Posted on 08/01/2004 7:14:17 AM PDT by John Thornton
In his speech at the convention, Bill Clinton delighted the crowd by complaining about the unnecessary tax cut he had received. At a breakfast with Florida delegates, the actor Ben Affleck got into specifics, explaining that the Bush tax cuts had provided him with $1 million last year that he didn't need.
It was a smart strategy to please the faithful in Boston, but the protests may raise a question for some voters: If you think the government has a better use for the money, why not give it back? When The Nation urged readers to send their tax rebates to the magazine, the editors were criticized for hypocrisy: given their beliefs, shouldn't they want those rebates to pay for public programs instead of remaining in the private sector?
We asked Mr. Affleck if he had considered sending the $1 million back to Washington. "No," he said. "I'm not Jesus Christ of the tax code. I can't completely martyr myself."
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Mr. Affleck is the Judas Iscariot of the tax code. Idiot.
These limousine liberals have NO intention of paying any more in taxes than they are forced to pay by the IRS.
They know that their highly paid accountants will find the necessary loopholes.
How about if Ben Affleck gives the $1 million back to the unfortunate souls who saw Gigli?
If he didn't need it, he wasn't martyring himself
"No," he said. "I'm not Jesus Christ of the tax code. I can't completely martyr myself."
Well. Isn't he just the clever little snot.
I'm really, really getting fed up with these idiots.
That would work out to $500,000 apiece, right?
Tax cut?
What a lovely idea. I could use a tax cut.
He doesn't mean take his money. He wants the government to spend other people's money.
There is nothing to stop loving, bighearted, all-caring, ever-giving, ever-compassionate liberals like Bill Clinton and Ben Affleck from giving this money they are so upset about having to charities and government donation funds. This applies to every ultra-rich liberal who is complaining that it just isn't fair that they got so much money back.
I would be curious to see exactly how much some of these fellows pay in taxes, as well as how much they get back. The wealthy can afford accountants who are familiar with tax code loopholes that enable them to legally lower their claimed "earned income" a considerable amount. I've personally always considered these high income bracket taxes to be meant to place a barrier between those-who-have and those-who-are-close-to-having.
Clinton, Affleck, and their ilk are hypocrites to the first degree. I am still trying to understand how some of the richest folks in this country can claim to represent the interests of the middle classes.
bump
The bias of the media is proven by the fact that so few reporters ask these big-shots who complain about their tax cut why don't they just give it back--or give it to charity. It is the most obvious question but they never seem to think of it.
I have two reasons to hate this a*sh*le. 1. He is a liberal synchophant. 2. He is a Red Sox fan.
Affleck is a flake.
Imagine if these people actually took some of their unwanted tax relief and paid for tutors for inner city students. Bought some library books for those schools.
That would be an admission of public school failure.
Ya gotta love leftists - they provide comedians with more material than conservatives and they routinely display their hypocrisy and idiocy for all to see.
"The Bush tax cuts for the wealthy are just wrong (but I'm keeping mine)"
LOL!!! Too funny!!
I find Ben Affleck's comments to be very disingenuous. Ben Affleck owes his career to the fact that someone somewhere had a few million dollars that hadn't been confiscated by the government. If every movie producer was limited to the amount of money they "need", then Good Will Hunting would have never been made. Neither would Chasing Amy have been made if all the profits from Clerks were confiscated by Uncle Sam.
Affleck uses some of his spare change to fund "Project Greenlight", which finances independent movies made by unknown film makers. No doubt, 20 years from now, some of these people will be rich celebrities in their own right, but right now an extra $1 million can make a big difference in their lives.
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