Shepard Smith Explodes Over Plan to Tax Soda Pop

Photo of Ken Shepherd.

NewsBusters.org - Media Research CenterOn the December 18 "Studio B," Fox News Channel's Shepard Smith blasted an idea being floated by liberal San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (D)  to slap a new tax on stores that sell soda. It makes for great video, especially given Shep's penchant for leaning left on global warming.

Of course, Shep did also hint that he thinks it would be better to outlaw tobacco rather than add so-called sin taxes on it. All the same, it makes for fun video as Shep wonders if sugary gum or comfortable mattresses will be taxed next for their alleged contributions to the "obesity epidemic."

Video (2:58): Windows Media (1.83 MB) and MP3 audio (1.36 MB).


Comments Policy

All comments are owned by whoever posted them and are subject to our terms of use. They should not be assumed to represent the views of NewsBusters.

Viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Fat Tax

Well  we can tax fat cats. People who weigh more put out more carbon dioxide.  We can also tax foods with fat, cholesterol or carbohydrates. Those foods lower life expectancy.

There is no end to the silliness liberals are capable. of.  Of all the silly liberals, it is hard to find a bigger clown than Gavin Newsome.

Maybe we should tax

Maybe we should tax politicians who sleep with their campaign manager's wife and still manage to get re-elected.

Don't Like it Tax

Well the tax on soda is a "Don't Like it Tax".  Well more people don't like adultery than soda pop. So let's tax adultery and Newsome.

I don't like alcohol or cigarettes! Can we tax those too?

I don't like alcohol or cigarettes! Can we tax those too?

Oh, yeah . . . forgot.

Never mind. ;-)

They ought to tax hair gel.

They ought to tax hair gel. They could make a haul off Newsome, alone. CNN interviewed him and some Beavis kid. The kid thought they ought to tax the "big soda companies". New enemy of the people: "Big Soda".

Tax Man

This type of idea reminds me of The Beatles song "Taxman": 

"If you drive a car, I'll tax the street

If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat

If you get too cold, I'll tax the heat

If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet"

We need to add:

If you drink some "pop", I'll tax your sweets!

 

Well ...

Well that wasn't very fair and balanced. ;) And Shep said "freaking". Ha, ha.

But what else would you expect from Newsome. Doesn't San Francisco also have a requirement that restaurants package all their "to go" orders in biodegradable packaging ... which pretty much falls apart when you put food in it.

So Debra King says it's a

So Debra King says it's a "great idea" to tax businesses that sell sugary products, including high fructose corn syrup.

Would someone please tell Ms. King that "businesses" don't pay taxes; people pay taxes.

Shep is right..if these things are so bad for us, just ban them outright. But they can't. How many S-CHIP programs are being funded by cigarette taxes?

Hypocrites.

Tax the Left.

Tax the Left.

A real New Jersey Tax

Mr. Shepherd I have an honest tax in honor of those murder coddlers in New Jersey.

Everyone on the left demands taxes on thing which are "harmful" fatty oils, cigs and now sugars.........well what can be more harmful to a society than murderers?

As smokers and drinkers selected out for taxes which are high, I submit that each state's politicians be taxed for keeping murderers alive. For example, a murderer in prison the first year would be 1 million dollars to cover their costs, the costs of disrupted families and the cost of for example on Idaho as New Jersey is spending money on keeping a murderer alive instead of buying Idaho potatoes.......so it adds up with penalties each year of an additional 1 million dollars.

If New Jersey wants to keep murderers alive there is no reason a state like Texas should have to suffer from the effects like tobacco to "second hand murder".
The tax money out of politicians personal paychecks would be the only source of this tax as they are the ones endangering the public.

The money would go into a trust for people who have had their loved one's murdered (provided they are not like the Fed's star witnesses against Border Agents in being drug runners) and someone like Charlie Manson would bring in around 40 million a year out of Arnold's paycheck.......or put some of his Terminator funds to good use.

