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Conservative media push distorted comments to claim Clinton "admitted" Democrats tax everything

October 31, 2009 5:19 pm ET — 45 Comments

Numerous conservative media outlets are pushing a distortion of comments made by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a roundtable discussion with business leaders in Pakistan to suggest that she celebrated the notion that "[w]e tax everything that moves and doesn't move," in contrast to lower tax rates in Pakistan. But in her comments, Clinton actually called on Pakistan to raise more revenue of its own, rather than relying on U.S. aid, and said that U.S. taxpayers and Congress say, "[W]e want to help those who help themselves."

Pakistan's Daily Times crops Clinton's comments

Daily Times: Clinton says Pakistan's taxes "among the lowest in the world... We (the United States) tax everything that moves and doesn't move." Reporting on comments Clinton made during the October 29 roundtable discussion, the Daily Times reported that Clinton said, "The percentage of taxes on GDP (in Pakistan) is among the lowest in the world... We (the United States) tax everything that moves and doesn't move, and that's not what we see in Pakistan."

Clinton discussed tax disparity and foreign aid and said taxpayers and Congress "want to help those who help themselves." During her roundtable discussion, Clinton called on Pakistan to raise more of its own revenues, rather than relying on foreign aid.

From Clinton's October 29 roundtable comments:

CLINTON: I appreciate too the idea of a sustainable, long-term partnership, and to highlight the opportunities that exist and to use the tools that are already at our disposal, tools like OPIC or the Export-Import Bank or making sure that travel visas get issued. These are all the kind of nuts-and-bolts issues that we can address and try to resolve together.

But I think too that it is only fair to take a hard look internally about what Pakistan needs to do. And at the risk of maybe sounding undiplomatic, Pakistan has to have more internal investment in your public services and in your business opportunities. By any fair measure, for example, the percentage of taxes of GDP is among the lowest in the world. The United States, we tax ourselves, depending upon who is in power, somewhere between 16 and 23 percent of GDP, and right now, it usually hovers around the 20 percent. You're less than half of that.

And so at some point, when you ask for partnership, you have to ask what the equity state is that Pakistan itself is looking to make, because it is difficult to go to our taxpayers and say we consider Pakistan a strategic partner, we consider it a long-term friend and ally, we have supported it since its inception in 1947, we want to continue to do so, and have our taxpayers and our members of Congress say, well, we want to help those who help themselves, and we tax everything that moves and doesn't move, and that's not what we see happening in Pakistan.

And I can say that because I think there has to be, in any partnership, but more importantly in any plan for your own economic future, a hard look at where you're going to get the resources to meet these needs. You do have somewhere between 170 and 180 million people. Your population is projected to be about 300 million as the current birth rates, which are among the highest in the world, continue - 2.6 birth rate. I don't know what you're going to do with that kind of challenge unless you start planning right now.

Conservative media push distorted comments to suggest Clinton celebrated taxing "everything that moves"

Gateway Pundit: Clinton "[a]dmits" "that the democrats tax everything that moves." In an October 30 blog post on Gatewaypundit.com, titled, "Hillary Clinton Admits: 'We Tax Everything That Moves,' " Jim Hoft wrote that Clinton "told the Pakistanis today that the democrats tax everything that moves" and asserted that "she's proud of it."

Drudge: "Hillary: 'We tax everything that moves and doesn't move.' " The Drudge Report linked to the Daily Times article on October 31 with the headline, "Hillary: 'We tax everything that moves and doesn't move.' "

drudgeclinton

Fox Nation: "Hillary: 'We tax everything that moves.' " Linking to the Daily Times article on October 30, the Fox Nation featured the headline, "Hillary: 'We tax everything that moves.' "

fnclinton

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    • Author by LarryE (October 31, 2009 5:59 pm ET)
      12 1
      This is absolutely classic out-of-context quoting. Clinton was undeniably saying what she thinks other people ("our taxpayers and our members of Congress") will say about Pakistan seeking US aid when Pakistan doesn't appear to be "helping itself."

      And she sure as heck didn't say anything about Democrats in particular taxing "everything."

