Fox & Friends' Carlson falsely claimed Geithner "kind of put the blame a little bit on a computer program" for tax failure
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SUMMARY: On Fox & Friends, Gretchen Carlson asserted that in answering questions about his failure to pay social security taxes several years ago, Treasury Secretary nominee Tim Geithner "kind of put the blame a little bit on a computer program." In fact, at his hearing, Geithner mentioned the tax software he used only after he was asked which brand he used to file his taxes.
During the January 22 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, co-host Gretchen Carlson asserted that in answering questions about his failure to pay social security taxes several years ago, Treasury Secretary nominee Tim Geithner "kind of put the blame a little bit on a computer program." But Carlson's assertion was contradicted by the video clip of Geithner's January 21 Senate confirmation hearing that she aired following her comments, in which Geithner is shown stating: "I want to say these are my responsibility, not the tax software responsibility. But I use TurboTax to prepare my returns." Moreover, as the full exchange -- of which Fox & Friends aired only a part -- makes clear, Geithner mentioned the tax software only after he was asked by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) whether he "use[d] software to prepare" his "2001 and 2002 tax returns." After Geithner responded, "I did," Grassley asked, "Which brand did you use?" Geithner then responded, "I'll answer that question, sir, but I want to say these are my responsibility, not the tax software responsibility. But I use TurboTax to prepare my returns."
In contrast to Fox & Friends, the Los Angeles Times' Johanna Neuman wrote in a January 21 blog post titled, "Timothy Geithner: Blame me, not TurboTax," that Geithner "seemed reluctant to name names."
From the January 21 Senate Finance Committee hearing:
GRASSLEY: Given that the staff and media reports raised significant questions about your late payment of self-employment taxes, I think it's important to set the record straight before we proceed. As a result, I appreciate responses to the following questions. These questions I hope elicit short answers since you've been very clear in your opening statement and answer to Senator [Max] Baucus [D-MT].
Were you liable for self-employment taxes on your IMF [International Monetary Fund] income from 2001 through 2004?
GEITHNER: Yes.
GRASSLEY: Did you submit an application for tax allowances for your income and self-employment taxes for the years 2001 through 2004?
GEITHNER: I did.
GRASSLEY: Did you sign these applications that included a certification that you would pay the taxes that you received allowances for?
GEITHNER: I did. Yes.
GRASSLEY: OK. Did you receive checks for the tax allowances you applied for?
GEITHNER: The -- yes.
GRASSLEY: OK. Did you receive statements with these checks that indicated the amount of the allowance that should be used for income and self-employment taxes? If yes, why did you remit your income taxes but not your self-employment taxes? Only if you want to add to what you said to Senator Baucus.
GEITHNER: I did not and I should have. I mistakenly believed that I was meeting my obligations fully, including self-employment taxes, but I did not prepare my returns in a way that caught that mistake initially.
GRASSLEY: Did you use software to prepare your 2001 and 2002 tax returns?
GEITHNER: I did.
GRASSLEY: You did not?
GEITHNER: I did.
GRASSLEY: Oh, you did, OK. Which brand did you use?
GEITHNER: I'm going to -- I'll answer that question, sir, but I want to say these are my responsibility, not the tax software responsibility.
GRASSLEY: OK.
GEITHNER: But I use TurboTax to prepare my returns.
GRASSLEY: Did the software prompt you to report income and pay self-employment taxes on your IMF income?
GEITHNER: Not to my recollection, Senator.
GRASSLEY: If yes -- well, "not to your recollection." Well, I thank you for answering those questions.
From the January 22 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends:
CARLSON: Tim Geithner isn't missing 'cause he was in front of the Senate Finance Committee yesterday. You know who this guy is? He's the one who wants to be Treasury secretary, and it seemed to be smooth, smooth, smooth sailing until they found out he hadn't paid $34,000 in taxes back in the early 2000s. He's now paid those, and he's also apologizing. And for a moment yesterday, he kind of put the blame a little bit on a computer program. Listen.
[begin video clip]
GEITHNER [video clip]: I'm going to -- I'll answer that question, sir, but I want to say these are my responsibility, not the tax software responsibility.
GRASSLEY: OK.
GEITHNER: But I use TurboTax to prepare my returns.
[end video clip]
CARLSON: It's an endorsement of TurboTax, really.
STEVE DOOCY (co-host): Well, then, Charles Grassley, the senator from Iowa, said, "So did TurboTax pop up with the little box that said you need to pay taxes?" And he said, no, I really don't remember that part. But, effectively, he said, you know what? I didn't pay it. And it was a big mistake.
And effectively, he was throwing himself on the mercy of the Senate for confirmation. Everybody thinks he's going to wind up getting the job because he's the guy Barack Obama says is uniquely qualified for it, and if Barack Obama was facing these staggering financial problems, thinks that this is the guy, looks like he's going to get a pass.
