Obama pays a 20.5% Federal Income Tax Rate

[Pony Boy]

Obama Releases Taxes, he pays a 20.5 tax rate and does Not Qualify for Buffett Rule

President Obama earned $789,674 in 2011, the White House announced on Friday. However, with this income, he does not even qualify for the so-called Buffett Rule that he has promoted relentlessly and the Senate will take up on Monday.

The Buffett Rule calls for those making over $1 million a year to pay a minimum tax rate, named after billionaire Warren Buffett. The president did earn over $1 million in previous years--$1.7 million in 2010 and $5.5 million in 2009.

The president paid $162,074 in taxes with an effective federal income tax rate of 20.5 percent, according to the returns.

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill. They reported adjusted gross income of $379,035, paying $87,900 in federal tax for the year in addition to state taxes in Delaware and Virginia totaling $17,457.

http://nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/obama-releases-taxes-does-not-qualify-for-buffett-rule-20120413

[Rohirrim]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1V8lXn9vouw/S8F7UQjt-CI/AAAAAAAAABQ/6xuyrc0Id_o/s320/obama_antichrist.jpg

[Pony Boy]

It's nice to know out first family are not millionaires........

The economy is a big issue and concern for folks, the unemployment, trying to make ends meet, gas prices, and food prices going up while the first family is jetting around, different vacations. The Obama's Hawaiian vacation was reported to cost as much as $4 million dollars and last summer the Daily Mail reported that Michelle Obama had already spent up to $10 million dollars on trips to Spain, Vail, and Martha’s Vineyard.

[Pony Boy]

President Obama paid a total federal tax rate in 2011 on adjusted income of $789,674 that may be lower than that of his secretary, even though she earned substantially less.

The most recent information about salary regarding Obama’s secretary is for his former secretary, Katie Johnson, who is listed by the White House as having made $90,000 in 2010.

According to Wikipedia, Johnson is 31 years old and now attends Harvard Law School. I don’t know about her personal life or what her deductions would be, so I can’t assume any children or extra deductions.
On a $90,000 salary, she would pay $16,578 in federal taxes, $3,780 to Social Security, and $1,305 in Medicare taxes.

That adds up to a total federal tax burden of $21,663 on $90,000 in adjusted gross income, or a tax rate of 24 percent.

http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2012/04/13/obama-pay-secretary/

[Mr.Meanie]

It's nice to know out first family are not millionaires........

The economy is a big issue and concern for folks, the unemployment, trying to make ends meet, gas prices, and food prices going up while the first family is jetting around, different vacations. The Obama's Hawaiian vacation was reported to cost as much as $4 million dollars and last summer the Daily Mail reported that Michelle Obama had already spent up to $10 million dollars on trips to Spain, Vail, and Martha’s Vineyard.


Presidential vacations are always going to cost a lot of money because of security, staff, air force one, etc. Or do we want our President to hop on a Southwest flight and stay at the Holiday Inn?

[Requiem]

While Mitt Romney is paying a cool 14.5% and he is a zillionaire.

[barryr]

So the first time in years the Obamas don't make over a million and now he wants a Buffet rule? Oh, what a coincidence LOL It is almost the middle of the month, time for Michelle's next vacation from her busy workload.

[mosca]

Hold on - the presidential salary is $400,000 annually. I know it's not much compared to the income of Romney or some of the corporate good ol' boys - but where is the additional $389,000 of our president's income coming from?

Should we be concerned that the highest elected official in the country is making nearly double his actual salary from some type of outside source? makes me wonder how much Bush was raking in over the years.

[Tombstone RJ]

President Obama paid a total federal tax rate in 2011 on adjusted income of $789,674 that may be lower than that of his secretary, even though she earned substantially less.

The most recent information about salary regarding Obama’s secretary is for his former secretary, Katie Johnson, who is listed by the White House as having made $90,000 in 2010.

