White House Throws Principle Out Window (Rush Limbaugh)

Rush Limbaugh ^ | June 10, 2003 | Rush Limbaugh

[TLBSHOW]

White House Throws Principle Out Window

June 10, 2003

We spent the first hour of Monday's program on the idea that we're going to extend the child tax credit to families that don't pay taxes. Many of you told me that I was making a huge mistake opposing this. If you think you're conservatives, you have a long way to go, because what some of you people were saying is not conservative at all. It's purely political.

However, I have to hand it to you people. You were right in one sense. The White House is leaning on reluctant Republican leaders in the House to act fast on making millions of low-income families (who don't pay taxes) eligible for the 400 dollar per child tax rebates already in the works for middle-income parents. Ari Fleischer said the president's advice to the House Republicans is to pass it, and to send it to him so he can sign it.

The bottom line is the White House wants this and they want it now. They want these people who don't pay taxes to be given the child care exemption of $600 up to $1,000. Principle is out the window, and political calculation is the coin of the realm. Once again illustrating that, but for this program, no one is talking about core conservative principles out there.

by Rush Limbaugh

[goldstategop]

Right. Using our money to neuter the Left in 2004 by buying them out. It didn't make it right when Democrats were stealing our money for political shenanigans and it doesn't make it right when President Bush is doing the same thing to ensure his re-election.

[johnb838]

Heres the problem: My Aunt, whom I adore, and who is far from ignorant or stupid, nevertheless looked at the fact that people in the 10K to 26K range wouldn't be getting a check for their children and those over that amount will, and said "the democrats are right -- it really is tax cuts for the rich. Because I pay taxes". Which she does -- sales tax, property tax, state income tax, payroll tax. She isn't going to study the issue and understand the nuanced difference between federal income tax and the rest. Besides she does have Federal income tax withheld and she has to file. It's not real clear unless you study it that you're not paying anything. She basically thinks the government is a bunch of crooks anyway -- pubbie or dcrap. And there are many more like her.

For the record she has a very nice 80 acre property and works part time at the senior citizens center for something to do.

[colorado tanker]

THIS IS PURE SOCIALISM folks -- nothing less.

Huh?????

I'm for cutting all kinds of taxes, income, estate, sales property, excise, whatever. And no, cutting taxes other than income taxes is not socialism. Wherever did you get an idea like that???

[supercat]

Another point to consider is that programs like this tend to encourage people to seek employment rather than sitting around collecting welfare for doing nothing. From there, many of these people will manage to work their way into better and better jobs to the point that they become net taxpayers.

That having been said, I think these programs are a bit overgenerous to people with large families.

[Abcdefg]

Does that 80 acres generate income for her?

[arete]

I think it's pure welfare. But at least it gets the money out of Washington. The liquor stores are gonna love this.

This has something to do with politics but the main purpose is that the economy is tanking. Washington is doing a "helicopter drop" of money into the system so that future economic activity will look good. This will not slow down government spending and debt expansion which will continue at a record setting pace. Central planning at its worst.

Richard W.

[george wythe]

For several years, we've been giving IRS checks to people who don't pay any income taxes under the rubric "Earned Income Credit."

Credit in IRS parlance usually means money paid to the IRS, much different from deductions.

A person who pays no money at all to the IRS still gets "credit" for being poor and received a refund equal to the Earned Income Credit for his income level.

[F16Fighter]

"And no, cutting taxes other than income taxes is not socialism. Wherever did you get an idea like that???"

When my taxes go UP so another's can go DOWN, or as you advocate -- be reduced to NIL -- that's "Socialism," or if you prefer, "Income Redistribution."

[colorado tanker]

When my taxes go UP so another's can go DOWN, or as you advocate -- be reduced to NIL -- that's "Socialism," or if you prefer, "Income Redistribution."

That sure isn't anything I've ever advocated. Eliminate the progressive income tax and have a flat tax - fine with me.

The only reason I raise the sales tax issue is to expose the hypocrisy of the left. Their position has nothing to do with tax fairness and everything to do with extending more welfare to their voters.

[meenie]

An attempt by our conservative(?)President to buy votes? Why does his credibility seem to be fading and his principles going to pot? Republicans can practice denial too, along with the Dumbocrats. He is beginning to resemble his opponents on principle. You do not defeat the Dumbocrats by adopting their programs. You have to give the people hope for a leader with principle. If not, the Crats have a huge majority.

[TLBSHOW]

BTW -- THIS IS PURE SOCIALISM folks -- nothing less.


19 posted on 06/10/2003 7:04 PM EDT by F16Fighter (Democrats


....

BUMP

[Rome2000]

These people pay Social Security and sales taxes, and the 3.5 billion dollar cost to include them is peanuts.

To say they don't pay taxes is ludicrous.

Denying them the $400 is mean spirited and stupid politics.

At least W is smart enough to not give the socialist bastard Democrats an issue to hit him over the head with.

Its easy for people who dont have to win a national election to run around talking about who is a "conservative".

W doesn't have that optio n

[Jesse]

"that these people are not conservatives, they are fakes. '

Mega-dittos!

Just how far left can Bush go before he incurs some criticism...any criticism...from elected conservatives? Seems like there are no limits whatsoever.

[NEWwoman]

Thanks for all the good information.

I heard a discussion (on talk radio) that Dem Senator Blanche Lincoln was one of the Senators that wanted a scale back on the Bush tax cut - which was accommodated by cutting the original proposed credit for families who paid no income taxes.

Then, after it passes Ms. Lincoln does a 180 and hollers to put it back in.

Talk about duplicity!

[Technogeeb]

Can anybody tell me what happens to this "tax credit" when we go to a flat tax or a sales tax, instead of the current tax system ...??

The bureaucrats have to still be involved (otherwise the system is violently and almost universally opposed), and most of the "flat tax / sales tax" systems still involve a "tax rebate" of some sort to insure that they will still be able to manipulate the system for income redistribution. Ironically, a lot of freepers couldn't see the problem with "rebates" that had nothing to do with the amount of tax actually paid (instead, providing a "rebate" based on the number of children, etc).

[dark_lord]

It is politics. The Senator who pushed this (Lincoln) pointed out that 60% of the families in her state earn less than $24K. This deal is aimed at that 60%. And before everyone gets all hard core on this, realize that in rural states (hint - Bush country) in general the wages are lower and groups like homeschoolers (hint - single income families) are in that constituency. Even Rush does not live in "fly over country". Wake up. Everyone who would benefit from this is not a welfare sucker...lots of rural single income families (ie Republicans) would benefit. As I said -- it is politics.

[gcruse]

what some of you people were saying is not
 conservative at all. It's purely political.

That's it, Rush.  People forget that being a Republican
is not necessarily subscribing to a set of beliefs, such
as free trade and small government.  Political parties
are not derived for principles.  They are bodies constructed
for the purpose of gaining office and wielding power.

Conservatism is an ideology, not a political party.  The
tenets of conservatism should be derivable from its core
beliefs.  

People who confuse ideology with politics create tiny
political tents that shut out what politics need, ie, voters.

Be thankful Republicans aren't just conservatives.

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm? I don't think that exactly answer my question ... in fact - it has no relation to my question. But ... thanks anyway!!

[dsutah]

I can't see what Rush is complaining about! Just the other day; I saw an article on here somewhere, that told about where some Democrats were crabbing that 'the poor' weren't going to get a child tax check. They had a story about a lady who did work at one time, but had to work at home later. She was talking about not getting a check, and she had 6 or 7 kids, an old van that didn't run right, she had to pay for a membership to keep one of her kids in the YMCA to keep him off the streets, etc...

And now Rush and others on here, are complaining that 'the poor' who don't pay taxes are going to get the child tax credit! So which is the true story here? If true, couldn't it be possible that Bush's administration was having to go along with this, in order to get enough people to pass his tax cut? He may have had to compromise?

[arete]

You have to give the people hope for a leader with principle.

You need to step back and look at the big picture. The only way that the embedded politicians are going to stay in office is to do whatever is necessary to keep the illusion of an economic recovery going until after the next election. If is means handing out money to people, then that is exactly what they are going to do. Expect more handouts and more government spending financed by an exploding national debt. There is no free lunch. We will all pay for this lunacy later but the same "leaders" will retain their power.

Richard W.