Not sure what Sen. John McCain is smiling about, but he appears to be enjoying himself today at a campaign rally at Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pa.
We'll guess that he's not smiling about a new poll released today by the Pew Research Center for the People & The Press that showed his Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, widening his lead to 52 percent to 38 percent among registered voters. Both candidates were about even back in mid-September, but the folks at Pew have found Obama gathering increasingly more support since then. Obama's performance in his three debates with McCain and the faltering economy have seemed to help Obama in the polls -- more voters see Obama as "well-qualified" and voters also see Obama as the candidate best able to improve economic conditions by a 53 percent to 32 percent margin.
SOCIALISM AND SPREADING THE WEALTH
I'm blaming Joe The Plumber (JTP) for this, but suddenly the S-word (socialism) and the S-phrase (spreading the wealth) are being splattered all over the campaign trail. JTP, in case you forgot, asked Obama during a campaign stop in Toledo, Ohio, if the candidate's tax plan would increase his taxes if he carried through with his plans to run his own small business.
Obama explained his tax plan to JPT and included the line, "... I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."
McCain and his vice presidential running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, pounced on the comment. McCain wouldn't stop talking about JTP during his final debate with Obama and the GOP ticket has kept it up since. McCain has likened Obama's stance to socialism -- earning him raucous cheers at campaign events. Palin, too, has joined the chorus, criticizing Obama as "Barack the wealth-spreader" today during an event in Reno, Nev.
For a more nuanced approach to the subject, take a look at this story by The Associated Press that examines the country's history of redistributing wealth.
Speaking of spreading the wealth, you might want to take a look at this AP graphic:

A story pushed out today by The AP shows the gap between the rich and the poor is growing in the world's richest countries, according to a new study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. As the above graphic shows, the United States isn't faring so well. Here's an excerpt:
In the United States, the richest 10 percent earn an average of US$93,000 — the highest level in the OECD. The poorest 10 percent earn an average of US$5,800 — about 20 percent lower than the OECD average.
End of excerpt.
Here's the whole AP story on the widening chasm between the haves and the have-nots.
Over at the conservatie National Review, writer Mona Charen is wishing blessings upon JTP for exposing Obama's true motive for raising taxes. Here's her point, in a nutshell:
People do not work for the general good. They work for their own individual ends, which in turn promotes the general welfare. Societies that ask workers to labor for “the people” get poor results.
End of nutshell. You can read all of Charen's story here.
For yet another ode to JTP, you can read the article titled Robama Hood's Tax 'Fairness' on the National Review Online by Deroy Murdock. Here's the gist:
So, it really is about class warfare, punishing the successful, and picking their pockets so the state can “spread the wealth around.”
Instead, government should foster a favorable environment where people can prosper to the best of their abilities and keep as much of their earnings as possible, minus a low, reasonable amount to finance limited, basic public services.
End of gist.
In case you're still contemplating all of this, here are two more links from the UCLA election blog to check out and ponder. Education Professor Patricia Gandara states her opinion in a posting filed today titled "Why taxing millionaires and billionaires is fair" and campus colleague Professor Gary Orfield offers up his own posting today simply called "Socialism?"
--Paul Chavez
Photo credit: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
For the latest news and analysis on the presidential election, check our Election '08 section at Clear365.com. As always, your comments and questions are welcome.