According to Wikipedia, Johnson is 31 years old and now attends Harvard Law School. I don’t know about her personal life or what her deductions would be, so I can’t assume any children or extra deductions.
On a $90,000 salary, she would pay $16,578 in federal taxes, $3,780 to Social Security, and $1,305 in Medicare taxes.

That adds up to a total federal tax burden of $21,663 on $90,000 in adjusted gross income, or a tax rate of 24 percent.

http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2012/04/13/obama-pay-secretary/

That's just insane.

[Mr.Meanie]

Hold on - the presidential salary is $400,000 annually. I know it's not much compared to the income of Romney or some of the corporate good ol' boys - but where is the additional $389,000 of our president's income coming from?

Should we be concerned that the highest elected official in the country is making nearly double his actual salary from some type of outside source? makes me wonder how much Bush was raking in over the years.

Book royalties...

[Pony Boy]

Presidential vacations are always going to cost a lot of money because of security, staff, air force one, etc. Or do we want our President to hop on a Southwest flight and stay at the Holiday Inn?

"If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck".............. If they are going to live the lifestyle of millionaires then call them millionaires, send them a 1099 for all the extra expense that not official business related and let them pay taxes on the income just like all of us have to do.

[peacepipe]

what's laughable is all these rethugs were nowhere to be found during the GWB yrs. GWB practicly spent his entire presidency on vacation.

[Mr.Meanie]

"If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck".............. If they are going to live the lifestyle of millionaires then call them millionaires, send them a 1099 for all the extra expense that not official business related and let them pay taxes on the income just like all of us have to do.

Yes, let's start billing the President the cost of Air Force One and the secret service. Do you ****ing idiots not hear yourselves?

[Smiling Assassin27]

and $48k in non-taxable gifts to sasha and malia. so even those who champion getting rid of tax breaks use them to lower the amount of tax they pay. he says he doesn't need those tax breaks, so why did he use them anyway? gimme an H...a Y...a P...an O...a CRITE.

No wonder he hasn't even proposed a plan to reform the tax code. He's too busy manipulating it to his advantage.

[alkemical]

Hold on - the presidential salary is $400,000 annually. I know it's not much compared to the income of Romney or some of the corporate good ol' boys - but where is the additional $389,000 of our president's income coming from?

Should we be concerned that the highest elected official in the country is making nearly double his actual salary from some type of outside source? makes me wonder how much Bush was raking in over the years.

Libraries are great ways to launder $.

Just sayin'.

[Pony Boy]

Yes, let's start billing the President the cost of Air Force One and the secret service. Do you ****ing idiots not hear yourselves?

Speaking of idiots did you read what I posted, I didn't say send him a bill for Air Force One, I said send him a 1099 for all expenses paid for by the American tax payers that's not business related. Why should the American taxpayers send the Obama’s on a tax free trip to Disney World? If I get a free trip to Disney World, guess what I get in the mail at the end of the year......... a 1099 for my taxes.

[Fedaykin]

I love how suddenly this is a problem now that you've found a way to attack Obama over it.

Someone said something about hypocrisy?

[lonestar]

Speaking of idiots did you read what I posted, I didn't say send him a bill for Air Force One, I said send him a 1099 for all expenses paid for by the American tax payers that's not business related. Why should the American taxpayers send the Obama’s on a tax free trip to Disney World? If I get a free trip to Disney World, guess what I get in the mail at the end of the year......... a 1099 for my taxes.

hey now posting logical thoughts here is against the law..

[cutthemdown]

Being caught up in % when talking rich people is a joke. When you make 20 million, and pay more in tax then all of you will in a lifetime I am sure it doesn't feel like you are ripping the country off.

[cutthemdown]

I love how suddenly this is a problem now that you've found a way to attack Obama over it.

Someone said something about hypocrisy?

No it's pointing out what a stupid argument it is. Rich people pay less % because they are already paying such a high dollar amount. It would not be fair for them to have to pay more. They already pay more in one yr then most of us do in 10. Tons and tons of legitimate tax revenue goes uncollected. Instead of new taxes how about just trying to collect the ones owed.

