From The Boston Globe
By Derrick Z. Jackson

In a town hall, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama once again said, “We will cut taxes, cut taxes for 95 percent of working Americans.” Even the supporters who applaud him are not quite sure what to make of this pledge, since they are also drawn to Obama by his promises to expand education and healthcare, and Obama has already said he would strengthen military efforts in Afghanistan while trimming them in Iraq. Do they really believe he can pay for it all?

“I’m an optimist, but I don’t know if that’s really going to happen,” said George McAlpin, a limousine driver who is about to join the National Guard. “To improve the country, I would imagine you’d see taxes going up here and there.”

“I don’t pretend to be an economic person,” said Fran Giegengack, a retired academic admissions assistant. “Will it all add up in the end? I sincerely don’t know. I’m more willing to trust him than McCain.”

“I don’t know how he’s going to do it,” said stay-at-home mother Pauline W. Blake. “Our budget has been run the last eight years by a kid in a candy store. So to say you can give 95 percent of the people tax cuts, I’m thinking, good luck, buddy, if you can pull it off.”

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