You can't say it's not expected, but once again a voice on the left has demonstrated a fundamental misunderstanding of taxes and the global economy.
MSNBC "Countdown" host Keith Olbermann, on his April 15 program, attacked the concept of tax havens - something he insisted was made possible by former President George W. Bush. His criticism was part of his "Still Bushed" segment that bashes the former president, even though he has been out of office for nearly three months now.
"And Number One, tea bag-gate," Olbermann said, continuing to use the sexual slang for tax protests. "As handfuls of sheep possibly wearing LED vests, as seen earlier in Oddball, are herded into made for TV protests of taxation with representation, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) has now analyzed a Senate report from last year that showed just how much we lose as a nation in tax revenues hidden by corporations in places like the Cayman Islands - the opportunities to do so growing immeasurably under the Bush administration."
Olbermann, citing data from the PIRG, a left-wing advocacy group founded by perennial presidential candidate Ralph Nader, insisted that the government was unable to spread billions in goodness to the people because the corporations were stashing cash offshore.
"The total figure is up to $800 billion a year," Olbermann continued. "But U.S. PIRG has now figured it out state by state. Texas would be losing $8 billion a year, $8 billion its ordinary citizens have to pay in taxes. So is New York State at that amount. Residents of California have to make up $11 billion lost to tax dodge island. The District of Columbia, $713 million. Even Alaska - Alaska, $174 million that Alaskans have to pay because Alaskan corporations do not."
This sort of tax issue is what Olbermann insisted should be protested about and not government spending. He took shots at Fox News on-air personalities and the Fox Business Network.
"So where are your damned tea bag protests about that? Where is the Fox ‘out of business network' on this corporate piracy? Where is Neil Cavuto explaining to the simpletons in Sacramento that they're getting ripped off by international outfits like News Corp.? Where is captain tea bag himself, Glenn Beck? Why don't you take credit for this idea from somebody else? Get up there and weep about U.S. corporations making us, all of us, rich and poor, pay 100 billion dollars of their taxes so we get the privilege of getting to buy their products and bail out their failures?"
However, Olbermann should note that his sister network CNBC has advocated for tax havens in the past. Tax havens fulfill a necessary purpose in a global market economy, as CNBC's Michelle Caruso Cabrera explained on the network's April 2 broadcast of "Power Lunch," when the subject of cracking down on tax havens was discussed during the recent G20 summit.
"We haven't talked at all about the G20 and what makes me crazy is they want to go after the tax havens out there," Caruso Cabrera said. "Tax havens are good. Leave Liechtenstein alone. We all need tax competition. We don't, we can't allow this to happen."
Caruso Cabrera contended that tax havens keep other nations from colluding to have out-of-control hikes in their taxes by giving corporations other options through competition.
Nonetheless, Olbermann didn't view it as the government being held to a standard of reasonable taxation. He depicted it as the government being cheated out of tax dollars, which he somehow determined are a conduit to "poor" people, but wasn't quite specific with the details.
"Get up there and do that and I'll march with you," Olbermann ranted. "Until then, you're just a bunch of greedy, water-carrying corporate-slave hypocrites defending the rich against the poor."
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Does anyone really care
April 16, 2009 - 13:01 ET by TexasteacherDoes anyone really care about what olberdouche says? If anyone needed a hug from a suicide bomber, it would be him.
obama's notion of bi-partisanship is telling conservatives to shut up and do what he wants.
Keith Slobbermann
April 16, 2009 - 13:11 ET by shirtsbyericKeith Slobbermann
No, he's worthless
April 16, 2009 - 13:37 ET by KC MulvilleBut see how important it is for these guys to deflect attention! With a straight face (pardon the pun), Olbermann is arguing that no protest is legitimate until we protest what he dislikes. He's arguing that we should protest tax havens first, and until we do, all other protests are illegitimate.
It's nothing more than a righteous-looking pose, and it has no meaning. He might as easily have argued that we shouldn't protest against the government until we protested the Ox-Bow Incident, or the Tuskeegee Airmen. He's trying to argue that we're wrong to protest what we want to protest about.