Use H&R Block and you got people! ;-)
Then blame them.
If Glenn Beck or sean Hannity appear on this show, they might look intelligent compared to these three.
They give new meaning to the word ignorant.
I suspect that the popularity of this threesome can be explained similarly to Sarah Palin's popularity among FOX viewers...she's just like us! Yep, this FOX team is just like it's viewers...dumb as a bag of rocks.
Moreover, as the full exchange -- of which Fox & Friends aired only a part -- makes clear...
This is what FOX does... Wouldn't FOX's audience be much better informed if FOX simply simply played tapes of interviews and speeches without adding any commentary whatsoever? Of course...but then they couldn't pretend to be outraged anymore.
It's funny to me how the leftists treat a Democrat vs. a Republican when it comes to unpaid taxes.
I wonder-if Joe the Plumber says "I'm sorry, it was a mistake.", can he get a job in the Obama administration???
Joe the Plumber can't even hold down a full-time job as a plumber, why would the Obama team want to hire a mental midget like him? I am sure Democrats would prefer a nominee who did not have this embarrassing tax history. However, it appears to me that even many Republicans believe he is otherwise the right man for the job at this moment.
Geithner has just been confirmed. A tax cheat is in charge of the IRS!!!!! Change we can believe in!! The most ethical administration in history. Barf. BTW, back on the campaign trail, Obama said that "Lobbyists will have NO place in my administration". Has anyone called him out for the 2 lobbyists that he has appointed??? Change has come to Washington.
Geithner has just been confirmed.
So...Secretary Geithner's embarrassing tax history is pretty much moot. Any substantive complaints about his job performance yet?
Secretary Geithner's embarrassing tax history is pretty much moot.
So, you just officially declared it so? How very Al Gore of you - "The debate is over." And don't you worry, the substantive complaints will be coming soon enough. Remember, it's our turn to rip your guys to shreds now. But fear not, we'll use facts instead of just making stuff up.
Like you did when you claimed it was "over" regarding Obama's birth certificate and ran away laughing?
I didn't claim anything "over". I simply asked for someone, ANYONE, to tell me what hospital he was born in and the name of the doctor who delivered him. (Still waiting on that one, BTW).
No you made a post saying its "over" HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA. But I won't belabor the point. Its not on-topic. I apologize.
So, still no answer?
"I didn't claim anything 'over'."
For the record, YES, YOU DID. October 24th, 2008:
"BREAKING NEWS: Ocotber 24, 2008 14:40est It has been determined in Federal Court that Sen. Barack Obama was born at the Coast Provincial General Hospital in Mombasa, Kenya. Documents admitted in court, judge declares them proper and legal. OOOOOOOOOOOOO..............Game over, guys."
And yet nobody has bothered to prove this determination wrong. I'm willing to look at proof otherwise, if someone would just provide it.
Name the hospital and the doctor, that's it.
I can name the doctor that delivered me, easily. I can show you his signature certifying my birth. Takes like one minute and I don't have any reason to hire an army of lawyers to keep the information hidden.
So much for openness and transparency, huh?
Yet, you said you would provide facts. You provided a lie. Show me the federal court decision you referenced This controversey has been played out and you have chosen not to believe what has been presented. World Net Daily authenticated the birth certificate, so did the State of Hawaii. I suggest you sue the State of Hawaii if you think they are perpetrating fraud. Could you like the court decision you referenced?
I didn't want to derail the topic, but since you said you would be providing facts, I thought you better prove your previous point that a federal court said that he was born in Kenya. Please show me that decision.
Name the hospital and doctor.
Can't Hawaii birth records aren't public. I suggest you make a FOIA request.
Name the court and the decision that determined he was born in Kenya. Link it too.
I can name the doctor that delivered me, easily. I can show you his signature certifying my birth.
Don't bother. NObody cares. It's no more an issue than Obama's BC. If you have any questions, go to some of the threads on the topic at this site, where all of this has been covered.
I apologize, I was wrong when I said "nobody cares". You're apparently very concerned. If I was that concerned, I'd be rushing to get the information myself, not asking other uninterested parties to do it for me.
Off you go, good luck.
Now colonel, I just know you will jump on Andy, your hate horse, to censor deluded non-dem here. Any minute now.
He was born at Kapiolani Medical Center For Women And Children Honolulu Hawaii August 4, 1961.
How very Al Gore of you
Yep...I invented e-mail, too.
Then I know who to blame for the spam epidemic.
I must have missed it. Was Geithner formally indicted on tax evasion?
If you feel his actions were intentional and not accidental, then you should have been jumping up and down on the desk of your Senator, waving the evidence in his or her face, and calling for a prosecution.
Thanks for the advice.
If you feel that strongly about it, it would certainly be time better spent than beating your head against the wall in the bowells of a website.
Your opinion is appreciated and duly noted.
Cry on repug and change has come to America.
