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Can’t Catch a Break: Washington Post Takes Team Obama to Task for False Claims — Again!

The Obama campaign has made yet another false claim about former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and the Washington Post’s (WaPo) Fact Checker has issued yet another refutation.

We’re starting to think Team Obama enjoys the abuse.

Cant Catch a Break: Washington Post Takes Team Obama to Task for False Claims Again!“FACT: In 2010 and 2011, Romney paid less than 15% in taxes on $42.5 million in income—much less than what many middle-class families pay,” Team Obama tweeted.

Okay, for starters, Romney’s tax rate is at that level for two reasons: much of his income is capital gains and dividends (which are taxed at a rate as low as 15 percent) and he donates about 14 percent of his income to charity (hello, hefty tax deduction).

In fact, as the WaPos’ Glenn Kessler notes, the former Massachusetts governor gives as much to charity ($3 million) as he pays in taxes.

“Those itemized deductions are counted against income that would ordinarily be taxed at a 35-percent rate,” Kessler writes. “We figure that without those donations to charity, his effective tax rate would be at least 19 percent.”

So, while the Obama campaign is not wrong when it says Romney paid around 15 percent of his gross adjusted income in taxes, Kessler believes the “much less than what many middle-class families” bit needs to go.

“First of all, most of Romney’s taxes are federal income taxes. He pays relatively little in payroll taxes because the 6.2 percent Social Security tax maxes out once you earn a certain amount — $110,100 in 2012. Romney in effect earns that much by Jan. 3,” Kessler writes.

“But for most Americans, payroll taxes are the biggest tax item,” he adds.

The Fact Checker evaluation continues:

People often confuse marginal tax rates with effective tax rates. Marginal rates are what you pay on each additional dollar of income, so that can be as high as 35 percent. The effective tax rate is the percentage of taxes you pay after deductions, adjustments and the like.

Kessler then directs our attention to a Tax Policy Center chart of effective federal tax rates.

“The chart shows the effective tax rate as a percentage of AGI [Adjusted Gross Income] …with the values based on a concept known as cash income,” he writes.

“Cash income is not quite the same as adjusted gross income, but … the AGI numbers in the charts [should] provide the closest apples-to-apples comparison to Romney’s tax return,” he adds.

Effective Tax Rates (taxes paid on tax return/closest equivalent of Romney’s tax return):

Bottom 20 percent (0-$17,000): -5.8 percent
Second 20 Percent ($17,000-$33,500):  1.3 percent
Middle 20 percent ($33,500-59,500):  9.2 percent
Fourth 20 Percent ($59,000-$103,500): 12.9 percent
Top 20 Percent ($103,500+):  20.6 percent

Effective Tax Rates (also including payroll tax paid by employer):

Bottom 20 percent (0-$17,000): 1 percent
Second 20 Percent ($17,000-$33,500): 7.8 percent
Middle 20 percent ($33,500-59,500): 15.5 percent
Fourth 20 Percent ($59,000-$103,500): 18.7 percent
Top 20 Percent ($103,500+):  24.3 percent

So how do we make sense of this?

“Romney had an effective rate of 13.9 percent in 2010 and 15.4 percent in 2011, which gives him a higher rate than 80 percent of taxpayers in the first method and puts him just about in the middle of all taxpayers in the second method,” the Fact Checker writes.

So, with that in mind and after looking at the chart, it’s clear that Romney’s tax rate is not “significantly lower” than the rate paid by a majority of middle-class Americans.

How did the Obama campaign respond to Kessler’s criticism?

They countered by arguing that they Tweeted “many” and not “most” (duh, there’s a difference) and they actually provided the Fact Checker with a dictionary definition of the word (which is funny because we thought dictionary definitions were for desperate people).

So what’s the bottom line?

“The Obama campaign’s tweet relies on a very slippery ‘fact,’” Kessler writes.

“Romney, by receiving much of his income in capital gains and dividends and giving millions of dollars to charity, is certainly able to keep his effective tax rate relatively low, especially compared to a wealthy person who earns much of his or her income in salary,” he adds.

“But, even so, Romney still pays an effective tax rate that is higher than the tax rate paid by most Americans.”

Final verdict: Three Pinocchios.

Cant Catch a Break: Washington Post Takes Team Obama to Task for False Claims Again!Read the full report.

Comments (50)

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  • Disgusted_in_CT
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:20am

    Tell a lie often enough it becomes the truth.
    So get out there and spread lots of lies about Romney

    obama team handbook page 10, section a3.

