Multi-Millionaire Brian Williams Hits Romney For His 'Unimaginable Wealth'
In an interview with Mitt Romney following the State of the Union Tuesday night, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams used the tax returns of the former Massachusetts governor as a weapon: "And it's fair to ask tonight, will you be explaining further the story of them, the back story....the amounts we've learned about today equaling unfathomable wealth for most Americans..."
Earlier in the evening, at the top of Nightly News, Williams was equally melodramatic: "...Mitt Romney, chose today to release his tax returns from the year 2010. He did it to help stop the questions about his wealth, but in releasing his taxes, he reveals what most Americans will regard as unimaginable wealth...." Williams signaled the media would not let go of the issue: "The numbers in these returns will likely get talked about for the rest of the way in this campaign."
Williams should be reminded that people in luxury Manhattan apartments shouldn't throw stones. A 2008 Parade magazine profile of the NBC anchor detailed his high-end digs at the top of New York's Bloomberg building, surrounded by famous neighbors: "...gutty Yankees import Johnny Damon and Phillies slugger Bobby Abreu, singer Beyoncé Knowles and, in a corporate Big Love, both former GE chief Jack Welch and current G.E. chief Jeffrey Immelt."
The article goes on to note that apartments in that building at the time ranged from "$2 to $27 million."
In addition, TV Guide's 2011 list of the highest paid people in television placed Williams' salary at $13 million annually.
In response to Williams, Romney pointed out: "If you add together my taxes and my charitable contributions, I think in the most recent year it looks like it's over 40%, goes to charity and taxes."
Williams then cited New York's liberal Mayor – and namesake of the anchor's apartment building – Michael Bloomberg as "a fellow wealthy guy" who "pays the highest personal income tax rate, 35%." Williams continued: "He opposes tax provisions that, as he puts it, 'allows some wealthy individuals to pay a lower rate,' and went on to say that if it were up to him, he would end the concept of so-called 'carried interest.'"
Rounding out his grilling of Romney from the left, Williams wondered: "Did it get tougher for you to tell your story and attract your interest in the state [Florida] where you are now?...People are talking about exotic investments in Switzerland and Luxembourg and the Cayman Islands. Did this make it tougher for you?"
Read the complete transcript of the January 24 interview.
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Comments
Income disparity?
Submitted by HudsonRiverGirl on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 5:45pm.
Any mention of the obscene amount of money paid to cutie catie couric?
she is now working for 2
Submitted by jkwtrading on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 5:55pm.
she is now working for 2 bucks a head...
Or how about Kerry?
Submitted by Rover on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 6:29pm.
More to the point, John Kerry was one of the wealthiest people in America (to be fair, his wife was) but somehow that just wasn't an issue in 2004. And today, Pelosi has become fabulously wealthy, but we don't hear a word about it in the MSM. Somehow, as protrayed in the media, only rich republicans are "out of touch" with the common American.
But it was for the right.
Submitted by balboa on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 9:01pm.
But it was for the right.
" But it was for the right."
Submitted by Hog_Flambe on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 11:25pm.
Slain, please.
Mrs Heinz...
Submitted by Hog_Flambe on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 11:13pm.
errr... John Kerry's husband, Teresa ( sp? ) cashed in when a Pa Senator met his end in a copter crash.
I wonder what her/his/thems tax rate is on capital gains be these days.
Shhhhh.....
Anyways... dunno if Rover is a Zep fan, but I dig music and appreciate a nice n tidy cover...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrux7YUTrf8&feature=related
every story on newbusters has
Submitted by jkwtrading on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 5:46pm.
every story on newbusters has a common thread..."only liberals get to decide " we never do, its like the dog is walking the master now.
because liberals think they are so smart
Submitted by ohio granny on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 5:49pm.
Liberals think the "common" person is just too dumb to know what is best for themselves. We need the smart liberal to take care of us. The reality is the way liberals think is pure evil.
granny libs have a phrase for
Submitted by jkwtrading on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 5:55pm.
granny libs have a phrase for it..the "enlightened slave master"
the libs are a definite version of pure evil..
Geeze, I wonder why?
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 6:16pm.
"every story on newbusters has a common thread"
Geeze, I wonder why? I mean, really, their mission statement only reads "exposing liberal bias in the media." Who, in their right mind, would ever expect them to do just that?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Williams is probably smart
Submitted by ray johnson on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 5:46pm.
Williams is probably smart enough to know that all the bs about taxes and wealth is just a tactic. I'm sure he's mostly on board with it, but gets a lot of instructions through his ear piece, like Dan Rather did.
How about you release your tax returns?
Submitted by ohio granny on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 5:48pm.
How about you release your tax returns Brian. It would be very interesting to see how much you give to charity. And how much money does NBC pay you to read a telepromter? Almost as much as Romney's yearly income? At least Romney earned his by true work and not just reading something someone else wrote like you do.
I say if you are so willing to criticize Romney you should be willing to let everyone see your total net worth, as well as your yearly income, taxes paid and charitable contributions. Then we will see just who the hypocrite is and I bet it is you !!!!!!!!!
How much do you make...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 5:53pm.
....to read a teleprompter on television?
Shocking I Say! Unfathomable! Almost Ironical!
Rich Presidents
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 5:54pm.
If George Washington was running for President today, Brian Williams and his ilk would trash him for being rich and out of touch with the "common person". Washington, for his day, was richer then Howard Hughes was and was almost as rich as Bill Gates. That's astronomically rich!
