Obama Socialism

Critics of Barack Obama--including his Republican opponent John McCain--have alleged that the Illinois Senator and Presidential hopeful is a socialist. The claims, as forwarded by McCain, Rush Limbaugh and others, cite comments made by Obama in 2001 and October 2008, in which he discusses the "spreading" or "redistribution" of wealth.AFP: McCain reignites Obama 'socialist' claim (October 27, 2008) RushLimbaugh.com: Socialist Obama Cannot Uphold the Constitution (October 28, 2008) The Obama campaign called called the issue "a fake news controversy drummed up by the all too common alliance of Fox News, the Drudge Report and John McCain."AFP: McCain reignites Obama 'socialist' claim (October 27, 2008)

In a 2001 radio interview, while serving as a member of the Illinois State Senate, Obama lamented that the Civil Rights movement did not bring about "redistributive change."AFP: McCain reignites Obama 'socialist' claim (October 27, 2008) In October 2008, in his famous exchange with Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher over tax policy, Obama said "Right now everybody's so pinched that business is bad for everybody, and I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."CNN.com: Fact check: Did Joe The Plumber say...(October 28, 2008)

The word "socialism" has been used in a variety of ways. Merriam-Webster defines it as both, "any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration."Merriam-Webster: Socialism Karl Marx defined it as a transitional stage between capitalism and communism.Merriam-Webster: Socialism In 1961, Ronald Reagan warned against the "socialism" of publicly funded health care.YouTube: Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine (Time:10:06) Writer William Greider has called Wall Street bailouts "Goldman-Sachs socialism."CommonDreams.org: Goldman Sachs Socialism (September 24, 2008)