Does Romney's Tax Plan Accept the Premise of the Left's Class Warfare? (Rush has MR news)

"Now on Sunday night Romney was here in Palm Beach for a big fundraiser. Word has leaked out about some of the things that he said to the donors.

These are things that he's not said publicly in terms of specifics on policy, and one of the things that he talked about was a tax plan.

And I have to tell you, folks, I'm not comfortable with the Republican nominee talking about special plans for "the rich," special plans for "Hispanics."

That was part of it, too. He was saying we're gonna have to do some special outreach for Hispanics, special outreach for women. No, we don't. Not as conservatives. We don't have to have special policies for this group and that group or special whatever.

One of the tax ideas was to eliminate... Now, get this: Eliminate the mortgage deductibility on second homes. Now, that's populism. We're talking an amount of money that's no different than the Buffett Rule. It's a shame.

His capital gains idea is also a little curious, because it, too, is targeting "the rich," anybody making over $200,000 jointly and introduces progressivity into the tax which seems fair or what have you.

These are not the things that a Republican, much less a conservative nominee, needs to be talking about or saying. This is Rockefeller Republicanism. This is identity politics. It's the kind of stuff that the left talks about."

Are there Mitt Romney “supporters” here on FR? Has any FReeper Voted for Romney, EVER? If so, who?

How is Number Five a myth? Is there a Third Party Candidate that can defeat Obama? Wouldn't a “non vote” mean that Obama will end up with another Vote rather than canceling one out?

Again, since Mitt is still running in the Republican Primaries against Gingrich and Paul, who here is a Mitt Supporter? I haven't seen any.

Not being contrary, just asking some questions. Let the attack begin...

1. People who push these lines in conversation are Mitt supporters. Anyone willing to vote for Mitt for the sake of "ABO!!! Hur hur!!" Is a Mitt supporter.

2. A nonvote is simply not a vote. It does not "equal" another vote for Obama. Only voting FOR Obama does that.

“That’s my response to the RNC, Coulter, Rush and all the elistists trying to force Romney on me.”
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I listen to Rush daily...don't remember him trying to “force” Romney as our nominee? Can you tell me when Rush (aka: “the elitist”) pushed Romney on the electorate?

Okey dokey.

Don't agree with the logic, but that is why we share our opinions here. Whatever happens, this will be an Election cycle for the ages.

Thanks for the quick reply.

No Romney!!

We are the resistance!!

Why should we believe anything Mitt Romney has to say?

He has raised lying to the level of an Art form.

Even on taxes, his record displays a left-wing, Progressive Liberal ideology.

BEFORE HE WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR, ROMNEY PLEDGED NOT TO RAISE TAXES

Romney Pledged Not to Raise Taxes Before He Was Elected Governor of Massachusetts. “GOP standard-bearer Mitt Romney eagerly joined the no-new-tax brigade yesterday, vowing not to stop the voter approved income tax rollback or hike other levies - all while boosting services and dodging layoffs. ‘All voters . . . care about great education, improving our environment, bringing more jobs to Massachusetts and balancing the budget without raising taxes . . . That being the case, I think I have a very strong proposition to take to the voters of Massachusetts." (David R. Guarino, “Romney vows to balance budget without new tax,” The Boston Herald, 3/22/02)

“Romney chided Democrats for taking the ‘easy way’ to fix problems by passing the tax hat. ‘The easy way to fix any problem is to go to the people and say you have to pay more money, but that's not what the job of management is,’ Romney said. ‘That's my pledge, we are not going to raise taxes.’” (David R. Guarino, “Romney vows to balance budget without new tax,” The Boston Herald, 3/22/02)

After Elected Governor and Before His Swearing In, Romney Reiterated His Campaign Pledge Not to Raise Taxes, And Called Raising Taxes A “Draconian” Solution And That It Would Make The State A “Basket Case”. “Romney …firmly stood by his campaign pledge not to raise taxes, calling that a ‘Draconian’ solution that would make the state a ‘basket case.”’ (Joe Battenfeld, “Romney: Cuts Are Not Enough; Gov.-Elect Eyes Consolidation, Elimination Of Programs,” The Boston Herald, 12/6/02) 2

After Being Elected Governor and Before His Swearing In, Romney Said He Anticipated Being Able to Do “What We Were Sent To Do, Which is to Balance our Budget Without Having To Raise Taxes”. “’I anticipate we'll be able to work together to do what we were sent to do, which is to balance our budget without having to raise taxes.’” (David R. Guarino, “Dem Leaders Doubtful On Romney's Tax Cut,” The Boston Herald, 11/8/02)

After Being Elected Governor and Before His Swearing In, Romney Said the Voters “Spoke Loud and Clear, They Don’t Want To See Us Raising Their Taxes”. “Romney said he wasn't daunted at all when the stark budget numbers were laid out before him and vowed to stick with his campaign promises. …‘I think the voters spoke loud and clear, they don't want to see us raising their taxes.”’ (David R. Guarino, “Dem Leaders Doubtful On Romney's Tax Cut,” The Boston Herald, 11/8/02)

