Ellison Calls For Feedback On Obama's Speech

Mike McLean January 25, 2012 at 04:18 pm

I do not understand how the President of the United States can stand there and say that Warren Buffet pays lower taxes than his Secretary.
When people who have taken the time to investigate, know that Buffet has structured his salary so that it is only $100k per year while he takes millions a year as Capital gains. And at the same time his secretary is paying income tax on her $200k per year. Again it's the old comparing apples to oranges in 20 second sound bites. Why aren’t people calling him out on this BS??? And if Buffet is so concerned about wanting to pay more in taxes, why has his company Birkshire Hathaway been fighting their tax bill for the last 10 years?? And why did he structure his income to be only $100k instead of all that he earns??

Mike McLean January 25, 2012 at 04:20 pm

One quote that the left needs to read is - "You don't make the weak stronger by making the stronger weak".

Amy Paddock January 25, 2012 at 04:28 pm

Because Buffet can do it. There is the problem. That secretary cannot. That is the point.

Mike McLean January 25, 2012 at 05:40 pm

Granted he can. And he is doing everything that he can legally do to shelter as much of his income as possible.
But I can't be the only one who thinks that this is at least somewhat hypocritical that he goes to these lengths to protect his income and then turns around and blasts that his secretary pays a higher tax than he does. Buffet is a very smart man. He should know that if he wanted, he could pay more taxes than what he does.

Chris Fields January 25, 2012 at 08:43 pm

All this talk about Warren Buffet secretary is rather interesting. I'm really not sure what the point is in singling her out. The President often says millionaires and billionaire should pay more, while at the same time he says people making over 250k should pay more. 250k in income is new the millionaire and billionaire according the Washington. By that standard if Buffets secretary has a working spouse earning more than 50k Washington will dump more taxes on them just like Buffet.
On the one hand politicians like the President and Ellison want the rich to invest in order to create jobs. They also want to legislate how much of investment they are allowed to profit from. My approach would be to dramatically revise the 72k plus page tax code because its currently nothing more than a full employment bill for lobbyists (Dem and GOP), lawyers and CPA's. We can also strengthen our safety net programs to ensure only the truly needy benefit from them. This can be done while returning critical resources back to the states where they came from and where they belong. The real question for the voters in 2012 is do we want a government that tells us to succeed, doesnt give us the resources we need to succeed and if we do make it, set a limit on how much success we can enjoy.

Loren Piller January 27, 2012 at 09:18 pm

The president's speech was a rehash of his last two speeches. Actions speak louder than word. Need jobs. Obama forces Boeing to reduce use of new North Carolina facility. Pipeline construction, Obama cancels it so even high paid union guys are sacrificed at the alter of extreme environmentalists. No jobs while this guy is president.

Mike McLean January 27, 2012 at 10:38 pm

I heard a rumor that without the pipeline, they might use railway which as luck would have it would benefit Warren Buffet.
Who then will pay 15% "Income" tax......

Kevin O'Donovan January 28, 2012 at 12:43 am

Obama neglected to mention his unconstitutional recess appointments, his assault on religious liberty and his direct assault on Roman Catholic institutions bypassing long established Conscience Protection Clauses. Obama neglected to mention the hundreds of millions wasted on "Green Energy" crony capitalists, his failure in dealing with Iran,Syria,Egypt,Venezuela,etc..Obama neglected to mention the DOJ and its incompetence and bias. Obama neglected to mention the bias in the NLRB, or to comment on Tony Rezko's prison sentence or John Corzine's recent success as a magician, when he made millions of farmers savings disappear. Obama neglected to mention the high cost of gasoline, soaring food prices, a devalued dollar, and a declining credit rating. His solution to higher tuition costs was typical,he calls for more federal spending. The success of his light rail projects continues to amaze us. The total dollar amount of Michelle Obama's record setting vacations, and his record haul from lobbyists. The darkness in his transparent administration must be an energy saving measure. Can someone turn the lights on. PLEASE!!! I'm running out of space to comment on the Obamanation's regulatory excesses, and his support for full employment for the ABA as it litigates his administration. November is coming. Nine months doesn't seem to be enough time to count all of Obama's blessings for this country. Hope the redistricting leaves me in Ellison's district so I can count his blessings too.

