Since I posted the video of Schock’s reaction to Obama’s new tax policy, I thought it might be sporting to post the President’s announcement of his tax policy to kind of put things in perspective. Here’s what I found on the White House’s website:
What immediately made me laugh — not so much in amusement, but rather in disgust — was the fact that Tim “Tax Cheat” Geithner was introducing the whole thing. How can that guy stand up there and talk about tax cheats and not immediately get struck by lightning? Then Obama says this:
Nobody likes paying taxes, particularly in times of economic stress. But most Americans meet their responsibilities because they understand that it’s an obligation of citizenship, necessary to pay the costs of our common defense and our mutual well-being. And yet, even as most American citizens and businesses meet these responsibilities, there are others who are shirking theirs.
Yes, there certainly are. One of them is standing about five feet to your immediate right, Mr. President! Wow. It just doesn’t get any more hypocritical than that.
My dad, whenever he sees Geithner’s picture in the paper, immediately writes “TAX CHEAT” across Geithner’s forehead. I think that ought to be the standard in all newspapers and news reports across the country. I’m instituting it here at the Chronicle.
One more thing: I found this funny little parody of “Tax Man” by the Beatles on You Tube. It’s called “Tax Cheat (Tim Geithner Song)”:
Oh so true! Why these BO blind faith supporters can’t see it just continues to amaze me! Of course anybody who follows BO speeches knows he just reads whatever his puppeteers put on his teleprompter! He may be a Harvard grad, but as an American – he’s an evil dunce! History will prove this – trust me. BTW I’m a Republican but I sure didn’t vote for Schock – so don’t think I’m “party blind”. GOD bless America – WE need HIS help!
Without malice: You need to adopt a new moniker. Calling Obama an evil dunce–that’ must be “wishful” thinking on your part. I voted for Bush the first time but not the second. But you can’t possibly be criticizing Obama’s speaking ability when we just finished listening to Bush stumble through speeches even with the teleprompter. I spent all of my youth in a church that taught me that being a Democrat was as close to evil as I could get. It took me the better part of twenty years to stop rebelling from such narrowmindedness–and then finally coming to the point that I now believe that Christians sit on both sides of the aisle and that there are points of view on both sides with which I can identify and agree. I now believe that the United States does not have a “Christian” party, and now I can happily be part of a church that probably has more Republicans than Democrats (by a rather large margin). However, I can’t even begin to comprehend your “evil dunce” label for Obama. Earlier I was called a maniac for voting for Obama–now I guess I could be considered evil. You are going to have to give me some better reason for trusting you to predict history. I firmly believe that God is in control no matter whom you or I do or do not vote for.
I do understand C.J.’s post about Geitner–and being a tax cheat and the irony of his position in government. I cannot argue against his point of view because I have come to trust the fairness of C.J.’s point of view. I do have a feeling there are many tax cheats on both sides of the aisle and that some have been chosen by both parties to serve in governmental positions. I will continue to have faith that God will be able to use Obama in his position as president–not that Obama will be the savior but that he can be used by God, as we all can. As Diane stated she might not live long enough to be able to tell me “I told you so,” I’m sure that I won’t live long enough either. But I can wait until eternity to stop seeing through the glass darkly. Well, that’s enough of my walking down the theological path.
THIS post is why I do and will always love you CJ.
No offense Mrs. CJ. š
I am sure Timmy Terrific had the best of intentions when he repeatedly cheated on this taxes so it is OK. It is only wrong and evil when corporations do it with greed in their hearts. Timmy isn’t like that, so nothing to see there.
Does your father write *** on the heads of GOP congressmen? At least the ones caught in men’s rooms? Does he write “Dick” on Cheney’s forehead? After all it appears Cheney was really running the country. I’ll still take a few tax cheats (and I’ll bet there are plenty on both sides of the aisle) over what we have had the last 8 years.
Emtronics– Let’s see; if I’m reading your comment correctly, I believe your argument is:
A. Republicans are bad.
B. Geithner is not a Republican.
C. Therefore, Geithner is good, even though he’s a tax cheat.
Logical fallacies abound! Oh, and thanks for the unwarranted attack on my dad. You’re a real class act.
CJ: Yet another great post!
Let’s keep Americans transfixed (distracted) by the government’s repeated statements “we are protecting American jobs” meanwhile we are globalizing the U.S. (0:49) by adopting international standards for this and that and everything else under the kitchen sink while our national sovereignty is chipped away piece by piece.