Serious proposition and it is time Shep Smith start whining and start engaging Blue Dog Democrats as we know they are really Americans they tell us and Republicans and those protectors of public good like Henry Pig Nose Waxman who never met a cig he could not extort money from.

So let us have House Bill Bullseye 00 put into the voting termed the New Jersey Waxman bill and sign it into George Bush law as America needs to be protected from the effects of New Jersey's Second hand fatty murder.

agtG

*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS

No way

The Lazy-Boy recliner and the remote control will be next.

Don't chuckle over your joke

Don't chuckle over your joke just yet. Someone has already proposed a TV tax, (not a sales tax) and a tax on video games, because they encourage kids to be sedentary. Do you really think the idea that you should have to at least get up to change the channel can be far behind?

Shepard

I have watched Shepard off and on for years. He has never been afraid to say what he thinks or give an opinion. I do not always agree with him but respect him for being up-front.

The more these obnoxious

The more these obnoxious nanny staters plug their ignorance on television with their condescending platitudes on "solutions" to "the obesity crisis", the more ridiculous they make themselves and the party they ostensibly support look.  A few months ago, Newsom and Villaraigosa were the figureheads of "the next generation of rising stars" in the Democrat Party.  Now Hillary won't touch either with a 10 ft. pole.  Classic. 

The best line....

"I'm going to sleep well tonight too, so why don't you tax my mattress? Tax Schmax. Thank you for playing!"

It gets funnier every time you watch it!

You missed the end tho!

You missed the end tho! After he said "Thank you for playing," just as it was fading out he said "You knew what was coming!" LOL

He must have warned her, or she got the hint as soon as he opened his mouth that he was going to go on a tear!

I am so sick of taxes.  I

I am so sick of taxes.  I can't believe we are actually considering MORE taxes.  When they start taxing the Internet, which eventually will occur, I think I might have to leave the country.

If you leave the country

If you leave the country you'll likely end up in another country that taxes you even more...and you probably won't have any voice to affect change (ie. voting rights, etc.).

Don't leave the country, fire your politicians instead.

 

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men." -H.W. Longfellow

Tax Poem

This was sent to me in an internet message about, of all things, Taxes!

 

Tax his land,

Tax his wage,

Tax his bed in which he lays.

Tax his tractor,

Tax his mule,

Teach him taxes is the rule.

Tax his cow,

Tax his goat,

Tax his pants,

Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,

Tax his shirts,

Tax his work,

Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,

Tax his drink,

Tax him if he tries to think.

Tax his booze,

Tax his beers,

If he cries,

Tax his tears.

Tax his bills,

Tax his gas,

Tax his notes,

Tax his cash.

Tax him good and let him know

That after taxes, he has no dough.

If he hollers,

Tax him more,

Tax hi m until he's good and sore.

Tax his coffin,

Tax his grave,

Tax the sod in which he lays.

Put these words upon his tomb,

'Taxes drove me to my doom!'

And when he's gone,

We won't relax,

We'll still be after the inheritance TAX!!

Accounts Receivable Tax

Building Permit Tax

CDL License Tax

Cigarette Tax

Corporate Income Tax

Dog License Tax

Federal Income Tax

Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)

Fishing License Tax

Food License Tax

Fuel Perm it Tax

Gasoline Tax

Hunting License Tax

Inheritance Tax

Inventory Tax

IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax),

IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax),

Liquor Tax,

Luxury Tax,

Marriage License Tax,

Medicare Tax,

Property Tax,

Real Estate Tax,

Service charge taxes,

Social Security Tax,

Road Usage Tax (Truckers),

Sales Taxes, 

Recreational Vehicle Tax,

School Tax,

State Income Tax,

State Unemployment Tax (SUTA),

Telephone Federal Excise Tax,

Telephone Federal Universal Service Fe e Tax,

Telephone Federal, State and Local Su rcharge Tax,

Telephone Minimum Usage Su rcharge Tax,

Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax,

Telephone State and Local Tax,

Telephone Usage Charge Tax,

Utility Tax,

Vehicle License Registration Tax,

Vehicle Sales Tax,

Watercraft Registration Tax,

Well Permit Tax,

Workers Compensation Tax.

