John Edwards Calls Bush a Crook-Coddling Pinko

Slate.com ^ | 6/20/03 | William Saletan

[lawdog]

Like "Okie" says, two words define Edwards, "trial lawyers".

[Toddsterpatriot]

To claim wealth is taxed as much or more than labor is silly.

I never said wealth (lets call it capital) was taxed as much or more than labor. Capital is what is left over after you've paid all the taxes I mentioned above. Where else would it come from? Why do you want to tax this capital which is needed to finance new business and job growth?

Easy to beat up on the rich? Did you like the luxury tax that Senator Mitchell got Bush Sr to sign in 1990? To punish the rich, new boats were taxed. The rich stopped buying new boats. All the boatyards in Mitchell's home state went under. All those middle class workers unemployed.

Didn't work out as planned and taxing capital will only hurt the workers who don't get hired in the new business that doesn't get started. All the workers who get laid off because the companies don't have the capital to upgrade the plant can at least get a government job paid for by the extra tax revenues that will come in.

Oh, wait, everytime they raise the rate, revenues drop.

[Kuksool]

2 years ago, Sen. John Edwards was seen as the man who could beat Bush in 2004. So far his presidential campaign is going nowhere. The campaign trail has revealed what a lightweight John Edwards really is. It is actually damaging Edwards's chances of being re-elected to the Senate. What a difference 2 years make.

[NYC Republican]

2 years ago, Sen. John Edwards was seen as the man who could beat Bush in 2004. So far his presidential campaign is going nowhere. The campaign trail has revealed what a lightweight John Edwards really is. It is actually damaging Edwards's chances of being re-elected to the Senate. What a difference 2 years make.

I sure hope you're right. I was somewhat fearful a year ago, in that he's a southerner with the looks and the $, but now the world is seeing him for what he is, as you mentioned, a light-weight pretty boy.

[DPB101]

Why do you want to tax this capital which is needed to finance new business and job growth?

I give up. I never said that. Bye.

[Kuksool]

Here is a link to a FR thread about Sen. John Edwards's bleak political future.

"Poll: N.C. not enamored of Edwards Survey says Bush would win in senator's home state; Senate re-election bid also in jeopardy"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/917039/posts

[Toddsterpatriot]

Why do you want to tax this capital which is needed to finance new business and job growth?

I give up. I never said that. Bye.

I'm glad you never said that, but this is what you did say.

Once again, I am not taking the "soak the rich" position. I am only saying labor is taxed at a very high rate while wealth is not.

Why mention wealth if you don't want to tax it? Why not just say taxes on labor should be reduced?

[cinFLA]

E sounds a lot like the libertarian Bush bashers here on FR.

[Constitution Day]

Indexing to Edwards Watch...

[Maximum Leader]

Umm, you're kind of making DPB's point. That 62% income tax rate is on labor.

If you sell stocks or receive, you're only at taxed (now) at 15%. Better yet, if you never sell the stock but rather just use it as a collateral on a loan, you're not taxed at all. If anything Edwards understates his case. The payroll tax is 7.65% on the employee side AND on the employer side, so it's really over 15% coming out of the employee's pocket.

I agree with DPB, it's embarassing that Johnny Edwards is making this point. But it's a sound one.

[Maximum Leader]

Sell stocks or receive DIVIDENDS-- sorry for mangling my second sentence. :o)

[stimpyone]

bad wording but good point - those in the military are still subject to paying gains on the sale of a house if they sell it within two years due to a transfer of assignment. They should be expempted.

[Howlin]

people are seeing their property taxes, their sales taxes, their state and local income taxes, and their college tuition bills go up

Ummmmm........am I wrong, or aren't those all "issues" that concern the STATES, not the federal government?

[Howlin]

Isn't that the truth!

[Toddsterpatriot]

Umm, you're kind of making DPB's point. That 62% income tax rate is on labor.

OK, after the insane 62% or higher taxes are paid, I have some money left over to pay for food, housing etc. I take what little is left over and invest it.

You're mad that if, if I make a profit on my investment, (which is hopefully creating jobs and value for the rest of the economy), I only have to pay a 15% capital gains tax? Or 15% on my dividends? The corporation already paid taxes on its earnings, remember?

Did I log onto DU by mistake this morning?

[NYC Republican]

E sounds a lot like the libertarian Bush bashers here on FR

Pretty sad, isn't it?

[gunnedah]

What does one expect from an ambulance chasing lawyer?

[Susannah]

My mother lives in the same 1950's house that my parents bought when I was in high school. She receives social security & a small pension and her total income is not enough to even file a tax return. She does have some money in an IRA which she will now be able to draw out without paying added dividend taxes.

[lilylangtree]

If Bush is a pinto, then Edwards is an Edsel. Oops, sorry, he said pinko, then Edwards is full-fledged card-carrying communist.