Paul Ryan Booed At Town Hall For Defending Tax Breaks For The Wealthy

[pbrauer]

Paul Ryan gets pushback from his constituents at townhall meeting.
ThinkProgress » VIDEO: Paul Ryan Booed At Town Hall For Defending Tax Breaks For The Wealthy

During a town hall meeting in Milton, a constituent who described himself as a “lifelong conservative” asked Ryan about the effects of growing income inequality in our nation. The constituent noted that huge income disparities contributed to the Great Depression and the Great Recession, and thus wanted to know why the congressman was “fighting to not let the tax breaks for the wealthy expire.”
Ryan argued against “redistribut[ing]” in this manner. After the constituent noted that “there’s nothing wrong with taxing the top because it does not trickle down,” Ryan argued that “we do tax the top.” This response earned a chorus of boos from constituents:

CONSTITUENT: The middle class is disappearing right now. During this time of prosperity, the top 1 percent was taking about 10 percent of the total annual income, but yet today we are fighting to not let the tax breaks for the wealthy expire? And we’re fighting to not raise the Social Security cap from $87,000? I think we’re wrong.

RYAN: A couple things. I don’t disagree with the premise of what you’re saying. The question is what’s the best way to do this. Is it to redistribute… (Crosstalk)

CONSTITUENT: You have to lower spending. But it’s a matter of there’s nothing wrong with taxing the top because it does not trickle down.
RYAN: We do tax the top. (Audience boos). Let’s remember, most of our jobs come from successful small businesses. Two-thirds of our jobs do. You got to remember, businesses pay taxes individually. So when you raise their tax rates to 44.8 percent, which is what the president is proposing, I would just fundamentally disagree. That is going to hurt job creation.
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Watch it:

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[lpast]

All the indicators are starting to show...from christie and walker and rick scotts favorables dropping that shows the mass's are finally awakening to the conjob that is being pulled on them. It will start to pick up momentum the Middle Majority in this country have busy lives working raising kids trying to survive but they eventually always catch on.
Any working class american that buys into Paul Ryans take from the middleclass and give to the Super rich plan is a jackass.

 

[lpast]

Oh I forgot I signed a mass letter today with almost 300 signatures from my VFW post thats being sent to Boehner that we are TOTALLY UTTERLY AGAINST the ryan plan as written.

 

[Helvidius]

All the indicators are starting to show...from christie and walker and rick scotts favorables dropping that shows the mass's are finally awakening to the conjob that is being pulled on them. It will start to pick up momentum the Middle Majority in this country have busy lives working raising kids trying to survive but they eventually always catch on.
Any working class american that buys into Paul Ryans take from the middleclass and give to the Super rich plan is a jackass.

There is definitely a growing disparity between the rich and the poor. The question is, why is this happening? And the answer is not as simple as just taxes.

I live in New Jersey. I don't agree with everything Christie has done, but most of the unions here are a joke and I'm glad we have someone representing the taxpayer instead of practically working for the NJEA and other unions. Corzine was AWFUL.

 

[obvious Child]

Any working class american that buys into Paul Ryans take from the middleclass and give to the Super rich plan is a jackass.

Indeed. Any working class American who buys into Ryan's plan is basically saying it's okay to keep the debt and deficit at massive levels, I'll pay my healthcare costs out of pocket when I get to that age and they can have massive tax cuts.

Ryan's cuts barely cover the tax cuts. I don't see how we'll get any real deficit or debt reduction when the vast majority of the savings are eaten by tax cuts.

Time to bring back the Reform's party platform of no tax cuts until the deficit and debt are gone.

 

[SheWolf]

There is definitely a growing disparity between the rich and the poor. The question is, why is this happening? And the answer is not as simple as just taxes.

I live in New Jersey. I don't agree with everything Christie has done, but most of the unions here are a joke and I'm glad we have someone representing the taxpayer instead of practically working for the NJEA and other unions. Corzine was AWFUL.

The growing disparity should be a concern though... We can't continue to ignore it, and blame the poor for their status and call them lazy. It's getting harder and harder to move up economically... Just went to the grocery store, and the prices have all gone up but wages aren't going up.

 

[SheWolf]

If people don't change their views and wake up, this country is screwed and there is no hope.

