The Hypocrisy of the Left

[Wiseacre]

How come there's no hue and cry from the MSM or from the lefties about the rich democrats? Kennedy was richer than God, would they say he was a bad president? They have no trouble bitching about Romney's wealth, as though that has anything to do with being a good president.


snippet:

Mr. Romney is being criticized in the mainstream media for having paid just about 14 percent of his income in federal income taxes and having some of his money in places like Switzerland and Cayman (even though he appears to have paid all of the taxes on interest and dividends that were due to the United States). Yet, eight years ago, when the far richer Mr. Kerry and his wife paid a slightly lower tax rate and also had their money dispersed globally, as sensible rich people do, they were lauded by many of the same folks who are now in a tizzy about Mr. Romney's finances. Note: Mr. Kerry's wife inherited her money, while Mr. Romney earned his by building real businesses.

Rich people usually employ others to manage their money. Presidents and presidential candidates put their money in blind trusts, as have Mr. Romney and Mr. Obama. When people hire money managers, they expect them to make the highest after-tax returns commensurate with the level of safety those people desire, and the managers have a fiduciary responsibility to do so. Diversification, by type of investment (stock, bonds and real estate) and by geography, is considered prudent financial management.


Democrats' Hypocrisy with the Rich | Richard W. Rahn | Cato Institute: Commentary

 

[Steelplate]

hey...there's hypocrisy on the right too....Freedom!!!! unless your gay, want to end a pregnancy, like porn, beloved in social programs, think that people who work full time should have family sustaining wages.....if you fall into any of those categories? Then you are not free to speak your mind.

 

[Leweman]

hey...there's hypocrisy on the right too....Freedom!!!! unless your gay, want to end a pregnancy, like porn, beloved in social programs, think that people who work full time should have family sustaining wages.....if you fall into any of those categories? Then you are not free to speak your mind.

Really? they aren't free to speak their mind?

 

[Wiseacre]

hey...there's hypocrisy on the right too....Freedom!!!! unless your gay, want to end a pregnancy, like porn, beloved in social programs, think that people who work full time should have family sustaining wages.....if you fall into any of those categories? Then you are not free to speak your mind.

Maybe you should start a thread about it. Not everyone on the right is against gay rights or is pro life. And very few are for porn, that's more of a issue with the left. And not many righties are for a living wage law either, no hypocrisy there.

 

[Mr. Peepers]

How come there's no hue and cry from the MSM or from the lefties about the rich democrats? Kennedy was richer than God, would they say he was a bad president? They have no trouble bitching about Romney's wealth, as though that has anything to do with being a good president.

Who said anyone was differentiating between Reps from Dems? If a dem is only paying 13% while making billions, yet I am paying 25% (and getting no richie loopholes & tax shelters) while making under 100K, it's still wrong.

 

[candycorn]

How come there's no hue and cry from the MSM or from the lefties about the rich democrats? Kennedy was richer than God, would they say he was a bad president? They have no trouble bitching about Romney's wealth, as though that has anything to do with being a good president.

Who said anyone was differentiating between Reps from Dems? If a dem is only paying 13% while making billions, yet I am paying 25% (and getting no richie loopholes & tax shelters) while making under 100K, it's still wrong.

Apparently the left is supposed to talk about the 1960 or the 2004 election.

There is legal and then there is presidential. Protecting your assets with overseas accounts while trying to portray yourself as a man of the people is ringing hollow.

 

[AmyNation]

I was in high school at the time .... But I remember a lot of hoopla about Kerry and how rich he was.

 

[Wiseacre]

How come there's no hue and cry from the MSM or from the lefties about the rich democrats? Kennedy was richer than God, would they say he was a bad president? They have no trouble bitching about Romney's wealth, as though that has anything to do with being a good president.

Who said anyone was differentiating between Reps from Dems? If a dem is only paying 13% while making billions, yet I am paying 25% (and getting no richie loopholes & tax shelters) while making under 100K, it's still wrong.

Apparently the left is supposed to talk about the 1960 or the 2004 election.

There is legal and then there is presidential. Protecting your assets with overseas accounts while trying to portray yourself as a man of the people is ringing hollow.

Yeah, but it's different when it's a republican vs a democrat. I recall Obama back in 2008 trying to make a big deal out of how many homes McCain owned. And I also recall the GOP making a big deal out of Kerry's wealth too. Sucked then and it sucks now.

 

[peach174]

How come there's no hue and cry from the MSM or from the lefties about the rich democrats? Kennedy was richer than God, would they say he was a bad president? They have no trouble bitching about Romney's wealth, as though that has anything to do with being a good president.