      Complete, deliberate, fabrication.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by DellDolly (October 31, 2009 7:48 pm ET)
        10 1
        Yeah, I pointed out a day or so ago that what the vast rightwing conspiracy is doing currently is simply combing all the oral and written comments from anyone on the left, and listening for things that make them prick up their ears.

        That's why when Anita Dunn said "Mao", they flipped out. That's why when they heard school children singing about Obama, they overreacted.

        And that's why when they heard the word "taxes" come out of Hillary's mouth, they jumped the shark.

        It has nothing to do with making our nation better. It has to do with hurting Democrats in any way possible. And it's poisoning our national debate. It's sick. Facts and context be damned.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by brutusmaximus (October 31, 2009 9:51 pm ET)
          3 17
          “The percentage of taxes on GDP (in Pakistan) is among the lowest in the world... We (the United States) tax everything that moves and doesn’t move, and that’s not what we see in Pakistan,” she said.

          If it moves tax it. If it keeps moving regulate it. If it stops moving subsidize it.

          That's the democrat theory of government.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by mefirst (October 31, 2009 10:29 pm ET)
            9 1
            vs. the republican, which is the rich can never have enough.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by DellDolly (November 01, 2009 1:45 am ET)
            7 1
            Yeah, we already saw your side distort the argument - is there some reason you felt the need to repeat that smear?

            I mean, we understand you guys are slow, and need to get repeated exposure to facts in order for them to sink in, but really, we understood it was a distortion the very first time we heard it.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by Brabantio (November 01, 2009 1:14 am ET)
            5  
            Is there some way to avoid this strange misinterpretation from the right? The context makes it pretty clear that she wasn't stating her own opinion there. If Hillary had said:
            have our taxpayers and our members of Congress say, quote well, we want to help those who help themselves, and we tax everything that moves and doesn't move, and that's not what we see happening in Pakistan.unquote. And we can see...
            Would that have helped? Or would the specific mentions of "quote" and "unquote" be mysteriously edited from the story?

            Even if she had said:
            and have our taxpayers and our members of Congress say, well, we want to help those who help themselves, this is what the taxpayers would say, again, and we tax everything that moves and doesn't move, you know, because taxpayers don't like taxes, and that's not what we see happening in Pakistan. That's not what I would say, but that's what other people would say.
            All you'd have to do is add another set or two of ellipses, and it wouldn't change your post much at all, would it?
            Report Abuse
          • Author by loonz (November 01, 2009 6:51 am ET)
            6 1
            Actually, we want to tax the rich and corporations and take more of the burden off the poor and middle class.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by dexteritas0071418 (November 01, 2009 9:44 am ET)
                8
              What tax burden would that be?
              Report Abuse
              • Author by loonz (November 01, 2009 11:21 am ET)
                6  
                The lower your income, the more burdensome any type of tax becomes. Liberals understand that and that's why we try to gear it more towards the wealthy.
                Report Abuse
                • Author by roundhouse (November 01, 2009 11:42 am ET)
                  6  
                  Not to mention that the wealthy have a greater responsibility and obligation to contribute to the infrastructure that enabled them to prosper in the first place.

                  The flaw with conservatives is that they think wealth and power is merely a station to be acquired, they completely ignore the fact that with great prosperity comes greater responsibility to sacrifice.
                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by fantagor (November 01, 2009 4:04 pm ET)
                    6 1
                    Sacrifice to a conservative means lowering and freezing wages, and shipping jobs overseas. Sacrifice isn't something they personally do, it's something they do to others.

                    Randy
                    Report Abuse
          • Author by RickOden (November 01, 2009 11:22 am ET)
              4
            Well said brutusmaximus

            If it walks like a liar, talks like a liar, smells like a liar it must be Pelosi's VAT she openly supports.

            Let's give a hand for all the democrats in this county that have and continue to divide this country with their "Conform or be accused as the Party of NO".

            The Obama administration and its socialist Obots have only one plan-
            Divide - Deceive - Dismantle

            Until now no other administration in the history of America has ever been able to create such a large movement where once dedicated citizens question their loyalty to this country.

            Hope and Change has become Regret and Shame.

            От Россия с влюбленностью.


