Rand Paul Likens Tax Hikes To Drowning

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was a guest on On The Record last night to discuss why his vote will not be easy to win on any fiscal cliff deal. But he kind of went overboard (if you’ll pardon the pun) when he likened allowing the expiration of Bush tax cuts to “a policy of drowning.”

Paul told Greta Van Susteren:

One of my favorite analogies is it’s like 100 people drowning and you’re going to save 98 of them by, you know, only protecting them from a tax increase. 98%? And my question is, well, they’re all drowning, right? Which means that raising taxes is a bad thing for everyone. So why would we only do it on two? We can save 98% from a tax increase? But why would drowning be our policy? What would be in favor of a policy of drowning? You know, raising taxes.

It’s ridiculous to make such a comparison. There’s nothing life-threatening about raising taxes on the wealthiest 2% of Americans in the first place. Seconldy, it’s not really a tax increase but an expiration of the supposedly temporary Bush tax cuts. I don’t recall any wealthy people dropping dead from high taxes during the Clinton years, do you?

But, predictably, Van Susteren let the outrageous comment go by without challenge.

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Showing 16 reactions

patrick tolle commented 2012-12-30 17:13:03 -0500 · Flag

Given that the “fiscal cliff”is a PR and propaganda device invented by the repcons to frighten the gullible and the economists I pay attention to have termed the thing either a fiscal curb or a fiscal pothole,Raynd’s appearance is little more than Fux living up to their contractual propaganda duties for the Republican party.

Lakeview Greg commented 2012-12-29 15:12:38 -0500 · Flag

The dude is against a key part of the Civil Rights Act and has said so publicly. Paul’s opinion on anything is worthless. Period.

Derp Herp commented 2012-12-29 15:01:34 -0500 · Flag

Richard Santalone, I don’t know if you know this, but Rand Paul wasn’t in politics while President Reagan was in office. In addition, his father, Dr. Ron Paul didn’t agree with Pres. Reagan’s economic outlook. In fact, Dr. Ron Paul wrote an extensive letter denouncing his association with the GOP at that time. I know it is hard, but research is a powerful tool. Maybe you pinko commie’s should look into it.

Derp Herp commented 2012-12-29 14:38:39 -0500 · Flag

*Secondly. Usually if one is trying to make a point, they check their spelling.

carterfan commented 2012-12-29 13:55:48 -0500 · Flag

if your calm and talk real slow people in Kentucky will vote for you

Richard Santalone commented 2012-12-29 12:15:58 -0500 · Flag

@bill Adkins Dear Bill: don’t forget about the residents of KY that voted for this clown.

;^)

Bill Adkins commented 2012-12-29 12:13:23 -0500 · Flag

Rand Paul (Embarrassment-KY) is the dumbest sonuvabitch in Congress.

truman commented 2012-12-29 09:58:06 -0500 · Flag

Rand Paul and Ron Paul. Obviously, the little nut didn’t fall far from the nut tree.

Richard Santalone commented 2012-12-29 09:19:03 -0500 · Flag

Hey Rand Paul — remember the MASSIVE HIKES IN PAYROLL TAXES that your late dear friend Ronald Reagan RAMMED down working class Americans’ throats thirty years ago? I’ll bet you probably don’t because after all, you DO NOT pay payroll taxes EVERY SINGLE WEEK OF THE YEAR like most Americans (including me).

Carol Gruber commented 2012-12-29 08:07:09 -0500 · Flag

to liken the real economic suffering of the middle and lesser (always hated the term “lower”) classes to the inconvenience of the well off that would be caused by higher taxes is ignorant, insensitive, tone deaf, absurd…i can’t find exactly the right word for it.
oh, and drowning? seriously? what a dumb ass analogy!

Sandman2 commented 2012-12-29 02:55:28 -0500 · Flag

I guess if Corporations are people then Tax Cuts can be oxygen.
I can’t decide whether to keep my albuteral nebulizer, to help my breathing, or ask for a Tax Cut instead to help my breathing????
Hey Dr. Paul, do Dentists still use novacane(sp?) to numb there patients before an extraction or do they apply a liberal dose of Tax Cuts around the tooth to numb the area?
Stoooopid Republicans

Average American Patriot commented 2012-12-28 23:24:20 -0500 · Flag

Good grief, Frankenstein Face!

Ron Paul (It is short for Ronald, just to make sure I am talking about the father) has been preachin’ to get rid of FEMA for years.

Now the son of a… what’s that word… oh, yeah, the son of the fruitcake is talking about drowning people.

This is just another example of how disconnected from reality the teabagged rabble are.

The perennial loser R-Texas begot a crazier one.
Thank you, Ron!

Robert Urban commented 2012-12-28 22:39:16 -0500 · Flag

Perhaps he should go on Hannity who could explain to him how this is completely different, and what drowning ACTUALLY feels like from his waterboarding experience…….. Oh Wait…..

mj - the same one commented 2012-12-28 22:17:42 -0500 · Flag

Rand Paul Likens Tax Hikes To Drowning

Goodness, Rand — that must mean that during the Eisenhower Administration, when the top tax rate was 91%, we were in a deluge . . .

.

sandman1 commented 2012-12-28 21:24:14 -0500 · Flag

You’d think that the epidemic of rich people drowning themselves in the 1930’s, up through the 70’s, would have made the news at least once. I’ve reached my limit of people who have it so good yet complain endlessly about their misfortune. Stagnant wages for 30+years, that’s like drowning, Rand.

NewsHounds posted about Rand Paul Likens Tax Hikes To Drowning on NewsHounds' Facebook page 2012-12-28 21:02:39 -0500

What part of tax hikes is like drowning?