Anyone listening, anyone understanding what is going on here …. G20 ….. international standards …..
And now we turn the time over to our cheerleader squad captain …. Captain Geithner
Rah rah
Mr. President, when you took office you promised to reform our tax code to make it more simple and more fair for hard working Americans ….
to have their standard of living lowered while American taxpayers help to bailout most every third world nation and Europe and China and and and ….. from the loans guaranteed by the IMF so that these countries can build up their military arsenals and purchase property around the world, except that the American taxpayers are subsidizing other countries with loans which will never be repaid and are continually refinanced to make loan payments for banks —- think interest only loans.
Meanwhile back at here in the U.S., the American standard of living keeps creeping downward. Please wake up.
Giethner — you promised that our tax dollars would be used to strengthen the American economy … American competitiveness …..
Yeah, go team. So Americans can take their place in the global government. Geithner sounds like he is reading a list of April Fool’s jokes! The irony is too much.
Another ten countries adopt international standards, including Switzerland and Luxemburg …… rah rah — let’s globalize. Let’s get everyone on the dole…..
CJ: Maybe there is a Youtube production about globalization….. the elimination of national sovereignty ….
CJ Forget it, forgot where I was
Tim Geithner is a “tax cheat” because if he wasn’t, we might be looking into his tenure as head of Fed in New York. Why in the world would you put someone from the Federal Reserve as your tax chief?
There are only a few answers I can think of…
1) Keep your friends close and your enemies closer
2) Who really runs the country’s policies anyway? The Federal Reserve Board.
3) Our entire tax system is about to have a major critical change
What does tax cheat mean, anyhow? Is Halliburton a tax cheat because it moved overseas to avoid paying taxes? Am I a tax cheat because I call my home and family a business and my wife and I a limited partnership?
CJ:
Aren’t you doing the exact same thing that you called out Schock for? Jumping to a radical conclusion without understanding or at least explaining the details?
Do you really think Geithner is a CHEAT, or did he make a MISTAKE? Do you, or anyone else (liberal or conservative) know the details of what caused the tax problem? Do you know that the conservative Wall Street Journal still supported Geithner in his nomination for Treasury Secretary (Oh, yeah, I’m sure that was because he was going to help out his Wall Street buddies)
We need to take a fair look at the facts. Yes, the U.S. has the highest marginal corporate tax rate, but what is the EFFECTIVE tax rate (after deductions, exclusions, credits, etc) – that’s all that really matters. Part of Obama’s plan is to not allow deductions that are associated with foreign income until that foreign income is brought back in to the U.S. and subject to taxation. Does that not make sense?
Or should we just call Geithner a tax cheat, suggest that CAT will move out the country, etc.
Do you really think Geithner is a CHEAT, or did he make a MISTAKE?
Why is that anytime it is discovered that one of these guys made a “mistake” on their taxes it always seems to be in their favor, and not the other way around?
“Why is that anytime it is discovered that one of these guys made a āmistakeā on their taxes it always seems to be in their favor, and not the other way around?”
Who would point out the mistake or care about it if it was the other way? If you over pay your taxes, either the IRS sends you a notice along with a check, or nothing happens… what is newsworthy about that?
EM can not refrain from mud slinging on the Bush Admin, “although he has said he only does it on his own blog”.
It is not the fact that tax cheats are scorned by most folks it is the fact that certain types of tax cheats are ok if they are not from a certain party.
If nominees to a certain federal office have issues of not paying the correct wages to their nanny and they are nominated by a President that is not a republican then it is ok since there is some other person who is just as guilty but not in the spotlight at the moment from a non-democrat party affiliation.
When it is a matter of our idiot versus their idiot, always take you own idiot it is so much easier to justify.
CJ’s father is a great American!
Jon — Geithner is a tax cheat. Take a look at this document for examples. But for the sake of argument, let’s say you’re right and it was just a “mistake.” Why would we want someone in charge of the Treasury who can’t figure out his personal (comparatively less complicated) taxes? Would you want to hire an electrician who has trouble screwing in a light bulb?
As for Obama’s tax policy, given what I know of it at this time, I’m not opposed to it.
