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The Spectacle Blog
Clintonista Paul Begala says all you unpatriotic, wimpy, whiney Americans out there should just shut up and pay your taxes.
“Why are they out there whining with this Tea Party thing? Just a bunch of wimpy, whiney, weasels who don’t love their country and don’t want to support - there are guys at Walter Reed who gave their legs for my country, and they’re whining because they have to write a check?” the political consultant who worked in Bill Clinton’s White House told Don Imus.
Begala’s rant came after the Center for American Progress Action Fund blog, Think Progress, trashed the tea parties, calling them political “astroturf.” The Center, of course, is run by another Clintonista, John Podesta, who was Bill Clinton’s White House chief of staff.
The rant also came after the Department of Homeland Security labeled all conservatives, libertarians, and veterans as potential terrorists.
(Hat tip: Brad Wilmouth of NewsBusters)
View all comments (60) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Matthew Vadum
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Angel| 4.20.09 @ 5:30PM
Begala looks like the aliens in the movie, Mars Attacks! He behaves like them, too.
Pete| 4.20.09 @ 5:33PM
I am sure he is every bit as "patriotic" as Obongo's appointees.
Pingback| 4.20.09 @ 5:40PM
Shut Up and Pay Your Taxes, Traitor, Says Paul Begala | But As For Me links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
CH| 4.20.09 @ 5:48PM
You democrats are the tax cheats who don't pay your taxes, Begala. Not too patriotic, hypocrite.
Tom Paine| 4.20.09 @ 5:57PM
Wait...did Begala say "traitor" (as your headline suggests) or did he not? Your quote doesn't include that line. (And it makes a difference.)
By the way, Begala's totally right.
Tea parties protested Bush era tax rates: next year, 95% of Americans will receive a tax CUT under Obama.
So, yes. You should just shut up and pay your taxes, pretty much. I mean, make reasoned arguments against them, if you can: but running around talking about tyranny is really stupid.
Lily| 4.20.09 @ 6:01PM
You democrats should shut up and pay your taxes; especially you tax cheats nominated by Obama.
MT| 4.20.09 @ 6:03PM
Begala's a joke.
Jim| 4.20.09 @ 6:20PM
Tom,
You are lost, due some research beyond KOS and CNN.
Pingback| 4.20.09 @ 6:25PM
The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : Shut Up and Pay Your Taxes … | Money Blog : 10 links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 4.20.09 @ 6:40PM
Shut Up and Pay Your Taxes, Traitor, Implies Paul Begala | But As For Me links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
terry| 4.20.09 @ 6:45PM
Tom Paine - have you paid all your taxes? We say
this because most of OBAMA's appointees are way
'BEHIND IN PAYING THEIR TAXES'.....
We the American People are watching and waiting
to see how OBAMA handles this...!
Tom Paine| 4.20.09 @ 8:05PM
Obama's appointees' failure to pay taxes was disgraceful and should have disqualified them.
I don't feel any differently from you on this matter.
But I still think people should just shut up and pay their taxes.
Unless you're VERY wealthy, your taxes are going to stay the same or go down under Obama.
Zeke| 4.20.09 @ 8:17PM
Tom Paine - With all due respect, the oft-repeated claim of "95% of all Americans will receive a cut or not have their taxes raised" is completely fraudulent. A lower standard withholding rate on payroll taxes just means a deferral of amount due until April 15th, 2010.
With many of the Bush-era tax cuts (income, estate, cap. gains) that are set to expire, do you honestly believe they'll be renewed? Not a chance. Even if they are partially extended, this massive amount of Government spending and cap-and-trade proposal will counter any reduction among ALL Americans. Talk to a CPA or a job creator in the private sector, and you'll quickly understand why they almost invariably will fall in the right-wing.
Bill Bailey| 4.20.09 @ 8:43PM
Zeke, I don't think Tom Paine deserves anyone's respect.
Mary| 4.20.09 @ 8:51PM
Really like your spirit, MV. Keep it up.
Nobody has to pay too much attention to Begala; he's a known quantity, so I'm going to move on.
The tea parties are a raw material right now and are prey for pols. It's really up to us to repulse the politicians who sidle up to us, and demand and support statesmen.