Who said anyone was differentiating between Reps from Dems? If a dem is only paying 13% while making billions, yet I am paying 25% (and getting no richie loopholes & tax shelters) while making under 100K, it's still wrong.

There is a difference between income tax and capital gains tax.
When you make your money yearly, you pay the full income tax and when you invest that money in stocks you are paying capital gains tax.
If you invested in stocks you too would be paying 13 %.

 

[blastoff]

How come there's no hue and cry from the MSM or from the lefties about the rich democrats? Kennedy was richer than God, would they say he was a bad president? They have no trouble bitching about Romney's wealth, as though that has anything to do with being a good president.

Who said anyone was differentiating between Reps from Dems? If a dem is only paying 13% while making billions, yet I am paying 25% (and getting no richie loopholes & tax shelters) while making under 100K, it's still wrong.

So start banging the drum for your Representative and Senator to get bills going to change the tax code. Until then, nothing wrong with anyone obeying it and paying what it requires them to.

 

[Some Guy]

Yeah, but it's different when it's a republican vs a democrat. I recall Obama back in 2008 trying to make a big deal out of how many homes McCain owned. And I also recall the GOP making a big deal out of Kerry's wealth too. Sucked then and it sucks now.

It's just class warfare. There's many more middle and lower class people, thus more votes to drown out the upper classes' votes. Successfully portray the rich as demonic, heartless, soulless, anti-human, un-american rapist and murderers then simply attach them to your opponent. That appears to the democratic platform for this election season.

 

[AmyNation]

When you are in an economic depression, and the gulf between the rich and the poor is as wide, and ever growing, as it is now, it's natural to see what would be deemed as class warfare. When the average American is losing their home and having to move back in with mom and dad, and they turn the tv on and see how well the wealthy and large corporations are doing, they tend to get pissed off.

 

[kiwiman127]

At least Kennedy fought for his country even though he came from Big Money. He showed patriotism.
Where as Romney avoids taxes that support his country and hasn't served and neither has any of his boys, he too came from Big Money. He showed what was more important to him, money or country, pick one.
Comparing JFK and Romney is like comparing apples and oranges.
Plus JFK was a babe magnet, Romney, not so much.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

Funny cuz we were just talking about how the Kennedy's grew up being taught they had to give something back. I was reminded that all the way down to JFK Jr, who made heating oil available much cheaper for those who could not afford to pay more. Ted Kennedy fought tirelessly for the middle and poor classes but rw's refuse to acknowledge that THEY too have benefited from his efforts. Many/most of the Kennedy's have done something FOR their country. Doesn't mean they were perfect. Far from it.

OTOH, RobMe has used his wealth to hurt others, kick people's jobs out from under them. He has gotten even wealthier by ruining and killing American companies so he could invest his money in other countries. I don't believe that is forgivable - especially for the president. In fact, I believe that even if he were to change his vile lack of character, which he won't, his sordid past of purposely harming so many thousands of Americans disqualifies him. He is now refusing to talk about the horrible things he did in the past but that won't make them go away.

Paul Ryan, also born to money, but now has a record of harming those who cannot fight back. Ryan is lying slime. He too is refusing to talk about either his past or his future plans but one look at his voting record should disqualify him as well. He is gleefully lying about the president while also lying about voting to increase the deficit 65 times.

About the asinine quote in the op - 14% is nothing to brag about but Ryan's tax plan will have Mitt playing less than 1% in taxes. And, if Romney built any "real businesses", its news to me. Its true that Romney "earned" his money but don't try to get anybody to believe he "built" anything at all except a longer line at the unemployment office.

Being born wealthy is like being born beautiful. You didn't do anything to earn it. That's okay though. But we all have a choice to use our assets or our talents or our position to help make our a world a better place because you were born. That's something we just don't see (very often) from the right.

Interestingly, there was just a bit about Dan Quayle, showed him giving a speech. The GObP was no more in touch with real Americans in 1988 than they are now. For them, its all about making more money off the backs of the little guy.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

At least Kennedy fought for his country even though he came from Big Money. He showed patriotism.
Where as Romney avoids taxes that support his country and hasn't served and neither has any of his boys, he too came from Big Money. He showed what was more important to him, money or country, pick one.
Comparing JFK and Romney is like comparing apples and oranges.
Plus JFK was a babe magnet, Romney, not so much.

Its not even that Romney didn't serve.

Its that he was the worst kind of draft dodger. Like Ryan, he has no problem with killing American soldiers but Romeny hid out from the war, living like royalty in Paris.

While we're on that, Ryan has said he knows all about foreign policy because he signed many times to send kids to get killed.

 

[Mr. Peepers]

If you invested in stocks you too would be paying 13 %

Income is income, and should be taxed the same. Period.

