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Members of the Tea Party rallied in Washington and across the country yesterday, calling for lower taxes and continuing their criticism of President Barack Obama and the Democratic Congress. The AP writes:
Several thousand rallied in Washington's Freedom Plaza in the shadow of the Ronald Reagan office building, capping a national protest tour launched in the dust of Nevada and finishing in the capital that inspires tea party discontent like no other place. Allied activists demonstrated from Maine to Hawaii in hundreds of lively protests, all joined in disdain for government spending and - on the April 15 federal tax filing deadline - what they see as the Washington tax grab.
However, as usual, these events are filled with hyperbole and nonsense. Some of the most ridiculous comments came from Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota as she pandered for votes. She accused Obama and Democrats of "trying to take over health care, energy, financial services and other broad swaths of the economy," the AP writes.
"We're on to this gangster government," she declared. "I say it's time for these little piggies to go home."
Gangster? This administration has been far from gangster.
Obama has reached across the aisle much longer than he should have on everything, including the bailout and health care reform. The response from the Republicans, much like Tea Party members, has been to say no to everything without offering credible alternative solutions or being unwilling to compromise. "Reelect No One," read a sign carried by one Washington protester.
I'm still waiting for someone to explain how wanting Americans to have health insurance is akin to being Hitler or a gangster.
If Bachmann wants an example of real gangsterism, she has to look no further than the former leader of her party, George W. Bush. He invaded a country and put our troops in harm's way under false and misleading pretenses. He cut taxes for the wealthy while increasing spending and said it was a good move for the economy. He squandered a massive surplus left to him by former President Bill Clinton. The Tea Party should have been out in full force when all of this was going on.
None of that stopped the nonsense going on at yesterday's rally. According to the AP:
The crowd chanted, "There's a communist in the White House" at the urging of the ukelele-playing Victoria Jackson, a former cast member on "Saturday Night Live." The slogans on signs and T-shirts were biting, sometimes raw: "We Want Regime Change," "Save a Seal, Club a Liberal," "Down with the Gov't Takeover," "End the Fed" and "Waterboard Bernanke." Some American flags waved upside down in the breeze. Comedian Mark Klein told the crowd that the difference between Obama and terrorist Osama bin Laden is that "one is an anti-capitalist trying to destroy America. The other is hiding in Afghanistan."
And while Tea Party members yell and complain about taxes -- until it's time for them to collect Social Security, unemployment or Medicare (62 percent support Social Security and Medicare, according to a new poll) -- lost in the rhetoric was that taxes have gone down under Obama. Congress has cut individuals' taxes for this year by about $173 billion, leaving Americans with a lighter load despite nearly $29 billion in increases by states. Obama plans to increase taxes on the wealthy to help pay for his health care overhaul and other programs," the AP writes.
And that's what this is really about: making the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes. Only 20 percent of Tea Party members say they earn above $100,000 a year in a CBS and New York Times poll, so these folks seems to be fighting against their own interests.
"You would think they'd be saying thank you," the president said.
Comments: (24)
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By: Hattie Irving on 4/16/2010 12:27PM
What did Bush do while he was in office 8years.
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By: kevinspearmon on 4/16/2010 5:32PM
Keep up the good work President Obama, time will tell the TRUTH. God Bless You for taking on the FIGHT for ALL of us.
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By: tired of poor me attitude on 4/16/2010 8:35PM
Obama is a liar. Learn to read with the third eye and listen with the third ear. Maybe he won't raise your income tax but he is will on the way to increase state and other taxes FAST. Unfortunately there are so many Black Americans that refuse to question the "chosen one" there won't be an objection until he is long gone. Don't be a chump.
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By: Mike on 4/16/2010 5:23PM
Jeff,
Obama did raise taxes and he lied when he said he didn't. Here is a PARTIAL list.
Individual Mandate Excise Tax (Page 324/Sec. 1501/Jan 2014): Starting in 2014, anyone not buying “qualifying” health insurance must pay an income surtax according to the higher of the following (page 71 of manager’s amendment updates Reid bill):
Single
2 People
3+ People
2014
$495/0.5% AGI
$990/0.5% AGI
$1485/0.5%/AGI
2015
$495/1.0% AGI
$990/1.0% AGI
$1485/1.0%/AGI
2016+
$495/2.0% AGI
$990/2.0% AGI
$1485/2.0%/AGI
Exemptions for religious objectors, undocumented immigrants, prisoners, those earning less than the poverty line, members of Indian tribes, and hardship cases (determined by HHS).
