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Obama says rich 'can afford' tax hike
Wahington Times ^ | March 19, 2009 | Christina Bellantoni

Posted on 03/18/2009 8:52:55 PM PDT by Lorianne

President Obama told Californians during a campaign-style town hall meeting on Wednesday that rich people can afford to pay higher taxes in selling his budget plan as an investment in the nation's future.

Mr. Obama pushed back on people who say he is overtaxing the nation, saying his tax increases on families earning $250,000 or more a year are reverting to the tax system under former President Bill Clinton. The president added he will pay higher taxes himself as a result.

"These folks can afford it. They were rich back in the '90s," he said. "It's not like suddenly they're going to have to go to the poorhouse. But what that does is it allows us to pay for health care reform for a lot of people."

Going after a line of attack Republicans have used against him, Mr. Obama insisted, "I don't think that's unreasonable. I don't think that's socialism.

"If the middle class is working well, if working people are doing well, then everybody does well," he said. "That's the philosophy that we are pursuing in this budget; that's why I need your support."

On Thursday, Mr. Obama is scheduled to join Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger - a Republican who supported the stimulus plan - for a second town hall meeting after a tour of an electric-vehicle plant in Pomona.

The president highlighted California's high unemployment and foreclosure rates but noted, thanks to the stimulus plan, a new hospital will be built at Camp Pendleton.

Mr. Obama portrayed himself as someone who understands hard work, sympathizing with an ex-convict who was laid off from his Toyota job and telling the crowd he knows they don't have the luxury of ignoring their own economic problems.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: bho2009; communism; crushobama; democrats; economy; emptysuit; healthcare; impeachzero; marxism; marxistinchief; neomarxism; obama; socialism; spreadthwealth; taxes; totus
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To: Lorianne
Ah yes... "The rich" can afford it. That leads to thinking like:

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."

Where have we heard that before my friends? That's right, that fun-loving guy Karl Marx. Is there anyone on the planet that doesn't think Obama is a socialist? Obama is a serious threat to America as a free society, he is bent on turning us into a socialist state.

41 posted on 03/18/2009 9:34:59 PM PDT by CodeMasterPhilzar (I'll keep my money, my guns, and my freedom. You can keep the "change.")
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To: lainie
He doesn’t think it’s socialism. uh huh

I guess technically its Marxism - from those based on ability, to those based on need.

42 posted on 03/18/2009 9:35:34 PM PDT by Go Gordon
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To: GatorGirl

“doesn’t he realize that the new hospital built on Camp Pendleton will be built by illegals”

They check legal status of contractors employees on Pendleton.


43 posted on 03/18/2009 9:39:25 PM PDT by dalereed
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To: Mom MD
I see you comprehend the "Atlas Shrugged" state of mind. John Galt walked away from his engineering/inventing work and chose janitorial work. It was his way of protesting by withdrawing his support and ability from a vile socialist government. He lived "under the radar". Little income, but free from being enslaved to support others. The quilt shop might be just enough to keep food on the table. You'll have more free time and quality time with the family. Because of the "progressive" income tax, you get to play the game in the opposite direction. Less incomes, MUCH less tax liability.
44 posted on 03/18/2009 9:40:15 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Trod Upon
They can also afford to relocate. And they can take their businesses with them. Easily.

You bet. I ditched San Diego, CA for Pocatello, ID. The cost of living is much lower. My house is nicer. I work from my home office. I work for exactly the same employer, but with Idaho state taxes and cost of living. It's actually less expensive for my employer too.

45 posted on 03/18/2009 9:43:19 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: dalereed

I was being sarcastic!


46 posted on 03/18/2009 9:46:10 PM PDT by GatorGirl (Proud Citizen of the Gator Nation!)
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To: Go Gordon
>I guess technically its Marxism - from those based on ability, to those based on need.

There is a key difference. Those will ability may chose not to exercise the full range of that ability when the rewards are confiscated. They may chose a much less capable profile. They might even transform into slothful, "needy" types to give the virtual "finger" to the tyrannical government.

47 posted on 03/18/2009 9:46:28 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Lorianne
Mr. Obama portrayed himself as someone who understands hard work

This is laughable. As far as I can tell, he's never worked a day in his life.

48 posted on 03/18/2009 9:48:59 PM PDT by Rocky (OBAMA: Succeeding where bin Laden failed.)
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To: sten
I think that Schumer "the Scumbag" from NY tipped Obama's plan today when he said that if the AIG executives dont give it (the bonuses) back then "we'll take it from you".

I think he's implying a 100% TAX on everything over a certain amount!!

So if 0Bama is planning a 100% tax of anyone earing over $250k then every penny over the $250K goes into 0Bama's cluthes.
Also if your invested a million dollars in the stock market and you earned $800k gross then you can kiss the $550k good bye, after all 0Bama has to support all those millions of faithful Acorn workers and other bums.

