Posted on 08/01/2010 2:16:38 PM PDT by Libloather
Kerry blames himself for flap over yacht tax
Saturday, July 31, 2010
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BOSTON — Sen. John Kerry said he always intended to pay taxes in Massachusetts on his $7 million yacht but conceded he mishandled the public furor over his decision to dock the vessel in Rhode Island.
“I don’t think I dealt with it fast enough, effectively enough. There’s nobody to blame but myself for that,” the Massachusetts Democrat told The Boston Globe for Friday’s editions.
Kerry added that he did nothing legally wrong.
Kerry moved to end the controversy this week by saying he would write Massachusetts a check for about $500,000, whether he owed the money or not. He told The Associated Press that he and his wife “have always complied with tax laws.” The payment represents $437,500 in one-time sales taxes, plus about $70,000 in annual excise taxes.
The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee had been dogged by charges of tax evasion since the Boston Herald first reported his decision to dock the 76-foot sloop Isabel in Newport, R.I.
Kerry told the Globe it was never his intention to permanently dock the yacht in Rhode Island. He said he had not yet taken final ownership of the boat because changes were still being made by the designer, but that he could take possession within the next few days.
He said there was never any thought to avoiding sales and excise taxes in his home state, but acknowledged that he failed to get that message across to the public.
“I said to people, on day one, we will pay all taxes, all taxes, there’s no issue here,” he told the newspaper.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegram.com ...
John Kerry always wears make-up. That’s why Howie Carr labeled him “Live Shot”.
LOL!!!
“No tax please, we’re Democrats.”
all boat owners strive to avoid such taxes.
Kerry just proved that low or no taxes are good for the ecconomy. More yatchs in state, more docks, more people to service boats, more restaurants, more industry to make boats, etc etc.
Q. How many bottles of ketchup to you have to sell to make $500,000?
Good catch...
It will be interesting to see what yarn he tells if someone asks him that very question. While it's probably true the ship was undergoing extensive sea trials, which would be the case in any semi-custom yacht, especially when she's the first model of a series.
And, it's also true that stenciling the name of the homeport is not done for vanity, but because the USCG regulations demand it. This ship is of the size that it's an inspected and documented vessel, and the homeport designation is part of the documentation process. Since the builder is located in Newport, that's where the ship would be originally documented.
BUT - there's always a BUT - the USCG does not require that builders operating vessels for reasonable sea trials and for reasonable periods of time, stencil the yacht's homeport on the transom. Why? Because well over 90% of the documented yachts that are built in America, are actually operated under a foreign flag. So, because a US builder would fly a US flag during trials, the Coast Guard doesn't want a "Georgetown" (which is a Cayman port) port stencil directly under a US flag. If "Newport" was stenciled on the yacht's transom, then that his PRECISELY what the owner wanted stenciled on the transom.
Bush's Fault
“Liveshot” suddenly discovers he doesn’t like cameras and publicity after all.....
What a bozo — of course he thought he could get away with not paying the $500K
Does he think we were all born yesterday???
In the case of Mass. liberals he knew his audience.....
So...
1) He is a hypocrite.
2) He is an idiot.
3) He thinks I am an idiot.
Well said, my FRiend!
Excellent!
OldDeckHand totally nails Ultra-Phoney Kerry!
Excellent!
OldDeckHand totally nails Ultra-Phoney Kerry!
The pics of the Friendship 75 undergoing trials in NZ have been removed from Fontaine’s website.
I guess someone was feeling the heat; they removed the entire news ‘article’ about the boat being finished.
Good work, NN, proof of the airbrushing.
Would he be backtracking so quickly if a few Dem seats weren’t vulnerable in Nov?
just saw your pics/captions today while searching for more ‘lying traitor’ info -
they are terrific and I miss your regular threads... altho I love the DU Funnies too...
just sayin’.....
ROFLMAO!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.