E.J. Dionne: Why Warren Buffet angers Republicans

[elocs]

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/opinion/editorial/columnists/article_dfcbb1da-ea0f-11e0-8b73-001cc4c002e0.html

WASHINGTON — Maybe only a really, really rich guy can credibly make the case for why the wealthy should be asked to pay more in taxes. You can’t accuse a big capitalist of “class warfare.”

That’s why the right wing despises Warren Buffett and is trying so hard to shut him up.

Militant conservatives are effective because they are absolutely shameless. Many of the same people who think the rich should be free to spend unlimited sums influencing our politics without having to disclose anything are now asking Buffett to make his tax returns public. I guess if you’re indifferent to consistency, you have a lot of freedom of action.

Buffett has outraged conservatives by saying that he pays taxes at a lower rate than his secretary. He’s said this for years, but he’s a target now because President Barack Obama is using his comment to make the case for higher taxes on millionaires.

[HughBeaumont]

1. I've noticed since his "betrayal" . . . .

. . . CNBC (and his assigned fawning lapdancer Becky Quick) has been having him on the Squawk Box show less and less. I haven't seen him in literally 2 months whereas I used to see him practically every other week.

[banned from Kos]

2. Becky has been on maternity leave for two months and Warren

does not schedule time with the right-wing assholes on CNBC.

Unfortunately, lies about Buffett not paying his taxes have crept into DU and the sorry-ass Huffpo.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

6. Notice something similar about the lies. It is because Buffet aligns himself

with Obama that Huffpo now posts trash about him. The Buffet lie seeping its way into DU? That shouldn't be surprising.

[IndyPragmatist]

3. I would respect him a lot more if his company paid their taxes

...

[banned from Kos]

4. you have fallen for a hit-piece from Murdoch's New York Post

which merely suggested Berkshire owed back taxes.

The disgraceful Huffpo picked it up. That is how they lie these days.

[Lil Missy]

8. He does pay his taxes.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

5. They hate him because they know he speaks the truth.

They also hate him because he supports the president. And since George Soros is now silent, they can replace him with Buffet who they'll vilify and target all their hatred at. I'm sure Buffet is scared! :sarcasm:

[banned from Kos]

10. Soros still speaks up often. He spoke recently at the Cato Institute

Soros has a history with Popper and Hayek - two people much admired by libertarians.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

11. Really? That's very sad. I know that he is disillusioned with Obama, but turning to Cato?

Very, very disappointing!!

[banned from Kos]

12. No - Soros was defending new capital regulations while on a Cato panel

Libertarians like Soros due to his Open Society Institute.

The right wing libertarians began hating Soros when he said he would spend all $13 billion he had to defeat Bush if he could. I am a Soros fan and contributor to OSI.

In particular - drug legalization, euthanasia, immigration, and regulated markets.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

7. Buffet to the GOP is like Marshall McCluhan to that blowhard in Annie Hall

[CanonRay]

9. The right wing is really afraid of Obama's new tack

afraid of him actually acting like a real Democrat. That's why all the "class warfare" nonsense.

[gratuitous]

13. Obama's approval ratings have ticked up, too

It's just the strangest thing - Obama acting more like the president he was elected to be, and more people approve of the job he's doing.