Posted on 09/08/2011 12:49:10 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
In his continued effort to separate himself from the increasingly radical wing of the Republican Party, Presidential candidate Jon Huntsman continues to attack what he feels are extreme views from his own party. Recently, Huntsman took aim at Tea Party darling Sarah Palin's extreme view of the corporate income tax. The former Alaska governor, in an apparent attempt to remain relevant and in the news, argued this weekend that the United States should effectively lower the corporate tax burden to zero. Interestingly, her comments came at the same time that she attacked Rick Perry for his apparent connections to what she called "crony capitalism."
Huntsman accused Palin of an unrealistic approach to government revenue. While he noted that people would all love tax rates to go to zero, the adults in the room understand that there are basic functions of government that must be funded. Clearly, Huntsman has history and the Constitution on his side, as he can note the first power the Founding Father's gave to the United States Congress was the authority to tax. Huntsman, who has credibility as a fiscal conservative who led the state of Utah in prosperity and progress, acknowledges as Burkean conservatives do that "the revenue of the state is the state."
Huntsman certainly has ample reason to criticize the former governor on the idea of corporate taxations, as Palin's ideology has seemed to erase her memory of funding the government of Alaska with royalties from the oil industry. And, while he argues for lower taxes overall as a way to encourage prosperity, he is not naïvely portraying corporations as victims of burdensome regulation. While many in the GOP like Palin lament the 35 percent corporate tax rate, Huntsman acknowledges that the effective rate is below 17 percent because of corporate accounting skills, and he knows many Americans are aware of companies like GE who paid zero taxes despite more than a $100 billion dollars in revenue. Huntsman also acknowledges how corporations benefit from a strong infrastructure and safe society that allows them to do business.
Thus, despite the extreme swings in the GOP primary race, Huntsman remains the one pragmatic and rational conservative who understands the government still needs revenue to function. He argues that corporations have a responsibility to pay a fair share of taxes in exchange for the tremendous benefits they receive from functioning government. Corporations use the infrastructure that is maintained by the government. If he wanted, Huntsman could remind Palin that in the 1950s - during America's second greatest economic expansion - corporations provided as much as 30 percent of government revenues. Now, that percentage is down to 11 percent and inching toward single digits. In fact, many corporations already pay zero income taxes as a result of the generous deductions that riddle the tax code.
Thus, Sarah Palin continues to draw media coverage in anticipation of her announcing a presidential bid even as polls show 75 percent of American Republicans don't want her to run, and two-thirds of all Americans say they would never vote for her. So, while Huntsman is still only polling around 1 percent in the primaries, he's got nothing to lose in taking shots at truly naïve statements from Republican firebrands like the former Alaska governor.
Keep an eye on Huntsman.
Yeah, that's why the Fortune 1000 is moving all those jobs overseas, right?
They sure love that Fox poll from Perry's pollster that supposedly shows so much disapproval for Gov. Palin. It's almost like they ordered it.
So the oil companies shouldn't have to pay the people of Alaska for oil and gas taken from their land? Really?
I completely agree with Sarah about corporate taxes. The only tax any corporation should pay is the property tax because the property incurs government usage per se and not as a function of the corporate activity. All the other taxes are simply hidden taxes on the consumers and drive up prices.
That this is two thoughts in a row must be what is befuddling Huntsman.
Good grief PING!
Huntsman always looks like he just smelled a fart as he talks down to his audience.
PPP has it out on Twitter today that Sarah Palin is leading Obama by 14 points among independent voters in North Carolina. Poll to be released tomorrow.
Huntsman should run as a Democrat in 2012.
Good God can Huntsman just shut the F up already. Scooby Doo has a better chance at being the nominee then he does. Just leave the GOP already Huntsman, your a disgrace
No corporation in the history of commerce has ever paid one penny of tax. All business taxes are paid indirectly by each companies customers. When we vote to raise corporate taxes we are voting to pay those taxes ourselves through higher prices.
“Keep an eye on Huntsman.”
For what possible reason? Lefty Brian Williams gave Huntsman enough airtime last night to finish turning off every last GOP voter.
IMPOSSIBLE!! According to Fox News, no one will vote for her LOL/sarc
Who is paying Huntsman, and how much is he being paid - to stay in the race?
Mister One Percent, Jon Huntsman, conveniently ignores the fact that Sarah Palin coupled her proposal for a zero corporate income tax with a concurrent closure of all tax loopholes and government bailouts, which would offset the tax revenue loss. She never stated that the government has no constitutional authority to tax so that is a straw man argument from this article. Huntsmans’ attempt to conflate Alaska’s income from oil with the corporate income tax levied by the federal government (at a very high rate) is lame. This guy looks like the lefts mole in the Republican primary race and his pitiful standing in the polls makes one wonder who is financing him. George Soros?
Huntsman seems to talk down to people just like the Obozo.
In the debate last night I thought Perry looked really conceded when he looked directly into the camera a few time while giving his answers and they weren't just glances. Not one of the others did that. To me, that was indicative of him being in politics to serve his self. Cronyism, Palin has it right, again.
Was that the guy almost falling off the stage, so far away from real contenders?
Have him take Romney with him.
Ugh, he’s on Hannity now.
huntsman is a p*ssy.
I warned everyone last year Huntsman would be the MSM darkhorse pick...
And this is an argument claiming an actual zero tax rate would be a disaster?
WHOA!!!
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