Fox News' Carlson falsely asserted "roughly 40 percent" of Obama's tax plan "is a handout to people who do not pay taxes"
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SUMMARY: Fox News' Gretchen Carlson falsely claimed that "roughly 40 percent" of Sen. Barack Obama's plan to cut taxes "is a handout to people who do not pay taxes." In fact, all American workers are required to pay taxes on their wages for Social Security and Medicare, and according to an Obama economic adviser, "every person that receives a tax cut under Barack Obama's plan is working."
On the October 28 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, during a discussion about Sen. Barack Obama's tax plan, guest host and Fox legal analyst Peter Johnson Jr. stated: "[W]hen we hear this frank talk about redistribution of wealth, it sounds like your tax dollars for people who don't work, and that becomes a little bit of concern to a lot of taxpayers." Co-host Gretchen Carlson responded: "Because that's part of the 95 percent tax cut that Barack Obama has brilliantly sold, by the way, to the American public -- I mean, who doesn't want a tax cut, let's be honest. The only problem is that when critics start looking into that tax cut, they see that roughly 40 percent of that is a handout to people who do not pay taxes."
But Carlson's claim that "roughly 40 percent" of Obama's tax plan "is a handout to people who do not pay taxes" is false. Obama proposes to "[c]ut taxes for 95 percent of workers [emphasis added] and their families with a tax cut of $500 for workers or $1,000 for working couples." As Media Matters for America has noted, American workers pay Social Security and Medicare taxes. American workers who are not self-employed are required to pay 6.2 percent of all of their wages up to a cap of $102,000, and 1.45 percent of their wages for Medicare under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). Those who are self-employed are required to pay 12.4 percent of their wages up to the cap for Social Security and 2.9 percent of their wages for Medicare.
Additionally, Obama economic adviser Austan Goolsbee stated during an October 20 Council on Foreign Relations economic roundtable discussion that "every person that receives a tax cut under Barack Obama's plan is working." Goolsbee further stated:
One-third of federal tax revenue is the payroll tax. All of the people that are receiving this credit are paying payroll tax under Obama's program. So it's completely not true that they aren't paying taxes. They aren't paying income taxes, but they are paying payroll taxes. They aren't paying the estate tax, either, but that doesn't mean that they don't pay taxes.
From the October 28 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends:
OBAMA [video clip]: The choice in this election isn't between tax cuts and no tax cuts. It's about whether you believe we should only reward wealth, or whether we should also reward the workers and workers who create wealth.
STEVE DOOCY (co-host): That was part of his summation yesterday. It sounded a lot like the same speech that he used to kick off the campaign, and when asked about that, they said, well, you know, it kicked off pretty well, we thought we'd use parts of the same thing.
CARLSON: Well, you know something about that, because it was like a closing argument in a law case.
JOHNSON: Well, you know, you're absolutely right. And the verdict is still out. The jury has not decided, and we've got a week to go on that. But when I watched that, my initial reaction is, you know those signs you see along the highway, that says "your tax dollars at work?"
DOOCY: Hmm-mm.
JOHNSON: But when we hear this frank talk about redistribution of wealth, it sounds like your tax dollars for people who don't work, and that becomes a little bit of concern to a lot of taxpayers.
CARLSON: Because that's part of the 95 percent tax cut that Barack Obama has brilliantly sold, by the way, to the American public -- I mean, who doesn't want a tax cut, let's be honest. The only problem is that when critics start looking into that tax cut, they see that roughly 40 percent of that is a handout to people who do not pay taxes. And again, that sort of falls along the lines of redistributing the wealth, which apparently has been part of his philosophy for some time.
Since it has already declared the race over, Fox News should stop campaigning for McCain.
they're not so much campaigning as getting even. See, Obama said he won't go on fox news anymore because they can't be trusted to tell the truth, and he didn't even ask them to run his 30 minute buy tonight. They're responding like a bunch of whiney little babies to the hard truth.
It’s amazing to me that they’re able to act so incredulous when they’re called out for their blatant unbalanced and unfair reporting.
Yes, but isn't this MMFA statement incorrect?
American workers who are not self-employed are required to pay 6.2 percent of all of their wages up to a cap of $102,000, and 1.45 percent of their wages for Medicare under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA).
Isn't the first weekly $110 or so exempt from SS and Medicare? It used to be.
