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The Wall Street Journal’s Bret Stephens reacts to the president’s call for fair taxing throughout the economy.
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Obama well he -- lock up populist last night during the State of the Union Address -- analysts.
Tax reform should follow the -- link.
If you make more than a million dollars a year.
You should not pay less than 30% in taxes now you can call this class warfare all you want.
-- asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as a secretary in Texas.
Most Americans would call that common sense.
Yes but he didn't make the distinction between earned income -- in salaries and wages and investment income does he proposed a tax both at the same right.
Don't know didn't -- I say the class war tactic could win him votes but I don't believe -- fix the economy.
Joining Bret Stephens -- the Wall Street Journal column my always read but -- welcome back good to be here what do you make of that speech.
What was the Fairness Doctrine as a State of the Union Address and fairness is a value of course there's it was a question of who -- who decides what's fair and in this case -- Barack Obama telling you.
What's fair fairness isn't the only American value there's freedom.
There's competition and there's another kind of fairness which says instead of imposing.
The Buffett rule how about all Americans get access to the -- tax -- about a flat 15% tax of the world -- -- the billionaire rate and not the other way around.
I think he was all politics all lights nothing that would really give -- growth and prosperity and you -- it was politics but I don't think it was it was Smart politics there was a lot of nostalgia in the speech in the -- that you sat there any thought.
Is this is this 1947.
Harry Truman -- since 1979 Jimmy Carter would be.
With the energy efficiency boy that's a winner or is this -- 2000 does 2009.
You know sort of harking back to this you know the financial crisis it's it's all the bankers fall.
You know again Obama isn't taking responsibility for the administration that he's -- and I think that's has basic political problem right now I think -- column yesterday our high volume was GOP deserves to -- -- you don't think that the GOP come beat this president with a speech like that look it's always hard to beat a sitting incumbent because that's -- decision it's not just a referendum on the Obama administration no vote is.
It's the choice and -- asking the American people to fire a sitting president who may be.
Disappointing but he's the disappointment that you know so Republicans have to put forward a candidate that Americans can look at and say.
-- I can pretty much live with this person for the next 448 years -- -- candidate in the group.
Look at you and I -- you don't you know I don't.
Flat have -- I flat out though the tall this morning and there is some chatter around that that may be another Republican candidate William -- if he's accountable deadlocked convention another Republican candidate Mitch Daniels Jeb Bush that there are you laughing.
Well yeah I reminds -- sort of saying in parts -- you solidity shot up.
The I mean look I think a lot of Republicans looking at this kind of mutually assured destruction.
Style of debate between particularly between -- Romney and and and Newt Gingrich.
Are saving themselves brokered convention.
Anybody that's wishful thinking that it.
Well it's it's it depends on what happens in Florida depends on whether these guys -- in nine days and has a chance of this I didn't think I do think there's a chance I think that there are some Republicans who stayed out.
Prominent Republicans who may be -- who who -- -- Who have had second thoughts.
About their decision in fact I know I know some I know some -- And look if you find it if you if we come to the convention.
And you have to critically wounded front runners neither of whom has a commanding lead.
I think the possibility of -- brokered convention bringing out a another candidate in Mitch Daniels or or somebody else.
Is not entirely remote I mean I'm saying maybe that's the council maybe that's a function of despair because I look at these guys and I think neither of them is gonna -- the president.
Truth be told did you sit all the way through the -- I did you know you did it -- what you joblessness.
That that the -- basic and a let me ask that your.
Yeah but it was a long and that it was logs and now -- little bit longer than them you know it was a -- it was it was an espresso type.
That's the best interest -- Wall Street Joseph thanks to -- threat that.
