Posted on 08/01/2010 2:16:38 PM PDT by Libloather
Kerry blames himself for flap over yacht tax
Saturday, July 31, 2010
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BOSTON — Sen. John Kerry said he always intended to pay taxes in Massachusetts on his $7 million yacht but conceded he mishandled the public furor over his decision to dock the vessel in Rhode Island.
“I don’t think I dealt with it fast enough, effectively enough. There’s nobody to blame but myself for that,” the Massachusetts Democrat told The Boston Globe for Friday’s editions.
Kerry added that he did nothing legally wrong.
Kerry moved to end the controversy this week by saying he would write Massachusetts a check for about $500,000, whether he owed the money or not. He told The Associated Press that he and his wife “have always complied with tax laws.” The payment represents $437,500 in one-time sales taxes, plus about $70,000 in annual excise taxes.
The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee had been dogged by charges of tax evasion since the Boston Herald first reported his decision to dock the 76-foot sloop Isabel in Newport, R.I.
Kerry told the Globe it was never his intention to permanently dock the yacht in Rhode Island. He said he had not yet taken final ownership of the boat because changes were still being made by the designer, but that he could take possession within the next few days.
He said there was never any thought to avoiding sales and excise taxes in his home state, but acknowledged that he failed to get that message across to the public.
“I said to people, on day one, we will pay all taxes, all taxes, there’s no issue here,” he told the newspaper.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegram.com ...
John Kerry served in Vietnam? I did not know that.
He painted "Newport" on the back of his New Zealand built yacht.
I would also add that this ultra-rich sub human carried on in 2004 about American executives who moved business overseas to avoid taxes being "Benedict Arnolds."
I really can’t see where he violated even the spirit of any sales / excise tax laws in Mass. It is very common to berth yachts in other states, especially on the East coast.
And especially if the boat will be chartered, as this one will.
My biggest complaint is that it is one but-ugly boat.
Don't Mass with taxes.
"Or"?
I’d love to see a photo of the $7M yacht — is it named “The Gigolo”?
Thanks for posting but why did you write hugh caption?
This a FR lingo.Report just the facts please but really lol.
It makes this site look bad when self titles like this and the ones with HUSSEIN in the title are breaking news. I mean the Hussein ones are his middle name and I get it but his name is Barry Soetoro too. :)
I blame you too Kerry... So did you illegally evade taxes? or just screw your home state?
As with his promise to release his form 180 nothing will be done once the stink dies down.
It's bigger than big. It's hugh. I'm series.
To post #6? Read the rest of 'em!
I think this is very hurtful to him. Even the Boston Globe cites it in an article today accusing the Dems of ostentatious personal spending at a time when many are suffering here.
Per Fox News:
Fox News political editor Joe Battenfeld then noted that Kerry’s yacht, which he bought in March, had been spotted in Nantucket, Mass., where the senator summers with his wife Teresa Heinz. That would make Kerry liable for the sales tax.
He fully intended to pay the taxes - AFTER HE WAS CAUGHT CHEATING THE SYSTEM.
'Isabel,' the 76-foot yacht owned by Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, is undergoing repairs at the Hinckley shipyard in Portsmouth, R.I., Friday, July 23, 2010. Kerry is docking his family's new $7 million yacht in neighboring Newport, R.I., allowing him to avoid paying roughly $500,000 in taxes to the cash-strapped Bay State. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Displaying an American flag? More than Hussein has ever done.
He also promised to show us his military records.
Has anyone seen them?
“I don’t think I dealt with it fast enough, effectively enough. There’s nobody to blame but myself for that,” ...”It’s just like when a group was formed to expose all the lies I told about my Purple Heart collection field trip to Vietnam. Er...I mean when a group was formed to lie about my extremely valiant service to the nation in Vietnam. I didn’t react fast enough or effective enough. Could somebody please get me a finger sandwich?”
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