Chris Matthews Unloads on Obama; President Should Have Said 'Tax the Freaking Rich!'
A clearly worried Chris Matthews on Monday fretted that a 'coy' Barack Obama is being "too cute by half" in his handling of the economy. Matthews lamented the fact that in his press conference, the President didn't exclaim, "Tax the freakin' rich!"
Talking to former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, Matthews proclaimed what Obama should have said. After agreeing to "some" cuts, the Hardball host wished the Commander in Chief had announced to Congress: "Now, I want you to do your part and tax the freakin' rich! Now, are you going to do it or not?' He didn't go that far. I think he was being coy, cute, too clever by half..."
[See video below. MP3 audio here.]
A few minutes later, Matthews dismissed Obama's proposed bus trip around America, even comparing the President to a Republican.
He lamented, "I'm wondering if he's doing what Pawlenty would do or some middle-level Republican would be doing right now. A bus trip. I don't want to downgrade. People need to meet their president. It would be good for them, but does he need to bring something along concrete?"
During the debt debate, Matthews previously smeared congressional Republicans as "thugs," "terrorists" and "muggers."
A transcript of the exchanges can be found below:
08/08/11
5:05
CHRIS MATTHEWS: It seems like there was a couple steps missed here. When he went to the Tea Party crowd that were pushing Boehner around all day long, he could have said to them, "Okay, we have differences of opinion. Here's my opinion and here's my plan, dammit, I think we can cut $4 trillion over the next ten years. Big, national, international cuts the world would recognize. I want to have some spending cuts in here, but I also want some revenue for the rich- from the rich. Now, here's my spending cuts. I'm sticking my neck out, boys and girls. Here are the cuts. I want to go after Medicare. I want to put some means testing in here. I want co-pays in here. Changes in dates when you're eligible. I'm willing to stick my neck out. Now, I want you to do your part and tax the freakin' rich! Now, are you going to do it or not?" He didn't go that far. I think he was being coy, cute, too clever by half, Governor, by not laying out his plan. What do you think? Should he have done it or not?
5:10
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Okay, let's talk about this. The President of the United States right now, I don't know what his plan is, Governor. You're a politician, you know how this works. Going on the road. He's going to Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa. He's going to other states out there, Virginia. What good, what can he do on the road? I'm wondering if he's doing what Pawlenty would do or some middle-level Republican would be doing right now. A bus trip. I don't want to downgrade. People need to meet their president. It would be good for them, but does he need to bring something along concrete?
ED RENDELL: The bus trip is a great idea if he was going to spell it out. Chris, I absolutely agree with you. He's got to be bold. This is not the time to tinker at the edges. We plead to do something to restore the world's confidence in our economy. The financial community's confidence in our economy and the American's people confidence in our economy and the American people's confidence in our economy.
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Comments
Democrat Tip O'Neill's top advisor....
Submitted by Dutch Man on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 6:04pm.
....should continue to push for more taxes. It has always been a politcal winner since the days of....the days of...oh wait, it has never been a political winner.
Dear Chris, please advise all democrats and rino republicans to campaign on increasing taxes. Thank you.
It will be if Obama can sucker the GOP to renege on its tax
Submitted by lsudolemite on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 6:28pm.
pledge. I'd like to think Republicans would never be that suicidal or that stupid, but in the words of Nicky Santoro from Casino, "These guys could **** up a cup of coffee."
re; Matthews' " Chrissie fit ."
Submitted by Hog_Flambe on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 11:44pm.
Plenty sure he went home, broke some dishes from the Historical Inaugural QVC sanctioned product, Then while picking up the pieces... looked up and was shamed by his shrine to " The One."
Being a fan boy, Christine, sadly, penned another love note to the object of his desire that will go unanswered. Poor deluded kid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af7fgwpnly8
your diabetes is flaring up again ....
Submitted by jmigyanka@msn.com on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 6:17pm.
........chrissy wet his bed until he was 42! (the thrill down his leg)
It's not diabetes...it's bipolar disorder....
Submitted by drsamherman on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 11:18pm.
He goes from high to low to high in light speed. NASA wishes they could get a ship to go as fast as Tingles can change his emotions. If we could clock that on land speed, we would not need the high speed rail boondoggle.
Your diagnosis may be correct
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 11:06am.
He does swing from one extreme to another on almost a daily basis.
Tax the 49% who pay no taxes/ Tax the poor
Submitted by Red Jeep on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 6:21pm.
15% flat tax for all. Everyone should pay equally.
I say that
Submitted by syvyn11 on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 6:37pm.
if 10% is good enough for Jesus, then it should be good enough for Uncle Sam.
ya got my vote!
Submitted by wizardjr on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 7:11pm.
that is SO-O-O-O-O-O-O overdue
It would end class warfare or should.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 7:17pm.
.
Sorry, no
Submitted by Boudin on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 7:23pm.
Class envy, is as Human wanting more ice-cream. I still get green every-time I see some 16yr old kid climb into a new Vett.
As well it should.....
Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 7:24pm.
Smack the crap out of him for putting fingerprints on your ride!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Funny,
Submitted by Boudin on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 7:38pm.
