, consumers will end up >>saving money. He uses an optimistic analysis to >>suggest cost reductions in national health care >>spending could amount to the equivalent of $2,500 for >>a family of four. Many economists are skeptical those >>savings can be achieved, but even if they are, it's >>not a certainty that every dollar would be passed on >>to consumers in the form of lower premiums. >> >>___ >> >>THE SPIN: "I also believe every American has a right >>to affordable health care." >> >>THE FACTS: That belief should not be confused with a >>guarantee of health coverage for all. He makes no such >>promise. Obama hinted as much in the ad when he said >>about the problem of the uninsured: "I want to start >>doing something about it." He would mandate coverage >>for children but not adults. His program is aimed at >>making insurance more affordable by offering the >>choice of government-subsidized coverage similar to >>that in a plan for federal employees and other steps, >>including requiring larger employers to share costs of >>insuring workers. >> >>___ >> >>THE SPIN: "I've offered spending cuts above and beyond >>their cost." >> >>THE FACTS: Independent analysts say both Obama and >>Republican John McCain would deepen the deficit. The >>nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget >>estimates Obama's policy proposals would add a net >>$428 billion to the deficit over four years — and that >>analysis accepts the savings he claims from spending >>cuts. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, whose other >>findings have been quoted approvingly by the Obama >>campaign, says: "Both John McCain and Barack Obama >>have proposed tax plans that would substantially >>increase the national debt over the next 10 years." >>The analysis goes on to say: "Neither candidate's plan >>would significantly increase economic growth unless >>offset by spending cuts or tax increases that the >>campaigns have not specified." >> >>___ >> >>THE SPIN: "Here's what I'll do. Cut taxes for every >>working family making less than $200,000 a year. Give >>businesses a tax credit for every new employee that >>they hire right here in the U.S. over the next two >>years and eliminate tax breaks for companies that ship >>jobs overseas. Help homeowners who are making a good >>faith effort to pay their mortgages, by freezing >>foreclosures for 90 days. And just like after 9-11, >>we'll provide low-cost loans to help small businesses >>pay their workers and keep their doors open. " >> >>THE FACTS: His proposals — the tax cuts, the low-cost >>loans, the $15 billion a year he promises for >>alternative energy, and more — cost money, and the >>country could be facing a record $1 trillion deficit >>next year. Indeed, Obama recently acknowledged — >>although not in his commercial — that: "The next >>president will have to scale back his agenda and some >>of his proposals." >too kind

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