Picking a Presidential Candidate for 2012 : The Fair Tax Test
73Those of us who know we're voting ABO (Anybody But Obama) in 2012 also know we need to pick a 2012 Presidential candidate who will back the Fair Tax. Yes, we'll need an anti-Obamacare advocate (if that monstrosity has not yet been slapped down by the Supreme Court), and there are many other issues on the table.
But the Fair Tax could serve as the #1 litmus test for acceptability, and I for one intend to consider every candidate (as they actually begin to declare they're "in it to win it") in that light.
Why use that standard above all others? Because tossing the I.R.S. (and by extension the 16th Amendment) on the scrap heap of history is both a bold and a much needed political move in these United States of America. Additionally, it's a topic that can (and undoubtedly will) test a candidate at many levels. A standard B.S. response such as "I'm a firm believer in tax reform," unless bolstered by something more concrete, won't fly.
Getting a clear picture of any would-be President as a Fair Tax reformer could in fact be accomplished through the use of a three-point questionnaire as follows:
1. If elected President, will you strongly support adoption of the Fair Tax?
Nothing but an unequivocal yes is acceptable here, with one exception: If a candidate says honestly, "I don't know enough about it yet; let me bone up and get back to you next week," that's fine--as long as the "get back to you" part actually happens.
2. Have you studied the Fair Tax enough to answer smear attacks from liberals without mumbling or fumbling?
3. How would this or that (pick a topic) work under the Fair Tax which you've just said you support and understand?
One potential Presidential candidate who gets a "Three Star" rating is Herman Cain. He's earnestly promoting the Fair Tax in his media appearances, he's clearly conversant with the ins and outs of the plan, and no lib is going to throw him off his game.
There are others "out there" who clearly champion the Fair Tax cause. Mike Huckabee, for one, but there's little point in rating him until or unless he actually gets in the race. Of course, even he does, I don't see Huck getting the nomination ever, but first things first.
Another dude that leaves me tepid (not even harsh enough to leave me "cold") is Tim Pawlenty. Doubt he's on our side on this one, anyway--surely haven't seen any evidence so far.
Mitt Romney? Give me a break!
Then there's, duh, Donald Trump. No clue yet on where he might stand regarding the Fair Tax. Does he even know the plan exists?
Everybody else? Let's wait until we know they're actually running.
For now, the FTSC (Fair Tax Star Chart) looks like this:
1. Herman Cain.................................Three Stars.
2. Donald Trump...............................No clue yet.
3. Tim Pawlenty.................................TBD, probable no fly zone.
4. Mike Huckabee..............................Three Stars; now if he just had something else going.
5. Mitt Romney...................................Who cares; he's dead on the Romneycare issue alone.
This little chart will be updated (and/or corrected as I'm sure there will be errors from time to time) regularly as new information becomes available, terminating only after our Republican nominee for President of the United States is determined in 2012.
Remember in November 2012.
CommentsLoading...
Makes sense, Mike. Those first three questions were just the ones that popped to mind; there's no reason we can't fine tune the thing.
Now, we need a peripatetic reporter to run around the country with questionnaire in hand to GET those responses....:)
Hmmm, never thought about how we were going to get these questions answered.....
Well, I'm pretty sure that before the primary season is done, we'll be able to find the answers by combing through the news reports. Plus, you can bet the Fair Tax will come up in any and all debates. Not as elegant a solution as having our own "embedded reporter", but doable.
Fred - That's a fair test to use in helping anyone evaluate any candidate. The IRS needs to go, as does the 16th. We just whistled by tax deadline once again. I think I read that April 12th of this month was the date when Americans started working for themselves and not for the federal monster. That's ridiculous to work about three and a half months of year to feed a federal monstrosity.
Excellent as usual and have a great day.
The Frog
What a great idea and a public service. I look forward to your updates. Up and useful.
Frog: I'm even old enough to recall the day when you'd reach a point in the year when no more FICA would come out of your paycheck. At the time I got my first post-college office job in 1970, that was around July or so. Then pretty soon it was September, and eventually it kept right on going through Dec. 31.
You have a great day, too. Mine will keep me away from the keyboard for a number of hours, but I'll be ba-a-ack!
BPop: Thanks. I'll no doubt "get behind" once in a while, simply because of missing a news release that clarifies a candidate's position on the Fair Tax, but other than that....
Good to see the Fair Tax issue put 'out there.' I get the feel, too, that Huck doesn't have what it takes to win. I am not confident he has enough Fight in him. Wondering why Palin is not on your list. Voted Up!
Ms Dee: Sarah Palin is not yet on my list simply because she hasn't yet said whether or not she's running. If she does jump in, then absolutely, she'll be on there.
Huck, I agree, doesn't have enough fire in his belly--but he's got other problems, too, at least in my view. The other day on his show, he stated that he "hopes the arts and education don't get cut" when it comes to 2012 budget talks.
Well, that--to me--speaks of a tax and spend guy in wannabe President clothing, not the hardheaded "You don't spend more than you have on hand" sort this country desperately needs.
very well written, the machine as its called runs flawlessly, plausible deniability dums down the American public to such an extent that they can no longer see that dream of our forefathers is being sold piece by piece.
Good to know what you heard Huck say on his show. (I haven't had the chance.)
Rick: Exactly right, except that I do see America waking up a whole lot faster than Obama and the Zombies would like. We'll get our country back yet.
Ms Dee: Much of the time I'm writing, I have the TV on with Fox News running in the background. Sort of becomes white noise after a while, but I keep the closed captioning on (so I can keep the volume low enough to avoid disturbing Pam in her room), and every once in a while I get to glance up and READ something worth remembering.
why tax when they print
Good question.
Answer: Any Prez + Congress that would vote for the Fair Tax Plan would also (by default) be sharp enough to get rid of the runaway printing presses.
Old Poolman Level 7 Commenter 13 months ago
Fred, thanks for starting the list of questions for our candidates. I think this list could be added to as we go along. Then we need to get the candidate to say on national TV his stand on these various issues.