AFTER HE WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR, ROMNEY RAISED TAXES MITT THE MASSACHUSETTS MODERATE’S TAX AND FEE RECORD IN-DEPTH

When Mitt The Massachusetts Moderate Was Governor, Taxpayers Paid Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars More In Taxes And Fees

According To Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Romney’s Fee Hikes And “Tax Loophole Closings” Were Between “$740 And $750 Million A Year.” “As we've noted before when the subject of Romney's fee vs. tax increases has come up, the Massachusetts Department of Administration and Finance says that fee increases during Romney's tenure added up to $260 million per year, with another $174 million raised from closing some corporate tax "loopholes." The independent Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation puts the revenue total of fee hikes and tax loophole-closings at between $740 and $750 million a year.” (“Simi Valley Showdown,” FactCheck.org, 1/31/08)3

During The 2008 Election, John McCain Blasted Romney For “Raising Taxes By 730 Million.” “As I understand it, [Romney's] record was that he raised taxes by $730 million. He called them fees; I'm sure the people that had to pay it – whether they called them bananas, they still had to pay $730 million extra.” (“Simi Valley Showdown,” FactCheck.org, 1/31/08)

“[T]he Tax Burden Is Heavier For Many Across The Commonwealth. This Is How The Massachusetts That Mitt Romney Left Behind Yesterday Compares With The Massachusetts That He Inherited Four Years Ago.” (Scott Helman, “Romney Exits With Pomp, Ambition,” The Boston Globe, 1/4/07)

During Romney’s Governorship, He Raised Fees By Over $400 Million And Closed “So-Called Corporate Loopholes” By Over $300 Million.
“On the presidential campaign trail, Romney brags about a $3 billion budget shortfall he said he closed as governor, without any tax increases. He doesn’t mention the more than $400 million in fees he raised instead. He also raised more than $300 million by closing so-called corporate loopholes, a revenue-raising measure the business community calls a tax increase.” (Joan Vennochi, Op-Ed, “Mitt’s No-Tax Mirage,” The Boston Globe, 10/11/07)

Romney Claims He Only Closed Tax Loopholes, But Grover Norquist Of Americans For Tax Reform Views Them As Tax Hikes. “Mr. Norquist acknowledged that he had been deeply disappointed by Mr. Romney’s corporate tax overhaul. Unlike the governor, Mr. Norquist regards the changes as tax hikes. ‘They changed the laws and the rules to significantly raise taxes,’ he said. ‘That is a tax increase.”’ (“Seeking Taxes, Romney Went After Business,” The New York Times, 10/1/11)

In 2003, Massachusetts Led The Nation In Fee Hikes. “This time it's fees, not taxes. Still, Massachusetts may have enhanced its reputation as "Taxachusetts.’ A survey of states grappling with spending crises has found that Massachusetts imposed more fee hikes than any other state in the nation this year - at least $500 million. The study by the National Conference of State Legislatures found that Massachusetts was one of 30 states that enacted fee increases this year. The organization found that 17 states enacted significant tax increases, unlike last year, when many states were hesitant to turn to taxes because it was an election year in most places. Of the 30 states to raise fees this year, only nine are bringing in $100 million or more from those fee hikes. Massachusetts reported $501.5 million in fee hikes; the second-biggest fee increaser was New York, with $367 million, though New York has a much larger budget.” (Rick Klein, “Mass. Is Called No. 1 In Fee Hikes,”The Boston Globe, 7/24/03)

Romney Raised Fees On Marriage Licenses. “Governor Mitt Romney and the Legislature, faced with a multibillion dollar shortfall, made it more expensive to get a marriage license or a divorce, file a court case, buy a house, renew a driver's license, or tap into a host of other state services.”
(Rick Klein, “Mass. Is Called No. 1 In Fee Hikes,” The Boston Globe, 7/24/03)

The Boston Globe Headline: “Mass. Is Called No. 1 In Fee Hikes”
(Rick Klein, “Mass. Is Called No. 1 In Fee Hikes,” The Boston Globe, 7/24/03)

"Fees have been the name of the game in the past year," said Corina Eckl, the NCSL's fiscal program director. "In Massachusetts, the sheer number of fees stood out."
Almost Immediately Upon Becoming Governor, Romney Increased Fees By $260 Million And Closed “Tax Loopholes” To Fill Government Coffers With Another $255 Million. “[I]n his first year in office, the state increased hundreds of fees, making it more expensive to get a driver’s license, marry, or buy a house. Those changes, which he defends as limited in scope and long overdue, brought in an additional $260 million. The new governor also collected an additional $255 million from businesses by closing what he called tax loopholes.”
(Scott S. Greenberger, “Romney Often Casts Himself As Budget Hero,” The Boston Globe, 10/24/05)

Massachusetts’ Revenue Commissioner Admitted Romney Told Him To Scour The Tax Code For Provisions To Close In Order To Bring In More Money. "Revenue Commissioner Alan LeBovidge said yesterday that Romney has asked him to scour the tax code in search of provisions that can be tightened to bring in more money, but he argued that it isn’t accurate to refer to the proposed changes as tax increases.” (Scott S. Greenberger, “Governor’s Fiscal Plan Targets Tax ‘Loopholes,’” The Boston Globe, 3/4/04)