In the same way, the Left and the media aren't listening to what conservatives are angry about, because they don't care what conservatives say. Look at Roesgen, that CNN reporter who tries to argue with the protesters. Like the ignorant spouse, she's trying to tell the protesters how they should think, instead of listening to what the protesters are saying. She isn't listening.
People are expressing themselves, but the news media is "informing" viewers that they shouldn't listen to those protests. Well, thank you - but we'll decide that for ourselves.
Ah yes, selective hearing
April 16, 2009 - 14:39 ET by BlondeThis lovely video proves the point.
Nanny the Harpy doesn't believe her lying ears and eyes, either. She refuses to acknowledge our concerns about her stupid bloody multi-trillion dollar "investments"....and states the protests were top-down, funded by Hillary's VRWC apparently.
As I'm fond of saying, que'lle crap.
I hope he fails, too.
Wow, Her Speakerness is
April 16, 2009 - 15:41 ET by motherbeltWow, Her Speakerness is really on her game today! It only took her 6 seconds to mention "the failed economic policies of George W. Bush," another 10 to get in "95%.....tax cut..." and another 10 to work in the "astro-turf."
A talking-points hat-trick in less than 30 seconds!
B, if I may borrow from you, I would like to add Que'lle B as in B, S as in S!
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
I'm thinking guillotine but yours works too
April 16, 2009 - 13:42 ET by Lord ErondYep
"Please get your facts right, then you may distort them as you please" -Mark Twain
Olbermann launches into rant....
April 16, 2009 - 14:52 ET by motherbeltYawn.
What else is new?
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
LOL! so true... a day that Olberman doesn't rant means he
April 16, 2009 - 15:08 ET by pahuberactually might be thinking...
That would never happen.
Keith Olbermann is an insignificant little twit.
April 16, 2009 - 15:41 ET by kg"DumbAssity of Dope"
'hypocrites defending the rich against the poor'
April 16, 2009 - 13:06 ET by JDWWhat about Rangel, Daschle, Geithner...
The news media coverage is simply a lie.
JDW
DAILY WAVE
The government works for me, not the other way around
JDW~
April 16, 2009 - 13:22 ET by Georgia GirlSo true. I majored in journalism in college (and my Dad was a newspaper publisher), and today's media is just a total disgrace.
KKKennedy
April 16, 2009 - 13:07 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsHmmm, so Olbermann is against the Kennedy clan (and other prominent democrats) and their massive overseas tax haven holdings. Maybe he should feature them on his show.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
I've Been Caught!
April 16, 2009 - 13:09 ET by rexdraconimI, an evil capitalist, planned and executed all of this so that my "Tea" heavy portfolio would benefit from all the Tea purchases made by the protestors under my dominion...
I then took these obscene profits and funneled them to my offshore accounts. I am then turning around and using those funds to contiue to fund my life as a right-wing extremist terrorist by paying my taxes, paying my bills, buying weapons, contributing to my religious organization and all the associated costs of funding the Veterens in my family and in the community at large....
Shame on ME!
"You can have Peace or you can have Freedom; just don't count on having both at the same time." - R.A.H
"I'll take the harsh reality of liberty over the illusion of security...everytime!" -me<
Seems you've been tampering
April 16, 2009 - 13:15 ET by Indiana JoeSeems you've been tampering with "the price of tea in China."
Naughty, naughty. ;^)
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."-John Adams
Damn you sir!
April 16, 2009 - 13:25 ET by IamTinmanIt's difficult enough getting Salada Tea (the favorite of the First Mate) on the West Coast and now thnks to your blasted "Tea Party" there's likely to be a shortage. This doesn't bode well for my domestic tranquility.
Have you no shame?
soros
April 16, 2009 - 13:15 ET by sevenNo one dodges domestic taxation better than Soros.
If it wasn't for Soros, theyre would be no Dem winners at elections.
I saw them
April 16, 2009 - 14:12 ET by Rowanetry to expatriate Dimjanjuk the other day, why can THIS nazi not be prosecuted for his crimes, bot during and after the War?
Hey Keith!
April 16, 2009 - 13:19 ET by IamTinmanWhy don't you back up your ranting with some real investigative reporting instead of just repeating what you have been spoonfed by one of the few organisations further left leaning than you!
