Posted on 01/08/2008 12:56:09 PM PST by TheThinker
Among the 2008 presidential field, all but two of the Republican candidates -- Sen. John McCain and Fred Thompson -- have made a written commitment to the American people promising to oppose and veto income tax increases.
McCain signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge as a candidate for president in 2000, and has signed and kept the pledge as a senator.
For two decades, Americans for Tax Reform has asked all presidential and federal candidates to commit to their constituents, in writing, to
oppose any and all efforts to raise income taxes. On the presidential level, every Republican nominee since Ronald Reagan has made this
commitment, including President George W. Bush. In the current Congress, 42 senators and 196 members of the House of Representatives have made this commitment.
Rudolph Giuliani -- Yes*
Mike Huckabee -- Yes
Duncan Hunter -- Yes
McCain -- No
Ron Paul -- Yes
Mitt Romney -- Yes
Thompson -- No
*Giuliani did not sign the pledge per se, but has put in writing his commitment to oppose and veto all tax increases (as did George W. Bush).
One more reason to vote for Romney...or Hunter.
But he opposed the tax cuts, which is in effect a tax increase. McCain is a sleaze.
Why would the candidate who “doesn’t do hand shows” sign somebody’s “pledge”? Or are we only supposed to praise him when he refuses to jump through silly hoops the left has thrown in front of him?
He was interviewed recently and was asked point blank if there was any circumstance where he could forsee supporting a tax hike. He replied with an unequivocal “No”. He firmly believes tax hikes do not raise revenue.
I couldn’t care less. This pledge is meaningless. It’s just words that we want to hear.
Let’s face it, when Huckabee signs a no-tax-hike pledge, the pledge is pretty worthless....
I would not sign it either. Empty end pledges on issues that are complex are a trap. Who is to say what kind of crap the Dims could pass in Congress or what kind of all out war we could be in over then next few years and the ramifications of it?
No-tax pledges are childish. Government is grown-up, and sometimes events happen that require tax increases.
What does more damage? Saying you won’t raise taxes and then you do, a la Bush I, or not signing it at all.
Oh yeah... “Read my lips. No new taxes.” comes to mind as well.
Why sign a pledge that is absolutely meaningless, and can only come back to bite you? I'm 100% in favor of no new taxes, and I wouldn't sign a pledge like that.
It's a dammed if you do, dammed if you don't situation, and Fred is smart not to step into the trap.
Would you rather have them lie to you like the others!!!
Signing a no tax pledge is disinguous and means nothing after you win the election and you know it.
Fred is just too darned honest. He is probably thing of a national emergency.
FRed has a sterling record on taxes.
I don’t want him to sign some stupid “pledge”.
41 signed it and “Read my Lips” was a lie.
Unfortunately this may have come to the surface too late. Romney certainly could have used it during his debates, especially in New Hampshire where taxes are a big issue with voters.
I woulod outline my own positions, and stear clear of some idiot waving around a vanity-pledge that I had signed in a momement of unity with later results in the author's own interpretation of his view that I had violated the PLEDGE.
Temperence pledges didn't work and this stuff is on parr with that.
Fred wouldn’t throw his support behind the Fair Tax for fear that it would actually increase taxes . You would have to do away with the income tax first and that’s not going to happen , Fred knows it .
>Tax Reform
The U.S. tax code is broken and a burden on U.S. taxpayers and businesses, large and small. Today’s tax code is particularly hostile to savings and investment, and it shows. To make matters worse, its complexity is a drag on our productivity and economic growth. Moreover, taxpayers spend billions of dollars and untold hours each year filling out complicated tax returns, just so they can send more money to Washington, much of it for wasteful programs and the pet projects of special interests. We need lower taxes, and we need to let taxpayers keep more of their hard-earned dollars—they know best where and how to spend them. And we need to make the system simpler and fairer for all. To ensure America’s long term prosperity and economic security, I am committed to:
*Fundamental tax reform built on the principles of simplicity, fairness, and growth.
*A new tax code that gets the government out of our citizens’ pocketbooks, while enhancing U.S. competitiveness abroad.
*Dissolution of the IRS as we know it.
So he will not sign some ditzy pledge, he won’t raise his hand either.
I’m praying for your health. We went through this last year.
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