Of course, Romney can't try to educate Brian Williams on this fact, because then the press would run with the headline, "Romney compares himself to George Washington!"
The MSM is despicable beyond comprehension.
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
good one!!
Submitted by ray johnson on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 6:52pm.
good one!!
I was hoping to see the rest
Submitted by okie-pastor on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 6:01pm.
I was hoping to see the rest of the transcript. Oh well.
why do we suffer this idiocy? Challenge Williams by asking how is raising my taxes (which was at a higher rate than what John Kerry paid) going to create one job?
I'm not making the same amount of $ Romney does but I don't suspect I will get a check in the mail from Barack Obama if his and others taxes are raised. It will just go to more stupid democrat pet projects where the lucky recipient will make sure to donate back to the democrat party.
Typical liberal hypocricy.
Submitted by KyWriter on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 6:05pm.
But then, Brian needs to keep his money. It costs big bucks for his plastic surgeon to keep his eyebrows properly sympathetic.
I can just picture Brian slinking down the hallway
Submitted by SickofLibs on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 6:04pm.
in his Power Rangers bathrobe and bunny slippers to steal Johnny Damon's Sunday Times yet again.
I thought the 99% included
Submitted by HelloDare on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 6:25pm.
I thought the 99% included all those making less than the $15 million a years Jon Stewart makes. Glad to see it's been lowered to Brian Williams' $13 million. Wow, Obama's speech really had an impact. Way to go, Barack!
The fun part of discussing any issue with a liberal is....
Submitted by Willis_Leon_Johnson on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 6:34pm.
The disgusting part of trying to have a civil discussion with a liberal is...
A. They have no historically accurate facts on which to base their position so they claim victim status.
B. They have no valid statistically data to base their position on, so they scream racism.
C. They have no societal accurate demographics to base their claims on so the claim class warfare.
It is hard to have a civil discussion with a liberal because they have nothing to work with and it is so much fun to let them make fools of themselves, then rubbing their noses in it until they break out into tears.
It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy down inside....
End 'gun violence in America' - Require training and MANDATORY "Shall Carry" by every Citizen.
If harry reid is the best person to lead the senate, what does that say about the other 99 senators?
Mitt
Submitted by grammajane on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 6:34pm.
It would have been a perfect time for Mitt to ask him about his millions and how much he donates. Wish these candidates would step up to the plate and show some guts!! Maybe Newt could give a few lessons. Wonder how much williams spends in the tanning bed
How about the Clintoons,
Submitted by Dan Diego on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 8:14pm.
How about the Clintoons, after raking in 50 mil they were still begging for common folk to pay off Hilda's campaign debt.
Her debt
Submitted by Dave the mailman on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 8:35pm.
I think she's working it off as an indentured servant.
Obama: "work for me these next four years and I'll erase your debt..."
I don't like Romney because he's a liberal, BUT...
Submitted by stage9 on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 8:57pm.
the reason the liberal media is so enamored with Romney's wealth is because within their dark and wicked covens hating the rich is a commonly held position. So naturally they assume EVERYONE ELSE shares their insane disposition.
With liberals, hating the rich is like telling an inside joke and expecting everyone else to get it. The problem for liberals is though that no one else is laughing at their punchline.
That's why a knucklehead like Brian Williams can make such a stupid comment regarding Romney's wealth that it is "unfathomable...for most Americans".
No Brian, it's only unfathomable to societal leeches and network radicals.
"If God is dead, somebody is going to have to take his place. It will be megalomania or erotomania, the drive for power or the drive for pleasure, the clenched fist or the phallus, Hitler or Hugh Hefner." — Malcolm Muggeridge
suggested retort...
Submitted by JPTSO3 on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 9:34pm.
Williams:
"You have, to most Americans, unimaginable wealth..."
Romney:
"Well Brian, I would say Americans understand that risk capital sometimes pays off, sometimes it doesn't - there's a risk in investments and capital gains come, when the risk pays off. Your'e paid 13 million dollars every year, up or down, good or bad for reading what someone else puts in front of you. What risks did you take last year to make over a million dollars a month? I would consider getting paid 13 million, to read a few thousand words 5 days a week, unimaginable... "
⇒ Awesome retort
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 9:36pm.
Now that one kicks some serious butt!
Kudos JPTSO3. If Romney even came close to using
Submitted by Rush Fan on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 11:16pm.
your recommended rebuttal, he would capture the nomination, as well as the hearts and minds of Conservatives who are glamoring for a strong and pugnacious Republican candidate who can take the fight to Obama and his subservient followers in the mainstream media.
Did Bri-Bri get paid that
Submitted by killa37 on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 3:08am.
Did Bri-Bri get paid that much for being the 'handsomest man' on the news, or because he is good at putting on the kneepads and sucking the Dem/lib party line?? And what the hell else did this faggot do to earn that type of money, anyway??? Why weren't the OWS bowel movement types camping on HIS lawn??? And why doesn't Boy Barry tear into him for being part of the '1%', instead of accepting his bow and his b*ow jobs????
Hey - Sad Eyebrows - first of all, you're NOT as handsome as your man-crush thinks you are, and second of all, you're richer than 99 and a half % of Americans................so shut your stupid-ass propoganda-induced delusional flap/crap/trap!!!!!
And stop sucking up to these worthless pieces of crap.............it only makes you look like more of a faggot than you allready do!!
The wealth issue never seemed
Submitted by inquiringmind on Thu, 01/26/2012 - 9:49am.
The wealth issue never seemed to be an issue for Mayor Bloomberg.