49 posted on 03/18/2009 9:49:50 PM PDT by prophetic (God, let 0Bama and his evil plans for this country fail & let him be utterly disgraced like HAMAN!!)
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To: Rocky
fyi, since taking up the residency's of the White House its been a non-stop partying!

Yesterday being St. Patrick Day there were 2 parties held there.

50 posted on 03/18/2009 9:51:47 PM PDT by prophetic (God, let 0Bama and his evil plans for this country fail & let him be utterly disgraced like HAMAN!!)
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To: al baby
And malpractice insurance is crazy and record keeping This surgeon i know is gone from 5 in the morning till almost 10 at night 6 days a week and he is no kid

I could see that writing on the wall when I graduated from UCSD at age 19 in 1976. I decided against medical school. I have no regrets at all. I see many MDs leaving the profession and finding alternative ways to make a living. One of my colleagues in 2003 was an ER/OB/GYN doc who ceased practicing and opted to do Oracle database contracting and teach Oracle database admin at a community college. His standard of living was lowered to living in an apartment. The medical school debt continued to consume a substantial portion of his income. It was an adjustment.

51 posted on 03/18/2009 9:51:51 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: sourcery
None dare call it Marxism: "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need." The ability to "afford" something cannot be a valid basis for determining whether an action is moral or rightful. If it were, most burglars and robbers should be released without charge. For the government to claim the right to steal on that basis, but to continue to prosecute burglars and robbers, is the vilest, most unconscionable hypocrisy imaginable!

This is the most thoughtful position I've seen anyone take in the last two years in response to Obama's tax plan. Thnaks "S".

52 posted on 03/18/2009 9:52:23 PM PDT by Go Gordon
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To: Lorianne
My fear is that Obama's targeting the rich will do to the entire country what California's "Millionaire Tax" did to that state.

That tax was sold as only affecting those who made over a million/year, and it resulted in thousands of its wealthy packing up and leaving the state. Since they no longer live in California, they not only pay no Millionaire Tax, they pay no California tax at all, and the state lost some of its best people to boot. Now a once proud state that was an economic powerhouse on its own is becoming an economic basket case.

If we are to become prosperous, we need to attract wealth and capital, not tax them away.

53 posted on 03/18/2009 9:56:15 PM PDT by raisetheroof ("To become Red is to become dead --- gradually." Alexander Solzhenitsyn)
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To: dalereed
I hope everyone that gets hit with the added tax fires 10 employees for every $1000 in additional taxes!

I've been keeping a running tally of the proposed impact on my taxes. If it all happens as proposed, I'll be paying another $20,000 in federal taxes. Unfortunately, I have no employees to fire. It just comes out of my disposable income. It will have an impact on the local community. That's $20,000 that won't get spent in the local economy for any reason.

54 posted on 03/18/2009 9:56:53 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: raisetheroof
I'm a native Californian. I have no intention of ever returning. I visit under protest and do so only because I still have some family members who haven't escaped.
55 posted on 03/18/2009 10:00:38 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: madinmadtown
Yeah, how difficult it was to pay for ballet lessons, etc., on her salary. These people are complete phonies. I wish the rest of the country would awaken to that fact.
56 posted on 03/18/2009 10:15:05 PM PDT by originalbuckeye
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To: Lorianne
The president added he will pay higher taxes himself as a result

If I were guaranteed a pension of $191,300.00 per year (adjusted for inflation) until I am 80, I wouldn't give a r@t's ass about higher taxes either.

A President's pension currently is $191,300.00 per year, until he is 80 years old.

Obama doesn't have to save a single dollar for his retirement. The rest of us do.

57 posted on 03/18/2009 10:17:44 PM PDT by Polybius
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To: Lorianne

Yes, I believe the “rich” can afford to pay higher taxes THIS year. And, instead of investing in the economy, their dollars will go to the feds.

Next year is a different story. Obama is slowly choking the golden goose, who will lay fewer eggs next year. Since the “rich” have been paying taxes instead of investing in growing the economy, the pie will start to shrink. We will all suffer.

As the philosopher said, “I never got a job from a poor man.” Basic understanding of economics is missing from the majority of the voters.


58 posted on 03/18/2009 10:21:45 PM PDT by Cracker Jack (If it weren't for the democrats, republicans would be the worst thing in Washington.)
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59 posted on 03/18/2009 10:25:24 PM PDT by lainie (The US congress is full to the brim of absolutely disgusting thieves who deserve humiliating ouster.)
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To: Lorianne

massive barf alert


60 posted on 03/18/2009 10:25:55 PM PDT by GOP Poet
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