You Know Who Else Touted Shared Prosperity?

Fox host Megyn Kelly attacked President Obama's recent unremarkable statement that he supports a “new vision of an America in which prosperity is shared,” claiming it follows a theme of Obama promoting “taking from some people and giving to others.” The same sentiment has been shared by figures such as Ronald Reagan and, recently, Mitt Romney whose plan is estimated to increase taxes for the poor for the benefit of the wealthy.

On America Live, Kelly hosted frequent Fox guest Lars Larson to attack Obama over a recent campaign speech in which he advocated a “new vision of America in which prosperity is shared.” Obama continued:

“I believe we have to go forward,” Obama said. “I believe we have to keep working to create an America where no matter who you are, no matter what you look like, no matter where you come from, no matter what your last name is, no matter who you love, you can make it here if you try. That's what's at stake in November. That's what is why I am running for a second term as president of the United States of America.”

Larson claimed Obama's comments showed that Obama wants to take accomplishments such as Microsoft CEO Bill Gates' and “redistribute that wealth at the point of a gun.” Kelly cited previous statements to claim “it creates a belief by some like Lars that he's talking about taking from some people and giving to others.”

Kelly is right that Obama's comments are in line with several previous statements he's made. Obama has made shared prosperity a central platform of his economic policies. But he's not the only prominent political figure to make shared prosperity a focus of their campaign. Romney recently praised his vice-presidential pick Rep. Paul Ryan, saying that he will help lead the country “to widespread and shared prosperity.” Even President Reagan, who Fox has incessantly compared Ryan to recently, made shared prosperity a priority. In 1980, then-President-elect Reagan laid out his economic plans, saying his policies were “plans for implementation, reducing the cost of government, reducing the burden on the people and getting a prosperity that will be shared by all.”

Despite the fact that Kelly used the “taking from some people and giving to others” claim as an attack on Obama, she didn't mention that that charge could be leveled at both Romney and Ryan who have advocated policies that would increase the tax burden on lower-income Americans in order to benefit the wealthy.