I was talking to a friend of my Son the other day, his Dad gave him a brand new SS Camaro for Graduation. Seeing that he had already crumple the front Quarter. I told him to help his Dad not regret the purchase by not killing himself in it.
My Son, was handed down my old pick-up, with my insurance rate hike.
the original income tax was
Submitted by jkwtrading on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 8:03pm.
the original income tax was the best, 1/2 of 1 per cent of Americans paid 1/2 of 1 per cent of their income. that left 99.5 % with NO taxes. screw 15% or any money, these people do not deserve a nickle of anyone's pay.
jkw, you are exactly right about the federal income tax
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 8:08pm.
And if our founders had wanted there to be one, they would have included it in the original Constitution.
They didn't, and there is a reason for that.
It's the most regressive tax you can come up with, and it really frosts my ass to see so many so-called "conservatives" willing to let the government steal a portion of their lives.
Little wonder this nation is royally screwed.
I say repeal the 16th Amendment, fire every single IRS employee, and be done with it.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
I say repeal it also..
Submitted by jkwtrading on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 8:14pm.
I say repeal it also..
I have no problem with an income tax
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 10:07am.
The Founding Fathers may not have foreseen the need for one, but they didn't see fit to outlaw slavery, either. What they wisely provided was a means for amending the Constitution as future generations saw fit to do. As most would agree, it's a high point of their nation-creating genius.
That having been said, the only fair income tax is a flat tax -- no exemptions for anything. Only then does tax law get equally applied.
But more importantly is disarming the politicians from using the Constitutional authority to tax to reward friends and punish enemies. The oppressive tax code is an incomprehensible Gordian knot of legal gibberish that has not only created unequal treatment of citizens, but generated an entire industry of high priests -- known as tax attorneys and accountants -- to decipher it. Even the legislators who sponsor the tax bills admit they don't understand what the language means, and buried in the details are those little favors and poisons targeted at us. Those same legislators will also fight to the death (euphemistically) to preserve the Sacred Tax Texts in order to maintain their power to reward and punish, because that's the major impetus for campaign contributions.
And I haven't even gone into the documented abuses of Federal and state revenue agencies.
We must go to the flat tax.
Tax code
Submitted by Model850 on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 5:29pm.
Even the legislators ... admit they don't understand [the tax code they author]
It's not just the legislators. Remember the hubbub over the guy who returned the ball to Derek Jeter and then faced tax liabilities for the freebies the Yankees gave him in return? One story reported that after the sale of the Mark McGuire 70th home run ball for $3 million the IRS was advised by a law professor on how to treat the ball.
How totally screwed up is the tax code when even the people charged with administering it need help to figure it out? And they have the stones to penalize and fine "ordinary" Americans who trip up while trying to navigate the labyrinth?
Would your flat tax proposal (no exemptions for anything) include capital gains (as well as interest income) as taxable income, and if so, at what rate? What about income from bonds, including government bonds?
Just trying to get a better picture of your proposal.
[edit]
I'm interpreting "no exemptions" as meaning the usual deductions taken when filing so I apologize if your meant it as "all income no matter the source."
Yeah but wouldn't this kind
Submitted by MightyMouth on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 10:52pm.
Yeah but wouldn't this kind of null and void food stamps and unemployment 'benefits' for half the country? You Teabagging bastards! --Channeling Balboa and most liberals.
OK Chris, let's tax the rich.
Submitted by rbosque on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 6:20pm.
OK Chris, let's tax the rich. How 'bout taking all their freaking money, then what? Who'll hire? What taxes are you going to collect from decreased business revenues? You think the rich will pay those taxes or pass that on to consumers? Ever heard of "consumer surplus"? That'll disappear. Taxes will eat away at everybody, you're delusional if you think only the rich are going to pay taxes.
Obama could've taxed the rich
Submitted by jkwtrading on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 6:24pm.
Obama could've taxed the rich all he wanted in late 2010. that was only 7 months ago..
Exactly
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 6:55pm.
The Dems never really wanted to raise taxes, they only want to have the Republicans join them in raising taxes. They know that this will be the nail in the coffin for Republicans if they sign onto a tax increase.
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
Well the Number One Obama Prison wife........
Submitted by OldJarhead77 on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 6:29pm.
Will be sleeping on the floor at Obamas feet after that little tirade.......watch out pissy chrissy andrea cooper will be in your spot
Will Tingles be so happy
Submitted by syvyn11 on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 6:38pm.
When he gets his tax bill and finds out that he's part of "THE EVIL RICH"?
Or does The Thrill think he's immune to higher taxes?
Check's, thens there are checks.
Submitted by desert3030 on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 6:51pm.
Before we go after those bad ole rich folks, how about we send a tax bill and means test all of those who went to the birthday party and paid more than $5,000? Make sure Kerry paid his taxes on the "boat" he hid out. Have Nanacy and Maxine pay back their hubbies stimuls money.
Have Rangel, Jefferson, Dodd and all other sweet heart loan deals pay up. Then have Barney and Dodd pony up, or at least say ten times slowly on MSNBC with Rachel, Chrissy, and Sgt, we screwed up Fannie and Freddie. Check those out before we force checks to be written. Don't forget Harry's airport. OBAMA WALKED ON the taxes 2 Handicapper John gave him on a silver plate.
