Donny Deutsch Rants: 'We Are a Country That Is At Class Warfare Now'
During a panel discussion on Tuesday's NBC Today about philanthropist Denise Rich renouncing her U.S. citizenship to reportedly avoid paying taxes, advertising executive Donny Deutsch used the incident to proclaim: "We are a country that is at class warfare now. It is reality. And this is the kind of thing that if I'm home watching, I go, screw you, get out of my country!"
NBC chief medical editor Nancy Snyderman had a similar reaction as she denounced the ultimate sin for liberals, the wealthy not paying enough taxes: "I think this is despicable. I have no – nothing but contempt for Denise Rich trying to escape taxes....Anyone who turns down an American citizenship, It's crap....It's crap, it's absolute crap."
The lone voice of dissent on the panel was attorney Star Jones, who described Rich as "more like my sister, she's one of my best friends." Jones argued: "I can say to you that she wants to be closer to her surviving children....Her children now live in Europe and she does not primarily make her home here in the United States anymore."
Co-host Matt Lauer actually issued a warning to Deutsch and Snyderman on the topic: "Alright, what do we think about it? And be careful, because obviously it's Star's friend. But go ahead." Snyderman shot back: "I don't want to be careful. I think there are times you have to call out your friends." Deutsch agreed: "Star, she's your friend. And I respect that. Let's call it as it is. I agree with Nancy. I even agree with the word 'despicable.'"
Near the end of the contentious debate, Jones declared: "Listen, I'm not going to let you call somebody I love – who I've been supportive of, who's been supportive of me – despicable and not call you out on it." Deutsch insisted: "What she did is despicable." Jones countered: "Now you might have that opinion, but you cannot call her despicable, okay?"
As Lauer moved on to the next topic, Snyderman got it a parting shot: "I'll call her despicable." Jones shot back: "That's tacky."
Introducing a report earlier in the show, co-host Savannah Guthrie fretted: "And now to what appears to be a money-saving trend among some of the wealthiest people in America. But is it fair to the rest of us?"
Correspondent Andrea Mitchell used the story to promote a Democratic effort to collect taxes from wealthy individuals even after they renounce their citizenship: "Rich is among 1,800 Americans last year who renounced their citizenship....New York Senator Chuck Schumer sees a tax dodge....Schumer has legislation to penalize people like Rich."
Mitchell added: "Denise Rich is not the only famous American who's given up her citizenship, Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin became a citizen of Singapore just before the Facebook IPO. If Schumer gets his way, they will both still have to pay U.S. taxes on their riches."
Interestingly, Deutsch, Snyderman and Jones discussed Saverin renouncing his citizenship back in May. The panel breakdown was the same, Jones defended Saverin's decision while Snyderman ripped him as a "weasel" and Deutsch lamented that "the entire corporate system" was at fault.
The NBC coverage tied Rich to her ex-husband, tax fraud fugitive Marc Rich, as well as to Bill and Hillary Clinton. Mitchell explained: "Denise Rich contributed to the Clinton campaigns. And just before Bill Clinton left office, he caused a political storm pardoning her former husband, fugitive financier Marc Rich, who fled prosecution for tax fraud in 1983."
During the panel, Lauer similarly noted: "Denise Rich, who is a very popular songwriter, a Grammy winner, a socialite, a philanthropist and major Democratic fundraiser...Let's remind people that it was an American president, Bill Clinton – again, she's a very big Democratic fundraiser – it was an American President Bill Clinton who pardoned her husband Marc."
Here is a full transcript of the July 10 panel discussion:
8:10AM ET
MATT LAUER: We're back now at 8:10 with Today's Professionals, Star Jones, Donny Deutsch, and Dr. Nancy Snyderman are here to chime in on the hottest headlines of the morning. Good morning to everybody. Good to see you.
NANCY SNYDERMAN: Hey, Matt.
DONNY DEUTSCH: Hi, Matt.
LAUER: Let's start with a story that's in the papers today. Denise Rich, who is a very popular songwriter, a Grammy winner, a socialite, a philanthropist and major Democratic fundraiser, is apparently giving up her U.S. citizenship. She'll retain her Austrian citizenship because her father was born in Austria. And according to a lot of the reports, the reason she's doing this is to save millions of dollars in taxes here in the United States. Star, I know this story puts you in an odd position because you and Denise Rich are very good friends.
STAR JONES: She's more like my sister, she's one of my best friends.
LAUER: Alright, but what do we think about what she's doing? Do you want to start?