What's funny about this FOX mangling is that it first started by them trying to falsely claim that "40 percent" of American workers don't pay taxes. Now they say that 40 percent of the plan involves something or other. Big difference, and either way, no untaxed workers can get refunds-- except through earned income credits, maybe, and that's not what Obama's plan is at all.
I guess it was inevitable that the forces of darkness would try the selfishness argument in their last hours of desperation. Logic is not on their side, though. If Obama's plan is "Marxism", then so is Social Security and Medicare, and we know that even the Troglodytes don't dare attack those programs.
By the way, isn't this lame argument just the Republican version of "class warfare"? The Righteous Rich against the slovenly, undeserving poor?
Ah, but nerzog, the troglodytes DID dare to attack those programs. Remember what's his name...er, Butch and the privatization of SS effort? "The Righteous Rich against the slovenly, undeserving poor" is THE BASIC IDEOLOGY of the GOP, is it not? Discuss.
Why would we want to live in a fascist state?
Also known as Social Darwinism, it was very popular back in the late 1800s.
PigBoy Limbaugh made it clear some time ago that one of the goals of the "Conservative Movement" was to roll back the New Deal. I don't think Grampy and Simple Sarah have the guts to be honest about that, however. Even though Social Security is, by their definition, "socialism", they can't say so. If they did, Obama would win Florida by 20 points.
The problem is how to get to Fox's audience without going through Fox itself. They won't allow anti-Fox advertisements.
one-third of taxpayers don't make enough money to owe income tax, meaning they have no taxable income after their deductions.
everyone who works pays FICA and medicare. and most of them probably have taxes withheld from their paychecks whether they need to or not. not to mention state, local, and property taxes.
My guess is that these people probably earn about $1,000 a month. I'd like to see miss fancy-pants fox news Gretchen Carlson get by on 1 thousand a month. she probably spends that much in a month on clothes, makeup, and her gym membership. is that a sexist thing to say?
Since we're just playing a guessing game, I guess it's not sexist.
"she probably spends that much in a month on clothes, makeup, and her gym membership. is that a sexist thing to say?"
Since it's almost certainly true of her male colleagues as welll...I would judge it not to be sexist.
does anyone notice that it doesnt bother these fascists one bit that 40 percent of income earners live in abject poverty?
trickle down is a fraud
everyone who works pays FICA and medicare.
I could be wrong, but I don't think that's true-- the first $100 or so per pay period is exempt from this requirement, which means that many part-time workers don't pay SS or Medicare.
At least this used to be the case. Was the law changed?
I don't know, Steve. The "filthy rich" (never understood that one) may have a business to run, trade skill, etc, and work to not only make/produce the most cost effective product, in spite of the govt restrictions placed upon them, but also have to fight the same govt in the amount of taxes they pay. The working poor have a different fight. They have to decide whether its more lucrative to quit working to receive benefits or continue working. They both want the same thing.... more money in their own pockets.
You mean the government restrictions where a majority of businesses don't pay income taxes either? I mean, really harsh restrictions like that?
You mean the government restrictions where a majority of businesses don't pay income taxes either?
Mags, put the lighter down and slowly step away from the crack pipe.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1249465620080812?sp=true
You were saying?
From the article noted above:
"Most U.S. and foreign corporations doing business in the United States avoid paying any federal income taxes, despite trillions of dollars worth of sales, a government study released on Tuesday said."
Maybe, just maybe, you should make a somewhat reasoned response.
Dave's a fat cat. He's only trying to protect his own.
I don't blame rich folks for supporting McCain. After all, he wants to make them even richer and more "elite". However, it's the people at the bottom who are being duped into voting against their self-interest that disturbs me.
I think he got Pwned though, as he said I should step away from the pipe, but maybe he should hit it.
Dave SAYS that he's a fat cat, but how are we to know really? We don't. He could be making all of this stuff up from his Mom's basement, as could I be doing the same thing with the stuff I put up here, as could all of us.
Dave is trying to protect his own, that's fine, but he won't lose any of his own either, sure he might have to pay a little more in taxes, but chances are good that if he owns his own business, he's going to be making major deductions and itemizations that will get him back more of the money that he paid in anyway.
If Dave is lying about his economic situation, he's been lying consistently for years. I used to bait this elitist years ago regarding his gaited community and attendant xenophobia.
Mags, I admit my error, as per your article. I could not find any stats for 2007. You can pick the crack pipe back up. But you were a bit misleading.
The Government Accountability Office said 72 percent of all foreign corporations and about 57 percent of U.S. companies doing business in the United States paid no federal income taxes for at least one year between 1998 and 2005.