I'm going to take out an ad in a local culture mag. I haven't exactly decided on the wording but it will be something to this effect: "Do you think ingratitude a vice?" Preceding that or whatever I ultimately choose will be a short quote that will stoke a fire down below for liberty, the fresh air of non-conformism, and an encouraging and strengthening minimalism.
If I get mature responses, I'll suggest we meet monthly at a local pub and go from there. My thinking is to gather with other people who might be willing to give reined in consumption and saving money a real shot. Drop credit cards, pay with cash and spend on just what's needed.
It's imperative that we choke off the ability of greasy politicians of any stripe to infect the spirit that's part of the tea parties. A non-violent spirit, but a nonconformist one.
If statesmen want to court us, that's fine. True statesmen can court our better angels and refine our movement. I'm a big fan of Gov. Sanford.
Did you know he and his brother buried his father? They dug the grave, lowered the casket, filled in the dirt and walked back into their young lives. He's got an awful lot going for him, and he might be just what the doctor ordered a few years from now.
Another thing I think is imperative is that we make it known to any statesman that should he bring Brooks and Frum or their ilk into the equation, all bets are off. We don't need preening and stale thought. We need the kind of thought that motivated Mark Levin to write his recent book.
The prosperity of the past decades won’t return any time too soon. They’re trying to re-inflate something that is unholy from top to bottom. It’s up to us to realize the value of the form of value. You begin that process by saving money. So, I’m coming off the consumer grid as completely as I can. And I hope to meet with other people who see sanity in that.
This cannot be about winning back the Whitehouse until it’s about principle, responsibility, moxie and liberty.
Oh, and MV, I think the Obama Doctrine should be thought of in terms of Some beach, Somewhere!
MT| 4.20.09 @ 8:51PM
TP/Jeremiah, that is.
thinkingabovemypaygrade| 4.20.09 @ 9:08PM
Anyone wishing to indulge their patriotic instincts may pay my tax bill at any time.
ds80| 4.20.09 @ 9:17PM
Hey Pain, T: you simply don't have a clue, re: taxes. But how about if I pay my taxes and DO NOT SHUT UP? Is that OK? Or does the Left's Fairness Doctrine come into play there?
Tom Paine| 4.20.09 @ 9:20PM
The most important thing here is what Begala did NOT say. He evidently did not refer to people who disagree with him as "traitors."
That is interposed by Vadum -- someone for whom every any disagreement from Rush Limbaugh's latest proclamation constitutes nazi fascism and treason.
Tom Paine| 4.20.09 @ 9:24PM
ds80
I assure you, I don't really want anyone to "shut up," nor do I really consider myself a person capable of making others "shut up."
I think you and your friends should criticize the government until the cows come home.
I was kidding when I said "shut up," but I can see why the irony didn't come through.
I'm all for criticizing the government. I just wish you guys would remember how many great things taxes actually pay for, too. There's fraud and abuse, but there's also NASA, bridges, courts, parks, libraries, the military, the police, and yes volcano studies, lighthouses, highways, research and development of drugs (80 percent of which are publicly funded), and so on.
ds80| 4.20.09 @ 9:30PM
T.P: fair enough. Dissent is as American as baseball. Could say Chevrolet, but that might put things in the past tense.
Trackback| 4.20.09 @ 9:38PM
The American Spectator : Shut Up and Pay Your Taxes, Traitor, Implies Paul Begala, on PunditKix, links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Interested Conservative| 4.20.09 @ 10:11PM
Tom Paine - a serious question - do you really think the POTUS policies won't raise taxes for everyone? Have you seen the deficit projections? As bad as Bush spending was, he's a piker by Obama's standards - who's going to pay for those deficits?
That's what the Tea Parties are about, the rest is commentary right and left - how much debt do you want, and how do you intend to pay for it?
ruth| 4.20.09 @ 10:32PM
Dissent is as American as baseball--and since Obama's been elected, so is being placed on his terrorist watch list.
Matthew Vadum | 4.20.09 @ 10:58PM
>Tom Paine| 4.20.09 @ 9:20PM
>That is interposed by Vadum -- someone for >whom every any disagreement from Rush >Limbaugh's latest proclamation constitutes nazi >fascism and treason.
Clearly you haven't read much of my work, Tom Paine, and you don't have any understanding of what Fascism actually is. Your comment is what I might expect to read from a petulant, attention-seeking child. I suggest you might find the pseudo-intellectual playground at the DailyKos site more to your liking.