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? 

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, 

and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.    

We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids. 

What happened?  Can you spell 'politicians!' 

And I still have to 'press

1' for English. 

I hope this goes around THE 

USA at least 100 times

What the heck happened?????

 

Shep Smith

I don't watch Shep Smith anymore...

Tax Fat

They can't tax people who smoke, so they tax the cigs.

I wouldn't tax soda, I'd tax fat. Say your ideal weight is 200 pounds
and you weigh 250 -- your tax rate would be 50%, for burden on the
system.

If you weigh 200 or less you'd be in the 5% bracket, no matter how much you made.

Run a sub 10 minute mile at 50 years old -- get a $500 rebate.

I sincerely hope you're

I sincerely hope you're joking.  If not, that's about the stupidest thing I've heard in a long time.  This collectivist health care system is turning people's brains to mush.  Everyone thinks they should be getting Ferrari coverage at Yugo prices.  So slowly, but surely, once reasonable people are turning into busybody socialists...thinking they should have a say in what people eat, how much they should exercise and whether or not people should smoke.  Socialists essentially try to tax away all our freedoms.  Quit trying to tax people into behaving the way you see fit!

Did Leon change his screen

Did Leon change his screen name? Sounds like something he'd propose.

And what do you mean they can't tax people who smoke? People who smoke BUY the taxed cigarettes. Who's paying the tax? I'm not.

Stupid Tax

Lucky for you they don't tax stupidity; you would be in jail for Tax evasion.

Taxing Mayor

I'll take a stand when they come after my Ghirardelli.

They'd go after Hershey's

They'd go after Hershey's first...that's when I would take a stand. I wouldn't want them to even think they could touch my Lindt.

 

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men." -H.W. Longfellow

If they went after Lindt

(I like the 60% black variety the best, and I buy it by the case!) The prohibitionist bastards would also go for Guylian, and then we'd see a revolution without any "LOVE" from me...But target one for them is all forms of tobacco, so our chocolate habits are relatively-safe, IMO.
JMR

Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)

The only reason for this

The only reason for this tax is to get more money out of people.  People who like soda will keep on buying it.  I'm surprised they haven't tried to shut down every fast food place and made chocolate illegal.

I'm surprised they haven't

I'm surprised they haven't tried to shut down every fast food place and made chocolate illegal.

They never will....they may eventually TAX them, tho!

"I'm surprised they haven't

"I'm surprised they haven't tried to shut down every fast food place..."

Actually, in LA, they'd like to do something like that. Remember

I had forgotten about that,

I had forgotten about that, Chris!

I'm waiting for them to make the restaurants liable for someone's obesity and illnesses like they make a bar responsible for serving someone who then drives drunk and does some damage.

Can't you picture it?

"I'll have the double cheeseburger meal with Coke, Supersize it please."

"I'm sorry sir, I can't give you that; you're obviously obese. All I can serve you is a salad with FF dressing and a diet Coke. Please go to the other line."

Here in PA there is a 6% tax

Here in PA there is a 6% tax on all prepared food, including green salad.

Hire an idiot

And this is what you get? What do you think the chances of this nonesense, if they let the same folks that elected her vote on it? If the obesity is so bad in SF, why dont they start requiring REAL physical Education in the Schools, and teaching real lessons on health and moderation.

 

"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest". Mark Twain

unfit

Certainly you can't mean the same phys ed required in High School ROTC that the braniacs in SF deemed fit to be banned.

And sweating without any sex involved? Oooooh, that's like so totally boring.  (sarc off)

HIM

I ment him, honest

 

"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest". Mark Twain

Shep Smith Explosion

I just love it!!!!  Go Shep, tell the liberal elitist,

know-it-alls just what you think.   Because of

global warming (which is another hoax), they

will be taxing us every time we breathe, cuz we

expel CO 2.  Tax, tax, tax, that's all the libs know

so they can get their grubby mitts on our money.