            BTW- I am surprised mediamatters hasn't published another satire and posted it as actual news and let the Libtards comment on it. It was very funny watching you all comment on "Glenn Beck: Dumb or lying?" when in fact it was a spoof, how embarrassing eh Jamison Foser ...
            Report Abuse
            • Author by roundhouse (November 02, 2009 2:59 pm ET)
              2  
              Republicans aren't even the Party of no. They are the Party of nothing. You gutless wonders have no ideas, no proposals to fix this mess.


              And thank you Party of Herbert Hoover, I guess you have forgotten how FDR pulled us back from the edge of ruin during the Republican Depression in the 1930's. His course of action was much more radical and activist than anything we are seeing today. Guess what else? The Progressive course we took back then hindered not one iota the nation's prosperity, in fact we saw the greatest expansion of the middle class the world has ever seen.

              So much for your ignorant cries of socialism. They were ridiculous then and they are utterly retarded today.
              Report Abuse
          • Author by bobklahn (November 01, 2009 10:21 pm ET)
            3  
            Notice that the national debt load, ratio of federal debt to GDP, has only increased in post WW2 America under anti-tax presidents. IE: Reagan and Bush.

            It went down under every other president, all other republicans and every democrat.
            Report Abuse
        • Author by bobklahn (November 01, 2009 10:19 pm ET)
            6
          No, they didn't jump the shark. Hillary said something really stupid, and they picked up on it.

          I never thought Hillary was a good pick for a cabinet post, and this just supports it.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by DellDolly (November 01, 2009 11:19 pm ET)
            2  
            Yes, they jumped the shark, and no, she didn't say something stupid, and she waa a great choice for this post. Foreign governments love her and she has great popularity in this country too.

            Report Abuse
          • Author by NiceguyEddie (November 02, 2009 1:50 pm ET)
            2  
            Noooooo......

            The way they misquoted her made her sound stupid. The MISQUOTE was stupid. There was nothing wrong with what she actually SAID.

            It's amazing how people are so fast to ascribe misquotes and distortions to the SPEAKER, blaming THEM because SOMEONE ELSE was willing to LIE about them.

            ----------------------------------------------------------------
            How devoid of cognitive ability must you be to buy into this?!
            Report Abuse
      • Author by NiceguyEddie (November 02, 2009 8:58 am ET)
        2  
        It always happens this way. A Democrat laments something, admitting no more that the unfortunate reality, and the necessary evil, and the Right comes back and says they're "celbrating it."

        And then, when we call them out the batsh!t crazy and worm-brained stupid things they say, they hvae the audacity to whine about being "taken out of context."

        They're despicable.

        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        The only thing more depressing is how many ignorant sheep keep falling for it year after year after year.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by ifthethunderdontgetya (October 31, 2009 6:37 pm ET)
      11  
      File this under "Does Not Goose Step With Enough Alacrity for the Republican Party":

      The candidate, Dede Scozzafava, said she was suspending her campaign in the face of collapsing support and evidence that she was heading for a loss in a three-way race on Tuesday involving Douglas L. Hoffman, running on the Conservative Party line, and Bill Owens, a Democrat.

      Racing to circle the drain = today's GOP.
      ~
      Report Abuse
      • Author by DellDolly (October 31, 2009 8:00 pm ET)
        10  
        Boy, Frank Rich had a great op-ed about this race today, updated to reflect her withdrawl from the race.

        Here's one of the money quotes, but the whole column is a good read.

        The battle for upstate New York confirms just how swiftly the right has devolved into a wacky, paranoid cult that is as eager to eat its own as it is to destroy Obama. The movement’s undisputed leaders, Palin and Beck, neither of whom have what Palin once called the “actual responsibilities” of public office, would gladly see the Republican Party die on the cross of right-wing ideological purity.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by wesley (November 01, 2009 9:45 am ET)
          8
        Dailykos predicts a win for Hoffman last Thursday..."If Scozzafava's fade continues, Hoffman will win this thing". I guess dropping out would constitute a "continuing fade".

        What a convoluted race...it has a little something for everybody.

        First the local republican leadership...in a very republican district...nominates a liberal candidate. Then in a surprise move the local democrats nominate a candidate to the right of the republican candidate...causing Markos at the dailykos to throw his support to the republican contender.

        When he realizes the unforeseen backlash...Markos quickly pulls his support for the republican candidate...the biggest liberal in the race...Scozzafava...reversing his principled stand in favor of party politics.

