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MN GOP PRESS RELEASE: “MADIA LEAVES DOOR OPEN TO TAX HIKES ON EVERY TAXPAYER”

By Michael B. Brodkorb | October 9, 2008

St. Paul – Republican Party of Minnesota Chair Ron Carey released the following statement regarding Ashwin Madia’s assertion that only the rich will be required to pay higher taxes under his plan.

“Despite Ashwin Madia’s recent denials, he has said in the past that the 2001-2003 tax cuts ought to not be extended and his campaign did in fact push false charges about Erik Paulsen’s fundraising. On more than one occasion he has stated that they ought to be allowed to expire, that those below the top 2% may need to pay more in taxes, and even further, he has said very recently that all options need to be on the table in regards to taxes. The record is clear, Ashwin Madia would support tax increases on working Americans, and his continued lies and deceptions about his true positions are a far cry from the ‘positive and uplifting’ campaign he promised.”

Q: Did you ever support rolling back all Bush tax cuts? “I’ve never said that.”  (Ashwin Madia, MPR, October 7, 2008)

Madia: “We Ought To Let Them Expire.” “We [CD3 DFL Candidates] have  differences  on the Bush  tax cuts.  I think we ought to let them expire. Some of my opponents won’t commit to doing that.  I think that they’ve bankrupted this country.  And I think they are causing some of this economic recession right now and they are going to cause a lot of problems down the road.” (Ashwin Madia, Stonewall DFL Screening, January 19, 2008)

Madia: “We’ve Got To Let The Bush Tax Cuts Expire.” “We need leaders that are willing to make the hard choices when it comes to these things. One of those hard choices means we got to let the Bush tax cuts expire. Look, those tax cuts have cost this country $2.35 trillion. That not me talking, that the Congressional Budget Office. Of that $2.35 trillion, you want to know how much goes to the top 1% of earners in this country? That’s people making over $350,000 a year. Try $800 billion. 33%, 1/3 of these benefits are going to the very top 1% of earners in this country.” (SD 42 and 43 Meeting, November 28, 2007)

Madia: Those Below The Top 2 Percent May Need To Pay Higher Taxes. Moderator: You’ve talked about sacrifice and you’ve talked about the Bush tax cuts expiring for the top- is it two to three percent?  Is there, are there people  below that level, uh- who need to- is there anyone  below that level who needs to, uh, to pay higher  taxes?  Madia: “Uh, yes, but I want to look at that more carefully before I say it.”   (Bloomington Candidate Forum, 1/27/08)

Regarding Taxes, Madia Says “We Need To Leave Everything On The Table” MURPHY:  One of the things that you were attacked uh…over was the issue of taxes.  Where do you stand on taxes, obviously in this very grave economic situation? MADIA: Yea, it’s unfortunate I mean you know you talk about the tone of the campaign, it seems like there’s a lot of people spending a lot of money to convince people about something I just don’t believe. My position on taxes is that we must balance  *cough* we must  balance  our budget and we must  pay down our debt  to that end  I’d let some of  the Bush tax cuts expire for  people making over $250,000 a  year  and the only reason I would  do that is so that we can balance this budget and pay down that debt and it needs to be combined with spending cuts.  We have to do both, we have to cut spending, and we need to leave everything on the table so we can balance this budget and pay down this debt and get the economy moving again. (WCCO TV interview 3:18, http://wcco.com/video/?id=48441@wcco.dayport.com, October 5, 2008)

Madia Supports Keeping The Death Tax, Wants To Increase The Capital Gains Tax. “On the estate tax, no, I do not think we ought to repeal it.  On capital gains tax, I think we ought to look at increasing it.” (Bloomington Candidate Forum, 1/27/08)

The Team Madia Campaign Of Deception And Dirty Tricks

Madia’s Campaign Issued A Press Release Attacking Paulsen For Fundraising.“The first alleged lie the ad cites actually isn’t Madia’s. It’s from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which accused Paulsen of accepting money raised in a strip club. Paulsen cites a KSTP fact check of those DCCC mailers, which found the strip club allegations so misleading it gave them an ‘F.’ While those mailers came from the DCCC, the Madia campaign has made similar charges in a press release, as we’ve noted on Polinaut in the past.” (Curtis Gilbert, “A Look At The Other “Lies” Alleged In Paulsen Ad,” MPR Polinaut blog, October 8, 2008)

KSTP’s Truth Test Called Team Madia Ads “Among The Most Over The Top And Outrageous.” “5 EYEWITNESS NEWS checked the accuracy of an advertisement against Republican Erik Paulson in our ‘Truth Test.’  In fact, it may be among the most over the top and outrageous we’ve seen.” (Source: KSTP, September 30, 2008)

KSTP Truth Test Gave Team Madia Mailings An ‘F.’ “Because of misleading and false information in these ads, we give them an ‘F’” (Source: KSTP, September 30, 2008)

DFL Staffer Campaigning for Ashwin Madia Cited For Theft: “A DFL campaign worker was arrested after he took a girl’s scooter from her backyard while canvassing.  22-year-old Sean Folstad went into the backyard of Bruce Ackerman and took his daughter’s scooter.  A few minutes later and a couple of blocks away, Champlin police caught Folstad at Northland Park.” (Source: FOX 9, September 29, 2008)

Wife of Madia’s Communications Director Caught on Film Taking Down Paulsen for Congress Lawn Signs: “Another person in the video points out the sign stealer has an Ashwin Madia bumper sticker.  ‘I also happen to be a Madia volunteer,’ she says.  A check of a license plate reveals she’s married to Dan Pollock — Ashwin Madia’s communications director and spokesperson.” (Source: FOX 9, September 26, 2008)

Madia’s Campaign Sent Out Press Release “Ripping” Erik Paulsen: “Third District DFL congressional candidate Ashwin Madia’s communication director just forwarded along a press release ripping his Republican opponent for a typographical error.” (Polinaut, MPR, September 12, 2008)

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This is a reminder that I am a part-time research consultant to Erik Paulsen for Congress. Minnesota Democrats Exposed is my personal blog and it is not created, endorsed, sponsored, or authorized by any political party, candidate, or candidate’s committee.

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