JONES: Well, I mean, I obviously, I've spoken to her about this. And I don't want to – I can't tell you anything legal, but I can say to you that she wants to be closer to her surviving children. You know she lost one of her daughters to cancer in her 20s. And-
DEUTSCH: So why does it have to – why can't she do that without changing citizenship?
JONES: Because their kids now live in Europe. Her children now live in Europe and she does not primarily make her home here in the United States anymore.
LAUER: So you don't think she's doing this for tax reasons, at all, to save money?
JONES: No, I think that's a by-product and I think that works, but I know that's not the main reason.
LAUER: Alright, what do we think about it? And be careful, because obviously it's Star's friend. But go ahead.
SNYDERMAN: I don't want to be careful. I think there are times you have to call out your friends. And I think this is despicable. I have no – nothing but contempt for Denise Rich trying to escape taxes.
JONES: I don't think she's trying to escape.
SNYDERMAN: Anyone who turns down an American citizenship, It's crap.
JONES: Well, I do agree that citizenship is...
SNYDERMAN: It's crap, it's absolute crap.
JONES: ...it's one of my assets.
LAUER: Right.
JONES: But she's – that's now how she feels about it. Sorry.
DEUTSCH: Star, Star, she's your friend.
JONES: Yes she is.
DEUTSCH: And I respect that. Let's call it as it is. I agree with Nancy. I even agree with the word "despicable."
JONES: I disagree.
DEUTSCH: Can I finish? We are a country that is at class warfare now. It is reality.
SNYDERMAN: Absolutely.
DEUTSCH: And this is the kind of thing that if I'm home watching...
JONES: You're pissed off.
DEUTSCH: I go, screw you, get out of my country!
LAUER: Let's add one other element. Let's remind people that it was an American president, Bill Clinton – again, she's a very big Democratic fundraiser – it was an American President Bill Clinton who pardoned her husband Marc...
JONES: Ex-husband.
LAUER: ...her ex-husband...
SNYDERMAN: A major error on Clinton's part.
LAUER: ...when he was on the run for tax evasion. So this country and its leaders have been very good to her.
JONES: Well this – well, she's also been very good to this country.
DEUTSCH: Star-
JONES: Listen, I'm not going to let you call somebody I love – who I've been supportive of, who's been supportive of me – despicable and not call you out on it.
DEUTSCH: What she did, what she did-
SNYDERMAN: Star-
JONES: No, she's not a despicable person.
DEUTSCH: First of all, I know her also. What she did is despicable. I'm a U.S. citizen.
JONES: Now you might have that opinion, but you cannot call her despicable, okay?
DEUTSCH: Alright, what she did is despicable.
JONES: Fair enough.
LAUER: Alright, alright. Two opinions in this.
SNYDERMAN: I'll call her despicable.
JONES: That's tacky.
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Comments
Fascinating! Same idiots,
Submitted by pilgrim4jc on Tue, 07/10/2012 - 5:59pm.
Fascinating! Same idiots, talking about their rich idiot friends! The media has no idea of how the middle class lives! Talk about a "protected class" you ever watch these numb nuts talk to an ordinary person, it is especially funny to watch their face when one of the "unwashed mass" talk about God!
75% tax on the media elites!
Gee, Matt. And who are Denise Rich's pals?
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 07/10/2012 - 6:06pm.
During the panel, Lauer similarly noted: "Denise Rich, who is a very popular songwriter, a Grammy winner, a socialite, a philanthropist and major Democratic fundraiser...Let's remind people that it was an American president, Bill Clinton – again, she's a very big Democratic fundraiser – it was an American President Bill Clinton who pardoned her (ex-) husband Marc.
Yeah. Marc Rich was the biggest convicted tax fraud in US history, and then Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder personally walked his pardon request around the WH vetting system to give to Bill Clinton directly.
But Clinton knew what was coming because Denise Rich had already been contributing $ millions to his Presidential library fund.
So now the ex-wife of the biggest tax criminal in US history is leaving the US to avoid taxes. Thank you, Top 1% Democrat!
Class warfare, Donny Deutsch? Yeah, it's the rich Dems and their greedy politicians against the American people.
Who cares what Snydermann
Submitted by ant on Tue, 07/10/2012 - 6:13pm.
Who cares what Snydermann thinks? She's the same 'expert' that thinks humans don't need sugar and that it's 'despicable' that Ann Romney treats her MS by horse-back riding. Still, woulda liked to see Jones get physical with her.
I doubt these libs will ever take a bite out of ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Tue, 07/10/2012 - 6:30pm.
John F'ing Kerry related to his tax dodge move - mooring his yacht out-of-state.
