The Patriot Post® · The Dems' Tax Deception Problem

Democrats like chiding Republicans on the tax issue, particularly when it comes to “the wealthy” who “don’t pay their fair share.” It’s a convenient talking point geared toward constituents because it conjures up feelings of anger, jealousy and resentment. And the Democrat Party has exploited it to the fullest extent possible in an effort to sway elections.

In August 2012, during the height of the pivotal election between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid erroneously charged, “The word’s out that [Romney] hasn’t paid any taxes for 10 years.” It was a blatant lie that even The Washington Post flatly condemned. Even in the ensuing years Reid remained stubborn, haughtily saying things like, “Romney didn’t win, did he?” and, “It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.”

Then there’s Hillary Clinton. At a presidential debate last fall, she stated, “[Y]ou’ve gotta ask yourself, why won’t [Trump] release his tax returns? And I think there may be a couple of reasons. … [M]aybe he doesn’t want the American people, all of you watching tonight, to know that he’s paid nothing in federal taxes.” Of course, we now know that Trump’s 2005 tax rate of 25% dwarfed that of Obama and, yes, even Bernie Sanders. Especially Bernie Sanders, whose income was taxed at just 13% in 2014. And as for Clinton, at least half the reason for the Clinton Foundation’s existence was to provide a tax shelter for Bill and Hillary’s exorbitant speaking fee income.

Republicans are constantly bombarded with accusations of tax evasion and exploitation, but the fact is that the real tax deception is coming from the Left, whose continued gamesmanship with faux accusations is hurting them mightily at the ballot box.

(Edited.)