Obama ridicules socialism charge

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama on Wednesday ridiculed his GOP opponents for trying to label him a socialist. 

The Illinois senator, at a rally in North Carolina, said Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) has been “calling me every name in the book.”

{mosads}“Lately, he’s called me a socialist for wanting to roll back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans so we can finally give tax relief to the middle class,” Obama stated. “By the end of the week, he’ll be accusing me of being a secret communist because I shared my toys in kindergarten.”

The McCain campaign has hit Obama hard for a comment in which he said he seeks a redistribution of wealth. The Republican nominee and his surrogates have linked that statement to socialism.

Obama on Wednesday said he is “sorry to see [McCain] sink so low.”

“That’s his choice. That’s the kind of campaign he chose to run,” he added, before going on the counterattack.

“Whether you are Nancy the Nurse, Tina the Teacher, or Carl the Construction Worker — if my opponent is elected, you will be worse off four years from now than you are today,” Obama said. “So let’s cut through the negative ads and the phony attacks — under John McCain, the middle class will watch wealth get favored over work, jobs get shipped overseas, and the cost of healthcare and college go through the roof.”