What the Hell? Educating Tim Kaine on the 47 Percent

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Last updated on February 8th, 2013 at 02:23 am

In one the dumbest political moves of 2012, Tim Kaine was asked about the 47% and said he would be open to a minimum tax. Tim Kaine could use a little education, so here’s a lesson on the 47%.

Here is the video of Tim Kaine tripping over his own two feet on the 47%:

Transcript:

GREGORY: Do you believe everyone in Virginia should pay something in federal income taxes?

KAINE: Everyone pays taxes.

GREGORY: But federal income taxes?

KAINE: I would be open to a proposal that would have some minimum tax level for everyone. But I do insist — many of the 47 percent that Gov. Romney was going after pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes than he does.

Kaine echoed the minimum tax position pushed by such intellectual luminaries as Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry. Why? Who the hell knows. But since Tim Kaine seems to have no idea who the 47% actually are, here a brief lesson for him on who it is that he is open to taxing.

Kaine was right. The 47% already pay taxes. The real number of Americans who pay no taxes is 14%. This group consists of the elderly, the disabled, and the working poor and middle class. Kaine’s first screw up was buying into David Gregory’s mindless repetition of the Fox News lie that 47% pay no income taxes. The 47% number comes from the year 2009, and does not represent every year.

For the love of God, Democrats, stop treating the lie that the 47% pay no incomes taxes like it is a fact. When a moderator or interviewer uses this piece of false information, challenge them.

Just who does Tim Kaine think he would be open to taxing?

Here is the percentage of taxes as income that the 47% currently pays:

In his defense, Kaine didn’t said that he would support taxing the 47%. He stated that he was open to the idea of a minimum tax. Kaine’s remarks might do the most damage with Democrats. Republicans already support the idea of taxing anybody who isn’t wealthy.

What Kaine did do was blow a golden opportunity presented on a silver platter. David Gregory threw Kaine a softball, and his not only swung and missed, but also pants himself in the process.

Kaine gave us a what the hell moment, but his gaffe won’t be as damaging as Mitt Romney secret admission of his true beliefs about the American people.

Tim Kaine just ran around with a lit firecracker and blew his thumb off. Why anyone would run with a lit firecracker who knows, but it is time for the Virginia Democrat to get to the hospital and have that detached digit sewn back on.

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Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

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Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association

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