    Hey they are just following their handbook.

    Report Post » Disgusted_in_CT  
    • johnjamison
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:47am

      And that’s what team Obama and the liberal are doing. Look how well it worked in public schools telling kids we are a democracy. When the fact is we’re a Republic a democratic republic to be more specific.

      Report Post »  
    • zorro
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 9:22am

      Someone should Tweet it to Andrea Mitchell so we get another video gem later.

      Report Post »  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 12:54pm

      The pix needs much longer nose(thousands of yards) and much bigger ears.

      Report Post »  
  • DoomsdayProphet
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 8:09am

    Feels a good idea that Mitt would address this very issue just like this. Then say, My plan is to avoid all of this and flat tax it with no loopholes, charity or any other tax credits. if you make less than the median income in America you pay 5% less in taxes. Your tax form is the last week of the years paycheck stub and a check for % of yearly income…Then throw in the fact that Obama started more wars than Bush the only difference being he didn’t want the burden of cleaning up his own mess. I guess his mop must have broken.

    Report Post »  
  • Truthmonster
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 12:43am

    All these annoying pop ups but where is my comment!

    Report Post » Truthmonster  
  • Truthmonster
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 12:42am

    I have never seen a pack of more prolific LIARS in my life. Their spin is just lunacy. Obama is a multi-millionaire who says we should be Our Brothers Keepres while his Brother in Kenya lives in complete squalor. Liberals are spoiled rotten little D-bags that lie, loot and are 100% hypocrites. Let’s drain the liberal corrupt swamp and kick the liberal facist to the curb November 2012!

    Report Post » Truthmonster  
  • cliffchism
    Posted on July 11, 2012 at 12:28am

    Hey Liberals! Obama thinks that you’re stupid enough to fall for this story again, no matter how many times it is disproven.

    Report Post »  
  • tothepoint
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 11:09pm

    The Proven Serial Liar Obama continues to be outed.

    Report Post »  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 11:52pm

      I kinda thought a few of these socialist lackys might start to get a little embarassed that the average joe is doing more honest reporting than they are…… Does anyone remember how angry that moron Dan Rather got a few years back when he was exposed and fired, i mean these SOBZ thought their monopoly on the news was eternal…… They never saw it coming, and most of them still dont know what hit em…….unreal.

      Report Post »  
  • rsanchez1
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 10:47pm

    Yeah, Romney paying around $5 million in taxes is much less than the middle class.

    What kind of idiots do these idiots take us for?

    Report Post »  
  • cemerius
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 10:03pm

    You know to get rid of ALL of these “tax issues” FLAT TAX….10% on ALL income earned no matter it’s source…..oh yes this 10% tax would be applied to even the poorest of Americans as well as the richest corporations….just because you are poor or rich even you are STILL an American!!!! Oh yeah…..seems to me the illegals are WELL past the tax evasions of Al Capone by now and readdress the 14th amendment while we are at it….oh yes a domino affect to HELP pull our country to the number one spot…..yeah even MAKING a Law that the Federal government will operate in ENGLISH only!!! Time to FORCE assimilation into our Country too!!! mismatched jumble of points just as confusing as the tax code is today……progressive tax code my “backside”!!

    Report Post » cemerius  
    • brother_ed
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 10:33pm

      @CEMERIUS

      I like the flat tax idea.

      Obama isn‘t really interested in everyone ’paying their fair share’, he is more interested in people being allowed to ‘keep’ their fair share.

      Report Post » brother_ed  
  • Kankokage
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:57pm

    When confronted with dishonesty, they try to debate the meaning of words.

    You know what the difference is between Americans and the rest of the world? When you tell a lie enough times to the rest of the world, they start to believe it. When you tell a lie enough times to Americans, they punch you in the face and tell you to f#@% off.

    Report Post » Kankokage  
    • JimCDew
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 10:10pm

      “Depends on what the meaning of ‘is’ is.” – William Jefferson Clinton

      Them Democrats sho’ does loves them sum dictionary definidtions.

      Report Post »  
  • zoro51
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:57pm

    see in MARXISM they cant tell the truth so they MUST lie to keep them selves in power.. THIS isnt a socialsit marxist muslum nation this IS america n WE WILL HOLD YOU ACOUNTIBALE IMPEACH OBAMA NOW

    Report Post » zoro51  
  • discus02
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:46pm

    Obama Sticker “ I am a Liar” Just can’t help myself, I tried to find Council in Mr Holder but he is a bigger liar then me!

