Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Rich Bellers, Sacramento, CA — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:25:44 GMT

I love how MSNBC had to work Thompson's criticism of FOX into the headline, as if that was a major point. MSNBC is the bottom of the barrel with losers like Olberman. Classic.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Roger — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:25:56 GMT

Heck, we don't even have to pay for it, either. We'll just charge it! They aren't my kids!!

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

John, Houston, TX — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:28:44 GMT

Huckabee supports the "FairTax" not the flat tax. The FairTax is a non-regressive version of a national sales tax.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:29:17 GMT

I think there should be a correction above. Thomson seems to favor a simplified income tax, not a flat tax, which would imply one rate. In addition, Huckabee supports the "Fair Tax" which is actually a consumption tax, not a flat income tax at all.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Larry Perrault, Houston, TX — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:40:48 GMT

Huckabee's campaign has responded ar the campaign website blog http://mikehuckabee.com "Blog"

Plenty of information is available about Huckabee and "conservative" criticisms on immigration and fiscal policy, both at this site and elsewhere on the web, though I hadn't seen anyone try to challenge him on abortion, before.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Adam C, Seattle, Wash — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:41:12 GMT

Fred Thompson? Are you serious? I find it ironic how democrats are supposedly the party of Hollywood yet it's the GOP that keeps fielding actors as presidential candidates. I guess it takes an actor to try to shovel that much b/s on a daily basis.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

CharlesJr, Katy, Texas — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:42:19 GMT

Fred, FOX is not the enemy. We like you to keep heading in the direction you are going. Protagonists can only strengthen you. Stay firm and steady, looking forward to IOWA and New Hampshire. GOD Speed

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Rick Taylor, Louisville, KY — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:46:23 GMT

Fox News "skewed" something. No!!!!

It's fun watching the jackals eat their own. And cry when the propaganda machine chooses one of them over the others. Boo-hoo Mr. Thompson, Fox (Murdoch/Ailes) decided they wanted to take Rudy to the prom and you've been stood up by the slick talking huckster that is Fox News.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:57:58 GMT

Fred, come on buddy. Skewed news from FOX? Preposterous! When we criticize FOX the terrorists win. Get on board would ya? With respectable shills like Brit Hume and Chris Wallace, FOX really appears almost journalistic. You just need to get down with the sickness dude! Support your local ministry of truth!

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Lance Newell — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:02:19 GMT

Sheeesh,they woke tompson up for that long...

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Iris Lynch, Palominas AZ — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:09:26 GMT

Fred is correct, tho his criticisms could have been a lot stronger. The ENTIRE media have been either falsely critizing him or censoring Fred completely. Until just these last few days, there was litlle to nothing written about him an when there was something, it was a false accusation, such as his being lazy...a criticism started by Clinton operatives, with no basisi in fact. Being a slow talker soens't make a person lazy. It more likely means he THNKS before he opens his mounth and what comes out is usually pretty sharp. The media (left wing,i.e. 90%) area afraid of Thompson. Imagine him in a debate with Hillary. Shrill and chill.

Iris Lynch

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Gene Roqueplot, Farrell, PA — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:11:57 GMT

If you have two commentators who criticizing Thompson campaign, were is the fair and balanced part were your Fox commentators who credit his campaign???????

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Art Price, Tulsa, OK — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:12:42 GMT

Huckabee and the Fair Tax is just what we need. I will not consider any candidate who does not support the Fair Tax! It is that important to our freedom and economic progress.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

J. Franklin — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:15:11 GMT

Fred represents the same old, same old and is generating zero enthusiasm on the trail. In a recent debate Fred said (paraphrasing) that the economy was doing great and he doesn't see why it shouldn't continue to do well. Is he that out of touch with reality?

This country needs a true change of course and a return to the Constitutional principles and sound monetary policies that allowed America to be great and greatly admired in the past. We need a person of high integrity with a consistent record of supporting domestic liberties and not just another pandering political hack hungry for power.

Sorry, Fred.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Nerik Malakov — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:16:16 GMT

America should have low taxes in the future. I think this is great deal that Thompson’s plan to keep taxes low. Those democrate want to raise our taxes that will hurt our economy. We need to keep America great by keep taxes low.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Carl, Monument CO — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:18:38 GMT

Sadly, Fred Thompson is yet another "Want to be" old school politician. He desperately tried to use the Fox network to stir up doubt about his Republican rivals instead of showing his data for all his lovely Republican tax reduction gifts. This is the tried and true method of the old guard politician. Promise the voter what you know the voter would love to get, don't bother to figure out how to pay for it, then smear the other candidates.

The Republicans promise tax cuts we can't afford, and the Democrats promise spending we can't afford. None of them bother to tell the truth because voters just choose the lesser of liars instead of the teller of truth.

I find them all distasteful and would not want to be near them unless I was on the jury examining their lies.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Todd De Groff, Indianapolis — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:21:32 GMT

I'm an attorney of nearly 21 years experience and have done a substantial amount of probate work (although it has not been a specialty). If you'e going to refer to the federal inheritance tax (more properly, "estate tax") as the "death tax," you need to acknowledge, at each mention, that this is an media-spin name coined by, or at least popularized by, Republican strategist Frank Luntz, and is not the true and correct term for this type of tax. If you used this media-spin term in a legal pleading or in an argument in court, you would be snickered at by everyone in the room, including the court reporter.
It is no more correct to always refer to this type of tax by this name than it is to always refer to political reporters and bloggers as "research-skill impaired."

I also understand that, based on the rules of etiquette of this kind of forum, it is probably rude to point out that the federal estate tax effects only about 1.9% of all probate estates, or about 43,000 people (for the latest year for which I could obtain data), and that complete repeal of the tax would result in a loss of revenue to the feds of about $50billion, and to the states of about $9billion.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

howard , pittsburgh , pa — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:26:45 GMT

republicans come out with the same old stuff. reagonomics and supply side economics is a free ride for the rich. since 1980 , the government has declared war on the poor and the middle class. if you want to talk family values, then eliminate all tax on families earning less then 40,000$ per year. and the best welfare program is a decent job. seems like you do not want to talk about the fact that many husbands and wives work two or three jobs to support their kids. and your tax cuts for the rich will eventually make america a bankrupct superpower. the 2008 election will result in a democrat mandate for a "new deal"

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Frank, Orlean, VA — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 23:34:05 GMT

Shocker Fox news not fair say it aint so Fred. Fox is double digit conservitive ie dumas love it.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Brian Webb, Oklahoma City, OK — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:04:56 GMT

The Flat Tax, sounds OK at first but let's take a closer look Fred.
If your combined income is $100k per year then your net would be $90k. Great. But what if you make $110k, your net income would drop to $82,5. In short you are punished AGAIN for making more money. So there is no reason to try to make more, or to be more productive. This system is completely REGRESSIVE.
Many of us know that this is a current bill in the House that has the whopping support of 4 co-sponsors. WOW 4 whole co-sponsors. How about we look at another version of tax reform, the FairTax which currently maintains +/- 70 co-sponsors and is growing rapidly.
The Fairtax is a Progressive tax system that will eliminate that nightmare called the IRS. Instead of taxing income it taxes sales at the Retail level, and only on NEW products. Consider the following;

Every American will keep their entire paycheck. No more withholding, NO DEDUCTIONS.
Completely untaxes low income families. Not even Social Security is withheld and a "prebate" is given to all US residents with a VALID SS card. This Prebate will cover the retail sales tax charged on goods and services up to the poverty line.
Existing and future saving and investments are tax free.
No more tax compliance costs will be incurred by hard working Americans. We currently spend over $350 billion per year on this. Not to metion the headaches it causes.
Promotes economic growth and wage increases.
Bring jobs back to America.
Make the products we export more competative.
It collects taxes from tourists, illegals and criminals.
It will help eliminate the corruption in government and in Congress. If your Congressman is not behind this then you should ask WHO is really pulling his or her strings.
Check it out for yourself at Fairtax.org

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Janet Welker — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:05:20 GMT

Bottom line is that politicians are not after the truth; they are after power. What do they say about absolute power????????? Sorry Fred.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

B Brown — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 02:51:55 GMT

Brian -- your math sure is strange. 110k earnings would generate (10% * 100K) plus (25% * 10K) = 12,500 Leaves 97,500 by my math. The proposal as I read it was 10% on 1st 100K and 25% on excess. Much better than flat tax.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Ian Repley, Ann Arbor — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 03:50:00 GMT

Oh, wonderful, Sam Brownback's wildly-wonderful (tongue-in-cheek) "optional flat tax" is back courtesy of Hangdog Fred - who played around as a backer of the FairTax, until he didn't anymore.

Increasingly, Mike Huckabee is what leadership looks like ( http://snipurl.com/leaderlook ). Huckabee's ardent support for the FairTax ( http://snipurl.com/fthuckabeeonirs) sets him apart from all other viable presidential candidates.

The FairTax Act of 2007 (HR 25 / S 1025) ( http://snipurl.com/irsgone ) represents a prospective power shift of massive proportions in America. It lays out a practical ideal of voluntary tax payment, based on a substantial level of taxpayer choice that the plan affords. Since FairTax untaxes basic necessities (up to socially-accepted levels of poverty-level spending), what is taxed is marginal, and/or desired or preferred, on a broader base of retail products and services. This is to say that the taxpayer may, under the FairTax, choose to purchase used products and avoid paying the tax. And, to the extent desired, the taxpayer may choose to self-perform certain services rather than pay for them. This will stimulate do-it-yourself education, improve citizens' self-reliance; indeed the FairTax represents the possibility of ushering in a new "can-do citizen psychology" that would accrue to greater demands for government accountability - truly, a socio-cultural "sea change," or - better - a restoration of a "freeholder" mindset on account that politicians could no longer directly grab dollars from paychecks, nor could they grap operating capital from businesses.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Louis Nardozi, Chesapeake VA — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 06:47:27 GMT

Thompson has nothing to say so he steals a popular tax idea from other people. Never mind that Congress makes laws, not the President. He'll just wave his magic Tommy wand and make it happen. And as for the Fair Tax, HA! Talk about regressive - a really rich person might make 10 million dollars a year. How much does he actually spend on NEW items - 100k? Remember, most mansions, works of art, large gems, collectibles etc. are NOT new. So the middle class schmuck has a tax bite of 23% while Mr. Rich Guy pays 0.023%. Not to mention the fact that corporations making goods for export overseas get the use of all our infrastructure FREE. Dr. Ron Paul has the answer to this problem - reduce our military spending drastically, eliminate foreign aid and then we can afford not to HAVE an income tax.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

John Q Public — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:53:08 GMT

Rich Bellers, Your hate is showing. You demean MSNBC and Keith Olberman, yet..your here? Go back to Faux News..its obviously just your speed.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Bill Roberts, Daytona Beach, Florida — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:49:55 GMT

I watched the interview of Fred Thompson by Chris Wallace. Believe your article is slightly off-key in that it was not Thompson who changed the subject, but Wallace. I am a regular viewer of Fox News. Thompson was right in stating that Fox News was skewed in reporting more negatives about Thompson and indeed the teasers to the program in question reflected that. As a Conservative myselF, I have my doubts about the conservatism of Fred Barnes (a well-known supporter of John McCain and his views on stem cell research. Charles Krauthamer is brilliant, but he leaves consistently appears to favor Guiliani. Both are on the Fox News payroll. One would have thought that to be "fair and balanced", at least a Conservative of different views would have been included. No one questions the right of Chris Wallace to ask tough questions. But his performance in this interview was disgusting. Sadly, he frequently comes across as a smart alert, pompous and self-serving. What a shame that the eminent Brit Hume is not the interviewer on that program. Then you would get "fair, balanced and unafraid."

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Brian Webb, Oklahoma City, OK — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:49:57 GMT

B Brown --- I am not sure my math is incorrect. The article states "and 25% on incomes above these amounts" which could be interpreted either way you or I did the math. The way you explained it makes more sense however, in this world of punishing the successfull how many of our congressman would take the lesser of the two. In addition the Flat Tax is still a tax on income and keeps the nightmare IRS in place to add a few hundred thousand more pages of compliance and code. Eliminating the IRS and going to a consumption tax is the only way to make things fair for ALL Americans.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Bill Schmidt Ft Lauderdale, FL — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:16:45 GMT

The media hasn't been devoting equal time to candidates. The "liberal" media as Faux News puts it, concentrate on Clinton, Obama and Edwards with a rare mention of one of the other candidates (Biden, Richardson, Kucinich, Dodd).

Meanwhile Faux News has been favoring Giuliani. "Fair & Balanced" indeed.

Fred's flat tax? Doesn't sound fair to me. 10% up to 50K single income? Then jumps to 25%? What is my incentive to earn over 49,999? As soon as I get a raise I come out behind? Hmmm... Might have made more sense with a higher bottom bracket of say 75k or 100k single income. Maybe give the lower and middle class a fighting chance.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

Eduardo, Alexandria, VA — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:33:26 GMT

LOL @ anyone criticizing Huckabee's consistency on abortion. What a maroon.

Fred talks taxes; criticizes FOX

John B, Des Moines, IA — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:48:49 GMT

The only problem with the Fair Tax is that it doesn't work.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/06/pf/taxes/consumptiontax_0510/
http://www.factcheck.org/taxes/unspinning_the_fairtax.html