MD
He and his wife also sold their Italian villa . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 07/10/2012 - 8:27pm.
. . . to Geroge Clooney early in the 2004 campaign to shed the appearance of international affluence.
I agree
Submitted by oldfart on Tue, 07/10/2012 - 6:32pm.
On on side, are the super rich, the self important and the know-it-alls.
They all assume the Obama position #1 of looking down their noses at everyone else.
On the other side is everyone else, regardless of race, creed or sexual orientation. This side goes about minding their own business and just want to to left alone.
The Obama position #1 group views the second group as an inferior people who assume the Obama position #2 - you know - bending over and holding your ankles for a good ____ing.
No Sh*t Sherlock!
Submitted by MightyMouth on Tue, 07/10/2012 - 6:38pm.
Thanks to your Prince Obama and the Chicago way! (what a dumbass!)
Nancy S
Submitted by lilium479 on Tue, 07/10/2012 - 6:58pm.
Who plays a doctor on TV.
Nancy S
Submitted by lilium479 on Tue, 07/10/2012 - 6:58pm.
Who plays a doctor on TV.
Little Debs
Submitted by Seashell on Tue, 07/10/2012 - 7:09pm.
Looks like "Little Debs" was looking for some tax breaks herself despite jumping ugly with Romney for his overseas investments on Sunday. What a hypocrite, but are any of you surprised?
I was sooo happy to hear Dana Perino
Submitted by Radical1979 on Tue, 07/10/2012 - 8:29pm.
mention this on The Five tonight when Beckel brought up Romney's overseas investments. It's exactly what conservatives need to do,fight back.
A couple of points from the
Submitted by killa37 on Wed, 07/11/2012 - 2:30am.
A couple of points from the blue-collar country-boy 'common folk' mind of the ol' Killa.......................Debbie Whassername Schlitz gives every appearance of looking and sounding like an inbred Tennesee-holler cretin - with apologies to the people in Tennessee!!! She could easlity have been in the movie 'Deliverence'!!! And given her lack of credibility in EVERYTHING - excpet being able to shoot her stupid ugly mouth off non-stop - who gives a flying rat's ass what she thinks!!!
And also............where does Dracula Soros 'hide' his money?? David Letterman?? Baraka Obama??? Hey - the petulant punk is now worth about 10 million..................not bad for a mediocre-IQ 'community organizer'!!!
Say what they want about Romney - he's NEVER entered the dark side that these delusional, and DANGEROUS, morons have!!
Don't fence me in
Submitted by metaphorsbwithu on Tue, 07/10/2012 - 7:09pm.
Maybe they could build a fence along the border to keep the rich from getting out. ;-)
Oh the irony!
Avoiding Taxes
Submitted by Netstatter on Tue, 07/10/2012 - 9:27pm.
Lots of us would avoid paying higher taxes if we could. We see the government being irresponsible with the tax money it is already taking in. We know we could make better decisions about what to do with that money (save for retirement to make up for all the lost pensions, put away money for our kids' education, help aging parents). I say "more power to you" to anyone who wants to move away from anywhere to escape paying higher taxes.
I gotta ask....
Submitted by Stan T on Wed, 07/11/2012 - 1:01am.
See, I got this logical, analytcal mind...and my subconscious is just running all the time, in the background, like a hamster on a wheel..if I could hook up my subconscious to a power generator, I could probably power a small city...lol. Well, this is what my subconscious came up with, and pushed it out to my conscious mind:
1.) Like with the book about congressmen using insider trading to build up fortunes, the media show like 6 republicans (probably the only republicans in the book), and ONE democrat, who just happened to be the worst, Nancy Pelosi..this is how the media works...When a republican does something wrong, they mention his name as often as they can, so they can put "Republican" in front of it...but when it's a democrat, while they may mention what the congressman did wrong, they almost never even mention they're a democrat...
2.) They're always accusing republicans of being greedy and not wanting to pay their taxes, yet we now it's a common occurance for democrats to avoid paying taxes, cheat on their taxes, ignore their taxes...and now we see two cases of democrats giving up their citizenship to not pay taxes....
3.) did anyone notice, considering the list is out, they must know who the people on the list are, and they didn't mention a single republican...this act runs counter to the liberal mind...if a republican had done the same thing, they would be all over him, and making sure everyone knew for a fact he/she was a republican...
This logic therefore implies, as I cannot confirm without seeing the list and checking out all 1800 or so of them....but this implies to me, that only rich democrats are giving up thier citizenship to not pay taxes....this conclusion is because the left have not chastized a single republican for this act of avoiding taxes...