At long last McCain finally called him on this.
Only Obama responded - the 40% do pay taxes, payroll taxes. Then he accused McCain of saying that hardworking Americans would be getting welfare.
How would you counter?
The top 1% pay 40% of all income taxes.
The top 5% pay 60% of all income taxes.
The top 10% pay 71% of all income taxes.
The top 25% pay 86% of all income taxes.
The top 50% pay 97% of all income taxes.
The bottom 50% only pay 3% of income taxes.
Plus the Payroll taxes are matched by the employer, yet the employer does not get the medicare or social security money later; the employees do.