The difference between cheating and mistakes is intent. The key issue on his tax returns was for FICA taxes while he was at the IMF, an international body, who, while withholding state and federal income taxes, does not, and is not required, to withhold FICA. Yes, Geithner should have caught it (as should his accountant in the years that Geithner did not do his own taxes). I highly doubt he intended to screw the government on these taxes.
Yes, it looks bad, but your electrician analogy is again hyperbole. I doubt Jim Owens knows how to build a tractor, but I think he’s done a pretty good job of running a company that builds tractors.
For Cripes Sake! He failed to report IMF income that was exempt from withholding… that amount was probably so far below his radar he thought of it as insignificant if he thought of it all.
The fact that a Federal Reserve Head is receiving income from the IMF should set off more alarms than if he paid US income tax on it.
IMF INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND… dba THE WORLD BANK… aka The International Bank of the Settlements.
I REFUSE to report income earned outside of the W-2 / 10-99 vision of the IRS. Don’t you?
“I doubt Jim Owens knows how to build a tractor, but I think heās done a pretty good job of running a company that builds tractors.”
I will never understand what that means… “running a company”. Does that mean hiring people who will do all the work so you can get half of a million shares of company stock?
Reminds of the film Trading Places. I suspect ANYONE with a grasp of politically correct speech, a nice suit and haircut could run Caterpillar.
How many of you verify that your employer is withholding the proper amount for Social Security and Medicare? Do you realize if there is an underpayment, you are expected to make up the difference when you file your returns? I suspect most people just look at their W-2 and assume that the numbers in those boxes are correct.
Every now and then you read about a company who systematically underpays (under withholds) Social Security and Welfare, gets caught. It gets resolved somehow, either as a ‘mistake’ or a criminal action. So potentially many of the readers here could be ‘tax cheats’ too. Most of those discrepancies go uninvestigated because the sums involved are just not worth the trouble. Heaven help you if you have to run for public office.
This guy is a tax cheat, that guy is a tax cheat. Who cares, its on both sides of the aisle. What we need to care about is that there is no one in politics today that has a perfectly clean record back to birth. All of them have some skeletons in their closets and owe favors to those that helped them up the ladder. I seriously doubt that we could find a politican, male or female that hasn’t at one time or another in their life screwed up and I’m not talking about minor mistakes. These people are making major decisions about our lives and we are electing them to do that. What is wrong with us? The biggest problem I see is that when we vote its voting for the lessor of two evils and that is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.
SD – It’s one thing to be a tax cheat it’s another to be a tax cheat and secretary of the US treasury. How many million people in the world and THAT was his pick. Get a chimp, or Britney Spears if you must- but not a tax cheat.
No one will ever be able to take seriously anything that comes out of his mouth, as CJ’s original post will attest. No doubt there are similar posts and sentiments all over the interplex.
“False dates on documents raise questions for Schock”
By CHRISTOPHER WILLS
of The Associated Press
Posted Oct 14, 2008 @ 02:52 PM
Last update Oct 15, 2008 @ 10:40 AM
HMMMMMMMMM…….?
And I think he did. So I guess we’re each entitled to our opinion. But hey, I’m willing to meet you halfway. Let’s use the language of the President and just say he “avoided paying taxes.”
Your Owens analogy implies that Geithner doing his taxes is analogous to “building a tractor,” but that heading up the Treasury is analogous to “running a company that builds tractors.” I don’t buy that. Decisions Geithner makes as Treasury Secretary are directly translated into tax code. What Owens does as head of Cat has no impact on the mechanics of building a tractor. The analogy would be having someone at Cat who can’t put a tractor together being promoted to the position of writing a manual on how to put a tractor together.
kcdad: Ah yes, the Fed Reserve and the IMF and and and and ….. the tangled web of global government……. I agree with you on this issue. CFR is full of R’s and D’s — same animal just the markings are a little different…. same outcome.
Jon: Hum and why would the WSJ support Geithner?
It just depends if one’s view of history is based on the accidental or conspiracy theory.
there’s nothing wrong with legally avoiding paying taxes. Evasion, however, is another matter. And I am sick and tired of hearing this “everybody does it” BS. Nobody is perfect, but you can find somebody to head up the Treasury Dept. who is not a tax cheat. You really can.
Diane,
“No one will ever be able to take seriously anything that comes out of his mouth…”
Are you talking about Geithner or Schock?
kcdad: Holistic approach —- aka global oversight ……..
