Rendell: ‘The Big Lie Strategy’

By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE
NYT blog

Gov. Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania just accused the campaign of Senator John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin of flat-out “lying” about Senator Barack Obama’s plan on taxes.

Mr. Obama would cut taxes for the majority of Americans, according to theTax Policy Center that has examined his proposals, and yet the McCain campaign continues to say that Mr. Obama would raise them.

“I call on Senator McCain to stop misleading, stop lying, about Senator Obama’s tax plan,” Mr. Rendell said in a conference call with reporters.

Politicians rarely accuse each other of lying, preferring euphemisms instead. Mr. Rendell’s unusually blunt language is a sign of the anger that Democrats are feeling as they watch the McCain camp distort Mr. Obama’s proposals (Factcheck.org says the McCain campaign is engaging in “a pattern of deceit”) and their frustration at being unable to stop it. Governor Rendell was highlighting the issue in advance of a visit Tuesday to Pennsylvania by Mr. McCain and Ms. Palin.

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