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Politics | 04/16/2009 12:55 pm

Illinois Congressman Mark Kirk Says People 'Ready to Shoot' Over Tax Increases

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© AP

Illinois Congressman Mark Kirk exploded onto the national stage today when the Chicago Tribune published an inflammatory remark about taxes: "I think the people of Illinois are ready to shoot anyone who is going to raise taxes by that degree."

"That degree" refers to Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposed tax plan, which involves an increase. Though Kirk’s remarks are largely about local politics, his remark came on the same day as anti-tax "tea parties." While the movement’s attacking taxes in general, they’re taking specific aim at Barack Obama. And it’s getting ugly out there.

One participant in Illinois described the president as a "fascist." The level of anger is becoming even more intense in Colorado, where an adolescent boy brandished a sign that read: "Obama-nomics: Monkey See, Monkey Spend." There is also a drawing of a monkey that, we guess, is supposed to represent the commander in chief. Classy!

Kirk’s comment will no doubt raise his profile, and that could be a good thing. The Huffington Post and Capitol Fax point out that Kirk has hinted at a gubernatorial or senatorial run. If it were the latter, the Republican would be running for the seat currently held by Roland Burris. That seat, of course, once belonged to Barack Obama. 

You can read the rest of Kirk’s conversation with the Tribune here.

111 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Dee T
Hey, taxes are taxes. It’s a way of life. We paid our share this year and although high, I’m not going to lose any sleep over it. It is what it is. People have the right to protest whatever they want, but the bottom line is- they had to file yesterday! That’s reality. Could be worse, folks. You could be living in Somalia or Afghanistan. People have protested taxes for decades.. take the hit and move on. 
By Dee T on 04/16/2009 1:12 pm
Kelly In Texas

Yes Dee, we have it better here than anywhere else in the world. People were protesting the spending and how that will effect taxes for years to come.

Like that protester invented the concept that Obama is a fascist? Hell, did anyone see SOCIALISM sprawled across Newsweek?

They report this as if these people are saying things that the rest of the world hasn’t. Not a fair representation or a respectable job of reporting. But what else would one expect here on wowowow.

I attened the one at San Antonio and it was great. Many, many people there all well behaved. The speeches were all about the will of the people and not having our money spent without the benefit of our blessings. Our representatives are out for themselves and they need to know that we are taking our country back.

Term limits.

By Kelly In Texas on 04/16/2009 2:19 pm
C Hardy

I may not like paying taxes but at least I have a job, still, and I can pay taxes.  Yes I am glad that I live here and not somewhere that I have to hide my face or run away from home b/c my parents sold me to a much older man that I have to marry or else…

I am being patient and seeing where all this stimulus spending it going and if it truly helps but it still pains me that my daughter, who is 3, will be paying for this once she hits the work force.

By C Hardy on 04/16/2009 1:19 pm
Patty E
What the media is ‘forgetting’ as they highlight this movement, is that the tax increase, is not really a true new increase—-it is a retrenchment effort…to go back to what the taxes USED to be, for a minority of taxpayers—the wealthy.  As mentioned many times, by the time the loopholes, the tax shelters, meet with the accountants and the lawyers, those who make the most money, pay a lesser percentage in taxes than those who live just above the poverty line….how UN-American is that?
By Patty E on 04/16/2009 1:26 pm
Mel Berg

Patty, that’s what I can wrap my head around, all these complaints about taxes. We paid more under Reagan so what is the deal???

By Mel Berg on 04/16/2009 2:01 pm
Kelly In Texas

Patty, the "rich" pay the majority of taxes in America. It is a falicy that that the poor pay more, the majority of them pay nothing. So stop spreading the lie.

Speaking of those horrid lawyers…have a look at the President and who he fills his administration with. Oh…and don’t forget Soros…where is all of his money?

By Kelly In Texas on 04/16/2009 2:13 pm
Patty E

Hey Kelly—-I was in Texas for a couple decades myself—-so I know where you are coming from!  But here is the part you missed…..10% of $100 is $10, and so you then have $90 to buy your make-up and get your hair big.ur hair!  10% of $1 is 90 cents…and that is what the people who are not wheelin and dealin someone…but who have a job at minimum wage, have left over to buy food for the kids, themselves, and pay the rent with! 

If you want to ‘work my nerve’…just keep pretending that all is equal…it isn’t! 

By Patty E on 04/16/2009 2:27 pm
C. Aune

Oh how I hate that stat Kelly, the "rich" pay the majority of the taxes because the EARN the majority of the money, the more money you earn, the more taxes you pay…even if everyone paid a flat rate, the rich would STILL pay more in taxes because they have more to be taxed.

Why is everyone so up in arms about the darn CEO’s who screwed us in the first place having to pay 6% more in taxes???

By C. Aune on 04/16/2009 4:26 pm
Kelly In Texas

C.Aune…I am against the 6% tax increase because it comes after a legal binding contract was made. The Obama administration knew what they were allowing in the bailout…or should have. Dodd sure did.

When the goverment starts overturning, or placing taxes retroactive to a legal document it is unconstitutional. No matter how mad we get at those CEO’s the fact remains that their was a legallly binding contract in place. Obama would like to use our anger at the CEO’s so he can make another power grab at the private sector….not good….not good at all. Beware.

By Kelly In Texas on 04/17/2009 11:15 am
C. Aune
Kelly, the Bush tax cuts were for 10 years, when that time is up, they will not be renewed…that is in no way shape or form breaking a legal binding contract. Heaven forbid they have to pay the same tax rate they did in the 90’s…when everyone was doing just fine.
By C. Aune on 04/17/2009 2:56 pm
Kelly In Texas
C. Aune that was not what I was talking about.
By Kelly In Texas on 04/17/2009 5:33 pm
C. Aune

Then what ARE you talking about?

You couldn’t possibley be equating a legal binding work contract with a rise in someones taxes, could you?

By C. Aune on 04/17/2009 6:02 pm
Patty E
If there was fraud, or if the terms of the contract were mis-leading, or if there was ANY sort of shennanigans surrounding the contracts—-those contracts would have no standing in ANY court of law….Secondly…as I have mentioned before—-the BOD who approved a bonuses ‘failed to perform their fiduciary duty to their shareholders’, by approving extra pay for increased failure to perform—-either way Kelly—-your argument is moot…. 
By Patty E on 04/18/2009 2:40 pm
Kelly In Texas

No it’s not Patty. As if you say so, and it magically is? No.

You suppose "shennanigans" no such thing here….it is for courts to decide if that is ever in question, not the President. DODD and OBAMA allowed the payment and included them in the bill.

Obama and Dodd are moot.

 

By Kelly In Texas on 04/18/2009 3:08 pm
Patty E
Kelly, I cannot WAIT until you become the President!!!!!!!  When will you run for the office?  You seem to think you know more than the ones currently in Washington—why not put yourself out there?  Test your mettle…
By Patty E on 04/18/2009 3:58 pm