Obama Pushes For 'Buffett Rule' In Florida

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — President Barack Obama said Tuesday the choice facing voters this November will be as stark as in the milestone 1964 contest between Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater – one that ended up with one of the biggest Democratic landslides in history.

The president made his comments during a fundraising blitz in Florida, and right before his general election foe was essentially decided. Republican Rick Santorum dropped out of the presidential contest, making it clear that Obama would face off against Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor.

Obama used a daylong trip to Florida to call again for Congress to raise taxes on millionaires, a populist pitch on an issue that he hopes will help define the differences with nominee-to-be Romney.

"This election will probably have the biggest contrast that we've seen maybe since the Johnson-Goldwater election, maybe before that," Obama told donors at the first of three campaign events in this battleground state. The events were expected to raise at least $1.7 million.

In his 1964 race against Goldwater, Johnson carried 44 of 50 states and won 61 percent of the popular vote, the largest share of any candidate since 1820.

Running on a record that included the Great Society, Johnson portrayed Goldwater as a dangerous extremist. He was aided by Goldwater's GOP convention speech, in which the candidate proclaimed, "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice."

Republicans said Obama's tax proposal was aimed at dividing Americans along class lines and gave him an excuse to raise more money for his re-election campaign.

"He can't run on his record so he is coming down here to raise money using taxpayers' funds to do so," said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla.

In a reception at a gated community in Palm Beach Gardens, Obama said Democrats would ensure the rich pay their fair share, while focusing on investments in education, science and research and caring for the most vulnerable.

By contrast, he said, Republicans would dismantle education and clean energy programs so they can give still more tax breaks to the rich.

Obama did not mention Romney by name, but the economic fairness message was the theme of his day – and aimed squarely at the wealthy former Massachusetts governor.

Obama later outlined his support for the so-called Buffett rule at a speech at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla., arguing that wealthy investors should not pay taxes at a lower rate than middle-class wage earners.

The push for the Buffett rule, named after billionaire investor Warren Buffett, comes ahead of a Senate vote next week and as millions of Americans prepare to file their income tax returns. The plan has little chance of passing Congress, but Senate Democrats say the issue underscores the need for economic fairness.

Obama capped his day at a large rally-style event in Hollywood, Fla., that included a musical performance by singer John Legend and a fundraising dinner in nearby Golden Beach, Fla.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[Silverwolf72]

06:35 PM on 04/11/2012

Rebub logic
$10000 credit bill
take a pay cut so you don't have extra money to spend, now all your money will have to go paying off your CC
Don't bother cutting out that $5 lunch because it wouldn't do any good, it's such a small part of what you owe.
Only way to have food to eat is to cut off your electricity so you can save $200 a month

[wisemom3990]

06:09 PM on 04/11/2012

Hope and change. Steal money from anyone who succeeds, and give it to the growing poor (due to failed socialist policies) through more and more food stamps. Oh, and most of the "rich people" he wants to tax are small businesses, who hire the unemployed.

[wisemom3990]

06:05 PM on 04/11/2012

What a transparent stunt. "Tax the rich" is just a class warfare maneuver, an underpinning to go after Mitt Romney just because he was a successful businessman.

[eumenides]

02:38 PM on 04/11/2012

...is this the bread or the circus part of the agenda?

[Penelope Pitstop]

02:32 PM on 04/16/2012

the circus was first the bread was later on that evening in a "gated community". LOL dont you just love the irony

[DynamicInfo]

12:33 PM on 04/11/2012

This is such a joke, but after being on HP for over a year I realize that most of the lib's do not have clue -- that they are so indoctinated they can't compute anymore.

Under Bush's tax deductions we had over 4.5 % unemplyment.

Under Obama adminstration, the true unemployment rate includint jobs counted when he was sworn in that are no longer and those who have dropped out of the work force all together is close to 19%.

Obama is the biggest liar that has ever held public office. Time will tell if American libs are so indoctrinated they can't support the facts because they never look outside their infilitrated watering whole.