Employer Mandate Tax (Page 348/Sec. 1513/Jan 2014): If an employer does not offer health coverage, and at least one employee qualifies for a health tax credit, the employer must pay an additional non-deductible tax of $750 for all full-time employees. Applies to all employers with 50 or more employees.
If the employer requires a waiting period to enroll in coverage of 30-60 days, there is a $400 tax per employee ($600 if the period is 60 days or longer).
CBO Estimates That the Mandate Tax Penalties Will Raise $39 billion from 2010-2019
Excise Tax on Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans (Page 1979/Sec. 9001/$149.1 bil/Jan 2013): Starting in 2013, new 40 percent excise tax on “Cadillac” health insurance plans ($8500 single/$23,000 family). Higher threshold ($9850 single/$26,000 family) for early retirees and high-risk professions. CPI +1 percentage point indexed. Longshoremen have been exempted (page 362 of the manager’s amendment)
From 2013-2015, the 17 highest-cost states are 120% of this level.
Hike in Medicare Payroll Tax (Page 2040/Sec. 9015/$86.8 bil/Jan 2013): Current law and changes:
First $200,000
($250,000 Married)
Employer/Employee
All Remaining Wages
Employer/Employee
Current Law
1.45%/1.45%
2.9% self-employed
1.45%/1.45%
2.9% self-employed
Reid-Obama Tax Hike
1.45%/1.45%
2.9% self-employed
1.45%/2.35%
3.8% self-employed
The 0.9% new rate addition is not deductible for the self-employment tax adjustment. Updated by page 372 of manager’s amendment.
Medicine Cabinet Tax (Page 1997/Sec. 9003/$5 bil/Jan 2011): Americans would no longer be able to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin)
HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike (Page 1998/Sec. 9004/$1.3 bil/Jan 2011): Increases additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRAs and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10 percent.
Flexible Spending Account Cap – aka “Special Needs Kids Tax” (Page 1999/Sec. 9005/$14 bil/Jan 2011): Imposes cap on FSAs of $2500 (now unlimited). Indexed to inflation after 2011 (added on page 363 of manager’s amendment). There is one group of FSA owners for whom this new cap will be particularly cruel and onerous: parents of special needs children. There are thousands of families with special needs children in the United States, and many of them use FSAs to pay for special needs education. Tuition rates at one leading school that teaches special needs children in Washington, D.C. (National Child Research Center) can easily exceed $14,000 per year. Under tax rules, FSA dollars can be used to pay for this type of special needs education.
Tax on Medical Device Manufacturers (Page 2020/Sec. 9009/$19.2 bil/Jan 2010): Medical device manufacturers employ 360,000 people in 6000 plants across the country. This bill would impose a new $2 billion annual tax on the industry imposed relative to shares of sales made that year. Exempts items retailing for
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By: Michael Lofton on 4/16/2010 7:33PM
"Keep up the good work President Obama, time will tell the TRUTH. God Bless You for taking on the FIGHT for ALL of us." by kevinspearmon
.......and flocks of birds fly backwards against a strong tail wind too. Those who have faced the music know for a fact that President Barack Obama, and/or other elected officials affiliated with the Democratic Party are a disgrace to the essence of what it means to be an elected official!
"The Economy is Getting Better and Its Because of the Obama Administration" by Ericka Blount Danois, Black Voices, Black Spin
http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/04/13/the-economy-is-getting-better/1#c27091200
"Many Americans can't or refuse to believe that a Black man is actually making good things happen for them. For them it's all about the "White Man's Burden." by putridbreath
.......and flocks of birds fly backwards against a strong tail wind too. Those who have faced the music know for a fact that President Barack Obama, and/or other elected officials affiliated with the Democratic Party are a disgrace to the essence of what it means to be an elected official!
http://againstallodds.blogtownhall.com/2010/04/16/federal,_state,_county,_and_city_government_are_instituted_for_destruction_and_not_for_the_common_good_when_dealing_with_law_abiding_us_born_black_people!.thtml
Federal, State, County, and City Government are Instituted for Destruction and not For the Common Good When Dealing With Law Abiding U.S. Born Black People!
"Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it." by John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776
Article 1, Section 7, of the California Constitution states: " A person may not be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law or denied equal protection of the laws...." and Article 1, Section 26 states: " The provisions of the constitution are mandatory and prohibitory, unless by express words they are declared to be otherwise".
"There are cases when an individual has been wrongfully treated by his government and about the only way, unless the individual resorts to court, and even in some cases the courts are not able to give proper relief, the only area or avenue open to the individual is through his representative. When you find a bona fide error has been made, I suggest that you make a maximum effort to remedy it. This I feel is a vital and important function of those of us in the House of Representatives."
Authors: Donald G. Tacheron and Morris K. Udall, from the book entitled "The Job of the Congressman", pages 65 and 66. (This important duty applies to all elected officials, all government employees, and all U.S. citizens)
It is beyond me, that elected Black officials sworn under oath and mandated by law to honor the U.S. Constitution, any respective State Constitution, and the misguided Black middleclass who conspire with others to violate the Constitutional rights of law abiding U.S. born Black men, women, and/or their siblings. It is also alarming, disgraceful, and treasonous that elected Black officials sworn under oath and mandated by law to honor the U.S. Constitution, any respective State Constitution, and a misguided Black middleclass who promote criminal wrongdoing and/or become willing pawns, to promote items (1) thru (9), delegate his or her sworn duty to uphold the law to the U.S. Department of Education, delegate his or her sworn duty to uphold the law to Reverend Al Sharpton, and other disgraceful acts, to deny valid redress to deserving law abiding U.S. born Black men, women, and/or their siblings, violated by serious atrocities of government within jurisdictions across the U.S.
All formal written and verbal appeals to city, county, state and federal elected officials mandated and sworn under oath to honor his or her oath of office to protect the U.S. Constitutional and California Constitutional rights of the victims in Los Angeles Superior Court cases BC 385899, C 895188, BS 121571 and Theft by Court, have fallen on deaf ears.
(The hypertext contains pdf court documents, written correspondence, and other factual information to support all the foregoing statements)
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By: Michael Lofton on 4/16/2010 7:38PM
http://againstallodds.blogtownhall.com/2010/04/16/the_democrat_party_is_whats_busted_up_their_families!__the_democrat_party_is_whats_keeping_them_down!_indeed_rush,_due_to_misfit_representation_this_is_true!.thtml
The Democrat Party is what's busted up their families! The Democrat Party is what's keeping them down! Indeed Rush, Due to Misfit Representation This is True!
***************************************************
"The Economy is Getting Better and Its Because of the Obama Administration" by Ericka Blount Danois, Black Voices, Black Spin
"Many Americans can't or refuse to believe that a Black man is actually making good things happen for them. For them it's all about the "White Man's Burden." by putridbreath
.......and flocks of birds fly backwards against a strong tail wind too. Those who have faced the music know for a fact that President Barack Obama, and/or other elected officials affiliated with the
Democratic Party are a disgrace to the essence of what it means to be an elected official!
***************************************************
Wrong on Race and the Democratic Party’s Buried Past, “Black Code Law Enforcement”, etc., that is still very much alive today!
**********************************
"Bruce Bartlett brandishes a damning history of the Democratic Party, which for 100 years after the Civil War provided a fertile ground for Jim Crow and white supremacy. Democrats have long acted behind an ethos of racial equality, yet, as Bartlett powerfully illustrates, the reality of their patchy record over the last two centuries in fact lends little credibility to that claim. Compelling and incisive."--Grover G. Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform
"Wrong on Race is an important contribution to the study of party politics in America. Bartlett offers a thorough, well documented account of the racial roots of the Democratic party. This book should be a required reading for African-Americans of all ages, and especially for the nation's youth."--Carol Swain, Professor of Political Science and Law, Vanderbilt University, and editor of Debating Immigration
"Wrong on Race powerfully recapitulates a twentieth century journey into racial pettifogging and outright confusion, and in doing so shines a light as clear as the meridian sun on the realities of racial politics…Bruce Bartlett has done what no one before him has done, and it is all the more remarkable, therefore, to say that it will probably never be better done."--Professor William B. Allen, Michigan State University; and former chairman, U.S. Civil Rights Commission
"The Democratic party is widely credited, not least by black writers, as the party that has done the most for civil rights. Yet for most of its history it has been the other way around. As Bruce Bartlett points out in Wrong on Race, Democratic icons like Woodrow Wilson worked to impose segregation on blacks, and even Franklin Roosevelt did little for equal rights."--Michael Barone, syndicated columnist, co-author of The Almanac of American Politics, and author of Our First Revolution
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By: hwill2000 on 4/17/2010 12:05AM
you are one confused dude. who cares about almost 100 years ago. the democratic and republican party's have switched sides since the civil war and woodrow wilson.