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090507/ap_on_bi_ge/us_bernanke/print
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Thursday called for a holistic approach to strengthening oversight of the banking system to prevent future financial crises.
Regulators must not only sharpen their assessments of individuals banks, but also examine the financial system as a whole to detect risks that could endanger the normal flow of credit, market operations and commerce ā critical elements to the smooth functioning of the U.S. economy, Bernanke said.
NV – I nominate YOU to be Schock’s opponent in the next election. Hell I’ll even make your first campaign contribution. C’mon, show us how it’s done Sparky.
First, Precinct Committeeman, I rarely do Bush on my blog. Go back and have a look see. Maybe 2 posts out of all my posts. I avoid national politics on my blog. Of course every now and then Limbaugh or Hannity do something that I just can’t refuse. Besides, there are web sites devoted to Bush and his “flaws”. He was the biggest idiot President ever and it seems it is now coming out that Dick Cheney really ran things behind the curtain. I guess you don’t know Dick. It was the Bush Administrations fault for the economic mess Obama inherited and if it was an 8 year Democratic President in office, then we would be hearing your spew everywhere and Fox News would exploded. Instead, we have the good Right on every talking head show, like Schock who never finds the time to answer an email, hitting every talk show saying how Obama’s policies are screwing America.
Yes, Geithner didn’t pay his FICA taxes while working out of the country. If you all want to call him a tax cheat, then fine, but to his credit, he even went back many years, even though the statue of limitations was up, and paid those FICA taxes also. Still, we should hang him anyway right? So far, he is doing a wonderful job and so far things are coming around only time will tell even though he is a tax cheat.
I feel that since a majority of Americans, even Republicans, got tired and voted out the GOP last election and even turned some long standing red states blue, we have the right to mud sling Bush. He is a liar and a cheat and maybe a criminal of torture laws.
SO Republicans = bad
Geithner = not a Republican
Geithner = therefore Geithner good even though he didn’t pay FICA
Whoopie do… It happens in both parties it’s just that the losing Republicans can not stand it and they simply can not stand to see Obama succeed in any way shape or form. Even I stood behind Bush after 9-11 and I stood with him on his reasons for going into Iraq. When no WMDs showed up and when he announced “Mission Accomplished” on an air craft carrier, I knew we all have been duped. He and Cheney drove this country into the dirt, so PC, just add water and you got mud. Hell, even your own Republican party won’t mention the great accomplishments of the Bush administration. What does that tell you?
Wow,I am impressed that he went back and paid taxes that he cheated on that he wouldn’t have had to pay. Did he have to pay any penalities? I don’t think he did. You try that and I guarantee you will have an IRS letter saying pay up or we are coming after you. Charlie Rangel is another tax cheat who did not have to pay any penalities and he is head of the committee that oversees tax policy in the House. I suppose he “just made a mistake” also.
I guess we are all flawed humanbeings–some more flawed than others, but all flawed neverthless. I have never known exactly how to grade one person’s flaws against another’s or against my own. That doesn’t keep me from trying on more than one occasion to rank people according to their sins. Shame on me. Then there are all those theological arguments against judging others that I will avoid bringing up.
All that said, it is still good to call attention to the actions of our leaders–to try to keep our institutions as honest as possible. I just prefer (when I’m living up to my own standards) to label the actions, not the individuals.
CJ:
I’ll stick with your tractor manual example. However, the guy who writes the manual is not someone who knows how to put it together. To clarify, it depends on what we mean by “write” the manual. First of all, there is no one single person who knows every detail of how the tractor is put together, in order to write a manual on it. There are hydraulics, electrical systems, welding, etc. With a product that complex, the person who typically writes the manual is a “technical writer”, often someone with an engineering background, but he/she relies on all of the other experts to put the manual together.
The point is this things, including running the Treasury Dept, are extremely complex to say the least. Criticizing Geithner for not doing his taxes correctly seems to set the bar a bit too high, don’t you think? (Just curious, but if someone held had done ALL of the taxes for him and made the mistake, would you still come down on him – this assumes, as you previously said, that you’ll assume it was a mistake and not intentional. Further, if someone else did his taxes, and they were done correctly, would you not want him running the Treasury and thus the IRS because he “may” not know how to do his taxes because he has someone else do them?)
