NY Times: For a Close Aide to Herman Cain, Scrutiny Comes on Two Fronts
On November 3, 2011, the New York Times reported:
But it is Mr. Block’s role helping Mr. Cain get his campaign off the ground that may pose just as great a challenge. A nonprofit group that Mr. Block ran contributed to the start-up of Mr. Cain’s presidential run, serving as a conduit for possibly illegal contributions. The campaign said it had asked an outside lawyer to review the allegations...
Des Moines Register: Iowa Poll: Many think Cain’s 9-9-9 plan would help them
On November 4, 2011, the Des Moines Register reported:
Two-thirds of likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers earning less than $50,000 a year believe they personally would be better off or in the same situation under Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 tax plan, The Des Moines Register’s new Iowa Poll shows. Research-group reviews of the plan have found that most families making $100,000 or less would pay thousands of dollars more each year. [...] The bottom line: A family with an income level of $40,000 to $50,000 would pay $3,407 more a year in taxes, while families making $500,000 to $1 million a year would pay on average $80,315 less, according to the Tax Policy Center...
Des Moines Register: Michele Bachmann’s ‘tax the poor’ plan won’t be flat or simple
On November 3, 2011, the Des Moines Register reported:
Michele Bachmann wants everybody to pay taxes — even the poorest Americans. [...] Bachmann didn’t offer many details about her proposal, but it seemed she was suggesting she’d accomplish this through the income tax. But she didn’t explain how she’d charge an income tax on people who have no income.
Texas Tribune: UT/TT Poll: Most Texans Don't Credit Perry on Economy
On November 1, 2011, the Texas Tribune reported:
A key part of Gov. Rick Perry's pitch to Republican presidential primary voters is the performance of the state's economy — especially in job creation — during his tenure as governor. But Texas voters, for the most part, are more likely to see him as a bystander to the state's success than its driver, according to the new University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll.
AP: Flat tax renews fight on ‘trickle-down economics’
On October 26, 2011, the Associated Press reported:
The flat tax is making a comeback among Republican presidential candidates. But it faces tough opposition in Congress because it tends to favor the rich at the expense of other taxpayers, renewing an old debate about “trickle-down economics.’’ Most of the top GOP contenders — Mitt Romney’s an exception — offer a variation of the tax plan in which everyone pays the same rate. Businessman Herman Cain has his 9-9-9 proposal, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry unveiled a 20 percent flat tax on income this week. Even Romney foresees a flatter tax system in the future, though he favors something closer to the current setup in the short term...
Las Vegas Review-Journal: Pollster to Berkley: Heller vulnerable on China
On October 6, 2011 The Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote:
U.S. Senate hopeful Shelley Berkley could have a winning issue on her hands by continuing to pound China over its currency manipulation, according to her advisers based on their polling. A memo to Berkley from pollster Mark Mellman provides an answer to why the Las Vegas Democratic congresswoman has been all over the issue this week as a China bill is being debated in the Senate.
Oakland Press: Pete's Tune Changes
Pete Hoekstra's flip-flop on the no-tax pledge was covered by the Oakland Press:
Not only was the news release a tad misleading, it lead to a rehash of the fact that Mr. Hoekstra had done a somersalt on the issue or if your prefer, which the current Hoekstra campaign does not, he flip-flopped.
AP: Democrats working to undercut Perry, Romney
On September 23, 2011, the Associated Press wrote:
To hear Democrats tell it, Gov. Rick Perry's economic record in Texas is nothing more than a mirage and his views on Social Security make him "America's Most Dangerous Cowboy." In Massachusetts, President Barack Obama's allies say job creation lagged under Mitt Romney, whose policies would undermine the middle class.
AP: Candidates Bash Stimulus, Campaign At Companies
On September 15, 2011, the Associated Press reported:
More from the Associated Press after the jump."Republican presidential contenders have crisscrossed the nation bashing President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plans as a colossal waste of taxpayer money. But with an awkward frequency, these same candidates are campaigning at businesses that benefited from the president's landmark stimulus package.
With the cameras rolling, the Republicans celebrate the hard work of local entrepreneurs in places like Pella, Iowa, and Milford, N.H., while later condemning the federal resources that helped those entrepreneurs navigate the economic downturn..."
MEMO: Questions For The Republican Debate
Last month, the Republican Presidential candidates met on a debate stage about a week after the resolution of the debt ceiling debacle. In their attempts to top one another in their pandering to the Tea Party, their political brinksmanship outlined a vision for America that would have assured default and advocated dangerous economic policies that would push our economy over the edge. Tonight, the candidates meet while jobs are at the forefront of national attention. The American people want to see if these Republicans can offer something other than the failed policy prescriptions that got us into this mess. While Republicans want to talk about cutting taxes for corporations with record profits at the expense of the middle class, the American people expect answers to these questions...