        While that's going on, the republican party machinery spends time and money attacking the most conservative candidate in the race...even Gingrich plays politics over principle by throwing his support behind the most liberal candidate in the race...simply because of the (R) behind her name...whew...how's that for convoluted.

        Then, firmly astride their white steeds, national conservative figures like Palin and Thompson ride to the rescue of Hoffman and expose Scozzafava's liberal bent and hasten her demise.

        Now that the political merry-go-round has finally stopped...Hoffman has accomplished his goal...the voters of NY have a choice between a liberal candidate and a conservative candidate...as it should be...instead of having to choose between two liberals.

        Tuesday in NY could be a defining moment for the republican party. Can they rescue themselves from their disarray by returning to conservative principles?





        Report Abuse
        • Author by roundhouse (November 01, 2009 11:45 am ET)
          6  
          Conservatives don't have any principles upon which they can redeem themselves.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by steeve (November 01, 2009 11:49 am ET)
          5  
          "Can they rescue themselves from their disarray by returning to conservative principles?"

          Would those be the same conservative principles that caused your side to wildly cheer Bush every time he was among you, right up until the end?

          The defining moment of the republican party was 2008, when the failure became colossal enough for even the idiots to see.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by wesley (November 01, 2009 12:20 pm ET)
            1 8
            -- The defining moment of the republican party was 2008 -- steeve

            I'll have to split hairs with you steeverino. For me, 2008 was not the defining moment...but it was the culmination of a wandering republican party.

            2006 was more like the defining moment when democrats took control of congress and the majority of governorships. That set the stage for running a weak conservative like McCain for president....and losing the white house.

            What I won't split hairs about is your comment about the "colossal" failure of the republican party...I agree with you whole-heartedly.

            Certainly there was/is a segment of the republican party that "cheered wildly" for anything concerning Pres.Bush...however, many conservative republicans, including myself, were disillusioned with Pres.Bush and the republican party long before that...especially the wildass spending.

            Conservative principles are still alive and well among the populace...it's the republican party that is in disarray...because of their failure to promote and support conservative principles...and trying to govern like democrat lites.

            The republican party stands on the banks of the Rubicon river and will soon face the facts. Return to conservative principles or open the door for a third party that will shove them to the back pages of history...as "colossal failures".

            Report Abuse
            • Author by roundhouse (November 01, 2009 12:32 pm ET)
              6  
              Hahaha! All you can do is repeat the words conservative principles without ever giving meaning to them. Pathetic. Or is it that conservative principles are like pornography? You can't define them, but you recognize them when you see them. But hey, if you're to lazy define them; being the responsible citizen I am, I will be happy to define them for you.

              Your Party has no idea how to contribute solutions to the mess they have put this country because their rigid principles of low wages for all, sweet heart tax deals for the rich and laissez-faire economics are the reason we are hurting. You can't solve problems when you can't even see the problem.
              Report Abuse
            • Author by loonz (November 01, 2009 12:40 pm ET)
              4  
              I don't remember you or any conservative on this board criticizing Bush too much. Bush was the typical conservative - he cut taxes for the rich and corporations and he increased spending.
              Report Abuse
            • Author by steeve (November 01, 2009 4:30 pm ET)
              3  
              There is a massive disconnect between conservative complaints of Bush and Bush's actual failures. As far as I know, spending and immigration were the only things conservatives ever criticized Bush for, at any point in time including now. But the cratered economy had nothing at all to do with the deficit (quite the contrary, economies are helped short-term by free money) and immigration isn't even on the radar.

              Bush failed at every single aspect of domestic and foreign policy. And in every material way his failures came from actions approved by the hardest-core conservatives.
              Report Abuse
            • Author by bobklahn (November 01, 2009 10:30 pm ET)
              1  
              Most people in this country hold to a lot of conservative principles. That includes a lot of democrats. Only you have to learn the difference between real conservatism, and the right wing ideology that is permeating the republican party now.

              What now passes for conservatives used to be called radical reactionaries.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by mefirst (November 02, 2009 4:09 pm ET)
                1  
                that's true. i am a reluctant democrat. every time i think i can consider voting republican, they go off the deep end. if they were halfway moderate, i could live with it.
                Report Abuse
        • Author by bobklahn (November 01, 2009 10:27 pm ET)
          1 1
          What conservative principles.