 

[California Girl]

Funny cuz we were just talking about how the Kennedy's grew up being taught they had to give something back. I was reminded that all the way down to JFK Jr, who made heating oil available much cheaper for those who could not afford to pay more. Ted Kennedy fought tirelessly for the middle and poor classes but rw's refuse to acknowledge that THEY too have benefited from his efforts. Many/most of the Kennedy's have done something FOR their country. Doesn't mean they were perfect. Far from it.

OTOH, RobMe has used his wealth to hurt others, kick people's jobs out from under them. He has gotten even wealthier by ruining and killing American companies so he could invest his money in other countries. I don't believe that is forgivable - especially for the president. In fact, I believe that even if he were to change his vile lack of character, which he won't, his sordid past of purposely harming so many thousands of Americans disqualifies him. He is now refusing to talk about the horrible things he did in the past but that won't make them go away.

Paul Ryan, also born to money, but now has a record of harming those who cannot fight back. Ryan is lying slime. He too is refusing to talk about either his past or his future plans but one look at his voting record should disqualify him as well. He is gleefully lying about the president while also lying about voting to increase the deficit 65 times.

About the asinine quote in the op - 14% is nothing to brag about but Ryan's tax plan will have Mitt playing less than 1% in taxes. And, if Romney built any "real businesses", its news to me. Its true that Romney "earned" his money but don't try to get anybody to believe he "built" anything at all except a longer line at the unemployment office.

Being born wealthy is like being born beautiful. You didn't do anything to earn it. That's okay though. But we all have a choice to use our assets or our talents or our position to help make our a world a better place because you were born. That's something we just don't see (very often) from the right.

Interestingly, there was just a bit about Dan Quayle, showed him giving a speech. The GObP was no more in touch with real Americans in 1988 than they are now. For them, its all about making more money off the backs of the little guy.

So you knew the Kennedy's personally or did you discover this information from the media? And Romney? You know him personally or are you being 'informed' by the media?

I find it fascinating how people can accept the view that best suits their political opinions and just run with it like it's fact. You should listen to Ann Romney's speech about their early marriage... and you should find out about how Romney was raised. Mormons give back - they tithe - that's part of their duty... Catholics (Kennedys) and Mormons (Romneys) have that in common. We don't tithe but we are expected to give.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

When you are in an economic depression, and the gulf between the rich and the poor is as wide, and ever growing, as it is now, it's natural to see what would be deemed as class warfare. When the average American is losing their home and having to move back in with mom and dad, and they turn the tv on and see how well the wealthy and large corporations are doing, they tend to get pissed off.

Its the fact that the wealthy are openly stealing from the middle class and the poor. AND, that they want to steal more.

We watched it for all of the Reagan and BushBush errors, we watched them put us so deep in debt, we're never gonna see the light of day again. Can't blame people if they're just aren't all that happy at the prospect of giving them more.

 

[midcan5]

"When people hire money managers, they expect them to make the highest after-tax returns commensurate with the level of safety those people desire, and the managers have a fiduciary responsibility to do so. Diversification, by type of investment (stock, bonds and real estate) and by geography, is considered prudent financial management."

I loved that line, it exemplifies for everyone - except the apologists for greed - why America today is becoming a banana republic, and 2008 almost brought back another great depression.

"[W]hat is required is that Americans take a stand on behalf of their selfish material interests and against those of the monopolies and transnational corporations that have captured our institutions of government. The paradoxical character of our popular corruption is that the people have become slothfully selfless, too absorbed by their ephemeral entertainments and petty cultural disputes to assert their self-interest against the plunderers who rule them. ¶ Surely, however, the American people have not become so servile that they will forever submit to the rule of 1 percent. Surely we are capable of recognizing that the perverse corporate regime that has arisen in our country is a usurpation of popular government. Our Constitution unquestionably recognizes the right of a people to alter its mode of government: we have done so twenty-seven times. We may do so again. We may throw off these bonds and provide new guards for our future security." Roger D. Hodge

 

[Luddly Neddite]

If you invested in stocks you too would be paying 13 %

Income is income, and should be taxed the same. Period.

It is. But, Mittens uses the foreign tax credit every year to offset his taxes in the United States. Its a legal, though very shabby loophole that is not available to the average American.

And, wealth is taxed at an incredibly lower rate than income.

I really don't have much objection to him using legal loopholes even though I do believe the loopholes should be changed. I believe our tax system should be changed to be fair to all Americans.

What I object to is that he is a vulture capitalist who has gotten rich by destroying American businesses and American citizens. He's corrupt and a liar who wants us to believe he "saved" the Olympics when all he did was get a huge TAX bailout.

Ryan's is just as bad and just as lacking in ethics and morals. If they're elected, AND the Rs take the senate as well, we're all screwed.