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Gibbs Misleads Public on Obama’s Broken Tax Pledge

Read more: http://www.atr.org/index.php?content=home##ixzz0uvrXu1Gs

From John Kartch on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 6:35 PM

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs seems to have forgotten that his boss has already broken his central campaign promise – a “firm pledge” that “no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.”

Responding to a question during his daily press briefing today, Gibbs said, “The President believes raising taxes on the middle class during this economic time would not make a lot of economic sense.”

But President Obama has already broken his “firm pledge” at least eight times:

1. Federal Tobacco Tax Hike: On Feb. 4, 2009, just sixteen days into his presidency, Obama signed into law a 156 percent increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco– a hike of 62 cents per pack. The median income of smokers is just over $36,000.

When the tax took effect on April 1, 2009, White House spokesman Reid Cherlin tried to pull a fast one on Associated Press reporter Calvin Woodward. Cherlin falsely claimed Obama’s tax pledge applied only to “income or payroll taxes”. Cherlin said: "The president's position throughout the campaign was that he would not raise income or payroll taxes on families making less than $250,000, and that's a promise he has kept." Woodward rightly wasn’t buying it (PROMISES, PROMISES: Obama Tax Pledge Up In Smoke).

Tax Increases on families making less than $250,000 didn’t stop with tobacco. Obama’s signature on the healthcare reform bill made possible the following tax increases – none of which exempt families making less than $250,000:

2. The Tax on Indoor Tanning Services took effect July 1, 2010: This provision of Obamacare imposes a new 10 percent excise tax on Americans using indoor tanning salons. The tax was tucked into the bill behind closed doors at the last minute, replacing the previous “Bo-Tax” – a proposed tax on plastic surgery. The 30 million Americans who visit tanning facilities are getting a lesson in the petty, nanny-state nature of Obamacare – every time they walk through the door. Not to mention the business owners and employees who are threatened by the tax.

3. The “Medicine Cabinet Tax” takes effect Jan. 1, 2011: Thanks to Obamacare, Americans will no longer be able to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin).

4. The HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike takes effect Jan. 1, 2011: This provision of Obamacare increases the additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRAs and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10 percent.

5. The“Special Needs Kids Tax” takes effect Jan. 1, 2013: This provision of Obamacare imposes a cap on flexible spending accounts (FSAs) of $2500 (Currently, there is no federal government limit). There is one group of FSA owners for whom this new cap will be particularly cruel and onerous: parents of special needs children. There are thousands of families with special needs children in the United States, and many of them use FSAs to pay for special needs education. Tuition rates at one leading school that teaches special needs children in Washington, D.C. (National Child Research Center) can easily exceed $14,000 per year. Under tax rules, FSA dollars can be used to pay for this type of special needs education.

6. The Obamacare Medical Prosthetics and Devices Tax takes effect in January of 2013: This Obamacare tax raises the price of all medical prosthetic devices, such as pacemakers and artificial limbs. Consumers of these devices will end up paying more for these life-saving items.

7. The Medical Itemized Deductions Cap takes effect Jan. 1, 2013: Currently, those facing high medical expenses are allowed a deduction if the total cost if the expenses reduces the filer’s income by 7.5%. This provision of Obamacare imposes a threshold of 10%. This new tax will most adversely affect early retirees and the catastrophically ill.

8. The Obamacare Individual Mandate Excise Tax takes effect Jan. 1, 2014: Anyone not buying “qualifying” health insurance must pay an income surtax according to the higher of the following (page 71 of manager’s amendment updates Reid bill):

Comments

What astonishes me is not that Obama broke his promise, but that anyone believed him in the first place. RP
>> RP_52722ia Tuesday, July 27, 2010 7:32 PM

you're going after this guy and this is the best you can come up with? puhleez. this list wouldn't even figure in the top 10 reasons why people are upset with obama.
>> chuckiezip Tuesday, July 27, 2010 7:36 PM

The beauty of the Obama mentality is that these people eat their young, the ends justifies the means, Machevely Lives.
>> Dream Tuesday, July 27, 2010 7:42 PM

This is going to get ugly. Obama is going to stand on his preachers pedestal and convince the masses that capital gains only affect the rich, that the child tax credit is meaningless, that exemptions and standard deductions won't affect them. Stay tuned, we're about to see history being changed before our eyes.
>> Deb Tuesday, July 27, 2010 7:51 PM

You CAN'T spell LIBERALISM without L-I-E-S
>> JOHN F. KERRY Tuesday, July 27, 2010 7:53 PM

And, the small business folks are going to love Obama. NOT!!! Nobody is going to hire anybody till this dopes term is over with.
>> Steve Tuesday, July 27, 2010 7:57 PM

The plot thickens. I lost my dad in 2001 before 9/11. I miss him, but I know his heart would be broken if he were here to see how low the presidency of this country has sunk. A Korean and Vietnam veteran, he would not be proud of what our government has become. Where is our pride, our honor, our honesty?
>> grammagina Tuesday, July 27, 2010 7:57 PM

Why me worry??? I run a small business and one employee quit in February. Savings of $40K a year. If just one more quits I have covered my next tax bill. Who knew I could get along with 2 less workers. Thanks Obama.
>> Glenardo Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:05 PM

I was amazed at the number of intelligent people who fell for his lies. Then I came across this article and it explains a lot, if not most of how he pulled it off. I despise his policies but I give him credit on pulling this off. See info here - note it is lengthy and only for those who are open minded and will admit this is how they were duped : http://www.internet-grocer.net/hypnosis.pdf
>> ObserverOnTheHill Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:09 PM

Those that are attempting to dismiss Barry Husein Obama's broken tax pledge are either too ignorant or suffering such short term memory loss that they forget Bush the Edler's broken tax promise "Read my lips, no new taxes". So have things changed that much for ya 'situational ethically impaired' types?
>> harley charley Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:10 PM

Chuckiezip- A lie is a lie. Period. Kinda hard to realize that when you are a Lefty, huh?
>> Angry American Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:17 PM

chuckiezip, you're an idiot.
>> zipthis Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:20 PM

Harley, guess what? When Bush 41 broke his promise, the voters held him accountable and he lost the 1992 election. Hopefully the voters will through Obama out as well.
>> Jim Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:23 PM

More reasons are found in this 25 minute read. It is called Barack Obama's Rules for revolution. Written by David Horowitz. I tends to explain a lot of what has happened to this country in the past 20 years. If you are left or right, read it and digest what it says from a center line position, then take your shots.
>> TheLight Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:29 PM

This guy obamma has ruined America.
>> Ojay Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:32 PM

I own a business. I employ 8o people. I pay for 50% of the healthcare costs for 40 people. I have no debt. I make money. I have money saved up. I could grow my business and hire more people. I WON'T hire ANYONE due to the healthcare mandate which will require me to insure every employee! I can't afford it. I have MANT FRIENDS who own businesses. We all agree that nobody is hiring for the immediate future. Most likely until Obama is voted out.
>> Antonio Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:35 PM

Antonio, I am hearing the same thing. Have we ever seen a President this economically illiterate?
>> Jim Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:38 PM

If people are waiting for the unemplyment rate to decrease...think again. The idiot in the White House and his minions are ruining it for everyone. Nobody who owns a business is going to do anything to make them look good. The worse the economy in 2012 the more likely he will get voted out.
>> Walter Pigeon Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:38 PM

Read more: http://www.atr.org/gibbs-misleads-public-obamas-broken-tax-a5256#ixzz0uvuusKcw