ThinkProgress Selectively Edits Bill Gates to Misrepresent His Views on Taxing the Rich

One of the leading liberal propaganda outlets in the nation is the website ThinkProgress which specializes in selectively editing news reports and spreading misinformation to receptive media outlets from coast to coast.

A fine example of how they deceptively operate transpired Sunday with an article promoted at their website with the teaser "Bill Gates 'In Favor' Of Higher Taxes On Wealthy" (videos follow with transcript and commentary):

Today on ABC’s This Week, Microsoft founder Bill Gates added his voice to the chorus, scoffing at the idea that the rich would riot over a marginal tax increase. “I just can’t imagine these millionaires and billionaires going down and barricading the streets because they are going to have to pay 4 or 5 percent more in taxes. I mean, it’s going to be rough for them,” he quipped. “There’s certainly a case to be made that taxes should be more progressive,” he added. When asked whether he agrees with the Buffett rule, he noted that the revenues needed cannot be raised completely off the top income bracket but he said, “I’m generally in favor of the idea that the rich should pay somewhat more.”

The article included the following video:

NewsBusters reported this exchange with Christiane Amanpour. Here is the complete video and transcript (portions intentionally omitted by TP in bold):

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, HOST: The Buffett Rule, for instance, and all the other proposals the president is making are being called class warfare by his opposition. Do you agree with the Buffett Rule? Do you support that?

BILL GATES: Well… (LAUGHTER)

AMANPOUR: Why is it funny?

GATES: Well, I just can't imagine the -- these millionaires and billionaires going down and -- barriciding (sic) the streets because they're going to have to pay four or five percent more in taxes. I mean it's going to be rough for them… There certainly is a case to be made that taxes should be more progressive. And, you know, that -- that's being debated by various people.

AMANPOUR: Do you support the Buffett Rule?

GATES: I'm not an expert on how we should do taxes. Clearly, you can't raise the taxes we need just by going after that one percent. Yes, I'm generally in favor of the idea that -- that the rich should pay somewhat more. But to really deal with the deficit gap we're talking about, that alone just numerically is not going to be enough.

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So, the shills at TP intentionally omitted Gates laughing at the whole idea of the Buffett Rule as well as his final crucial statement, "But to really deal with the deficit gap we're talking about, that alone just numerically is not going to be enough."

This is what routinely passes for "reporting" by this organization.

Even worse, other so-called news outlets - in particular, MSNBC - regularly cite the work of these liberal propagandists.

Any wonder why so many people you meet on the Left have no clue what's really going on in the world?

ThinkProgress and the organizations that cite them are partially to blame.