Tax proposals cause controversy between candidates

Posted to Live Blog: Second presidential debate by Mary Daly at 8:28 p.m., Oct. 7, 2008

The candidates both said America's bad spending habits must be broken in order to get the country out of debt.

"It starts with Washington," Obama said. "We've got to show that we have good habits."

Obama also proposed to help get the country out of debt by cutting taxes for the middle class.

At the NAACP watch party, sophomore Stu Becker said he agreed with Obama's economic policies, although he was skeptical about Obama's tax cut proposals.

"I don't know how possible it is to cut taxes for the middle class," Becker said. "Tax the rich. Tax cuts for the rich are detrimental and the trickle-down theory doesn't work."

McCain looked directly at Obama and ridiculed his tax plans.

"Nailing down Sen. Obama's tax proposals is like trying to nail jello to the wall," McCain said.

McCain said Obama's plan involves raising taxes, which he said would hurt the country.

To Brokaw's dismay, Obama insisted upon taking more time for a rebuttle to McCain's accusations. Obama said his tax proposal involves cutting taxes for 95 percent of the population.

"It sounds like a hollow promise," senior Rickey Leathers said at the NAACP watch party.

Leathers said he was on the fence about both candidates.

"Both candidates have good points," he said. "I have to keep feeling it out."