Kerry blames himself for flap over yacht tax (Berther avoided ANNUAL excise tax? HUGH CAPTION!)

Telegram ^ | 7/31/10

[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.

[Talisker]

My biggest complaint is that it is one but-ugly boat.

You're insane.

[SoldierDad]

Yes, Kerry was in Vietnam - briefly.

[americanophile]

"Sen. John Kerry said he always intended to pay taxes in Massachusetts..."

Really? Is there anyone, I mean ANYONE, in the entire world that believes that?

[Pining_4_TX]

Oh, that is priceless!

[posterchild]

Regardless of who owns it I sure would have loved the job of sailing it from New Zealand to Rhode Island. Any freepers need help moving their boats?

[Former War Criminal]

John Kerry gets around.

[Former War Criminal]

Considering the color of Senator Kerry’s hair, and the latest uproar he’s caused, I have a song for his next campaign:

“Sail Along, Silv’ry Moonbat”

[tet68]

Headline: Senator Kerry revealed as “berther”.
Claims Hawaiian Certificate of Legal berth.
Not good enough say Mass officials.

[presently no screen name]

I’m glad you said that - I was laughing reading some of the posts.

[NautiNurse]

I really can’t see where he violated even the spirit of any sales / excise tax laws in Mass...especially if the boat will be chartered, as this one will.

[Ann Archy]

“I’m John Kerry and I’m Reporting for Duty Free”!! (someone who called into Laura Ingraham’s show Friday)

[nikos1121]

Here’s my take on this.

Let me ask you, Senator Kerry. Don’t you think that the MA taxes on yachts is outrageous? Don’t you think that people would moor their yachts and use the services etc in MA if the taxes weren’t so high? Don’t you think?

These dumb @ss bas*ards are in power and do nothing for us....it doesn’t make a difference who you are.

The lower class pays no tax, cause they’re not stupid...and the middle and upper classes avoid taxation as much as possible..

Out taxes are toooo high...PERIOD

[fightinJAG]

I agree, and I wasn’t applauding hypocrisy! And I in no way give Senator Kerry a pass on his contanstly railing that we should all pay more and more taxes. Rather, I think it points out his hypocrisy to say, “See, no matter who you are, no matter how much you have, every human being wants to keep more of his money rather than give it to the government.”

[a real Sheila]

But will he give the check to Massachusetts.. that is the question.

HA! That is EXACTLY what I was thinking!
Do we KNOW these people or WHAT?!

[DariusBane]

Thanks fightinJAG I was wondering how far down I would have to go before somebody had an adult reaction. You saved me some time. I reject the premise that he is obligated to just pay the tax without finding a legal way to not pay the tax. Its not patriotic to pay taxes to fund criminals in high office. Just because your moronic neighbors vote for confiscatory taxes and re elect known criminals and build statist monuments to socialism does not mean I have to participate.
Here is the “bird” to high tax government and the silly geese who vote for it.

[Texas Eagle]

Sen. John Kerry said he always intended to pay taxes in Massachusetts on his $7 million yacht...

Ohhhhh...you INTENDED to pay taxes.

Well, that's good enough for me.

Lying sack of caviar.

[Texas Eagle]

I can almost see where the Botox was injected.

I can see where his face rejected the hair plugs.

[True Republican Patriot]

Very Surprized NOT to see a Red Hammer and Sickle flying from the Stern of the Gigolo’s Scow! It really is Butt Ugly!

[rockabyebaby]

Jeeeezzzzuz, this can't be the same John Kerry who served in Vietnam can it?

Whoa! Wait! Stop the bleepin' presses......kerry served in Nam? Get out! Kerry? THE John gigilo kerry? served in Nam? Why, I'll be! Who knew!!
/sarc OFF

[AuH2ORepublican]

One would think he would have mentioned something during the 2004 campaign. Too modest, I guess.