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twitterLetter to the editor:
Cigarette tax hike breaks Obama pledge
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 | 2:04 a.m.
George H.W. Bush, our 41st president, was vilified for most of his four years as president by the majority of the news media.
The main reason: He did not live up to his pledge: “Read my lips — no new taxes.” This statement was made when he was campaigning for president.
Do we not have a similar incident brewing? President Barack Obama said on Sept. 12 when campaigning for the presidency: “I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes.” He also said, “You will not see any of your taxes increase one single dime.”
Has not President Obama, out of necessity, broken his promise by recently signing a bill raising the federal tax on cigarettes by more than 60 cents a pack? Pray tell, who consumes the lion’s share of cigarettes? It is people who make far less than $250,000 per year.
Since when is a tax increase not a tax increase? To keep our nation afloat financially, President Obama will have to break his promise, many times over, by increasing taxes on all citizens. He may, being who he is, attempt to call increases levies, not tax increases, but we will know differently and will feel the pain.
Let’s see how the news media treat President Obama on his backing down on his taxation pledge. Will they continue their double-standard reporting or do what is morally right?
Discussion: 34 comments so far…
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"I inherited this economy and didn't know it was this bad." "This is a result of the previous administration, not my fault". "No tax increases." The twisted truths continue and will for another 3 years 9 months. Wait for the gasoline tax increases to pay for more useless stimulus.
While campaigning for the office Obama's promise not to raise taxes was specifically relative to earnings. This was reiterated over and over again. It's a big stretch to tie it to a cigarette tax or any other tax not related to EARNINGS
G.H.W.Bush was a good president who was treated fairly by the press. He had to go back on his word about taxes and suffered the consequences of that action. It's a tough business.
Cigarettes are optional. People can quit any time. Let the dirty smokers get taxed to death. I don't care one bit.
So, lets make sure I completely understand, its only a tax if its taken out of my paycheck, its not a tax if its for goods and services that I purchase with after tax money? Like a sales tax is not a tax because it did not come directly out of the paycheck or a hotel room tax is not a tax and on and on. So earnings will not be additionally taxed, right???
The libs can jump for joy everytime a new government program is made. In this case the tax on cigs is supposed to fund child healthcare, or so they say. Just a note of fact, if everyone stopped smoking tomorrow, where would the money come from then. And believe me many will quit and obama and his blind liberals will then say, hey we have to fund this program, so we will put extra tax on ..... (you fill in the blank)
"While campaigning for the office Obama's promise not to raise taxes was specifically relative to earnings. This was reiterated over and over again. It's a big stretch to tie it to a cigarette tax or any other tax not related to EARNINGS"
Uhhhhhhh....do you work off a different dictionary than the rest of us.
Here is a direct quote from Obama and it is in on his website and Biden and Obama repeated this verbiage on more than one occassion.
"I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes."
What does "any" mean in your dictionary?
He also repeatedly said "you will not see any of your taxes increase one single dime."
I guess it is like what does "is" mean.
I'm with you on that user9000. Also need higher taxes on alcohol too!
jfnance, brownln4;
YES! HE WAS SPEAKING OF NO TAX INCREASES ON EARNINGS ONLY!
Now after 8 years we have a President who can walk and chew gum at the same time, there needs to be an end to the kind of politics that distorts the facts for the benefit of the "under-informed".
Before you bring it up, his promise for no tax increases on people earning under $250K also does not include HOTEL ROOM TAX INCREASES, SURCHARGES ON AIRLINE FLIGHTS, DOG LICENSES, CAR REGISTRATIONS. CLOTHING PURCHASES, EASY CHEESE, MOST TYPES OF BOLOGNA. ALL BEEF JERKY, AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU BUY AT A 7-ELEVEN. (also those machines at Walmart where you use a claw to win a prize, untouchable! Don't even suggest higher taxes on those!!!!!!)
LOL, more whining from the radical right over a tax they CHOOSE to pay.
I'm middle class. Obama lowered my taxes, as he did for most middle class families. I can't help that some are too dumb to realize they don't HAVE to pay more in taxes.
But whining over something you choose to do? That's REPUBLICAN PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for you!
Gordon....you can believe in anything you want to. You can believe that the moon is made out of cheese. But Obama said the below and it is even posted on his website.
""I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes."
What part of "any" you do not understand?
What part of "see any form of tax increase" you do not understand?
I guess it is pointless to argue with you.
You and Obama must have your own special brand of English just like MR. What Is...Is.
Mr. What is ...is knew a little about taxes and balanced budgets. I wonder if there was a tax increase to pay for that $60 million investigation to find out that Clinton had an extramarital affair? Don't I remember a "fornication tax" or a "cigar tax" to cover that?
If you need to stretch the facts, so be it. I guess we won't hear from you until after Sean Hannity's over so you know what to think tomorrow.
Palin - Wurzelbacher 2012!!!!!!!
Stretching facts......you have trouble with word "any"......pot calling the kettle black.
Just a FYI, it was a Republican controlled Congress that passed all those balanced budgets.
and please tell me what else democrats know how to do but tax, spend and create more social programs with bigger government........change is a comin'......all you sheep who followed and voted for change are getting just what you deserve......the bad part is all of us who didnt follow like sheep and voted for the qualified candidate have to suffer ......
Romney was the qualified candidate.
Don't want to pay the cigarette tax? Easy: Don't buy cigarettes.
Sand, when did Obama lower your taxes? Are you referring to extra $11-13 in your paycheck? This would explain your posts.
Comes to about $1,350 a year for a working married couple. For those of us not making $250K a year it's a good start. I guess the rest of you uppity folks are not impressed?
I remember I had dinner and a movie with the Bush tax cuts.
"Comes to about $1,350 a year for a working married couple"
You have your own English language where "any" does not mean any.
Now, you using Obama Math.
His tax $11/10 credit does not add up to $1,350 a year.
It is only $800 for a couple.
I think you are getting confused about the withholding effect.
Because we are already in the middle of a tax year, the withholding effect is spread over less months and thus higher this year.
In Jan the $10/$11 Obama "stimulus" tax withholding effect will go down to $5 to $7.
LOL.....you are making fund of Bush's tax "stimulus" tax credit when it was actually higher than Obama's. Obama's is $800 for a couple. Bush's was $1,200 for a couple. Bush's was a lump sum check. Obama's is spread out by reducing the withholding over the tax year.
Sooooooo funny....
I realize you have a problem with 'context' Nance. If I say any red car; does that include blue cars?
Shumway: ALF! Where you been.
Is that any blue cars or any red cars?
Oh...I am sorry...."any" means something else in your world.
Can you perform your spin on this?
" no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase"
Hmmmm....any form of tax increase.........I am using my universal Obama translator...that means in fine print any form of earnings tax increase.
Yep...that is the ticket.
How about spinning this too?
Biden: "No one making less than $250,000 under Barack Obama's plan will see one single penny of their tax raised, whether it's their capital gains tax, their income tax, investment tax, any tax."
Not a single penny....wow
Opss...that word "any" again.
Melmac!
Be sure to start up the spin machine...
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/aug/21/...
" McCain responded with "Millions," a radio ad that predicts Obama will "raise taxes on your income, your electric bills, even your life savings."
The two camps immediately issued rebuttals, each claiming its position on taxes was being distorted by the opposition. The Obama campaign contended that the overwhelming majority of Americans would not see a tax increase under his plan, only the wealthiest 5% or so. "
So in CONTEXT of the campaign....the Obama campaign staff were yelling about Obama no tax increase pledge in direct rebuttal to McCain's charge that Obama would increase people's energy taxes.
You should really work for the Obama spin machine.
"We will not increase any of your taxes."
Errrr....."any" does not mean "any" because "any" would mean any but not really ...because here "any" means some but not all...sure in English..."any" means "any" but are we really really really sure what "is" means...you know what is ...is....it is kinda like "any"...."any" means different things in context...
Example...The Yankees will not win any games.
In Obama world, that means the Yankees will win some games.
Everybody now understand.
What does "is" mean anyway?
Thankfully the majority of Americans understand why the $250,000 in EARNINGS amount was used in almost every statement concerning taxes. Common sense (not that common amongst Neocons) tells you if an earnings number is given when speaking of taxes, that the taxes being discussed are tied to earnings.
Gordon:
How right you are. Unfortunately this cigarette tax mentality shows just how far we have to go before we can have intelligent debate on real issues.
You guys are so funny.
It will be so enjoyable to see all the tap dancing for Obama that you will do for the next 3 or so years.
Do you have an Obama translator that the rest of us can use when he speaks? I thought we knew what "any" meant but I guess Obama is using a different set of English than the rest of us.
jfnance:
We realize that the "any" campaign is all you've got, so keep running with it. Maybe Pailin-Wurzelbacher could base their 2012 campaign on the unfulfilled "any" promise and wrap up the smoker vote.
People liveing under 250.000 wont see new taxes? What a bunch of crap! i live under poverty and once again i owe more? this 11 or 13 bucks more a week? what a bunch of crap! Oh wait,it just may help pay my tax bill next year? As for the cig tax,i can see where that extra money will go. Thats right,into the special intrest groups,and or lobbiest that helped get it pushed through!If they really want to put that money to good use maybe take that money and help some of these people quit? Oh wait,that just make too much sense! As for Obama, albert einstein said it best,i dont know what will be used for world war 3,but world war 4 will be fought with clubs and rocks! Keep up the good work bama,im really looking foward to it!!!
I'm a recent non smoker. The repeated tax on smokes is a joke. It targets only a certain group of human beings and that is just wrong. Yes, smoking is pointedly a freedom of choice as some indicate and not a nessessity. However it is surely an addiction as i have experienced first hand for nearly 30 years and the government praying on addicts completely blows. I'm in favor of something that highly resembles the boston tea party to take place. It was so important to America back in the day, why not now? i'd be involved in a heartbeat. Here's what I might suggest if I were in power....Why doesn't the government apply a 60 cent tax on personal lubricants? I'll tell ya why.... because all of our governing bodies would be uncomfortably chafe. You get the picture!
I voted for Obama. I am a liberal. I agree with the position, in theory, that "any" tax is in conflict with his stated comments. I would argue that this is not what he had in mind in spirit, if you will, but feel free to bash someone over semantics if it makes you feel better. Cigarettes are a non-essential (not that smokers would agree) item, and if some people quit because of it, great; someone mentioned a loss of revenue if people quit smoking...what exactly will they do with the hundreds of dollars a month they are saving...stare at it? And anyone complaining about the lower federal tax rate should keep quiet until next April...if the tax you owe at that time does not change, then it was a positive change and if an extra 12 bucks a week is nothing to you, I will gladly take it off your hands. However, if next April the tax rate is increased so the net gain is 0, and it was simply a bait & switch to help make people feel good, then we should complain, and loudly.
And while we are at it, let's have higher taxes on medicine, fat people who take up too much room, sick people who are a burden, lawyers, doctors, politicians, etc,. Let's just stop taxing illegals and anything we give them. Now none of us has to worry.
I have an idea:
Let's eliminate ALL taxes on cigarettes for conservatives as long as they promise to smoke at least two packs a day, and raise the taxes on cigarettes that liberals buy.
That should make the tax whiners happy immediately and permanently solve the problem a few years down the road. Natural selection at its finest!
Democrats allways believe that they can TAX US all the way to utopia when in reality they just drive us off a cliff. and then complain that there was no bridge to the other side.