Dennis Gillespie January 29, 2012 at 02:31 pm

My understanding, I did not watch the whole speach, is that he was talking about going after all sources of energy and is taking credit for and increase in oil production. But I remember the Dems have been saying not use going after the oil it takes 7 years to get it on line, now all of a sudden in less than 3 years production is up. We better get on it and approve the Keystone XL Pipeline and get to drill like they are in ND and Canada is going after its resources. Also Obama taking credit for ending the war in Iraq, Killing Bin Laden. I remember back when the Seal team Six was called Cheney's Hit Squad, now all of a sudden it is the Seal Team Six

Bridget O'Gara January 31, 2012 at 01:27 pm

Our country is not a theocracy--so leave the religion out of it. I also love how the fundies and righties are so obsessed with Michelle Obama---apparently she is the only First Lady to have ever travelled. Distract distract distract. 2012 is not going to be pretty for your side.

Dennis Gillespie January 31, 2012 at 02:40 pm

Bridget, during a time when the president is trying to shut down US production of oil and coal, they have not cut down on use of Air Force One. This past summer vaction The president was delayed by about 4 hours and Michelle could not wait 4 hours to ride share on Air Force One and Besides that Bo the dog had his own flight with his trainer making $100 K, don't know why Bo coulding have caught one of the flights atleast. The trip to Hiawii again they took separate planes and Bo acutually had to come back for a photo op with the President, I hope his second trip to Hiawii was on a ride share. Their vactions this year cost us $14 Million tax payer Dollars. But who is counting. I am certain you can Google Bush and he spent plenty also, but that is something that we can do nothing about any more, we still can do something about do we want 4 more years of these lavish vacations, 4 more years of high un-employment and 4 more years of higher gasoline prices and 4 more years of a weaker devalued Dollar

Kevin O'Donovan January 31, 2012 at 05:46 pm

Bridget, Focus,focus,focus. You are right that we are not a theocracy, but we are a people with a common ancestry, a Judeo-Christian ancestry. Most of the first permanent settlers were European,and primarily British and Dutch Protestants. The Laws came from the Decalogue but also were influenced by the political and philosophical upheavals of their times during the the eighteenth century. Conservatives believe with Edmund Burke, that we are in a partnership with those who have preceded us,and gave so much of themselves, ourselves, and those not yet born. We believe in time honored principles. We do not need to justify our prejudices to those who will not listen, and we are confident that they are correct. What is a prejudice, if not a prejudgment that we have learned, and it is a dear thing not an evil one. The Tea Party and OWS share in a current of dissatisfaction and mistrust with our institutions. They diverge in their objectives. The tea Party wants less government and less from the government. The OWS group wants more from the government and a more intrusive government. We should pray for the conversion of those who are in error, but we should also practice for good aim. A strong America begins with strong Americans.

Brie Shultz February 1, 2012 at 02:02 am

Kevin, focus, focus, focus. We're not a common Judeo-Christian ancestry. A lot of our founding fathers were atheists that fled Europe to get away from religious persecution. The words 'Jesus Christ, Christianity, Bible, Creator, Divine, or God' are no where in the constitution. I need to be more like other patch readers and skip your posts because this has nothing to do with feedback on Obama's speech and I'm getting tired of correcting misinformation.

Dennis Gillespie February 1, 2012 at 02:20 am

Brie, Keven was kind of mentioning some of the things Obama did not mention and one of your friends took exception to what he said and he was explaining to her. Apparently you do skip some of the conversation. Speaking of the Constitution, the Obama Adminsitrations is trying to read a lot of things into the Constitution and trying to do a lot of things that are not in the Constitution.

Brie Shultz February 1, 2012 at 02:48 am

Dennis, he was "kind of" mentioning? What does that mean? Who is my friend? I don't actually know anyone on here. You're kind of narrow minded in grouping me into "friends" with complete strangers based on a post comment. I do skip most of "Keven's" posts because they generally don't make a lot of sense.
And as far as your claims that Obama's "Adminsitrations" is trying to do things that are not in the Constitution, doesn't every president get criticized for that? Bush, Clinton, Reagan, etc? That was a rhetorical question, meaning you don't need to answer it, because really none of this has anything to do with feedback on Obama's speech.

Brie Shultz February 1, 2012 at 02:50 am

Feedback on the speech: I agree with the energy points. Obviously oil will just keep rising in price. Even if we drill for more oil in the states, the oil goes on to the open market where other countries (China/India) will gobble it up.
I'd love to see more emphasis on new kinds of energy and more rebates for taxpayers for buying energy efficient appliances. It's nice to get some of my tax dollars back when I buy a new fridge or windows. I bought some windows a few years ago and received the tax rebate and my energy bills dropped as well.

