During his recent State of the Contradiction address before a joint session of Congress, the President in typically impressive oratory tried his carnival barker best not to allow anyone to examine the fine print.
For example, the CEO of hope and change exhorted lawmakers on the need for higher domestic energy production, but somehow neglected to mention that just days before, he had blocked the proposed Keystone Oil pipeline project.
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Minutes later, he addressed expanding tax relief for small business owners, but then under an alternate definition, referred to them as millionaires (those making over $250,000) and proposed raising taxes on them under the Buffet Rule. Although it's hardly a secret that economics isn't the President's strong suit, he should be aware that the Oracle of Omaha amassed much of his fortune paying the lower tax rate on capital gains.
But the evening's Triple-A-rated contradiction stemmed from his statement that "everyone should pay his or her fair share of taxes" in an attempt to rectify the shopworn mantra of income inequality.
I'm wondering if that fair share doctrine also applies to his office personnel?
An IRS report reveals the more than mildly embarrassing fact that some 36 of President Obama's executive office staff owe Uncle Sam $833,970 in back taxes. Apparently, to some, "fair share" is synonymous with "no share."
There have been a number of articles and reports chronicling the compensation largesse of Obama's staff, with roughly 450 of his aides garnering aggregate paychecks of more than $37 million last year. For those keeping partisan score at home, that's $4 million more than under his Oval Office predecessor.
More than 30 percent of his aides earn over $100,000, with 21 of them making the White House ceiling of $172,200, according to a number of reports.
But to be fair, Obama staffers are far from the only federal offenders in this category. The IRS report shows that thousands of federal employees owe a not insignificant $3.4 billion in back taxes.
To break that down by sector, employees of the Senate owe $2.1 million, the House $8.5 million, and the Department of Education $4.3 million to name just a few.
As a resident of one of the highest taxed states in the union, you can imagine how the cloying "paying your fair share" resonates with me.
But apparently not with everyone.
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And you forgot to mention, he said the minimum anyone should be paying is 30%. So that would mean he's proposing a doubling of the passive income tax rate. Startling, but of course the mainstream press just let that one slide by.......details, details, details... so bothersome.
Posted by: dpauljennings | February 9, 2012 6:58 PM
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The Editor-in-Chief has never made any attempt to maintain a non-partisan position and this column is his latest conservative Republican diatribe. Just a couple of comments.
The Keystone project has nothing to do with domestic oil production, unless he regards Canada as a state. Rather, it involves an attempt to build a pipeline across foreign soil so that it can be exported to other nations. It is interesting that Canada has not yet been able to obtain internal approval for its own proposal to build a pipeline from the tar sands to Vancouver. Obviously the Canadians would rather that spills and other pipeline problems take place on foreign soil. Who can blame them?
Also, even Mr. Carlino should be able to compute that $250,000 is not equal to $1,000,000, and should not confuse the Buffett Rule with the proposal to end the Bush tax cuts.
Finally, the level of salaries in this administration may or may not have something to do with back taxes owed by its employees, but no connection is made. As to salaries, a comparison is made with the prior administration (although not in real dollars); no such comparison is made as to tax delinquencies.
It is this type of tortured reasoning that presents the major problem in the current political debate.
Posted by: Andrew M | February 8, 2012 9:36 PM
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Thank you for this article. I fully agree with what you have stated and believe it to be true. It is a shame that so many people do not realize what is happening to our country.
Posted by: Unknown | February 7, 2012 11:43 AM
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Based on my experience dealing with people, mostly those who are always complaining about the rich not paying their "Fair Share" are not paying any income taxes at all. They complain because they want more largesee from the government. One acquaintance of mine once said that he has many children to feed so why should he pay taxes to the government, the government should be paying him instead. How many among us have similar views?
Posted by: Linor34b | February 6, 2012 11:22 AM
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