# What Did Richardson Say? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 1, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586 "2008-11-01T16:33:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/1 "2008-11-01T16:33:35Z")
It’s all over FOX that Richadson said middle-class tax cut is $150K and below. Didn’t see this on the real news anywhere. What’s the deal? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/2 "2008-11-01T16:47:11Z")
This taxcut thing is strange. With our debt ,how can we afford to cut taxes. Yet the economy might get a boost if we did. A tax cut for the wealthy does not get the money through the economy like a cut for the lower classes does. But ,we have to start paying for Bushs’ wars. We have to start cleaning up the debt he brought . One fix has a negative effect in others. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/3 "2008-11-01T17:23:53Z")
Richardson said the tax cuts would affect those making $120,000 or less. This is down from Obama saying $250,000, then $200,000, then Biden saying $150,000. But, as usual around here, this means nothing. Move along, move along, cast your vote for Obama and grab from the evil rich…you know, the ones that actually provide jobs and such. I am so over this election season. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/4 "2008-11-01T17:26:32Z")
Jesus, people, this is simple. $250,000 = no tax increase for families $200,000 = no tax increase for singles $150,000 = tax cuts ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/5 "2008-11-01T18:25:19Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > This is down from Obama saying $250,000, then $200,000 I thought I noticed Obama dropping from $250k in the debates to $200k in his infomercial. Is that right or was he talking about two different things? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/6 "2008-11-01T18:31:15Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I thought I noticed Obama dropping from $250k in the debates to $200k in his infomercial. Is that right or was he talking about two different things? $250,000 = no tax increase for families $200,000 = no tax increase for singles [http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/taxes/Tax\_Plan\_Facts\_FINAL.pdf](http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/taxes/Tax_Plan_Facts_FINAL.pdf) That’s how it has always been. ---
**Author:** ![Discordia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Discordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Discordia)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/7 "2008-11-01T18:33:11Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Richardson said the tax cuts would affect those making $120,000 or less. This is down from Obama saying $250,000, then $200,000, then Biden saying $150,000. > > But, as usual around here, this means nothing. Move along, move along, cast your vote for Obama and grab from the evil rich…you know, the ones that actually provide jobs and such. > > I am so over this election season. Cite that Obama said everyone making under 250k would get a tax cut? ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/8 "2008-11-01T18:41:43Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > But, as usual around here, this means nothing. Move along, move along, cast your vote for Obama and grab from the evil rich…you know, the ones that actually provide jobs and such. Obama’s plan is to raise taxes on the wealthy to where they were when Clinton was President. When Clinton raised taxes there were widespread cries from the usual suspects that this would lead to an economic collapse. Instead you had one of the longest expansions in US history, massive job creation, falling poverty, falling deficits and soaring stock prices. When Bush cut taxes, predominantly on the wealthy, the right-wing ideologues hailed it as an economic triumph which would get the economy rolling. You had a mediocre recovery which has now fizzled into a second recession, soaring budget deficits, rising poverty and very poor job growth. In all likelihood Bush will leave office with a lower Dow than when he came in. It’s as close to a natural experiment on the effect of tax policy as you get in Economics and the outcome is pretty much the opposite of what conservative ideology says it should be. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/9 "2008-11-01T18:45:15Z")
As for the tax proposals of the the candidates this chart which I have posted in the other thread does a good job of summarizing the impact. > **[Obama and McCain Tax Proposals - washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/09/ST2008060900950.html)** > > According to a new analysis by the Tax Policy Center, a joint project of the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain are both proposing tax plans that would result in cuts for most American... As it makes clear a large majority of tax payers will get a larger tax cut under Obama than McCain. The calculations are complicated because specifics will differ from taxpayer to taxpayer but the big picture is perfectly clear. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/10 "2008-11-01T18:46:37Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > It’s as close to a natural experiment on the effect of tax policy as you get in Economics and the outcome is pretty much the opposite of what conservative ideology says it should be. Gee, who’da thought? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/11 "2008-11-01T19:01:58Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > $250,000 = no tax increase for families > > $200,000 = no tax increase for singles > > [http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/taxes/Tax\_Plan\_Facts\_FINAL.pdf](http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/taxes/Tax_Plan_Facts_FINAL.pdf) > > That’s how it has always been. Aha. Obama wants to penalize you for getting married. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/12 "2008-11-01T19:05:18Z")
> [@Discordia](#): > > Cite that Obama said everyone making under 250k would get a tax cut? Geez, I could have sworn he said this at the second debate, but sure enough, I’m misremebering: > [@](#): > > If you make less than a quarter of a million dollars a year, you will not see a single dime of your taxes go up. If you make $200,000 a year or less, your taxes will go down. Still, this one _does_ say people making $200,000 or less will get a tax cut, which is different than the values listed by **Liberal** above. But maybe it’s that $200,000 families get tax cuts, while $200,000 singles have no tax increase. That would be compatible with what Liberal listed. I should go read his cite… -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/13 "2008-11-01T21:31:59Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Jesus, people, this is simple. > > $250,000 = no tax increase for families > > $200,000 = no tax increase for singles > > $150,000 = tax cuts And a [del]libertarian[/del] classical liberal says that. So are ya’ll stupid, disingenuous, or just barely paying attention? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/14 "2008-11-01T21:41:36Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Aha. Obama wants to penalize you for getting married. And why not? Might as well heap on the suffering. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/15 "2008-11-02T00:39:02Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > And a [del]libertarian[/del] classical liberal says that. So are ya’ll stupid, disingenuous, or just barely paying attention? [Moderator Hat ON] Rhetorical question insults are STILL insults, foolsguinea, and inappropriate for here. Take it to the Pit. [Moderator Hat OFF] ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/16 "2008-11-02T05:01:16Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > If you make less than a quarter of a million dollars a year, you will not see a single dime of your taxes go up. If you make $200,000 a year or less, your taxes will go down. > > -FrL- I am of the understanding that capital gains taxes will raise. Does that not fly in the face of the Obama quote? If I misunderstood, please correct me. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/17 "2008-11-02T05:13:11Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > I am of the understanding that capital gains taxes will raise. Does that not fly in the face of the Obama quote? If I misunderstood, please correct me. You misunderstood. > [@](#): > > [http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/obama-clarifies.html](http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/obama-clarifies.html) > > ABC News’ Teddy Davis, Arnab Datta, and Rigel Anderson Report: Sen. Barack Obama’s, D-Ill., top economic advisors announced on Thursday that he is seeking to raise the capital gains tax rate from 15 percent to 20 percent for those Americans making more than $250,000 per year. > > “The top capital-gains rate for families making more than $250,000 would return to 20% – the lowest rate that existed in the 1990s and the rate President Bush proposed in his 2001 tax cut. A 20% rate is almost a third lower than the rate President Reagan set in 1986,” wrote Obama advisors Jason Furman and Austan Goolsbee in Thursday’s Wall Street Journal. > > . . . ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/18 "2008-11-02T05:42:24Z")
Interesting thanks. Anything about dividends? Nevermind… > **[Obama details capital gains, dividend tax plans](https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/money-company/story/2008-08-14/obama-details-capital-gains-dividend-tax-plans)** > > This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. > [@](#): > > — The top dividend tax rate would remain the current 15% for those earning less than $250,000, but would rise to 20% for those earning above that threshold. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-richardson-say/470586/19 "2008-11-02T12:19:22Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Aha. Obama wants to penalize you for getting married. > > -FrL- That’s no different from the current tax code anyway.