[INDIVIDUALTERRY]

11:52 AM on 04/11/2012

Oh yea the President is in full reelection mode! Bringing out the same old tired "redistribution of wealth through class envy " of his statist predecessors by supporting his so-call Buffet plan.
Raising the cost of investing in jobs and energy in this country seems awful counter productive to the responsible thinking voters amoung us. But he has a goal, a left wing constituency to pay back before november.
Yes that will be good for his admiring public , gain a few points with the raging left.
But it goes against the good of the country.

[vetxcl]

10:50 AM on 04/12/2012

CONman spouting blather . You speak for no one but yourself.

[INDIVIDUALTERRY]

11:20 AM on 04/11/2012

He wants to spur investments in the country by......raising taxes on investments !
Only the liberal mind would swallow this class warfare pap!

[empiresentry]

11:22 AM on 04/11/2012

Obama thinks raising taxes on fuel will lower the prices. lol

[vetxcl]

10:56 AM on 04/12/2012

You're just jealous more people aren't swallowing Rover and Romney's pap. Only a RepugnantCON would project so much.

[seawillow]

11:16 AM on 04/11/2012

He's resurrected the old Democrat hidden thumb hand gesture! Its a classic tell. Democrats lie when they do it.

[Jurgen Brul]

12:50 AM on 04/11/2012

Dear friends,

Our Economy is so BAD, that in times of
Hugh Unemployement and a High Nation Deficits,
Chief Executive Officers(CEO) of Wealthy Multinationals
are saying;

“We do Not want to pay High U.S. Tax upfront and
Receive a little bit Taxcredit later!
We want to Relocate operations in, say,
Germany (30.2%) or Canada (27.6%),
to avoid Higher U.S. Taxrates!
We want to Shuffle Income from country to country and
Avoid Paying Almost Any Tax at All. We want the Lowest
Possible Overall Tax Bill!”

WATCH HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL on U.S. Taxrates:
http://blogs.hbr.org/fox/2012/03/why-some-multinationals-pay-su.html

President Barack Obama is still saying;
“a High U.S. Taxrate for INTERNATIONAL Wealthy U.S. Multinationals
will create an America Built To Last!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeWBKAl437w

That 's how Bad the Economy is!

Greetings,
Jurgen R. Brul

[vetxcl]

03:11 AM on 04/11/2012

Pompous drool and repeated rationanlizations from a believer in disproven "solutions".

[tundra599]

10:46 PM on 04/10/2012

Why do democrats fall for a plan that will generate enough revenue to cover one day a year of deficit spending? Can't imagine why they make it such a huge deal when the total "benefit" is incredibly small.

[vetxcl]

03:12 AM on 04/11/2012

Why do ReugnantCONs reflexively resist every solution as soon they know who' s associated with it?

[INDIVIDUALTERRY]

11:23 AM on 04/11/2012

Its NO solution.
Its pandering to the sheep.When they have nothing , the left will drag out the stodgy old class envy lines.

[Rick4646]

08:32 PM on 04/10/2012

lets take a look at what happened since the unpaid for tax cuts happened.
- more unemployment
- more uninsured
- less coverage for the insured in health care.
- more bankruptcies
- less education for our schools.
- higher tuition rates for our colleges that is at an extraordinarily high rate as compared to inflation
- our infrastructure is in very bad shape.
... and despite all this, all the GOP budgets will give the rich another $200,000+/year tax break to make the list above much worse.

[vetxcl]

03:14 AM on 04/11/2012

Yup. Spending needs to be paid for with revenue, aka taxes. Too simple for RepugnantCONs that signed the "tax pledge" to fathom.

[INDIVIDUALTERRY]

11:25 AM on 04/11/2012

Sheep! One year of this "revenue" will equal ONE day of federal spending.
What will they do with this windfall?
Meanwhile they raised the taxes on investing in this country......again!

[ftworth texan]

06:55 PM on 04/10/2012

Get buffet to pay the millions in tax he owes. THEN, lets hear what he has to say.

[rebeccadh]

07:43 PM on 04/10/2012

lol, I sooooo agree!!!