 

[Conservative]

All the indicators are starting to show...from christie and walker and rick scotts favorables dropping that shows the mass's are finally awakening to the conjob that is being pulled on them. It will start to pick up momentum the Middle Majority in this country have busy lives working raising kids trying to survive but they eventually always catch on.
Any working class american that buys into Paul Ryans take from the middleclass and give to the Super rich plan is a jackass.

Is this really what this country has come to, where people are jealous and envious of what others make? The liberal elite have done a disservice to all when they demonize individual earmed income and call a tax cut as giving them anything. This is unbelievable and an indictment of the failed education being provided today. In my day I learned earning income was good and that taking that income was actually stealing but now is being called a tax increase. Those who believe in liberalism need to wake up to what is happening to this great country.

 

[pbrauer]

Is this really what this country has come to, where people are jealous and envious of what others make? The liberal elite have done a disservice to all when they demonize individual earmed income and call a tax cut as giving them anything. This is unbelievable and an indictment of the failed education being provided today. In my day I learned earning income was good and that taking that income was actually stealing but now is being called a tax increase. Those who believe in liberalism need to wake up to what is happening to this great country.

Ah, but the people in the audience were conservatives...

 

[Conservative]

Ah, but the people in the audience were conservatives...

How do you know, it was a town hall meeting? Sounds like speculation to me. You don't think liberals go to town hall meetings?

 

[Cameron]

Why the heck don't we just tax businesses and individuals at separate rates?

 

[liblady]

that area has been hit hard by a gm plant closing, i used to live there. he's none too popular there, for good reason.

 

[Conservative]

that area has been hit hard by a gm plant closing, i used to live there. he's none too popular there, for good reason.

So you think it is the role of govt. to subsidize private business and unions of those private businesses with Federal Tax dollars? My bet is you didn't make your money off the backs of the taxpayers, why should union leadership?

 

[liblady]

So you think it is the role of govt. to subsidize private business and unions of those private businesses with Federal Tax dollars? My bet is you didn't make your money off the backs of the taxpayers, why should union leadership?

can you read? if so, please read my post.

 

[Conservative]

can you read? if so, please read my post.

Sure can, what did you mean by this post? Why would a Congressman be booed if liberals did not believe the plants should have been subsidized to keep from closing and that the rich should have their tax burdern increased. I am still waiting for you or anyone else to define what fair share means in your world?

that area has been hit hard by a gm plant closing, i used to live there. he's none too popular there, for good reason.

 

[liblady]

i commented about the area and the feeling of the constituents there. if you weren't so hyper partisan you might be able to understand the plight of thousands of hard working people who lost their jobs. i never said that plant should have been subsidized, i never mentioned anything about fair share. what's wrong with you that you don't understand people are upset that they lost their jobs while ryan wants to cut medicare and allow the rich to continue getting breaks? really, take a step back and realize we are talking about REAL people here, some of whom i know.

this is precisely why republicans don't stand a chance in 2012. YOU and your kind don't seem to comprehend that people are real, living breathing humans who want nothing more than to make a decent living.

 

[Whovian]

Why not show the ENTIRE VIDEO of the WHOLE meeting PB? Are you afraid of what showing the whole thing vs. a small bit will show? All these people that pass off highly edited videos, completely losing the context, disgust me.

 

[Conservative]

i commented about the area and the feeling of the constituents there. if you weren't so hyper partisan you might be able to understand the plight of thousands of hard working people who lost their jobs. i never said that plant should have been subsidized, i never mentioned anything about fair share. what's wrong with you that you don't understand people are upset that they lost their jobs while ryan wants to cut medicare and allow the rich to continue getting breaks? really, take a step back and realize we are talking about REAL people here, some of whom i know.

this is precisely why republicans don't stand a chance in 2012. YOU and your kind don't seem to comprehend that people are real, living breathing humans who want nothing more than to make a decent living.

I understand who we are talking about here, I wonder if you really do. Where does personal responsibility rest in your world and you lump all those so called poor people into the same category ignoring some are lazy, boozers, drug users, uninspired, unmotivated, and thus will always be dependent. If you have kids, how did you motivate them, giving them everything they WANTED?

Republicans don't stand a chance when people like you ignore personal responsibility and lump everyone that doesn't have the samee thing as you deserving of what you worked so hard to obtain. What really bothers me is that you and others continue to believe that the govt. is giving the rich something by allowing them to keep more of what they earn. Why is it you don't have a problem with that? Why don't you comprehend that there are those parasites that want to live off the work and income of others?

