Why I am supporting Obama

[Jacob]

If you paid an effective 20% tax rate on $100,000 of ordinary income, you're doing it wrong. You said "we" so I assume you're married filing jointly. With only the standard deduction for you and your spouse and no other deductions whatsoever, your tax would be $12,500, for a 12.5% effective tax rate.

But...but...but...the bracket says 20% Lets not confuse the masses.

[Swimmer]

Sorry, the rationale "both parties will be equally successful or unsuccessful in dealing with the economic issues" practically screams "I don't really care about the economy." No need to lash out at me; I'm just helping you understand what you're saying.

Thank you kindly, but I need no help in understanding what I am saying. I care immensely about the economy. Disagreeing does not equate not caring. And I'm sorry if you though I was lashing out - I was simply asking you to not speak for me.

[byu71]

Fair is a flat tax. Nobody wants fair.

Only almighty God knows what "fair" is.

I will tell you what I heard that isn't fair. The Germans who work till they are 65, I heard, bailing out the Greeks who are pissed their retirement age is going up to 55.

This is what I don't understand about the "spread the wealth" for fairness sake crowd. It might be a blight on the character of human beings, but that isn't an incentive for the "producers".

I almost laugh at folks like Buffett, Gates and other ultra rich folks talking about them willing to pay more. I applaud them for their charitable work, but why don't they give it to the government if the government is so good about doing the fair thing. Does anyone have any idea how much in taxes these good men are going to avoid by setting up their charitable foundations????

[BYUMizzou]

Besides that his wife has small knockers, but that likely doesn't bother you as much as me!

I appears that Ann has a slight lead on Michelle in this very important category

[byu71]

I don't understand your question. Why would I say what?
I went down the list and said why Obama wasn't superior even to Bush on most of those bullets. The only one that Tim wanted that Obama did better was on healthcare, and now that Obama claims he copied Romney on healthcare, I fail to see how Romney wouldn't have done that as well, but better.
That Romney is even more decent, moral, and intelligent is obviously, just my opinion, though his intelligence and decency cannot be questioned. The moral part is in the eye of the beholder. I think Romney's priorities/policies show more moral rectitude than Obama's. Though this is largely because I believe Obama is just ignorant of the likely effects of his policies.

I think you said there is reason to believe Romney is better when it comes to morals, decency and intelligence. I didn't take it that you also meant there is reason to believe Obama is better than Romney.

Personally, this is my opinion, arguments involving morals, decency and intelligence are losers. They are emotionally and not fact based, again IMHO.

[Shaka]

WTF does that have to do with paying a lower rate?

He already paid taxes on that money when he earned it. I think it's fair that capital gains be paid at a lesser rate.

[Moliere]

I'm voting for Obama for the following reasons:

• Capturing bin Laden
• Pulling us out of Iraq
• Timetable set for departure from Afghanistan
• Ending DODT
• Sponsorship of successful legislation geared toward minimizing decision-making capabilities of profit-driven health insurance companies.
• Increase in domestic oil production while working to minimize risks of offshore drilling.
• From a personal perspective, I've seen tremendous growth in own economic situation during his presidency.
• Lastly, I find him to be a decent, moral, intelligent man of the people.

Could those things continue under Romney? Perhaps. But I'd be happy if the trajectory we're on continued, so I see no reason to vote out the current president.

This is a decent list, although I don't agree they all happened because of Obama, but it's as good of a list that I could produce to not vote for him.

I'm also voting for Romney because I'm a Mormon, and I'm tribal like that. Sure he fits my political leanings pretty well, but I think it would be absolutely awesome to have a Mormon president. For that reason, I'd also vote for Harry Reid or Mike Lee for president.

[Jacob]

I think you said there is reason to believe Romney is better when it comes to morals, decency and intelligence. I didn't take it that you also meant there is reason to believe Obama is better than Romney.

Personally, this is my opinion, arguments involving morals, decency and intelligence are losers. They are emotionally and not fact based, again IMHO.

As I said, it is a matter of opinion. Obama's I find Obama's political morality wanting. His don't align with mine.

[byu71]

As I said, it is a matter of opinion. Obama's I find Obama's political morality wanting. His don't align with mine.

OK, perhaps we are talking semantics. It bugs me that some evangelicals won't vote for Romney on moral grounds. I take the attitude we are electing a commander in Chief not a Pastor in Chief.

[RC Vikings]

The Democrats are much more in line with my beliefs in that regard so I'm going with Obama.

Their goes all that goodwill you built up the other day.

[wuapinmon]

None of us pay enough in taxes.

[Goatnapper'96]

I appears that Ann has a slight lead on Michelle in this very important category

I am going to go out on a limb and predict that Ann breastfeed more babies and then got a mommy makeover at 34!

I LOVE ME MORMON WOMEN!

[Goatnapper'96]

None of us pay enough in taxes.

And some get far more social benefit than they need.

However, I agree with you and President Obama had a chance to raise everyone's taxes back to the Clinton rates and he failed. I can live with returning back to the Clinton rates and then cutting government spending, including the deep Pentagon cuts, $700 billion. The reality is it is going to take a pragmatist to fix our deficit issues and my opinion is there is nothing in President Obama's record to date that indicates that is how he is wired or inclined. Romney, on the other hand was a governor in Massachuesetts and dealt with a liberal legislature, has experience as a problem solving business executive and is likely a more moderate than Obama. These indicate to me that he will have the requisite abilities to build bi-partisan teams that can tackle that issue.

[wally]

What is that reason? We just finished our taxes, and ended up paying about 20% on less than $100k, which is significantly more than than Mitt pays on his investment income. Why is it that public school teachers should pay a higher tax rate than Mitt Romney?

On NPR this morning they were discussing President Obama's "fairness in taxation" speach and made mention that if investments were taxed it could ultimately discourage investing in government bonds after taxes cut into an already low yield.

[byu71]

None of us pay enough in taxes.

I would be OK with paying more in taxes if there was some kind of guarantee on the spending side. I was OK with Bowles/Simpson.

I absolutely don't want what the Dems pulled on both Reagan and Bush. A promise of spending cuts along with the tax increases. The buts never came and poor George Bush got nailed on "read my lips".

I would be willing to have me required to work 2 more years before I get social security and have my taxes raised. The reason is selfish. It is for my kids and grandkids. However, no spending cuts then it really doesn't matter and raising my taxes is bull shit.