When is a tax cut for 98 percent of taxpayers portrayed as a tax increase? Why are Republicans saying this?

Question

When is a tax cut for 98 percent of taxpayers portrayed as a tax increase? When some of the small handful of people whose taxes will go up happen to control the nation's news media.

Last week, President Obama unveiled a budget outline that extends the Bush tax cuts for all but the top two percent of taxpayers and makes permanent a tax credit of up to $800 for low- and middle-income workers that was included in the recent stimulus package, among other tax cuts.

On the other hand, individual taxpayers with taxable income above $200,000 ($250,000 for families) per year would pay more in taxes under Obama's plan, under which the tax rates paid on income in the top brackets would revert to their levels under President Clinton in the 1990s -- from 33 and 35 percent to 36 and 39.6 percent. Slate.com's Daniel Gross estimates that for someone with $350,000 in income, this will amount to about $1,500 a year in increased taxes.

So: Obama's plan cuts taxes for the vast majority of Americans, while raising them for the small number of people who make more than $200,000.

But the media, eager to hype their bogus "war on the wealthy" storyline, have portrayed it as a tax increase.

Do you feel sympathy for all those poor rich people? Your Republican Congressmen do!

Fly in the Ointment · Accepted Answer

When you represent the rich and when greed is what you are all about. The Repulican brand does not represent the working man. About the only one who thinks it does is Joe the fake Plumber. Judging by the GOP's current polls I think others are finally getting it. I love to see the answers that justify it and then say..it goes to those who do not pay taxes...Payroll taxes is taxes! Let them keep defending it all the way to the Democratic Super-Majority in 2010!

Ben W · Answer

funny thing! in america 60% of our population either gets as much or more money returned to them in there tax refund than they paid in taxes. (it was the top 5% percent that he raised it on (that only further proves your ignorants.)) While the Top 10% pay 90% of the total revenue. and the top 5% pay around 60%. even the top 2% pay a quarter of the total revenues. so while hey cut taxes fot the bottem 95% by 1 or 2 % he increased the Taxes By about 5% on the people that account for more than half of the tax revenues!

navymom · Answer

This seems to boil down to the moral to the story about the emperor who wore no clothes. 

Once we as Americans stop thinking of the "rich" as some sort of higher life form, and the poor as a plague, perhaps we could get down to the business of building our country together, instead of pointing fingers of blame.

Ben H · Answer

Because they are just lowering the with-holdings, not the TAX.  $13 a week might just make the difference between eating at Mc D's, and going to Shoney's.  I'm not gonna get my mortgage excused, since I paid mine off years ago, like I was supposed to.  His policies are ridiculous, and are very close to SOCIALISM,  which has never worked anywhere else, and won't work here.  Let people keep the benefits of their labor, and let those without sin cast the first stone.......

Insite · Answer

Of 8,000,000 people in NYC 40,000 (.005%) pay 60% of the taxes.

Assuming you work, does your employer make more then $250K. 

All of my suppliers make more than $250K so their prices will reflect their tax increase. I will in turn pass that to my customer. Their tax break will be absorbed by my, and every other businesses, price increase. 

Fortunately if your smart enough to make $250K your smart enough to hide it come tax season.

*edit*  It must be so embarrassing to constantly get proven wrong that there is never a rebuttle and just a thumbs down

honestamerican · Answer

Because they're all masters of distortion.We're just supposed to believe everything the republicans tell us is the truth,the whole truth and nothing but the truth.They would never lie to us.Just like Bush didn't lie about yellow cake uranium Saddam was trying to buy from Africa.

Agent Smith · Answer

You forgot the increase in unlimited social taxes (over 15% additional tax with no cap)

The next effect is a 60% effective tax rate.

Todd H · Answer

It's Bogus. How can you reduce taxes paid for those who don't pay taxes? All those who make under a certain amount get ALL of their taxes back, so how can you cut something that isn't there to begin with?

Anonymous · Answer

you'd be singing a different tune if you were the one who worked his azz off to make a better life for his family, then some idiot comes along and wants you to support all the lazy welfare people and illegal immigrants....

Anonymous · Answer

$1,000 for each kid, out of control earned income credit,

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When is a tax cut for 98 percent of taxpayers portrayed as a tax increase? Why are Republicans saying this?

11 Answers