Angel| 4.21.09 @ 12:24AM
We keep telling these trolls to go back to Huff/Post where they belong--but they won't. Why? Aren't you AmSpec writers tired of being insulted by these morons? I would be.
Matthew Vadum | 4.21.09 @ 12:33AM
It's usually fairly difficult to anger me, Angel, but I think not having registration for commenters definitely lowers the quality of the comments and invites trolls.
Angel| 4.21.09 @ 1:16AM
Lowers the quality of the comments and raises my blood pressure. I'm tired of being called a racist. Irksome! I always enjoy your work, Matt. Thanks so much.
Tom Paine| 4.21.09 @ 1:19AM
Vadum, nearly everything you post here seems to contain the words "fascism" or "totalitarianism" in connection with the Obama administration. It's YOU that does not understand what fascism is.
Tom Paine| 4.21.09 @ 1:23AM
Interested --
As far as I know the president's policy is to let the Bush tax cuts lapse in 2011 for people making over 200,000 -- or some such number. People earning less than that will remain at current levels or receive a nominal tax cut.
Obama's overall desire was to return to the tax rates of the 1990s -- when this country enjoyed massive economic growth. However, his advisors prevailed upon him to delay any tax increases on the wealthy in light of the recession.
I could be wrong. All of these numbers come pouring out so fast. I'm not a reporter or a tax accountant. What I DO know is that rates on the wealthiest people in this country are relatively low -- compared to what they were, say, even in the 1980s.
Tom Paine| 4.21.09 @ 1:28AM
Interested --
The deficits are a giant concern, and a legitimate one. I think that Obama is facing a deep recession that threatens to last a long time if the government does not spend enough. This recession is not like most we've seen in the post war era.
Whatever you may think of the policy -- and it does seem vulnerable to all kinds of fair criticism -- Obama is NOT a socialist. Raising government spending during a recession is just text book liberalism. People -- like those at the tea parties -- who claim that there is no difference are either a) not well informed; or b) just being perverse to make a cheap political point.
People for whom "socialism" is no longer a strong enough word have more recently inflamed their rhetoric by calling Obama a "fascist." This is too stupid to merit much attention, and completely beneath contempt.
(I'm not saying that you're saying these things; I'm just pointing out that the "tea party" rhetoric seems excessive and ultimately toxic.)
Tom Paine| 4.21.09 @ 1:33AM
About the deficits, as far as I understand the thinking, we'll grow our way out of them.
I think that's sounds pretty fishy. I don't like it. But then again, Obama put the wars back on the books where they belong: Bush never did that. He was never accountable for that spending. Obama's been up front about the cost of these bail-outs: no back room secret meetings. Again: criticize all you want -- but I'm with the 70% of Americans who think Obama is (at least) trustworthy on the economic issues.
Einstein| 4.21.09 @ 2:22AM
Hahahahaha. Suddenly Begala's all fake patriotic and outraged that average citizens dare voice their displeasure at massive spending. As usual, all he does is spin. Lying is his forte.
Einstein| 4.21.09 @ 2:35AM
I wonder how much Begala makes for being such an a$$hole? And is he current on his taxes?
Flood lights | 4.21.09 @ 4:28AM
I don't feel any differently from you on this matter.
TomPaineIsATerrorist| 4.21.09 @ 7:38AM
Tom Paine is a troll supreme. Why does he waste his time? He convinces nobody here.
stu.b.con| 4.21.09 @ 7:49AM
tom paine is l'il davey matthews bastard father
Deborah | 4.21.09 @ 7:50AM
Begala said, "Just a bunch of wimpy, whiney, weasels who don't love their country and don't want to support..." Sounds to me like if you don't love your country, that implies that you're not patriotic. So, where was Mr. Vadum wrong by saying Begala called the Tea Party-goers unpatriotic?
And, one might be interested in what is going on what with Obama and Geithner wanting to take over banks via changing preferred stock to common stock (screwing the taxpayers along the way, by the way)... it's actually "corporatism"...
