Posted on 08/19/2003 4:16:12 PM PDT by lainie
FNC's Hannity and Colmes 'interviewed' Vernie Kuglin and her attorney Larry Becraft last week. Most freepers know her story. I used the word interview in quotes because it actually was an ambush, IMO. Regardless whether you agree with Ms. Kuglin or think she's -- anything -- she deserved to be treated without the verbal abuse she experienced on "Hannity & Colmes."
No, I'm not talking about the liberal Alan Colmes: I'm talking about Sean Hannity. His behavior was deplorable. He was rude, demeaning, sarcastic, overly critical, and he played some kind of shame-into-submission game that I still don't even understand.
He did not let his guests explain their situation at all. A more vulgar instance of bias on the part of a professional journalist might only be found on the big three networks. (And maybe CNN.)
The following link is an archive of American Radio (8/16/2003), in which the host Dave Champion excoriates Sean (and Judge Napolitano) over their appearances on Fox News regarding the Vernie Kuglin case.
Available in RealPlayer and MP3 formats
Ms. Kuglin and another of her attorneys, Robert Bernhoft, will be interviewed tonight on Alan Colmes' radio show. Their interview may be heard live on the 'net at 10:15 eastern, at http://www.clicklive.com/radio/wlux/wlux240x180/wluxPlayer.htm.
.. But there's one thing you cannot say, and that is: he's always such a nice guy! Being "nice" is his trademark, and he consistently talks about looking for the goodness in people's hearts; as well as always trying to do the moral, correct, conservative, right thing.
Mr. Hannity, if you're out there, I have a question for you. Why have you not done your fair share in holding the government to its obligations -- one of which is, but is not limited to, ignoring Ms. Kuglin's questions for eight years? You're the professional mainstream journalist.
No idea! and I've sorta lost interest now...
A little summary for us unwashed might have been in order!
See below:
IRS Cases
Friday, August 15, 2003 Cons
piracy Planet Covers IRS v. Kuglin Story
IRS Loses Tax Case Against FedEx Pilot (continued) by SHIRLEY DOWNING
She began to read court documents, legal opinions and the federal tax code. She said she found what she felt were contradictions. She wanted to know where in the federal tax code it said she was liable for taxes. Kuglin wrote the Internal Revenue Service twice in 1995 with questions but said she didn't get a response. Murphy, in closing arguments on Thursday, said Kuglin did have an opportunity to discuss her situation with the IRS, to learn what she owed and what documents she was required to file "and she didn't."
Defense attorney Larry Becraft of Huntsville, Ala., said Kuglin decided mandatory payment of income taxes "did not apply to her." After the verdict Friday, Becraft said the federal tax code is a confusing conglomeration that "at best is a walking due process violation." He said the average American simply doesn't understand the tax code. Juror Barbara Snodgras of Memphis said the jury did not convict because "we all felt that the prosecution didn't prove its case."
When asked if she planned to start paying federal income taxes again, Kuglin replied: "I will pay all the taxes for which I am liable." (The above news story from the August 9th, 2003 edition of the Memphis daily newspaper, The Commercial Appeal)
Additional information:
On Friday, a Memphis federal jury acquitted FedEx pilot Vernice Kuglin of six counts of felony Tax Evasion and Willful Failure to File tax returns. Ms. Kuglin's attorneys, Tax Honesty Movement barristers Larry Becraft and Robert G. Bernhoft, told reporters that Kuglin was indicted seven months ago and had refused to plead the case out for a lesser sentence. During her testimony Kuglin testified that since 1995, she had sent numerous letters to the IRS requesting that they inform her of what law required her to pay the Individual Income Tax. To this day, she has not received an answer.
At 1:30 Friday afternoon, the jury returned not guilty verdicts on all counts. After the jury had been excused the U.S. Attorney reportedly demanded that the Judge order the defendant to file her forms, pay her taxes and obey the law. The Judge reportedly replied "Sir, I don't work for the IRS posted by IRS Cases at 8:14 PM
Comments On Shaun Hannity's Interview - er Hatchet Job
----- Original Message ----- From: Jeffery J. Cole To: Hannity@foxnews.com Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2003 12:23 PM Subject: Hear Ye! Here Ye!
Dear Shawn,
I watched with intrigue the coverage of the lady from Tennessee who was acquitted of six counts of tax evasion. Having followed the maze of statute and regulation myself, a maze that even you said was confusing, I have determined that I am not liable as well. However, I pay my taxes only because the company I work for will not stop withholding at my request even though their is no law that requires them to do so.
I have watched you for several years now champion the conservative cause. Being a Reagan conservative, it did my soul well to finally see somebody speaking for me and my political principles. However, I was totally stunned by the way you attacked this lady and frankly, your argument made you look like you had all kinds of strings attached to you. With that said, there are several points I would like for you to consider in my critique of the way you handle that coverage. 1.
mentioned to this lady that everyone else pays their taxes, so why shouldn't she? My question to you is why should she if the law does not require her to? If everyone jumped off the cliff voluntarily, do you think that she should jump too, even though the law does not require her to?
When she answered you to that effect, you retorted, "Then how do we pay for our roads, etc...?" This question really showed your ignorance. Roads are paid for by the gasoline tax, not the income tax.
Your attack, by implication, demeaned the ruling from the jury, if not the jurors themselves. The evidence from the prosecution never sufficiently showed the court that she was indeed liable. For crying out loud, the question is a simple one. If she is liable, show her. If the IRS cannot, then evidently there is no law. And if there is no law, then she is free to pay, or not. Twelve jurors weighed the evidence, or the lack thereof and determined that she was not guilty of evading something she did not owe. Another question to you would be, "If she is not liable, then what is it exactly that exempts her from paying an income tax? And assuming there is no law, then why are most Americans paying the tax? And if you really want to make it personal, you should ask yourself, "Am I liable to pay an income tax?" If I made the millions you make, I would definitely want some answers tot the latter.