LETS BE HONEST...

Gavin Newsom is a lousy mayor of a lousy city, with lousy voters who reward lousy behaviour. His tax plan sucks, we should all oppose it.

But what is really important is whose wife is Mayor Newsom banging? Is her husband a friend? Does her husband work with/for him? Is he a friend? These are the really tough questions that need to looked into with Gavin Newsom...he has a track record, I'm just saying.

 

"Some of us are wise, some of us are otherwise"  Mark Levin

Same goes for his slick

Same goes for his slick clone in Los Angeles.

Pardon my rant

shep's right. they don't want to get rid of the soda drinkers or the smokers or the alcoholics, they prey on the addicts. I'm a smoker and I pay $5 a pack...I recently went to Chicago and it was $8 a pack. I dont know what the cost of manufacturiong a pack of smokes is but it grows in the dirt and they wrap some paper around it and put some cotton at the end, that can't cost more then a dollar a pack...could you imagine if just 1 million of us smokers in CA quit? Let's see...thats 1 million smokers, maybe smoking one pack a day, paying let's say $4 a day in tax...THAT's $4 million dollars A DAY in taxes...and they want to tax us to spread the message of how bad smoking is for us....PUHleease...they talk out of both sides of there mouths..."we are going to teach you a lesson by taxing the crap out of you for doing this bad thing and become dependent on that tax so don't you dare think about quitting that bad thing"...ahhh...im going out for a smoke...

And people are surprised

And people are surprised that the wise guys are into cigarette smuggling.  It's big money. 

Oh man, I just did a search and found cigs for sale on the internet, http://www.discountcheapcigarettes.com/ Winstons for $12.94/carton, plus shipping $5.35/carton, $18.30/carton total. At 10 packs/carton, your talking $1.83/pack.  All kinds of interesting info on this.  Ahem, you smoking addicts, you can avoid those pesky taxes by getting them on line.  That's sure to make some state officials upset.

No wonder the States are so upset with the no sales tax thing on the internet.  So jdub, maybe you should start a protest movement and get all your fellow smokers to boycott CA cigs. 

Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. dscott's corollary: The line between malice and stupidity is called depraved indifference.

 I quit smoking cigarettes

 I quit smoking cigarettes about 20 years ago. Up until I had a collapsed lung last New Year's Eve, I smoked a pipe. I am not that up on tobacco prices here in NC but I think that you can buy some of the generic brands for about 2.50 a pack. Marlboro, Winstons and Newports are about 3.50.

This past year Tennessee past a hugh tax on cigarettes. People that lived near the border states starting going across the line and buying their smokes cheaper. I know that in NC, Tenn put undercover agents around stores along the border to watch for folks from the Volunteer state buying their smokes. They would then arrest them when they would cross the state line with their buys.

They, the greedy politicans,  will eventually kill the goose.

"May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't.” General George S. Patton.

Have they taxed breathing

Have they taxed breathing air yet in SF??? After all that causes that nasty pollutant carbon dioxide too.

 

Do you realize how much it costs to run for office? More than any honest man could afford. -Montgomery Burns

Beautiful

That broad is the epitome of a nanny-stater. It is a joy seeing that plastic face melt under Shepherd's tirade. I almost felt bad for her. Almost.

God, I wish all nannies were taken to task like this. Knock them down a peg or two. Moralist crusaders, no matter what the stripe, are the most obnoxious people on earth.

Tax gay sex

If they really want to up the revenues in SF they should tax gay sex. They'd make a bundle and oh, how proud the gays could be!

D

Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.

Seriously

Just have a bath house tax. Not that the promiscuos, out of control behavior there would make a normal person sick but that it actually does contribute a lot more to harming the public health than soda pop.

I feel PC guilt. Not!