Speaking to a panel on poverty at Georgetown University, President Barack Obama dismissed wealthy Americans as “society’s lottery winners” and called on them to made a “modest investment” to the poor in the form of tax increases. (VIDEO: Obama Accuses Fox News Of Spreading Negative Stereotypes About The Poor)
The top 25 hedge fund managers made more than all of the kindergarten teachers in the country. So, when I say that, I’m not saying that because I dislike hedge fund managers, or I think they are evil, I’m saying that you’re paying a lower [tax] rate than a lot of folks who are making $300,000 a year. You pretty much have more than you’ll ever be able to use in your family will ever be able to use.
There’s a fairness issue involved here. And by the way, if we were able to close that loophole, I could now invest in early childhood education to make a difference. That’s where the rubber hits the road. That’s … where the question of compassion and ‘I’m my brother’s keeper’ comes into play. And if we can’t ask from society’s lottery winners to just make that modest investment, then really this conversation [on poverty] is for show.
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