    Report Post »  
    • jdome1
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 10:01pm

      Are we defining the Morman Church, certainly part of the “1%” in this country, as “charity.” I am not seeing discussions on the definition of charity here….and the “liar” issue..really? Please indicate where a lie took place.

      Report Post »  
    • brother_ed
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 10:17pm

      @JDOME1

      Wow!

      An anti-Mormon statement, an OWS slogan, combined with word-smithing all in one comment!

      That’s impressive!

      Report Post » brother_ed  
    • sophillyjimmy
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 1:15am

      J Dome, you hae just read an article from one of the most liberal Newspapers in America and you still question where the lies are?
      You are so indocrinated into the liberal pro Obama cult, you need a candle to see where you are going.
      Grow up and realize that your own liberal reporters are telling you facts since your candle is burning down to nothing and then you won’t be able to see at all.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:35pm

    Its not that he enjoys the abuse; he is a narcissist to the core, and therefore any opposition dealt into his direction justifies his efforts in his own eyes.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • mayihelpyou
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:34pm

    STOP THE PRESSES! Obama lies…….again….and again….and again.

    Report Post »  
  • blackyb
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:31pm

    They are planning on cheating the American people out of their vote. This must be stopped.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • Eugene1
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:30pm

    If the American people will believe the lies, then we deserve another 4 years of Obama. Come on America, are we that gullible?

    Report Post » Eugene1  
    • Shifty6
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:45pm

      to be fair the media is supporting those lies in several ways. 1 they will not report on Obamas failures 2 they pose questions of Romney in the sense that they know there is no basis to this and they will give the libs all the time in the world to pose those “questions” 3 they won’t fact check, it is up to the people to do that 4 most if not nearly all people will not check, because they are lazy and don‘t want to waste their time looking up what has to be true after all you can’t say it on the news if it isn’t true I could go on but you get the idea.

      Report Post »  
  • capitalistpig2
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:28pm

    The article completely neglected to mention that the capital gains and dividend taxes Romney paid were already on top of the hefty corporate tax that was already paid on the earnings of the companies that he owned (i.e. before he could realize a dime of profit for himself or the other shareholders).

    Report Post »  
    • rockhead
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:57pm

      Excellent observation. Capital gains tax of 15% is paid AFTER the company paying the dividends pays 35% corporate tax. So the effective rate paid on Romney’s income was 44.75%.

      Report Post »  
  • Too_Far_Gone
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:26pm

    Think they’re desperate now, wait ..

    Report Post » Too_Far_Gone  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:25pm

    Here’s hoping the rest of the country catches on to what I knew in the summer of 2008: Obama LIES!!

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • MAMMY_NUNN
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:25pm

    I still see Obama is still cashing his Government paychecks even though he says he doesn’t need it.

    Report Post »  
  • blackyb
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:21pm

    My question is where did Obama get his own wealth? He is the one who needs looking into.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:21pm

    its not that he‘s desperate it’s that the people that vote for him believe any dumb thing that comes from the left and the majority of them are uneducated folks who do not pick up a newspaper or watch the news. that is why these fact checks are useless. what was it 41% of people don’t know who attorney general eric holder is…sounds to me like we deserve this guy with the idiots among us.

    Report Post »  
  • bikerdogred1
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:14pm

    How much did the clown Biden give to charity.Tell obama he can not deduct his vacations either.

    Report Post »  
  • neiman1
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:13pm

    What is Warren Buffets effective tax rate when he donates his wealth to the non taxed Gates Foundation instead of paying taxes to the US Government?

    Is Buffet a tax cheat? Of Bill Gates? The paid nothing on Billions they moved to the foundation so they can direct where it is spent instead of the government.

    Report Post »  
    • GeorgieJo
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:41pm

      Add GE Jeffy Immelting to that list.
      WHY does Obummer hate the RICH?
      I never got a paycheck from a POOR person
      and I have NEVER gotten any foodstamps or welfare EVER.
      Obummer hates the rich but sure loves taking their MONEY.
      Are they THAT DUMB?
      OMG 2012

      Report Post »  
  • TennBill
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:13pm

    Lets see how much the Obama’s give to charity. I think 3 Million from Romney is pretty significant. He walks the walk.

    Report Post »  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:12pm

    OBAMA IS DESPARATE

    he will lose memorably

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:35pm

      That is also one of the dangers of Obama; his desperation and growing mental instability can push him over the edge at any time and the bloodbath begins.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
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