In His First Two Years As Governor, Romney Collected Almost $350 Million More In Corporate Taxes, And He Then Proposed Another $170 Million. “[Romney] collected an additional $345 million from businesses during his first two years in office by closing what he called loopholes in the corporate tax code. This year, the governor initially proposed changes worth an additional $170 million, but he halved that figure in March in response to an uproar from businesses and their lobbying groups.”
(Scott S. Greenberger, “Romney Often Casts Himself As Budget Hero,” The Boston Globe, 10/24/05)

Flashback 2004: “The Bill The Joint Committee On Taxation Considered Yesterday – ‘An Act To Clarify Certain Tax Provisions And Improve Various Activities Of The Department Of Revenue’ - Includes More Than Two-Dozen Measures Designed To Bring In More Money.”
(Scott S. Greenberger, “Governor’s Fiscal Plan Targets Tax ‘Loopholes,’” The Boston Globe, 3/4/04)

“[T]ax Specialists And Other Observers Have Argued That Romney Effectively Raised Taxes By Boosting The Fees And Eking More Money Out Of Corporations.”
(Scott Helman, “Romney Exits With Pomp, Ambition,” The Boston Globe, 1/4/07) 5

Utilizing The Language Of The Progressive Left, Revenue Commissioner Alan LeBovidge Said He Wanted Companies To Pay “Their Fair Share” And Establish “Equity.” “LeBovidge defended the changes as a way to crack down on companies that ‘push the envelope.’ … ‘I view it as people paying their fair share,’ LeBovidge said. ‘It’s all about equity.’” (Scott S. Greenberger, “Governor’s Fiscal Plan Targets Tax ‘Loopholes,’” The Boston Globe, 3/4/04)

I am already so sick of hearing “romney” that I want to puke. The man is no conservative, and no rockefeller republican has ever been, but romney is a crony socialist.

Vote Newt until it the fat lady sings.

Then vote other than Romney

Perception, like the color of the Ocean or the color of the Sky.

I never heard Rush push Romney either, but if you only read about it here, you would swear Rush told Romney to put his Dog on the roof of the Station Wagon back in 1983.

When did Rush back Romney? He has never backed Romney, or any of the other candidates. In fact, he didn’t even let us know who he voted for in the Florida primary. He has remained steadfastly neutral while he tells us what’s going on.

LOL...yep! Dianne Sawyer is an abject twit!

Actually, I think most of the frustration folks have with Rush is that he doesn't endorse our desired candidates. I think this translates into “Rush is supporting Romney...or Cain...or Bachmann” etc.

I listen to both Rush and Hannity regularly, and they have gone out of their way to be neutral. Both have refused to endorse anyone. I don’t know where you get the idea that they’re pimping socialist pos’s, because they are NOT!!

“I wish Rush would expose Romney for the socialist turd that he is. There is still time for Newt.”
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I would absolutely love to watch Newt fillet the Jug-Eared Marxist in a debate. I think Newt would toy with him like a cat does a trapped mouse. The Kenyan would wet himself against Newt's superior intellect and NO TelePrompTer.

Jim, do we stand a chance? during the 2010 interim elections the tea parties, grassroots voters rallied and came out enmasse. The establishment was shaken but they were armed with money and organization this go around and I mean mega millions from super pacs and constant support from Fox News and Drudge. It is one hell of a battle.
We know what is taking place in front of our eyes.. but do we know what the establishment is doing behind closed doors with their wheeling and dealing?
How unusual that Santorum, Newt and Perry couldnt even make the Virginia ballot and many other state primarys and caucus were moved up and messed up. I don’t recall this happening in previous presidential elections...and Yes, I know the fix was in as far as Fla went.
I am very disheartened. What will be the reaction after Romney declares he is the gop nominee this friday? we are screwed

One thing I am sitting here pondering is: If Tea Party people fall in line with the establishment Republican Party, then what is/was the point of the Tea Party in the first place?

Strange times indeed. I’m genuinely fed up. I just watched Kristi Noem on Greta’s show, and she seemed totally ok with a Romney nomination (no endorsement, but it was clear that she wouldn’t have a problem if he’s the nominee). I guess some of the Tea Party freshmen got cozy in their new digs in DC and forgot how they got there, and so did other “Tea Party” supporters who now seem no different than the same old, same old.

voting for Romney is the same as voting for Obama.

Voting for Romney is a guarantee to get Obama. That's the way it's been designed and the push to keep plans in place. Why else would the media be so soft on him, but hard on Newt. One would have to be basement dumb not to realize that.

Strange times indeed. I’m genuinely fed up.

KJ..you are certainly not alone in that. It's like the GOP AND the DEMO's are simply putting on a show for the voters rather than a true election......used the candidates up til Romeny, Newt and SAntorum left...but I still believe Santorum was elevated by the press/gop/romney in order to make certain Newt would stay down.

No doubt this will be my last involvement in any election. From here on in I take the spectators seat, since all it is is show and tell.

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