[Syllogizer]

10:16 PM on 04/10/2012

Agreeing with folly does not make you look wise. Buffett pays what he owes.

[johnpw41042]

08:10 PM on 04/10/2012

Every citizen who has income above the poverty level should pay their fair share of income tax. If I have to pay 35% of my income in taxes so should those that can afford it more. I know that they have higher incomes so they should pay a larger amount. Just like taxes on things you buy, the larger the price of the purchase the more tax, and so it should be with income. Also, each citizen who lives in the United States one way or the other uses government services and therefore should be liable for taxes as well.

[Frankie Tierney]

08:29 PM on 04/10/2012

The most destructive tax is the income tax and who are you to claim what is a fair share for someone to pay? You know what's fair? Not having the government claim it owns part of your labor and steals it from you before you get the chance to reap your own benefits.

The income tax is to riddled with loopholes and favoritism that it benefits those who can afford to pay tax experts (a worthless drain on the economy and as a profession I might add). Instead, we need to cut spending, especially on our world police force and maybe allow a fair tax/VAT tax on sales of goods when people actually enjoy their money. When you tax income from capital gains and dividends, you are taking good money out of the economy that will likely be blown on some government boondoggle and no one will be fired if/when it gets found out.

And yes, with a VAT the poverty level people will receive a prebate to pay for necessities so they aren't being kicked while they are down.

BTW Buffet is full of crap about his claim on what he pays in taxes, he isn't including his Berkshire Hathaway income since he owns the majority of it and it pays corporate taxes.

[INDIVIDUALTERRY]

11:26 AM on 04/11/2012

Who do you think pays more in taxes , you or Buffet ?

[slinkymom]

06:10 PM on 04/10/2012

It is absolutely incredible that the supporters of the republican party have been convinced that it is perfectly good and reasonable that people/corporations are taking money out of our pockets via speculation on oil, gas, and the over pricing of goods and services that we want and even need.  They have lost touch with the facts about how the wealthy amass such huge fortunes and just placidly trot along with whatever the republicans tell them. 

They are blind to the amount of money they lose each and every day paying more for the things they need than should be necessary. 

It isn't regulation or taxes folks that raises the costs of goods so much. If you paid ANY attention to what is being done in other countries.  Other countries have regulations against things such as dyes added to foods sold by us to their countries.  We may have higher corporate tax rates on paper, but corporations don't pay any where near that amount, often paying no taxes at all.

What in the world will it take for people to open their eyes and understand they are being played as f0 0ls by the republican party. They know exactly what buttons to push to get some of you all riled up.  Those immigrants are taking our jobs, their getting free healthcare, those lazy laid off workers are just not even trying to look for work, or those welfare queens driving Cadillac's, it would be funny - but it's not.

We are all in deep, deep, trouble if more people don't start educating themselves, turn off Fox News, and open their mind to information that is readily available.

[johnpw41042]

08:19 PM on 04/10/2012

Now, since corporations are considered individuals maybe they should pay the same percentage as the working class as well?

[vetxcl]

03:16 AM on 04/11/2012

Whichever is the higher tax rate, corporate or individual works for me. The government needs their money.

[Frankie Tierney]

08:34 PM on 04/10/2012

tell that to Charlie Rangel (D) who got multimillion dollar gifts from GE to his district whom hasn't paid their fair share of taxes (GE or Rangel). Don't be such a partisan, the two parties are in bed with corporatism and you know it. Nancy Pelosi doesn't pay her interns minimum wage but is insistent on increasing minimum wage all the time. What a hypocrite no?

And no I am not a republican, they are just as bad I'm just pointing out how people hating on the republicans won't even bother to criticize their own party members.

[Penelope Pitstop]

02:49 PM on 04/16/2012

favd, very well said..thanks :)

[livewithinyourmeans]

05:44 PM on 04/10/2012

Here's an idea. Why don't all the "do gooder" rich people,especially the over payed movie stars,give obama all of there money and solve all of our problems.

[jondekonkeroo]

05:49 PM on 04/10/2012

how touching. you want a fairy godnanny too?