          That race hasn't been a big news item around here, so all I have seen are the reports in the news on what she stood for.

          From what I saw, her positions were more libertarian than liberal.

          Think that one over.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by mefirst (October 31, 2009 8:02 pm ET)
      6 1
      anytime, repeat anytime, you see a quote not only pulled from a paragraph, but actually pulled from the middle of a sentence, it's probably bogus. so fox can complain all they want about how they are unfairly portrayed, but they do this stuff all the time.

      and i'm glad hillary mentioned population growth, which makes the world's problems that much harder to solve. in pakistan, it's the birth rate. in this country, it's mainly immigration that will drive our population to about 430 million by 2050. not a good thing, in spite of those who don't want to admit it.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by DAWUSS (October 31, 2009 9:46 pm ET)
      6  
      Now where's proudconservative and pointofview?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by petarbell (November 01, 2009 8:55 am ET)
        2
      And so at some point, when you ask for partnership, you have to ask what the equity state is that Pakistan itself is looking to make, because it is difficult to go to our taxpayers and say we consider Pakistan a strategic partner, we consider it a long-term friend and ally, we have supported it since its inception in 1947, we want to continue to do so, and have our taxpayers and our members of Congress say, well, we want to help those who help themselves, and we tax everything that moves and doesn't move, and that's not what we see happening in Pakistan.

      whats the distortion issue? Hillary made a comment and it that our government taxes everything that moves and doesn't move. No denying that. It appears what your political slant is it can mean "she didnt say democrats so you cant blame her. A very poor political statement. she said and it serves a softball up to anyone who feels that Obama is taxing us back into the stone age. Own it.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by mefirst (November 02, 2009 4:06 pm ET)
        1  
        the "distortion" is that it takes the quote out of context. she did not say the democrats. she said that is what our taxpayers will say we do, as in america, and pakistan does not do it. any quote taken from the middle of a sentence is a distortion. drudge and fox both put a period at the end, and there was no period at that point in what she said. so yes, that's a distortion.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by bobklahn (November 01, 2009 10:33 pm ET)
      2  
      Before Bush took over the US was one of the lowest taxed of the industrialized countries, tied with Japan.

      Now I'm afraid to look. Under Bush we probably left Japan behind in our rush to the bottom.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by spadeholder (November 02, 2009 10:17 am ET)
      1  
      I take it "we" means Democrats and Republicans. When considering all taxes local state and federal there's plenty of Republicans willing to raise taxes especially a sales tax. It not always called a "tax" instead "fees" are raised. How many sports stadium would not get pass the planning stage without assurance of increased local recreation, and leisure taxes being raised. And this simpley amounts to helping the investment of some Fat Cat sports owners.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by edrossinoelwein9669 (November 02, 2009 3:57 pm ET)
        1
      Those nasty old conservatives! How dare they quote a liberal! Distortion! Unfair! Right-wing Conspiracy! Misquote!
      Report Abuse
      • Author by LarryE (November 03, 2009 2:26 pm ET)
           
        And once again we see show the right wing is impervious to facts and logic.

        1. Clinton says "People will say such and such."

        2. Right wing media says "Clinton herself said such and such."

        3. Liberal site says "That's a misquote, taken out of context."

        4. Right wing boob says "Huh? Wha'? I don't see no misquote."

        Such sad creatures inhabit the right wing.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by littlejohn (November 03, 2009 8:38 am ET)
        1
      The full context is worse than the supposed out-of-context quote.

      "and have our taxpayers and our members of Congress say, well, we want to help those who help themselves, and we tax everything that moves and doesn't move"

      Our "taxpayers and members of Congress" covers Congress and everyone who pays taxes, including Hilary herself (note that she couldn't just say "taxpayers" because that would have excluded the tax cheats in Congress, eg Rangel).

      So Hilary is admitting that everyone in the country who pays taxes (herself included), and the tax cheats in Congress, believe that the United States taxes everything that moves and doesn't move.

      Run with it lefties.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by spinny (November 03, 2009 1:03 pm ET)
         
      when do the good guys ever, EVER do this
      Report Abuse

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