With all your touting of obeying the law, low taxes, and small government, your defense of those conservative principles was thrown out the door in your attack on this lady. If the income tax were totally abolished, imagine how small government would have to become? All those services made by unwarranted bureacracies would have to move to the private sector. Gee, that would be too bad, eh? Does this violate our conservative principles? The income tax, as fraudulently as it has been imposed upon the American people, IS the reason why government has gotten so big. If the people were not being fooled into paying this tax-which has, in essence, created indentured slaves of the people-they would stop paying and this would force the government to move back within it's limits as prescribed by the Constitution. Or have you forgotten about that all important document in light of making ratings? And more importantly, it does not take a PhD in economics to determine that if people had more of their money, what that would do for the economy.
se are points a true conservative would have brought up in their interview of this brave woman. Your attempt to tear down her honor will bring reproach upon your own Shawn. This lady is a forbear which stands against a fraud that has been perpetrated for too long. It is certainly not about the money. To her, it is about somebody taking a stand to withstand the initial fiery darts like you threw at her so that eventually, the less timid will be encouraged to finally take a stand with her. For then, "it cost nothing to be a patriot." You could have stood with her Shawn.
ever, you really screwed up on this one. You exposed your hypocrisy and your true colors all at the same time. Even Clinton was not as able. May I suggest that you detach your strings to the network and the Republican Party, stop being a victim of puppetry, and seek privately the truth in this matter. You will be surprised to learn that even you are not liable. But, if you do not, then I will have no other choice to conclude that you are nothing more than part of the problem in this country and that you have sold your soul AND your conscience to that which "shows [you] the money." And to think you made it look like that it was all about the money when the truth is, it is YOU who is all about the money. In the psych world, they call that transference of guilt. It appeared obvious to me. And I suppose it will to hundreds of others.
will hear, big time, from the true patriots of this country. Those are the ones who gave their lives to stop Britain from taxing the daylights out of our labor. While you sit comfortable in your wealth, remember there are true conservatives who sweat at the brow just to make ends meet. And while the rich do pay most of the taxes, you would be wrong to defend it if you understood the proportional value placed in the measure of money taken from the middle class and what they have left to survive in contrast to what you have left. As the Lord said, "Where much is given, much is required."
Bless Sir. And while I believe that your eyes are open to the truth, my prayer is that God blesses you to have the courage to stand up to it. The way you treated this lady, it certainly makes one wonder.
fery J. Cole Publisher Xtra Xtra - Your Independent Review posted by IRS Cases at 8:02 PM
in Schiff Irwin Schiff has a status report regarding his case. Well today Larry, Cindy, and I had to appear at a show cause hearing as to why we should not be held in contempt for allegedly violating the Court's Preliminary Injunction Order. Read article here. Doug Kenline reporting. posted by IRS Cases at 8:26 AM
EARTH ® NETWORK Covers Kuglin's Case Mark Elsis's LOVEARTH ® NETWORK has thousands of
erlinked websites and millions of visitors each day.
j: IRS vs. Kuglin -- The IRS Loses Federal Income Tax Case Date: 8/15/03 1:32:39 AM Central Daylight Time From: mark@lovearth.net To: mark@lovearth.net Sent from the Internet (Details)
EARTH ® NETWORK Connecting Through Hundreds Of Eco-Humane-Political-Spiritual Websites To Pass On An Equitable, Peaceful And Sustainable Earth To Future Generations Online Since Saturday, May 3, 1997: http://Lovearth.net / http://Network.Lovearth.net Please, Don't Acquiesce, Open Your Eyes, And Your Ears, And Your Hearts To The Truth IRS vs. Kuglin by Carl F. Worden
get the war in Iraq, Afghanistan and our excellent adventure in Liberia. Forget about Kobe, Arnold, Arriana, Scott and Laci. The biggest news of the entire week is that on August 8, 2003, the IRS was unable to convince a jury in Memphis, Tennessee that the Federal Tax Code requires the citizens to pay individual income taxes. I kid you not. I watched as many Sunday news programs as I could possibly stand, and I didn’t hear a single mention of the IRS’ debacle in Memphis. If you ever had doubts about the mainstream media being controlled by the federal government, doubt no more.
k here for the full article. xoxox
s is the original story: Memphis, Tenn Today in a Memphis Federal Court Vernice B. Kuglin (Vernie) was found not guilty of six counts of Tax evasion and Willful failure to file tax returns. Ms. Kuglin's Attorneys Larry Becraft and Robert G. Bernhoft told reporters that Ms Kuglin was indicted seven months ago and had refused to plead the case out for a lesser sentence. Trial started on Monday morning August 4 with jury selection and testimony began Tuesday morning. During her testimony Ms Kuglin testified that since 1995 she had sent numerous letters to the IRS requesting that they inform her of what law required her to pay the Individual Income Tax. To this day she has not received an answer to that very important question. On Friday afternoon at 1:30 the jury returned not guilty verdicts on all counts. After the jury had been excused the U.S. Attorney demanded that the Judge order the defendant to file her forms, pay her taxes and obey the law. The Judge replied "Sir, I don't work for the IRS." Lov
s The Answer Mark R. Elsis http://Lovearth.net http://MarkElsis.com posted by IRS Cases at 6:22 AM
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