[Birdwatcher1]

06:53 PM on 04/10/2012

You are both out to lunch.

[vetxcl]

03:17 AM on 04/11/2012

All of them, already do during campaign season. You need to think up better fantasies.

[giatny]

05:41 PM on 04/10/2012

I think those dim enough to consider this a valid economic policy are
already voting for Obama. Saying that "Republicans would dismantle education and clean energy programs so they can give still more tax breaks to the rich" is so patently false that he should be embarrassed.
When heating costs double because the EPA is closing coal plants
here and shipping the coal to be burned in China, will the Obamabots
put down the KoolAid and wake up? Newsflash to the "greens":
there are no affordable, adequate, or available alternatives to fossil
fuels. To get a living example of Obama's vision for America, study
the decline and current status of California - exploding deficits, very very very high taxes, crippling over regulation, unreasonable environmental standards, businesses fleeing, social services overwhelmed by illegal immigrants, skyrocketing unfunded pensions, water shortages, new building requirements of 20 houses per acre,
and failing schools. It's no wonder that CA gladly is taking massive
federal funding for high speed rail that no committee can lie enough to claim it's economically sound even after more than doubling the estimated cost. Has America really gotten this stupid??

[slinkymom]

06:22 PM on 04/10/2012

Really?  I know I heard numerous republican candidates say they wanted to do away with the EPA, they want to reduce regulations on air quality and mileage standards, they are already cutting teachers and funding to public schools dramatically and in many republican governed states they are allowing a lot of money to go to private schools.  When other people are making a profit off of my child's elementary or high school education, something is VERY wrong.

You clearly have not made a single attempt to look into the issues that you claim the republicans will not be doing. 

The truth is, our spending has gone DOWN since the president took over.  What keeps increasing are the policies that are left over from GWB and the republican ruled congress that we are struggling to get rid of and the interest on the massive debts created by previous (and mostly) republican presidents and congresses. 

But more significant than that is how LITTLE corporations pay in taxes, how many jobs have been lost and incomes that have been reduced which greatly impacts the tax revenues.  Seriously, you are incredibly naive and uninformed.

[Birdwatcher1]

06:55 PM on 04/10/2012

I think glatny went to Sarah Palin University (SPU).

[KCY]

07:02 PM on 04/10/2012

slinkymon... Best bet, don't insult people by calling them uninformed and naive because you just make yourself look the same way. None of us know 100% of what the heck is going on in this world. For every bad thing about a republican there is also a bad thing about a democrat.
Our spending has not gone down at all. Where did you get that idea? And when was this republican ruled congress that you are talking about?
As far as what Corporations pay in taxes...do you know anything about corporate taxes. Do you know that Corporate profits are double taxed...once at the corporate level and when the profits are disbursed to business owners or shareholders in the form of dividends, it is taxed again at the personal level. And what about Corporations who didn't show a net profit? Are they supposed to pay a 35% corporate tax on their loss?
And speaking of the EPA....how about Obama's 2013 budget (that got no where) where he proposed a 1,2% decrease in funding. Obama also wanted to eliminate the nations only program that checks fruits and vegetables for deadly bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli and listeria......this came right on the heals of the deaths of 16 people who contracted listeria from cantaloupe....and Obama wanted to ax the department!

[vetxcl]

03:21 AM on 04/11/2012

Denial is not just a river in Africa, it's also a RepugnantCON meme. See all the proof needed in Ryan's budget proposal that cuts education funding, cuts medicare funding , cuts alternative energy funding and still manages to expand the deficit.

Naturally, CONmen take no blame for defunding education, infrastructure nor education in the past.

Thanks for staying in character. Anyone who believes the propaganda you just typed should answer yes to your last question.

[INDIVIDUALTERRY]

11:35 AM on 04/11/2012

At least you can SEE whats in Ryans budget. Obamas so-called healthcare bill was 2700 pages pushed through by the left before anyone knew what was in it.
Remember Nancy "we should pass the bill first then afterwards we can all see whats in it ,after the fog has lifted"?
Thats your enlightened society?