I still cannot believe that most US corps did not pay income tax for a given year. If anyone can help me out with the numbers, it would be appreciated.
Sorry Mags. I was wrong. For now.
Dave, I've been trying to find some stats, but my feeling is that if we looked at raw numbers of corps not paying taxes, we would find most of them are closely held family or group corps set up specifically to avoid or lessen tax burdens. It does appear that a couple of major corps (Ford, GM, Chrysler, etc) may not be paying any taxes for 2008, but that's another story.
You have to make a profit to pay taxes. Companies know how to massage their balance sheets to avoid showing a profit.
his plan eliminates taxes for retirees that earn less than 50k/year. in other words, your bubby and grampy on their fixed income pension or social security do not get taxed.
t. boone pickens on the other hand, will have to pay some taxes on his millions per year in dividends if and when he retires. boohoo.
Beat me by 1:19, going to have to learn to type faster at this end.
hey we all win with the truth, grouch
Especially when BHO has said he wants to eliminate taxes on retirees making less than $50,000 per year. Hey, but I'm looking forward to that.
Sounds pretty sweet, Oscar. Cruising your Hoveround all day, an early-bird dinner at IHOP, then into your Premiere sit-down shower to enjoy the freeloading socialist lifestyle. I can't wait!
You forgot the required stop at the Quick Stop to pick up lottery tickets.
Nothing says "I'm retired" like a "Fistful of Scratchoffs" (also the title of the screen play I'm working on).
An elastic-waistband tux, the height of geezer fashion.
Clint Eastwood is approaching a age where he could make a comeback in this one (if it goes to film).
Actually what I am looking forward to is seeing whether BHOs intent comes to fruition or if it, like most political promises, was just an appeal for votes.
And, Colonel, don't pick on my Hoveround, it's the only electric vehicle I can afford.
Picking on it? I'm suffering from Age Envy ! I'm counting the days until I'm eligible for my Hoveround. Where did you buy your John Deere hat with the built-in hearing aids, BTW?
Custom made, but I got a kickback from the local John Deere dealer and the local hearing aid vendor for providing advertising.
Whatcha got there? 9 volt? Pfft...
I looked into a solar panel, but not enough sunshine. The second option was one of those little propellers we used to wear on our beanies, but that would have looked like I was "dressing down" (still have an image to protect), so it's just the simple 1.5 V for each ear.
You do know what they say about assume, don't you?
you might *think* it's referring to "federal income tax", but they know, and you know, that the majority of low-information viewers don't get that distinction.
I listen to Troglodyte Talk Radio, and I have yet to hear one of the Professional Liars make that distinction.
See, thing is, even if you get all of the taxes that you paid in during the year back in April (because your income is SOOOO low), you still have to pay them in during the year, and you don't get to take that money home with you. I remember back in the day when I was 15, and got my first paying job at McDonald's (yeah, I was one of those). I had taxes taken out of my paycheck every week. Because I only earned like $1000 that year, I got all of my taxes back eventually, but your income has to be so low to get it all back, that those folks NEED all of that money back to, you know, buy food, and things like that.
Exactly. And, the glaring fact that Republicans ignore is that almost every penny of that money is spent, i.e. injected back into the economy. Since our economy is consumer driven, this activity puts more money in the pockets of the business owners. How is that a bad thing?
Something everyone overlooks is that money that is paid in isn't just sitting around. It's earning interest. So even if you get all your taxes back the government still made money off of your tax dollars.
Fox only considers it a "handout" for the non-rich people who don't live in small towns.
Yeah.... those anti-America Americans.
let me break it down for you
Let's make it fit the mantra even better:
$30,000 - $1,000,000 in tax breaks for the top 1% = "JOB CREATION"
After all, rich people "create" jobs simply because they have more money in their pockets. Nevemind that the middle class has less money to spend and are not generating consumer demand.
It's beyond that, Pete. It's "wealth creation". Jobs sound like something communist workers have.
Waitaminnit..... isn't "wealth creation" what Wall Street has been doing that got us into this financial mess?
"Nevemind that the middle class has less money to spend and are not generating consumer demand."
Excellent point. As we're seeing now, that results in the loss of jobs. Every CEO and Factory owner who is now laying off thousands of workers got a tax cut from President Numbnuts.
The right is so fond of using the term "class warfare" when describing raising taxes on the rich but it's OK to target those less fortunate.
They also seem to be OK with "wealth distribution" as long as he wealth is flowing uphill.