Brie Shultz February 1, 2012 at 02:57 am

and I'm sure that Fox News could tell you that bathing in pickle juice would make you a better American and you would do it - no questions asked - and believe it.:-D

Dennis Gillespie February 1, 2012 at 03:09 am

Brie, believe me Obama has put more emphasis on Green Energy. Take for example the Chevy Volt, between the Federal Government and the State of Michigan they have given General Motors $3,000,000,000 and they have sold 8000 units which have had to be recalled and most of those were purchased by the Government. Now the Chevy Dealers son't want them, nobody seems to want them. There is even talk of scraping them. As it stand today each of those 8000 units have cost the tax payers $375,000 and the consumer has to pay $40,000 for them and then we have to give them a rebate of what $7,500 or $8,500. This is even worse than the Cash for Clunkers which cost us $24,000 per Clunker when it was done

Mike McLean February 1, 2012 at 12:26 pm

"I bought some windows a few years ago and received the tax rebate and my energy bills dropped as well.".
I have a question. Why should the government ( that would be us ) pay people to buy things that save them money?????

John Haluska February 1, 2012 at 12:32 pm

The problem with the Tea Party Radicals that comment here is that they do channel Fox News and that they take their hatred for President Obama and liberal Democrats such as Representative Ellison as license for them to create their own set of facts. The Buffet issue is a prime example. The facts are that the capital gains tax rate is 15% and because most of Warren Buffet's income is no doubt classified as unearned income - capital gains - as opposed to earned income - usually just wages and salaries - he is taxed mainly at 15% as opposed to earned income rates that run much higher. The fairness point being that earned and unearned income should be taxed on the same progressive rate schedule, that is there should not be a distinction between types of income and they should all be taxed at rates that increase as income increases. They more income you have the more you should pay, it's simple fairness.

John Haluska February 1, 2012 at 01:00 pm

As for Mr. Fields' comment, on the one hand he seems to want the U. S. dismantled, and on the other he laments that it's not giving us the tools we need to succeed. Just what is it that you do want Mr. Fields?

John Haluska February 1, 2012 at 02:14 pm

As for the claim that the NLRB blocked a Boeing plant in South Carolina, that is false. Have a look at Politifact's review of this matter. Romney is lying as is the Radical Right media. http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/oct/14/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-attack-barack-obama-over-boeing-plant-/

John Haluska February 1, 2012 at 02:21 pm

And, as for the criticism of the auto industry bailout, GM and the other industry members who received loans from the US Treasury have payed them all back - early and with interest. And the US still has a major stake in GM which it is selling in the open market on a deliberate responsible bass so in order to protect the company, the tax payers and the industry. I know that factual information is not something the Radical Right cares to consider, but the fact is that GM is now the worlds largest automaker and the intervention by the US government saved it and untold thousands of jobs in GM and throughout the US in those companies that supply not only GM, but also the other US auto producers.

Dennis Gillespie February 1, 2012 at 03:18 pm

John, I was not talking about the auto bail out, I was talking about Green Money that simply went to General Motors to develop the Chevy Volt. This money does not need to be repaid. The money we have in stocks in General Motors does not have to be repaid, but the stock has to get to $50 for us to sell the stock and break even, it is currently at $25. That is why it is call Gorvernment Motors. Obama was at I believe an Auto Show promoting General Motors, His car company. And if you do the Math that cost us $375,000 per unit sold and there answer is as more units are sold the cost will come down. What happens if in fact the Volt is scraped, like a lot of the other Green energy projects we have money in that have gone bankrupt

Kevin O'Donovan February 1, 2012 at 05:16 pm

If you want to upset Conservatives, you tell them a lie. If you wish to upset the Obamanation, you tell them the truth. Conservatives want the Federal Government to function within the limits set forth in the Constitution of the U.S.,The Bill of Rights, and the concepts expressed in the Declaration of Independence. All other powers are reserved to the states and to individual citizens. Unfortunately some have found those documents to be inconvenient and have chosen to ignore them or redefine them.Things happens when words are stripped of their clear meaning ,we fail to communicate ideas honestly and simply. This promotes confusion, frustration, and in some cases rage. It almost always produces violence, and at times it has developed into periods of revolution. Is it "Fairness" to constantly redefine words or terms? This in my opinion reflects the true "State of the Union". This administration is taking us down the road to a totalitarian government. It is in the beginning a "soft totalitarianism" with plenty of smiles,misdirection, empty promises, bribes, and scapegoats. All of this is to disguise its vicious true nature. Once its power is complete it will be the end of this country as we know it. We can't afford to "Wait until you see the whites of their eyes". We have to remove them from power as completely as is possible, and reveal them for who they are, so they will never come to power again." The French Revolution in the U.S.A." Is it coming to a theater near you?