Not that most of us were that thrilled with "W" but a competant reporter would at least explain just what he did to promote offshore tax havens. They existed long before Bush and the G20 won't significantly change them.
We already know you're a nit Keith, you honestly don't have to keep proving it every day!
100 Billion a year
April 16, 2009 - 13:21 ET by clubchamp6Wow thats as much as Nancy and Harry and the Big O spend in a week. How do they plan to pay for the other 51 weeks?
Does anyone know of a good bank in the Cayman Islands I can contact??
Wonder why they are going to the Cayman Islands....could it be our unfair and opressive tax structure. No Keith could never see that far ahead. They never can see the reason why this stuff happens.
Just like New Pork and Calitaxation will find out as businesses and people leave in droves.
Unfortunately they go to red staes and pollute the gene pool there.
"I am the new right wing terrorist"
Meltdown with Keith Olber"man?" ~
April 16, 2009 - 13:21 ET by pahuberSpeaking of over dramatic...
but Keith is always good for a rib tickling laugh.
Who'd a thunk it?
April 16, 2009 - 13:26 ET by mattmWho'd a thunk it?
Herr Olbergoebbels
April 16, 2009 - 13:39 ET by Lord ErondIs probably in more dire need of a tea bagging than anyone in America.
"Please get your facts right, then you may distort them as you please" -Mark Twain
Olberman and the rest of the MSNBC crew
April 16, 2009 - 13:46 ET by c5thenare banned from my house. They are completely partisan.
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
www.loyaltoliberty.com
How's it going at
April 16, 2009 - 13:47 ET by 10ksnookerCountdown to no audience ...
Rants against tax avoidance?
April 16, 2009 - 13:55 ET by sloerideWhat planet is this guy on? No wonder he had to leave Bristol for LA-East. He can hide his lonely pathetic existence in the crowd.
I wonder of the report he quotes
April 16, 2009 - 14:04 ET by Jack Hermanindicates just how much money GE has offshore?
Does any sane person listen
April 16, 2009 - 14:05 ET by Gone_FishinDoes any sane person listen to this douchepump?
He does not even rate being discussed on this site.
The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'
- Ronald Reagan
"He does not even rate being discussed on this site."
April 16, 2009 - 16:01 ET by Indiana JoeSecond the motion.
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."-John Adams
Keith, Keith
April 16, 2009 - 14:07 ET by tribchetWhat a rant but what do you expect from Olbermann? So, Keith...are you ready to sign up for the 'fair tax' that would address the offshore tax haven issue? I note that he bangs on Beck in this particular tirade. Isn't Beck actually for the fair tax?
Just another day of Olbergoebbels teabagging Lord Soros
April 16, 2009 - 14:15 ET by Lord ErondThose hairy, wrinkly things I'm sure. I also hear Soros has come up with a new Viagra for liberal men. You just wave a flag with a swastika and they get an erection for it instantly.
"Please get your facts right, then you may distort them as you please" -Mark Twain
"Proud Member of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy"
Refresh my memory.
April 16, 2009 - 14:18 ET by danboHow many Obama appointees have been caught not paying their taxes?
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
six
April 16, 2009 - 14:28 ET by katainkent1) Geithner - confirmed
2) Daschle - withdrawn
3) Nancy Killefer - withdrawn
4) Hilda Solis - confirmed
5) Rahm Emanuel (confirmation not needed)
6) Kathleen Sebelius - hearing 4/2/09
18 nominees stand either approved or awaiting approval.
sick of the media
April 16, 2009 - 14:41 ET by BDelaneyMedia should not have biased they are simply supposed to tell us the facts. Thomas Jefferson said it best, "Advertisements contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper."
As usual...Olbie makes an
April 16, 2009 - 15:01 ET by bigtimerAs usual...Olbie makes an a$$ of himself when he opens his mouth.
He is nothing but a green-eyed monster...
Rant away Olbie...who gives a flying fig?
I don't.
I don't watch him for this very reason...or much else if any on msnbc...and CNN is right in bed with them.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Leave me out of the "we" please.