Via Steven Malanga at realclearmarkets: "Conservative critics of the president have said that the government’s GM strategy is one of many examples of an America drifting toward socialism. But President Obama is not a socialist. If his agenda harks back to anything, it is to corporatism, the notion that elite groups of individuals molded together into committees or public-private boards can guide society and coordinate the economy from the top town and manage change by evolution, not revolution. It is a turn-of-the 20th century philosophy, updated for the dawn of the 21st century, which positions itself as an antidote to the kind of messy capitalism that has transformed the Fortune 500 and every corner of our economy in the last half century. To do so corporatism seeks to substitute the wisdom of the few for the hundreds of millions of individual actions and transactions of the many that set the direction of the economy from the bottom up.
"Corporatism periodically re-emerges precisely because it is an appealing political formulation, seeking as it does to present a middle-of-the-road alternative to socialism on the one hand, and capitalism on the other."
This is also where many get the idea of Obama as a fascist: "We see hints of corporatism in America’s Progressive Reform movement of early 20th century America, with its notion that the country could be governed by an enlightened, technocratic, nonpartisan elite, which culminated in the presidential election of Woodrow Wilson--a political scientist who specialized in the study of public administration.
"But a version of corporatism also emerged in the 1920s in Fascist Italy, where Mussolini conceived of syndicates in numerous industries composed of labor leaders and businessmen helping direct the Italian economy in the service of Fascism. Hitler’s solution was more thorough, to eliminate those organizations and associations within Germany that opposed him and to smother individualism by instituting a corporatist regime of forcible coordination among trade unions and business groups. "
You can read it all here: http://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2009/04/obama_and_the_reawakening_of_c.html
Now, one can disagree that this is what Obama is doing -- but one can't disagree that it sure looks similar to Mussolini's fascism.
Deborah D | 4.21.09 @ 7:51AM
Oops.. forgot, I'm now "Deborah D" since someone else is posting under my first name as well.
danny| 4.21.09 @ 8:52AM
i've lived my life as a model citizen. paid my taxes, done my duty. never complained. now i'm a prime suspect of becoming a terrorist. ruth can you explain this to me?
Dean| 4.21.09 @ 8:54AM
One of the unfortunate--and unintended--elements of the tea parties is that they were taken as only a protest aimed at Washington D.C. While taxpayers are certainly tired of of the spending and waste in the nation's capital, we are also tired of exorbitant sales taxes, property taxes, state taxes, fees and on and on.
In Cook County, IL, the sales tax is now over 10%. The governor of Illinois wants to increase the state income tax by 50% and also increase several fees. We have an overwhelming number of local taxing bodies that are constantly seeking more dollars through higher property taxes.
These confiscatory policies at all levels of government are overwhelming and keep placing undue burden on everyone, regardless of income. I'm working harder than ever and every day more of my income goes to a government agency.
I've had enough and I believe the great majority of citizens feel the same way, whether they were supportive of the tea parties or not.
Deborah D | 4.21.09 @ 9:10AM
But, Dean, don't you realize -- according to the CNN babe who debated (rather than interviewed) the guy at the Chicago Tea Party -- your STATE is getting $50 billion in stimulus. You should be jumping for joy!
How about Obama just takes that $50 billion back from the thieves in Chicago and then he could forget about his $100 million he's so graciously trying to save in his $3.69 TRILLION budget.
I feel ya, Dean. It's the whole bag, not just one trick in it.
tonypal| 4.21.09 @ 9:53AM
Tom Paine:
I think I may have addressed this issue with you before, but in case I'm mistaken, here's my take for you on this whole Obama tax cut issue.
For starters, it is impossible from a numerical standpoint to cut the taxes of 95% of the American people since only about 60-65% of the American people actually pay taxes. That is just a fact my friend. So unless you can explain how Obama plans on giving a tax cut to someone who doesn't pay taxes, then Obama is lying.
However, for the sake of argument, let's just assume that thousands of years of civilization are wrong about the dewey decimal system and the numbers 1 through 10. Let's say that a person who hasn't paid taxes can still get a tax cut. How will that pay for the rise in energy cost brought about by various Obama policies, including cap and trade? What about all the the emissions standards that he will impose, which will lead to higher energy prices? What about the rise in the cost of certain commodities, such as food, whose prices are sensitive to the fluctuations in energy costs. Don't these price increases tend to affect the lower and middle income earners disproportionately?