"What would turn this market around?"
Submitted by Texndoc on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 7:02pm.
"What would give this world confidence?"
Oh, I think you'll soon find out, around November 2012, Tingles.
700 Billion freaking dollars
Submitted by octavioj on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 7:06pm.
The analysis is in and raising taxes on the rich per the Clinton rates would only bring in 700 billion dollars to pay for over 40 trillion dollars of spending and about 10 trillion dollars of deficit. How can we take these people serious? It will not pay for even 7% of the entire deficit.
Ok, lets tax the rich
Submitted by djwolf12 on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 7:31pm.
TAX ALL professional Athletes, Hollywood, Microsoft, Warren Buffet, and Steve Jobs. According to this Regime in power, these people are making waaaay too much and need to spread it around. The only problem is that these people listed above are Democrats.
Is it about Came-alot?
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 7:35pm.
He's in high form today. Maybe the release of Jackie Kennedy's tapes has him rattled, While JFK inspired lad Matthews to join the Peace Corps, his randy behavior inspired Queen Jackie to screw William Holden to get even. Poor Chris. The Camelot image is further shattered; welcome to Came-alot, Matthews.
Chris you are "the rich"
Submitted by wingnut55 on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 7:49pm.
Chris should be making enough money that he is in the class of "the rich". Therefore if he wants "the rich" to pay more in taxes, he should take less deductions the next time he files his taxes. That will help the country, right????
Matthews throws out outrageous comments and we
Submitted by cbeyer on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 7:49pm.
Are the fools who help his ratings by making him a poster boy for the wild eyed left.
As I have said in many posts...I am far more concerned with MSM major journalists like Brian Williams and others who have much larger audiences.
The "tax the rich"......
Submitted by GregE on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 8:18pm.
......crowd is rabid. Obama used the "fair share" phrase again today. I've yet to hear any liberal be detailed on that and explain what "fair share" means. They do say rates should go back to the 39.6%, which of course to them is the baseline, and what every person with a brain knows was the income tax rate implemented in 1776 upon declaring our independence, screwed with only 225 years later for the first time by the fire-breathing "Dubya."
Are the 50%, who pay zero federal income taxes, paying their fair share?
What is fair share, and who decides it? Who is the god of Fair Shareness? Is the amount defined in the dictionary, that I may have missed? Is it a scientific absolute, available by mixing several elements from the periodic table into a test tube and firing over a Bunsen burner? Does it give off an odor? What happens if I breathe it's vapors? Is it a liquid? What's it's freezing point? Is it poisonous? What does it taste like? Can I sweeten my coffee with it?
Actualy Greg,
Submitted by Boudin on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 8:30pm.
What folks should be asking, "what will happen when we steal more from the productive. More of the same comes to my mind
→ Amilya Antonetti
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 8:36pm.
That little firebrand has been scorching the Barackside of Ear Leader for days now.
What Happened
Submitted by djaymick on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 8:38pm.
It amazes me that if your not a far-left liberal, then your conservative. This tells you how radical the Democrat Party has become. There is no such thing as a Blue Dog Democrat anymore. So, if your choices are either liberal or other, most people are taking other, as seen with the independent voters.
The rich should be taxed.
Submitted by Trix Rabbit on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 8:58pm.
And tingles should set the example. C'mon tingles open up your fat and healthy bank account and share the love.
Tingles Matthews - el lameculos de msnbc.
For the MSM: In your pomp and all your glory, you're a poorer man than me. As you lick the boots of death born out of fear.
Ian Anderson "Wind up"
Tax the freaking rich already like
Submitted by Prisondog1776 on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 9:33pm.
me and ole Keithey http://gawker.com/5180045/chris-matthews-settles-for-less-than-olbermann
No, what Obama should have
Submitted by jessieH on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 12:01am.
No, what Obama should have said was I quit.
That's why you vote for
Submitted by action on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 6:10am.
conservatives, not republicans. They are not necessarily the same.
Lead by example
Submitted by Name on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 8:38am.
All these liberal idiots need to be told to put up or shut up. They can write the Government a check for 90% of their earnings if they want. Every time one of these meatheads says that they need taxed more, or that the Government can do a better job of spending their money than they do, they should be prompted to write a check right then. Do they need the Government to tell them they have to do it to before they, 'do the right thing'? Warren Buffet, Matt Damon, Barry O, Barney Frank, all these bags of wind should put their money where their mouths are and show the rest how to do it.
I'm not sure this guy could
Submitted by ChicagoSteve on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 11:51am.
I'm not sure this guy could get a job at McDonalds if his life depended on it!
ChicagoSteve,
Submitted by Trix Rabbit on Wed, 08/10/2011 - 10:28pm.
Even if tingles were to get a job at McDonalds, would you or anyone else want to eat anything he has touched?
For the MSM: In your pomp and all your glory, you're a poorer man than me. As you lick the boots of death born out of fear.
Ian Anderson "Wind up"