Giuliani Jeered for Opposing Fair Tax

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani ran into a buzz saw of opposition Saturday when he explained his opposition to elimination of the federal income tax and replacing it with a so-called "fair tax" based on consumption.

Giuliani addressed a group of about 500 people in a standing-room only crowd at a town hall meeting at the University of North Florida, answering questions for about 30 minutes on a variety of topics from Iraq and Iran to Social Security and his plan for tax cuts.

Several dozen people jeered when Giuliani, in response to a question, said he would not be in favor of what they call the fair tax.

"I have to study it some more," the former New York City mayor said. "I don't think a fair tax is realistic change for America. Our economy is dependent upon the way our tax system operates."

"Fair tax" proposals would abolish federal income taxes and other federal taxes and replace them with a form of national sales tax.

Giuliani emphasized he supported a simplified tax system and cuts in federal taxes, including elimination of the so-called death tax, but his response to the fair tax question brought some cat calls and jeers. "I have a real question whether it would be the right transition for our economy," he said.

"I am disappointed in him," said Ken Mertz of Fernandia Beach, who was wearing a "Fair Tax" hat. "But he did say he would look into it."

At a news conference after his speech, Giuliani said taxes would go down under his presidency, saying his philosophy was different from the Democrats. "They want to see them go up," he said.

In response to another question, Giuliani warned against pulling out of Iraq, saying it would create a country run by terrorists. And he said Iran should be kept from getting nuclear weapons.

"No way, no how should Iran be a nuclear power," he said.

Giuliani was serving as grand marshal at the Daytona International Speedway's Pepsi 400 later Saturday.

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GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) _ New Mexico governor and presidential candidate Bill Richardson urged South Carolina Democrats on Saturday to avoid making a hasty decision before next year's primary race.

Richardson met with about 100 party activists as part of a two-day swing through the early primary state.

"My only message here is don't make a decision based on who raises the most money, who has the greatest political pedigree ... but who has the best vision for America," he said. "Don't let the media tell you who the next president will be."

Richardson's campaign reported raising $7 million in the year's second quarter, more than he raised in the first, but far behind Illinois Sen. Barack Obama ($31 million), New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton ($21 million) and South Carolina native John Edwards ($9 million).

Richardson, a former ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary under Bill Clinton, listed his priorities as president including removing U.S. troops from Iraq "within a short period" and holding direct talks with Iran and Syria.

"They're bad folks," he said. "But you don't have peace talks with your friends."

Richardson also said he would set a fuel-efficiency goal of 50 miles per gallon as part of an energy plan to make the nation less dependent on foreign oil while improving the environment.

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DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) _ The Davenport campaign headquarters for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was burglarized Friday night.

Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, said two laptop computers and some campaign literature were taken. A campaign worker discovered the burglary Saturday morning, and a report was filed with Davenport police.

"It doesn't appear that it was anything sensitive or irreplaceable," Vietor said.