April 16, 2009 - 15:05 ET by JTP"showed just how much we lose as a nation in tax revenues hidden by corporations"
I own a corporation. I do not pay taxes... My customers pay them for me.
"I need more cowbell!" SNL
excellent point
April 16, 2009 - 16:33 ET by saintknowitallThis is what most people in the US don't understand, the consumer is the ultimate "payer" of income taxes. Go ahead and raise the tax rate of the top earners in the economy, they will either 1) move to Dubai where there is not tax or 2) pass it on to consumers.
Heck, every product out there, on average, has 25% of imbedded taxes.
Plugs
April 16, 2009 - 15:07 ET by Tom PaineKeith looks like he has been getting his hair plugs from the same guy Joe Biden goes to. I think they went too deep and some of them have taken root in his brain.
Tom~
April 16, 2009 - 18:01 ET by Georgia GirlStop it -- you are slaying me!
[Thanks for the laugh...]
Olbermann
April 16, 2009 - 16:30 ET by saintknowitallHe is a sportscaster for goodness sake. Must have taken one too many baseballs to the head at one point. He couldn't hold his own with a 7th grade debate team. Even if he had some knowledge about politics, he certainly doesn't have a clue about financial matters.
I could debate him with 3/4 of my brain tied behind my back.
Olbermann in 7th place
April 16, 2009 - 16:33 ET by RpeggioMSNBC, CNN, LA Times, NY Times, Seattle PI, they just don't get it. Preaching to a small liberal minority is boring and very limiting audience-wise (tv or radio). Just look at the cable news ratings.....even if you add Olbermann and Maddow's viewers together, they're still just in 5th place behind the crazy Beck which isn't even a prime time show.
FOXNEWS O'REILLY 3,980,000
FOXNEWS HANNITY 3,239,000
FOXNEWS GRETA 2,947,000
FOXNEWS BECK 2,740,000
FOXNEWS BAIER 2,401,000
FOXNEWS SHEP 2,185,000
MSNBC OLBERMANN 1,499,000
CNNHN GRACE 1,336,000
CNN KING 1,292,000
MSNBC MADDOW 1,149,000
CNN COOPER 1,021,000
I love good news!
April 16, 2009 - 16:45 ET by pahuber: )
So Says the Tax Cheat Cabinet
April 16, 2009 - 16:47 ET by freecitizenLet's just keep rewarding the people that actually broke the tax rules with plum appointments and treat like criminals those who followed the rules in ways that you don't approve of.
One of the problems with liberals is that they create these convoluted, overly complicated sets of rules and regulations that they intend to be followed in such and such a way. Then when someone more clever than them (which is no great feat) figures out how to use the rules in ways that were not intended, they act as if they are breaking the law. The letter of the law is what is important. The "spirit" of the law is irrelevent. Just look at what the paper companies are doing with the alternative fuel tax credit. Which is exactly why rushed, sloppy legislation ALWAYS results in unintended consequences.
And Bush didn't exactly invent the concept of the offshore account. We have had movies and other stories featuring secret Swiss bank accounts ever since I was a kid in the 70's and I'm sure they were around long before that as well.
Liberal: remove all that's Right, and this is what's Left.
I'm kind of tired of hearing
April 16, 2009 - 21:03 ET by Radical1979I'm kind of tired of hearing how this is about the rich against the poor. It's more like the working/taxpaying citizens against the non-working people. Yes, there were wealthy people there. Yes they would like to protect their wealth. Why is this a problem in this country? We only become wealthy by hard work and sacrifice. I cannot understand why this entitles other people to our money. That is what the tea parties were about, at least in my opinion.
Wealth?
April 17, 2009 - 10:29 ET by AgnosticWealth is not under attack, at least not until you die. Income is under attack so all the wealthy in the nation can continue to support their paid-in-full politicians in the style they have grown accustomed.
Cynical? Me? Only about the governemnt.
A person may be won over with logic and reason but the masses must be bought with spectacle and platitudes. - 2008 Elections
What an idiot
April 17, 2009 - 10:18 ET by jessieHJessie R. Hamby Olberman thinks that is bad, what about the govt.?...............Not to worry, MCNBC will follow CNN to the trash pile.