Check me if I'm wrong sandy, but Joe still owes taxes and this guy paid his taxes and apologized. Did ya get that? APOLOGIZED.
You're wrong. Joe paid his taxes.
I thought there was a current Joe the Plumber tax lien that was found and that is how it started...unless Joe the Plumber has since paid the tax lien with all the money he's making from his book and recording deals, let alone his newest gig as a real-live journalist.
Oh, sorry. I have to provide proof. On November 8, 2008, AP reported that court documents filed in Toledo show that Joe the Plumber has paid his nearly $1200.00 in back taxes. Joe admitted that he didn't know about the tax lien until reporters looked into his background. (Kinda like Geithner, but Joe didn't intentionally CHEAT on his taxes). He has also obtained a plumbing license.
He has also obtained a plumbing license.
I am so happy for him. His mother must be thrilled and proud. Maybe he drum up some business in Gaza.
Where is your proof that he intentionally cheated? Could you post links to Joe having a plumbing license too? Thanks in advance.
Geithner used TurboTax to prepare his taxes. He claimed "Summer Camp" as child care expenses. TurboTax explicity states that summer camp expenses do NOT qualify for the child care expense deduction. So, either he cheated intentionally, or he's dumber than a plumber. I do not have a link to Joe's license, I'm going off of the AP story.
Is the AP story not online anywhere?
http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/national_world/stories/2008/11/08/copy/joe_the_plumber_1108.ART_ART_11-08-08_B2_0MBR3AN.html?sid=101
Correction, the story originated on November 7, 2008.
Thanks, good for him!
No problem.
...or he's dumber than a plumber.
Jeez, what an elitist thing to say... Nothing but condescension towards the working people of America. And they say WE hate real Americans? Sheeesh....
Yea...and I'd like to see his birth certificate, too! ;>)
BTW, did Joe have to take an oath in order to practice as a plumber? If so, did he swear on a bible? These are all important questions... ;>)
Where is your proof that he intentionally cheated?
Fried, isn't it obvious? Why else would he be scrambling to blame the software ? Don't you watch Fox & Friends ? I'll bet somebody here does.
He's also referencing AP stories that are not online. Weird. I thought all of the sites (Pajamas, etc) that love Mr. The Plumber would be heralding this bit of good news.
Debunked. See above link.
And the plumbing license? I appreciate the links, I didn't know that.
Come on...lay off poor Joe. He's just a simple man who wants his privacy...and he'll tell you all about himself in his new book and song album. ;>)
Can't find anything on the license. Like I said, I'm just going off of the AP story so take from it what you will, I guess.
And you believe everything you read in the Liberal Mainstream Media? Wasn't it the AP that reported that Levi Johnson, Sarah Palin's future son-in-law, had dropped out of high school? Sarah said it was untrue that either Levi or Bristol Palin were high school drop-outs...they're just taking correspondence courses at home. So be wary of everything you read in the LMSM, my friend... Maybe Joe is just taking correspondence courses...a double major in plumbing and journalism.
It's possible. Like I said, take from it what you will.
"He has also obtained a plumbing license."
Good. Now maybe this Right Wing tool will go back to work and stop pretending to be a journalist.
Geithner has paid his too, where is the documentation on Mr. The Plumber paying his?
Toledo, Ohio, according to Associated Press.
He had to settle his tax lien in order to get accepted to correspondence school...I hear he's majoring in journalism, but not the kind of journalism that covers wars. ;>)
Joe the plumber seems to be very popular with the partisan haters. Wait, are those partisans who hate, or those who hate partisans?
Careful Colonel,someone might just hop up on her hate horse.
Uhhh...they hate McCain, too. In case you haven't heard, John McCain cooperates with the enemy...the hated Democrats. John McCain is...<ugghhh> BIPARTISAN...which is almost as bad as like being gay.
Or worse, BIsexual.
Casey, I'm Bipartisan-curious. Is that OK?
Repugs are not popular here. Any flavor of repug won't do.
Here's a prediction: The same Troglodyte Apologists who overlooked the legal excesses of the Bush Administration and excused anything from officially sanctioned torture to the political bastardization of the Justice Department will suddenly fall back in love with every triviality of the "Rule of Law", now that the Democrats are in control.
Watch for them to pick up where they left off in 2000.
Well...you know when Barack Obama re-took his oath of office he didn't put his hand on the Holy Bible of our Lord and Savior. Just saying... ;>)
Of course, he had his hand in his pocket, secretly clutching a little Koran.
This idiotic triviality will keep the Troglodyte buzzing for the next four years.
Of course, he had his hand in his pocket, secretly clutching a little Koran.
Either that or a crack pipe...that Marxist bastard. ;>)
BTW, Geithner's position is an economics position, not a tax preparation professional. Most people do not understand the tax laws, and some of them are accountants. See Al Franken's accountant for an example.
Randy