The fact that Grampy is hanging his last hope on the phrase "wealth distribution" is a good indicator of the intellectual bankruptcy of the "conservative movement". If you think beyond the bumper sticker level, ALL taxation is "wealth distribution".
OT, but the enclosed video shows voting machines in W. Va. flipping votes from Obama to republicans. Where's those GOP cries of voter fraud now?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/west-virginia-vote-flippi_n_138729.html
Must be the hand of gop, er god. He also printed out all those nice offical looking papers instructing Virginia democrats to vote on the 5th of Nov.
Sarah has called out for the lord's assistence, we can't be cadish about that assistence's form.
Voter suppression is just god's way of telling you, "You should have voted the republican ticket, you betcha!"
I'am getting pretty tired at the conservatives and McCains attacks on Obamas tax plan. I mean are they really serious ? Redistributoinist????Socialist?????Communist???? Remember the clip of McCain in 2000 explaining to a young woman who asked him why her father a doctor had to pay more in taxes,McCains explanation that the "rich" should pay more in taxes,was he advocating "socialism"???What about Palin's taxing of the oil companies and sharing the wealth with the people of Alaska????What about the money the Federal govt. gives to the states that send in less to the Feds and recieve more???? In a sense this discussion is good though, because it highlights what our priorities (the govt.)should be and the direction we should go in. In light of record oil profits and the fact that over 50%of companies pay no taxes at all , and CEO's rewarded with extravagant salaries and so-called golden parachute packages; John McCain wants to go even further than GWB did in tilting the tax system more to the side of those who own capital squezzing more from those who live by earning wages. john McCain would redistribute the wealth but not in favor of those who work for a living. To hear people at his rallies boo and hiss at the suggestion of redistribution(even though they would benefit as "Joe the Plumber" would)under Obamas tax plan reminds of that scene in the movie "Full Metal Jacket," where the DI orders PVT. Pyle to wipe the smile off his face by choking himself by placing is neck in the DI hands. This is exactly what working people would be doing by supporting John McCain. Yesterday one of McCains economic advisers gave some staight talk concerning Healthcare plans and siad that workers in an already employee benefit HCP would not recieve any benefits from John McCains HCP and would probably come out ahead if they stayed in their own plan. What he didn't say, among other things, was that they would be taxed on that plan. Isn't that a tax increase?????How can you believe a campaign that says it would cut the "pork" so to speak , yet spends over $150,000 on a wardrobe makeover?????? They blantantly lie(Palin the bridge to no where, and the state legislature investigation that did not exonerate her of wrong doing)and they try to play us as fools with the childish images of Joe the plumber, Bob the Baker , Alice the Waittress; well how about Sarah the Inept and John the Insane if he thinks this BS will get my vote. Why would we double down on the economic polices that have gotten us inro this cirisis? Before John McCain sold his soul to the right wing of his party he disagreed with GB tax cuts. John McCain and the conservatives are reaching to the bottom of the barrel in their attacks on Obama/Biden and they are raising up the sick and deprived along with it, I'am really fearful for Obama,yet I know it is not just him but the fire he has ignited in those never before interested in politics,those who thought that they had no voice,those who felt they were invisable,that light will not be extingusihed and will serve to hold him to his promise as it will to keep this nations focus on the ideals it holds in it's pre-amble "WE THE PEOPLE" , as we struggle to make this a more inclusive united perfect union.
Thanks, Ol' Ben, I saw that last night. If our media was doing its job, the McCain campaign would just be standing there with their jaws hanging. Of course, you'll be hearing that Palin quote about as much as you'll hear about McCain's Palestinian ties.
Sure, Grampy sent a load of money to Rashid Khalidi, but at least he didn't compliment his poetry.
Give 'em enough rope, eh?
I'm still waiting to hear more about McCain's transition team leader's actual real ties to actual real bad people, like Saddam Hussein.
Well if you can't trust a Fox News blow up doll,who can you trust?
A CBS News Blow up doll? No. Oh, wait, CNN blow up doll right?
40% of people don't pay federal income taxes.
40% of peoples is the crayziest peoples.
!'\
40% of people don't pay federal income taxes. (gg)
and....? Do you have a point? Are you suggesting raising their taxes? Complete the thought.
My point is that the "sasistic" of 40% is correct. Giving people a rebate check when they don't even bate is coo coo for Coco Puffs.
Yeah. When are those damn children going to pay their fair share?
When John McCain is president, and we get rid of all that "nanny state" interference!