[cutthemdown]

what's laughable is all these rethugs were nowhere to be found during the GWB yrs. GWB practicly spent his entire presidency on vacation.

No he hung out at his ranch in Texas a lot where he continued the same work he did at white house. Another lie from the left.

[Mr.Meanie]

Speaking of idiots did you read what I posted, I didn't say send him a bill for Air Force One, I said send him a 1099 for all expenses paid for by the American tax payers that's not business related. Why should the American taxpayers send the Obama’s on a tax free trip to Disney World? If I get a free trip to Disney World, guess what I get in the mail at the end of the year......... a 1099 for my taxes.

The difference is you aren't the President. The President can't just stop being president during his vacation, he requires full security and planning around him all the time. If we're going to start treating Presidential security as a taxable fringe benefit, the only people who could afford to be president are the obscenely wealthy.

[peacepipe]

No it's pointing out what a stupid argument it is. Rich people pay less % because they are already paying such a high dollar amount. It would not be fair for them to have to pay more. They already pay more in one yr then most of us do in 10. Tons and tons of legitimate tax revenue goes uncollected. Instead of new taxes how about just trying to collect the ones owed.BS

[El Minion]

what's laughable is all these rethugs were nowhere to be found during the GWB yrs. GWB practicly spent his entire presidency on vacation.

And wars that will pay for themselves Hilarious! No complaints from the penny wise (Obama to Disney World!) and (trillion) dollar dumb republican voters!

http://exclusiveeconomy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/threetrilliondollarwar.jpg

[Mr.Meanie]

Jesus. You couldn't find a bigger pic?

[peacepipe]

No he hung out at his ranch in Texas a lot where he continued the same work he did at white house. Another lie from the left.

as if obama is doing it any differantly,truth is,wether on vacation or not a presidents job is 24/7 wether on vacation or not.

[El Minion]

No he hung out at his ranch in Texas a lot where he continued the same work he did at white house. Another lie from the left.

Hilarious!

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Z3p9y_OEAdc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[lonestar]

The difference is you aren't the President. The President can't just stop being president during his vacation, he requires full security and planning around him all the time. If we're going to start treating Presidential security as a taxable fringe benefit, the only people who could afford to be president are the obscenely wealthy.

I'm sure if you do the research you will find that ms nobama went to Africa while he was in office.. cost the tax payer millions of dollars for all the support staff she took along and we are not counting SS personnel..

or her going to Hawaii last winter early because hubby was tied up "working", another few million..



NO ONE is begrudging his security nor that he is entitled to time "off". just that lavish vacations for momma nobama should not be included on our dime..

If he was not President there is no WAY they would be traveling on their on dime to these places staying in the facilities they have..

let them pay taxes on those perks like us normal folk do..

[lonestar]

Obama Criticized for ‘Jetting Around,’ Taking Lavish Vacations While Americans Suffer
Written on April 12, 2012 by V2A,

President Obama, during an interview with St. Louis’s KMOV, was hammered for “jetting around, [taking] different vacations and so forth, sometimes … under the color of state business.” The interviewer, Larry Conners, suggested even that folks “get frustrated, even angered” seeing the president take these trips, and told Obama that these Americans think he’s “out of touch, that [Obama doesn't] really know what they’re experiencing right now.”

Here’s the transcript:

KMOV-STL’s Larry Conners: “The economy is a big issue and concern for folks. I mean, the unemployment, trying to make ends meet, gas prices, food prices going up. Some of our viewers are complaining, they get frustrated, even angered, when they see the first family jetting around, different vacations and so forth, sometimes maybe they think under color of state business and that you’re out of touch, that you don’t really know what they’re experiencing right now.”

President Barack Obama: “Well, I don’t know how many viewers you’re talking about that say that.”

http://visiontoamerica.org/9177/obama-criticized-for-jetting-around-taking-lavish-vacations-while-americans-suffer/

[peacepipe]

http://visiontoamerica.org/9177/obama-criticized-for-jetting-around-taking-lavish-vacations-while-americans-suffer/can you find an unbiased website to support your claim.

[cutthemdown]

as if obama is doing it any differantly,truth is,wether on vacation or not a presidents job is 24/7 wether on vacation or not.

I agree and don't have any problems with our President living the good life. He is the most powerful person in the world and we need to present him with some pomp etc etc to show our power and wealth. I'm just pointing out that liberals are just as bad Peace. They complained Bush traveled when they knew he was at Ranch doing his job. Now they defense Obama etc etc. It's just stupid to care about such crap issues when we have China trying to grab the whole ocean and Iran maybe building nuclear weapons. Not to mention N Korea trying to make long range rockets. Even though they are a joke. They could figure it out someday. I really don't want to see that day.

Presidents deal with high stress situations. What the President wants or needs I believe he should get, and not be questioned.

[cutthemdown]

If the President wants to drink 300 dollar a bottle wine at a dinner, IMO, even 1000 dollar a bottle wine, go ahead and do it. People need to stop being haters just because someone reached a spot of power and affluence.

Sound familiar to you lefties? Don't hate on the rich just because he is only paying 17% and you pay 30%. Remember he paid 17% on millions of dollars and you make friggin 65 grand a yr. They pay more in sales taxes then you make! Stop creating class warfare.

[mosca]

holy crap, this thread is full of dirt diggers. get real - first of all - the president, whether bush or obama, repub or dem, WORKS WHILE ON VACAY. I don't care if he actually gets some time to drive some golf balls, for chrissakes, give the man some time to relax, but yes -the dude will still work and get his daily brief wherever he is, and i don't know this from personal experience - it's common friggin sense - they're not gonna leave him outta the loop.

second of all - yes, i am against gubment waste, but - let's repeat this - he is the HIGHEST elected official in the country. he shouldn't get paid a million/year in salary and he shouldn't be spending millions (like Obama did) on his inauguration - but let's face it - the President can and will spend some money on trips - it has always been this way and will NEVER change.

[alkemical]

holy crap, this thread is full of dirt diggers. get real - first of all - the president, whether bush or obama, repub or dem, WORKS WHILE ON VACAY. I don't care if he actually gets some time to drive some golf balls, for chrissakes, give the man some time to relax, but yes -the dude will still work and get his daily brief wherever he is, and i don't know this from personal experience - it's common friggin sense - they're not gonna leave him outta the loop.

second of all - yes, i am against gubment waste, but - let's repeat this - he is the HIGHEST elected official in the country. he shouldn't get paid a million/year in salary and he shouldn't be spending millions (like Obama did) on his inauguration - but let's face it - the President can and will spend some money on trips - it has always been this way and will NEVER change.


Dude...Obama's running the gov't as a business...and captialists have a problem with that. :)

[Mr.Meanie]

I agree and don't have any problems with our President living the good life. He is the most powerful person in the world and we need to present him with some pomp etc etc to show our power and wealth. I'm just pointing out that liberals are just as bad Peace. They complained Bush traveled when they knew he was at Ranch doing his job. Now they defense Obama etc etc. It's just stupid to care about such crap issues when we have China trying to grab the whole ocean and Iran maybe building nuclear weapons. Not to mention N Korea trying to make long range rockets. Even though they are a joke. They could figure it out someday. I really don't want to see that day.

Presidents deal with high stress situations. What the President wants or needs I believe he should get, and not be questioned.

Agreed. You can't criticize Bush for his vacations and be taken seriously when defending Obama. Those "vacations" aren't just sleeping all day, smoking pot and playing xbox.

[Pony Boy]

If you want to make the office of President and Vice President tax free positions I wouldn’t have a problem with that. Where I have a problem is Obama pointing out others for not paying their fair share of taxes when he pays 20.5%. Obama and Biden are both Millionaires and live the lifestyles of Billionaires.

[peacepipe]

If you want to make the office of President and Vice President tax free positions I wouldn’t have a problem with that. Where I have a problem is Obama pointing out others for not paying their fair share of taxes when he pays 20.5%. Obama and Biden are both Millionaires and live the lifestyles of Billionaires.

You're getting no where with this arguement.

[Pony Boy]

You're getting no where with this arguement.

I will write a check on Tuesday April 17th for more in taxes than Joe Biden pays. Compare my lifestyle and personal residence with his and tell me who is paying their fair share and who is not...... Obama and Biden are perfect examples of "do as I say not as I do".

[Rigs11]

the same rightards that state that buffet rule would only bring in 47 billion in additional revenue over 10 years, are the same rightards that are lambasting obama for spending millions on vacations. the same rightards that lambasted obama on the 500 million solyandra deal.so which is it?

[Rigs11]

I will write a check on Tuesday April 17th for more in taxes than Joe Biden pays. Compare my lifestyle and personal residence with his and tell me who is paying their fair share and who is not...... Obama and Biden are perfect examples of "do as I say not as I do".

Actually when obama said that wealthy americans should pay more in taxes, he included himself in that category. nice try, but you fail again.

[peacepipe]

I will write a check on Tuesday April 17th for more in taxes than Joe Biden pays. Compare my lifestyle and personal residence with his and tell me who is paying their fair share and who is not...... Obama and Biden are perfect examples of "do as I say not as I do".well then,rethugs should call Obama/bidens bluff and pass the buffet rule. to see if obama is serious.

[barryr]

I will write a check on Tuesday April 17th for more in taxes than Joe Biden pays. Compare my lifestyle and personal residence with his and tell me who is paying their fair share and who is not...... Obama and Biden are perfect examples of "do as I say not as I do".

Exactly! Everyone else pay more, but not me. Typical liberal attitude and typical they give each other excuses for it.

[DomCasual]

Jesus. You couldn't find a bigger pic?

It's like he scanned a Fathead!

Can you imagine having that as a Fathead? You'd have daily suicidal thoughts.

[Pony Boy]

Yes, let's start billing the President the cost of Air Force One and the secret service. Do you ****ing idiots not hear yourselves?

There is something wrong when President Obama can use Air Force One to travel to Florida this weekend for two multimillion-dollar fundraisers for his 2012 campaign and only have to reimburse the American taxpayers just a fraction of the cost — the equivalent of a commercial airline ticket.

If he piggybacks fundraisers onto official trips, then figuring out the details of how much the Obama campaign must reimburse taxpayers for the mixed trips gets far more complicated and certainly cheaper than just the price of a commercial airline ticket. Federal election laws have become a joke that the American taxpayers are the butt of.

[cutthemdown]

If you want to make the office of President and Vice President tax free positions I wouldn’t have a problem with that. Where I have a problem is Obama pointing out others for not paying their fair share of taxes when he pays 20.5%. Obama and Biden are both Millionaires and live the lifestyles of Billionaires.

I agree. Obama is wrong for deciding his best way to get re-elected is to create some sort of class warfare.

[Pony Boy]

White House spokeswoman tries to spin the president's secretarys tax rate

President Barack Obama's secretary paid taxes at a higher rate than he did in 2011 despite having a "substantially lower income," the White House said Friday, casting the disparity as an argument for Congress to adopt the so-called "Buffett Rule."

"The president's secretary pays a slightly higher rate this year than the president on her substantially lower income, which is exactly why we need to reform our tax code and ask the wealthiest to pay their fair share," Amy Brundage, a White House spokeswoman, told Yahoo News by email.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-paid-lower-tax-rate-secretary-white-house-192756522.html

[Mr.Meanie]

White House spokeswoman tries to spin the president's secretarys tax rate

President Barack Obama's secretary paid taxes at a higher rate than he did in 2011 despite having a "substantially lower income," the White House said Friday, casting the disparity as an argument for Congress to adopt the so-called "Buffett Rule."

"The president's secretary pays a slightly higher rate this year than the president on her substantially lower income, which is exactly why we need to reform our tax code and ask the wealthiest to pay their fair share," Amy Brundage, a White House spokeswoman, told Yahoo News by email.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-paid-lower-tax-rate-secretary-white-house-192756522.html

I'm not sure how that's "spin", that's exactly what their whole argument has been for the last few years...

[DomCasual]

I can never take someone seriously when they use terms like "rethugs," "rightards," and "libtards."

It's like a child, who is not confident enough in his message to let it stand on its own merits. What does he resort to? Shock value - usually through offensive names or language. To a sibling, it might be calling him/her "a baby," "retarded," or the big one, "a retarded baby." To a parent, it might be shouting, "I hate you!" It's counterproductive, because as soon as the insult is tossed, everything prior to or after it is forgotten.

As you get older (and more skilled at communicating), you realize that a good argument is valid in its own right. You would be embarrassed to call someone "stink-face," or "poop nugget" in a face-to-face argument. Can you imagine going into your employer's office, and saying, "Listen, penis head, I asked for the week of the 18th off, and I just got the memo that we're having an employee meeting that day?" Or, going into your child's teacher, and saying, "I have a question for you, greasy fart - why do you keep sending Sally home with so much homework?"

No one would take you seriously.

Yet here many of you are, calling each other similarly-childish names, in the name of politics.

Is your argument really so weak that you need to toss out childish names in your attempt to validate it - you bunch of retarded babies?

[Fedaykin]

No it's pointing out what a stupid argument it is. Rich people pay less % because they are already paying such a high dollar amount. It would not be fair for them to have to pay more. They already pay more in one yr then most of us do in 10. Tons and tons of legitimate tax revenue goes uncollected. Instead of new taxes how about just trying to collect the ones owed.

Bull****. Tax burden is about %, not absolute value.

The hit lower income families take from taxes cuts in to their ability to sustain themselves. The hit high income family take from taxes only cuts into luxury spending.

[cutthemdown]

Here are some real numbers on who is paying what.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/13/2746712/exaggerations-abound-on-both-sides.html

[lonestar]

I agree. Obama is wrong for deciding his best way to get re-elected is to create some sort of class warfare.

worked for him last time..

[cutthemdown]

I like how no dems want to talk about the fact the numbers on what groups pay what % in income tax are all off in the media.

[Blart]

the same rightards that state that buffet rule would only bring in 47 billion in additional revenue over 10 years, are the same rightards that are lambasting obama for spending millions on vacations. the same rightards that lambasted obama on the 500 million solyandra deal.so which is it?

Exactly. Jon explains it best,

(4 minutes but it's great)

<div style="background-color:#000000;width:520px;"><div style="padding:4px;"><iframe src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/embed/mgid:cms:video:thedailyshow.com:394983" width="512" height="288" frameborder="0"></iframe><p style="text-align:left;background-color:#FFFFFF;padding:4px;margin-top:4px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><b><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-august-18-2011/world-of-class-warfare---the-poor-s-free-ride-is-over">The Daily Show with Jon Stewart</a></b><br/>Get More: <a href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/'>Daily Show Full Episodes</a>,<a href='http://www.indecisionforever.com/'>Political Humor & Satire Blog</a>,<a href='http://www.facebook.com/thedailyshow'>The Daily Show on Facebook</a></p></div></div>

[Rigs11]

Exactly. Jon explains it best,

(4 minutes but it's great)

<div style="background-color:#000000;width:520px;"><div style="padding:4px;"><iframe src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/embed/mgid:cms:video:thedailyshow.com:394983" width="512" height="288" frameborder="0"></iframe><p style="text-align:left;background-color:#FFFFFF;padding:4px;margin-top:4px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><b><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-august-18-2011/world-of-class-warfare---the-poor-s-free-ride-is-over">The Daily Show with Jon Stewart</a></b><br/>Get More: <a href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/'>Daily Show Full Episodes</a>,<a href='http://www.indecisionforever.com/'>Political Humor & Satire Blog</a>,<a href='http://www.facebook.com/thedailyshow'>The Daily Show on Facebook</a></p></div></div>

99% of the poor have a refrigerator!Hilarious! The right is toast in this year.I see them losing the house too.