So, this all brings us back to the original premise: Did he knowingly cheat, or did he make a mistake? Yes, we have a difference of opinion. That surprises me, for after reading your blog, albeit only the last few days, you seem like an open-minded person – one who does not pass judgement based on a person’s based upon their political leanings (I’m not saying that you’re doing that now, either).
But if I follow your logic with respect to Schock and the notary issues, then I must conclude that he is not fit to be a legislator. (He creates laws, but since he knowingly broke one – regardless of the severity of it, he is not fit to represent us)
Diane: sort of like the way Dr. Schock cheated on his taxes with the help of his son Aaron (your fair-haired boy) back-dated deeds of trust? Get off your bandwagon and get realistic will you?
Diane,
I am just making a point….thatās all. Would I venture a guess that NO politician is beyond reproach? You bet your real estate license I would…
If youāre going to poke a jab at the ‘other party,’ you should be ready to take one on the chin yourself…
Grant it, Schock’s little ‘indiscretion’ occurred some time back, but he still made it to Washington! What does that say about the people in Peoria that support him? Were you so willing to OVERLOOK the ‘issues’ surrounding Schock?
I have considered running for public office, maybe even against Schock! Unfortunately, there are moral and ethical lines EVEN I refuse to cross!
I was never dumb enough to vote for GWBush. I did vote for Obama and I voted for Schock. If Schock keeps following the leaders of his party and voting against everything the President wants, then Aaron boy has gotten his last vote from me.
It took GW 8 years to mess up the country, it’s going to take Obama a few years to clean up the mess.
“I guess we are all flawed human beings”
Sharon, Great post.
Hey as long as the Democrats are in power I’ll sling the mud at Bush. I truly hope Obama gets it right and if he pulls off the recovery of our country, we may not see a Republican for years. (only 21% of Americans claim to be GOP right now) But, alas, I know too well the Democrats and they will screw up and do something to make Obama look bad or if even Obama fails outright, the Republicans will be back. The Dems are the CUBS of politics. In the interim, I will rival in the party I believe in and hope they end up indicting Bush and Cheney. Something to dream for.
NV and Wacko – that horse has done been beat to death. I’m thinking neither Congressman Schock, nor his father was charged and/or convicted of a crime. On the contrary, the STATES ATTORNEY reviewed the record and said there was nothing there. Is that all ya got? Seriously.
Geithner was neither charged and/or convicted of a crime.
Doesn’t mean he didn’t commit one.
The Dems are the Cubs of politics?? I am interested in what led to that analogy.
Hmmm…. If the presidency is equivalent to the World Series, then I’d have to say the Democrats are nothing like the Cubs.
Yes, Jon, all analogies break down when extended to the nth degree. And no, I don’t personally think expecting a prospective Treasury secretary to have completed his tax forms accurately is setting the bar too high for that office.
New standard established on This site: no charges filed or no conviction equals a great and respected citizen. Source: Emtronics 5/7/2009
Diane & Company,
Sure, the Schock the has been held under a microscope [sort of]. You are quick to point the finger at Geithner, but you will defend Schock to the death?!?
DOUBLE STANDARD?!?
11Bravo,
“Doesnāt mean he didnāt commit one.”
– Were you talking about Schock, Geithner, both, or every politician?
Precinct,
I am sure glad you and Emtronics see eye-to-eye on this issue! I think you are doing the right think by putting Diane in her place. Just because there were “no charges filed or no conviction,” doesn’t mean Schock is a “great and respected citizen!”
WELL DONE PRECINCT COMMITTEEMAN!
P.S. Sorry Diane…….
NV, I am not saying that either committed a crime either. I was merely making a point that just because someone doesn’t have charges filed against them doesn’t mean that they are innocent of the crime.
11Bravo,
I know. I agree with you….
Maybe when you all run for office your will know for whom the tax man cometh. He cometh for you.
Geitner definitely got off to a shaky start to say the least! However, I have been listening to the middle ground and he is beginning to improve his image even with some of his most outspoken critics. It is hard to forget the tax issue that he had, I admit that!
Kpower – I agree. He stumbled at first but I have watched a number of interviews with him and I think he is a bright guy and is the right person for the job.
I did watch his interview last night on Charlie Rose. Rather impressive! His interview was more redeeming than Schock’s on Neil Cavuto. Geitner has a definite edge over Schock on economics.