 

[Boo Radley]

Is this really what this country has come to, where people are jealous and envious of what others make? The liberal elite have done a disservice to all when they demonize individual earmed income and call a tax cut as giving them anything. This is unbelievable and an indictment of the failed education being provided today. In my day I learned earning income was good and that taking that income was actually stealing but now is being called a tax increase. Those who believe in liberalism need to wake up to what is happening to this great country.

It's not jealousy or envy. The gap is growing. This hurts the country. For this country to keep the dream, the myth alive, there has to be a strong middle class. Without that, you will see much more dissention in the future. If you care about the country, you might want to consider ways to strengthen the middle class.

 

[liblady]

I understand who we are talking about here, I wonder if you really do. Where does personal responsibility rest in your world and you lump all those so called poor people into the same category ignoring some are lazy, boozers, drug users, uninspired, unmotivated, and thus will always be dependent. If you have kids, how did you motivate them, giving them everything they WANTED?

Republicans don't stand a chance when people like you ignore personal responsibility and lump everyone that doesn't have the samee thing as you deserving of what you worked so hard to obtain. What really bothers me is that you and others continue to believe that the govt. is giving the rich something by allowing them to keep more of what they earn. Why is it you don't have a problem with that? Why don't you comprehend that there are those parasites that want to live off the work and income of others?

seriously, do you think slackers and drug abusers and welfare cheats were at a town hall meeting? you are so out of touch.

EXACTLY why republicans don't stand a chance, you won't listen to the people who built this country, the middle class.

 

[Conservative]

It's not jealousy or envy. The gap is growing. This hurts the country. For this country to keep the dream, the myth alive, there has to be a strong middle class. Without that, you will see much more dissention in the future. If you care about the country, you might want to consider ways to strengthen the middle class.

What hurts the country are people subsidized by other taxpayers instead of local charities as was intended. You and your ilk have created a dependent class and ignore how many of those dependent people are have chronic dependence with zero incentive to do better for themselves. The way to strengthen the middle class is to provide incentive for them to better themselves. What better incentive than to provide a deadline for public assistance?

 

[Conservative]

seriously, do you think slackers and drug abusers and welfare cheats were at a town hall meeting? you are so out of touch.

EXACTLY why republicans don't stand a chance, you won't listen to the people who built this country, the middle class.

Nope, never said that, said that the people at the town hall meeting weren't all conservative as Pb claimed saying it was a Conservative meeting. If you bothered to read about our Founders you would know that they didn't have a safety net nor did they provide one in the Constitution. They have to be turning over in their graves seeing a 3.7 trillion dollar central govt. and the entitlement class that govt. has created.

 

[Boo Radley]

What hurts the country are people subsidized by other taxpayers instead of local charities as was intended. You and your ilk have created a dependent class and ignore how many of those dependent people are have chronic dependence with zero incentive to do better for themselves. The way to strengthen the middle class is to provide incentive for them to better themselves. What better incentive than to provide a deadline for public assistance?

You may look at history. Look up baptist churches during the great depression and their response to your idea here. Most epople work hard, there is no significant dependent class. There are plenty of incentives, and people work hard to achieve daily. Your mistaken view of America says more about you than the country.

 

[Conservative]

You may look at history. Look up baptist churches during the great depression and their response to your idea here. Most epople work hard, there is no significant dependent class. There are plenty of incentives, and people work hard to achieve daily. Your mistaken view of America says more about you than the country.

You miss the point completely as usual since apparently you believe that is a Federal Responsibility when the reality is it is a state and local responsibility. Why are Federal Taxpayer dollars used to solve a problem in your state and why is it you and others ignore the amount of money the rich give to charities when allowed to keep more of what they earn. Social engineering isn't a Federal Responsibility, it is a state and local responsibility. My bet is I give more to charity each year than you make in income. Now you want to penalize me for doing that by raising taxes so the govt. can syphon off administrative costs and send my money to where they deem necessary?

 

[Whovian]

EXACTLY why republicans don't stand a chance, you won't listen to the people who built this country, the middle class.

Pretty sure those were the same sentiments liberals expressed right before they got their collective asses kicked in the 2010 mid-terms :rofl: