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Subscribe to RSS“Warren Buffett tells Time magazine he is ready to call Republicans' tax bluff. Last fall, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said that if Buffett was feeling ‘guilty’ about paying too little in taxes, he should ‘send in a check,’” Political Wire writes. “So, he is willing to take them up on it and has pledged to match one for one all such voluntary contributions made by Republican members of Congress. Said Buffett: ‘And, I'll even go three for one for McConnell.’”
NBC’s Luke Russert and Frank Thorp reports on a memo sent around by GOP leadership in the House on the way forward for the next several weeks, including this on the payroll tax cut: “Given the reasonableness of the House-passed bill, and given the work that has already been done, there is no reason this bill cannot be completed swiftly and with little acrimony. Frankly, the only way this process will not go smoothly and through regular order is if the White House chooses to disrupt it for political reasons.”
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I think this is a safe bet for Buffett. I don't believe there will be many takers from the Republican/Tea Party for this wager.
sue -- 7 of the 10 wealthiest members of Congress are democrats. Will there be any takers from that group?
remember the movie "The Christmas Story"? Remember the use of "double dog dare" by the children.
buffet reminds me of the kids in the movie -- just a childish comment for attention
Nothing childish about it Buffet was honest about the tax laws in this country, which are bankrupting us, they skirted the issue by telling him if he was worried he could make out a check, now he turned their cheap trick back on them, they are all millionaires and they pay half the tax rate I do, Buffet has now given them the opportunity to practice what they preach he should do. It will serve to further highlight the hypocrisy of a republican agenda that claims if you lavish more wealth on the already wealth in will help the people in the middle and lower class that are losing everything. When will dirt poor republican voters realize that less for them will never turn into more for them?
since 1945, the democrats have held a majority in the tax-writing house for 52 years, for 46 of those 52 years the democrats also had the Senate majority, and for 28 of those 52 years there was also a democrat in the white house.
During this same time the republicans have had a House majority for 14 years, for 12 of those 14 years the republicans had the Senate majority and for 4 of those 14 years there was also a republican in the white house.
the democrats as you can clearly see have had a huge part in writing the tax laws that you believe to be so bad, as do I.
maybe you should redirect your anger and disgust to them??
That may be true but they did not sign the Norquist pledge and subjugate their oath of office to a single man. The democrats are now trying to do something and republicans block it with all their heart, the Bush tax cuts was a republican move and Obama did extend them as they held unemployment benefits hostage to the extension. Niether side is guilt free but the republicans now hold not taxing the rich as the most sacred thing even as they complain about deficits that will never be paid by cuts against current revenue levels. Not to mention the country was not in this shape 52 years ago.
@james(bunchofnumbers) -- let's be realistic here. In 2011, Warren Buffet was listed as the world's 3rd wealthiest individual. If you truly think he's doing this for "attention," you have no idea how much attention people are willing pay to someone with that much money who's dumb as a box of rocks, let alone to someone as astute and smart as Buffet. In 2009, some execs won a charity auction, paying more than $1.5 million just to have lunch with the guy. And you think he's looking for attention? Get a grip.
Buffet's original op ed piece about higher taxes on the wealthy was made, from all reports, in good faith. Buffet seems very sincere about believing in the old adage, "To whom much is given, much is expected." It was the Republicans who answered Buffet's 8/11 NYT op-ed piece with the flippant remark voice by McConnell, who said that if Buffett were feeling “guilty” about paying too little in taxes, he should “send in a check.”
If the Democrats answered Buffet's sincere position with such a flip comment, I have no doubt he'd be on their backs, too. As it is, he's telling those who didn't take him seriously that they should put their money where their mouth is. And good for him!
You can read about the whole thing here:http://swampland.time.com/2012/01/11/warren-buffett-to-mitch-mcconnell-put-up-or-shut-up/#ixzz1jH9dSRKW
Buffet is OLD and VERY RICH. It is very easy for him to make these type of statements. He can write an additional check to the government anytime he feels the need. If he feels the government doesn't have enough revenue; give up his. Lets see how quick he will do this.
I guarantee he hasn't paid a dime more than what was required via his tax lawyers.
And neither have the millionaires in Congress who chide him for it, and he is making them own up to the fact that they will never do what they preach he should do. They make silly statements like they are above it all he makes them own up to the fact that he can call them on their cheap rhetorical tricks, he is way smarter than any of those guys or their political advisers. The old guy is funny as hell, turning their talking point against them, watch them backpedal now.
inthemiddle
I guarantee he hasn't paid a dime more than what was required via his tax lawyers.
I can guarantee none of you righties hasn't paid a dime more than what required via your tax lawyers as well. Here is a thought for you nobody has.
Smitty:
You are right. I like MY MONEY. I'm sure your butt attempt to receive as much as you can in refunds every year.
OMG! Are House Republicans really this delusional, or did they write this memo for our benefit? The President was sweating bullets the payroll tax cut wouldn't pass (and so was I!) It's the Republicans who played games with 1) raising the debt ceiling and 2) keeping the payroll tax cut for the middle class. I'm sick of the House scaring me to death! Re-elect Obama and give him a reasonable House with which to work.
Those chickens (turkeys) in the Tea-baggers/Republican party will never take him up on this bet!
Obama 2012
McConnell (the turtle) likes to talk smack but then quickly backs away or becomes silent when challenged!
Turtle you should put your money where your mouth is...a la Romney with his $10,000 bet.....
The Turtle has lots of money and should help out his country that pays him so very well to do NOTHING!
Again why don't Buffett and all the big mouth rich liberals and hollywood
stars [michael fat moore] give all your money away and go work at a
job for $9 an hour and show us you walk the walk? NOWAY! tell OBOMBO
to give away his 65 million he just got for his socialist re-election and open
a healthcare center and homeless shelter for the poor! NOWAY! it's all liberal
BS! Buffett is another one who has no idea what middle class is going thru
because of the liberal agenda of this president!
Your anger is unbecoming Evil.
@Mo-1852032
Agree with ya' ....There is nothing Good about the anger expressed in Evils post.
goodvsevil Same old right wing talk. After a while it all sounds the same. Thats because its the same stuff every day just a different name.
I just wonder will the GOP congress call his buff? Even the millionaire gop congress cant hurt his pockets. The gop congress should try, I would be impressed. I will call you and raise you 3x !
Good for Mr. Buffett. I doubt any of the politicians have the same pride in this country that Warren Buffett has... I doubt they will put their money where their mouth is..