I could go on, but hopefully you get the picture. As for the tea party, Begala and most liberals/leftists completely missed the point. It wasn't just about taxes, it was about a government that is becoming more and more intrusive in our lives. It was about the inevitable erosion of our freedoms and liberties that is part and parcel with government takeover of the private sector. That's what it was all about. Lastly, it was about, in the words of many a liberal during the 8 years of the Bush presidency, the patriotic act of dissent. Be as liberal as you want, but you must open your eyes to what's going on and get past the emotional attachment you have to Obama.
tonypal| 4.21.09 @ 9:55AM
By the way, is it just me, or is Begala one of the biggest sissies on the scene today?
Michael Lee| 4.21.09 @ 10:23AM
Paul Begala is perfect propagandist for the left. He is a Goebbels like thug who would (from his hearts desire) put all conservative opposition in jail. He accuses the Bushies of blind loyalty but the most blind loyalty comes from smarmy little creeps/cult of personality worshipers like him and Carville and the rest of the left wing media. When they find themselves back in the minority after the Independents have had enough socialist corporatism they'll pull out the racism card and blame Angry White Males again. This country is in the midst of a civil Cold War. We conservatives need to win it with or without the Republican party. And yes he is a sissified little putz.
Thomas| 4.21.09 @ 11:43AM
When people, whom the liberals thought to be sheep, stand up and say, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore," it scares the crap out of them. The fear factor is rising rapidly on the left in Washington, and elsewhere. Look for more verbal attacks on honest everyday Americans by the liberal leadership in this country
tonypal| 4.21.09 @ 12:09PM
The left has perfected the art of silencing people through intimidation, then turning around and accusing their political opponents of the very thing the liberal just did. In the case of the tea parties, they've managed to do it in reverse. I'll explain.
During the Bush years, liberals were fond of whining about being called unpatriotic, of course never being able to tell us who exactly was doing the name calling. Tim Robbins, while making a speech at the National Press Club, complained that he and other "artists" were being silenced by the government. The irony was apparently lost on this deep thinker. Most importantly, lest we forget, we were lectured that dissent is patriotic.
Now of course, dissent is treasonous. Just ask Stephanie Miller, leftist radio talk show host (a rarity if there ever was one). After purposely misunderstanding and taking out of context Rush Limbaugh's statement that he hopes Obama fails, she actually went on Larry King and said his statement was treasonous and wondered if he should be exectuted. It's on youtube if you're interested. I wonder if Stephanie was hoping that George Bush succeeded, in the interest of consistency.
This is now the attitude of those who previously embraced the concept of dissent. As a conservative, I never had a problem with someone who disagreed with Bush's Iraq policy. I watched Alan Colmes, on a nightly basis, take issue with Bush foreign policy on Hannity and Colmes, but never once had a problem with the manner of his dissent. But far too many leftists went above and beyond normal dissent. Now, plain old folks who disagree with Obama policy are characterized as essentially unpatriotic by the likes of sissy boys like Paul Begala, or worse by the likes of Janet Napolitano.
Pingback| 4.21.09 @ 3:34PM
READY TO PAY FOR GOVERNMENT WASTE? $11 Trillion in Bailouts. Billions in Bribes. « Fa links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
ruth| 4.21.09 @ 3:40PM
Danny, ditto--except for the complaining part, I think we women probably complain a little more than you guys. Okay, okay, a lot more. I'm right there on that list with you, how could I explain it? I've always tried to do the right thing and stay out of trouble, and look what its gotten me. I'm a terrorist now. This would make my kids laugh out loud.
Pingback| 4.21.09 @ 4:01PM
Senate Million Bill Taxes | World News links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 4.21.09 @ 5:16PM
House Senate Energy Temporary | World News links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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Temporary House Bill Energy | World News links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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Senate Energy Income Years | World News links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 4.21.09 @ 6:36PM
Energy Taxes Bill Temporary | World News links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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Energy Bill Senate Taxes | World News links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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Bill Sales Senate Committee | World News links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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Bill Sales State Committee | World News links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Pingback| 4.21.09 @ 9:23PM
Shut Up and Pay Your Taxes, Traitor, Implies Paul Begala links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Dennis | 4.21.09 @ 9:25PM
Great inspiration for a soon to be famous archival photo of Begala ... in uniform!
http://novus2.com/wordpress/?p=4022
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