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By: Jeannette on 4/16/2010 11:23PM
Oh for heavens sake, I think that if you would only admit it, then maybe you all would be better off.
Obama, while campaigning, laid out what all was going to do. And health care was one of them. What he did not do was take the harrd earning dollars of the poor and middle class and give the wealthy a 900 billion dollar tax incentive. I'm not mad at you, heck If some one wanted to give me extra bucks, even if I did not need it, I would take it too, and would also get mad if someone cut off my gravey train. So where was the Tea Party group then? I would guess that they were home waiting on the mailman to bring them the cash. I payed more taxes then, than the law should allow.I had to work three jobs , just to ensure that I could pay for my health insurance,pay the taxes, and sure that my family would not suffer because of it. My point is, all of this anger, name calling,threating phone calls, cutting of gas lines,callings to arm, and other incitements of violence are because you people do not want this gravy train of 900 billion dollar tax windfall to end, and you hate the fact that you have a black president. Admit it, you will feel a lot better.
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By: Michael Lofton on 4/17/2010 7:37PM
y"ou are one confused dude. who cares about almost 100 years ago. the democratic and republican party's have switched sides since the civil war and woodrow wilson." by hwill2000
......as usual lip service that lack factual basis. Anyone who reads and comprehends would know or should know that this information is still true." by tired of poor me attitude
http://againstallodds.blogtownhall.com/2010/04/10/frederick_douglass_foundation_members,_the_true_misfits_and_uncle_toms_are_president_barack_obama_andor_other_treasonous_elected_black_leaders!.thtml
....in addition to being a liar and a hypocrite, President Barack "the Magic Negro" Obama is truly incompetent and a disgrace to the essence of what it means to be an elected official!
************
"Obama is a liar. Learn to read with the third eye and listen with the third ear. Maybe he won't raise your income tax but he is will on the way to increase state and other taxes FAST. Unfortunately there are so many Black Americans that refuse to question the "chosen one" there won't be an objection until he is long gone. Don't be a chump." by
http://againstallodds.blogtownhall.com/2010/04/16/the_democrat_party_is_whats_busted_up_their_families!__the_democrat_party_is_whats_keeping_them_down!_indeed_rush,_due_to_misfit_representation_this_is_true!.thtml
The Democrat Party is what's busted up their families! The Democrat Party is what's keeping them down! Indeed Rush Limbaugh.....
......Due to Misfit Representation, Rush Limbaugh, this is True!
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By: Michael Lofton on 4/19/2010 3:06PM
"you are one confused dude. who cares about almost 100 years ago. the democratic and republican party's have switched sides since the civil war and woodrow wilson." by hwill2000
correction:
......as usual lip service that lack factual basis. Anyone who reads and comprehends would know or should know that this information is still true.
http://againstallodds.blogtownhall.com/2010/04/10/frederick_douglass_foundation_members,_the_true_misfits_and_uncle_toms_are_president_barack_obama_andor_other_treasonous_elected_black_leaders!.thtml
....in addition to being a liar and a hypocrite, President Barack "the Magic Negro" Obama is truly incompetent and a disgrace to the essence of what it means to be an elected official!
************
"Obama is a liar. Learn to read with the third eye and listen with the third ear. Maybe he won't raise your income tax but he is will on the way to increase state and other taxes FAST. Unfortunately there are so many Black Americans that refuse to question the "chosen one" there won't be an objection until he is long gone. Don't be a chump." by tired of poor me attitude
http://againstallodds.blogtownhall.com/2010/04/16/the_democrat_party_is_whats_busted_up_their_families!__the_democrat_party_is_whats_keeping_them_down!_indeed_rush,_due_to_misfit_representation_this_is_true!.thtml
The Democrat Party is what's busted up their families! The Democrat Party is what's keeping them down! Indeed Rush Limbaugh.....
......Due to Misfit Representation, Rush Limbaugh, this is True!
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