White House claims that Barack Obama is not considering a Value Added Tax
Two weeks ago Paul Volcker– a top White House adviser– hinted that it might be time for the Obama administration to consider a value added tax. He claimed that this idea is no longer as toxic to the American people as it once was.
Today the White House denied that Barack Obama is actually considering this idea.
This is not something the president has proposed, nor is it under consideration
I find it hard to believe that Paul Volcker just threw this idea out there out of left field. He was not just thinking out loud when he made this comment. I believe that this administration did in fact consider implementing a value added tax, and I believe that Paul Volcker was sent out to the public to float this idea in a casual way just to gauge public reaction. In other words, Paul Volcker sent out a trial balloon in order to see how it would be received.
I honestly believe that the Obama administration was considering a value added tax and that is why Paul Volcker made his comment. And while it may be accurate that Barack Obama is not considering implementing this tax, the reason that he is not considering it is because of the reaction that Paul Volcker received after making this comment. He was considering it, as I believe he is considering ALL taxes.
This tax may be off the table– and that is good news to say the least– but I am sure that the Obama administration is considering other taxes they could raise– most notably cap and trade. One way or the other, Barack Obama is going to have to raise “revenue” and that means rasing taxes on the people whose taxes he promised he wouldn’t raise.
America's Watchtower 
I think the scenario you paint is quite plausible, perhaps even probable, Mr. P… I mean, Steve.
“This is not something the president has proposed”
As far as public proposals, this is accurate, since it was Volcker who brought it up.
“nor is it under consideration”
As you say, if he was considering it, he can now say he isn’t (based on the results of the trial balloon).
This gives Obama plausible deniability, of a sort. Of course, whether he has totally dismissed the idea (doubt it) or just put it on a backburner for later consideration (my guess) remains to be seen. Would anybody be surprised if he was suddenly “considering” it again in a few months? weeks? days?
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Yeah, the wording of that statement is purposely vague. And I wouldn’t doubt that this will be brought back up again either.
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AND…. if anyone gets thrown under the bus regularly, it’s Bobby Gibbs.
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Obama lies…
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Good point!
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What will help in areas too numerous to list is the adoption of the FairTax. Not a flat tax, a modified version of which we’re already saddled with. The FairTax, which is nothing like a flat tax.
The FairTax is designed to replace every tax currently on the books, abolish the IRS and repeal the Thirteenth Amendment (with the understanding that the repeal means the G has no right to tax income). A consumption-based tax, it doesn’t penalize Americans for their achievements.
Some pundits refuse to support it (and hence, even to bother learning about it) because they claim it will never be enacted, it’s too radical. How’s that for defeatism? “Uh, Mr. Hancock, I like your ideas about independence, but King George will never grant it, and have you seen the size of the British Army? So sorry, but I won’t be supporting your well-intentioned but doomed-to-failure revolution. Sincerely, R. Limbaugh.”
It is radical, and it takes power away from the lobbyists (who exist to influence Congress to grant their clients tax preference) and from the Congress itself, and puts it back in the hands of the people.
The FairTax is introduced in every session of Congress – see HR 25. Each session, it picks up more supporters. I urge everyone to read the books and visit the website to find out what it is, how it works, and why it’s the best possible solution to the tax mess threatening to strangle our great nation.
As to the VAT – a pox on its supporters, and God help us if it’s enacted.
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Did I say Thirteenth Amendment? A pos on my early-morning brain!
I meant Sixteenth, and apologies to all who thought I was suggesting a return to slavery.
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