Hot Air TV: Teddy Kennedy’s estate tax avoidance
posted at 8:43 am on April 15, 2008 by Michelle
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For your Tax Day catharsis, YAF/Hot Air special correspondent Jason Mattera asked Sen. Teddy Kennedy (D-Windbag) why he gets away with defending estate taxes even though his family avoids paying them.
Er, um:
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There’s not enough whisky in the world to cover that guy’s hypocrisy…
benrand on April 15, 2008 at 8:53 AM
I love the grin on Jason’s face as he walks away. Are you enjoying your job, Jason?
TX Mom on April 15, 2008 at 8:55 AM
Teddy “You see, I’m the one in power and I know how to avoid the tax programs I support and create. Being a Democratic Senator, I am in charge of insuring that the proletariat remain the proletariat. We need to spread everyones wealth around but mine! Now get away from me peon!”
Golfer_75093 on April 15, 2008 at 8:55 AM
I think Jason’s smile as he walked away said it all! Nice job!
Pam on April 15, 2008 at 8:59 AM
Loved that smile. Gotcha Fat Teddy!
I think I’ll watch that again.
Git ‘em Jason.
Subsunk
Subsunk on April 15, 2008 at 9:02 AM
HAH, the grin on Jason’s face at the end was pure gold.
“Weah, erah, we pay our share eh…”
What a schmuck. Down with the proletariat!
MadisonConservative on April 15, 2008 at 9:05 AM
I don’t see this one as hypocrisy.
It’s like the leftists who toss the chickenhawk slur at people who support the war but who don’t personally serve in the military.
aunursa on April 15, 2008 at 9:07 AM
If only my Daddy had been a bootlegger of Canadian booze during the depression, I might have grown up to be a fat, rich, pickled, lying hypocritical senator too.
Thankfully he wasn’t. He made an honest living.
fogw on April 15, 2008 at 9:10 AM
He truly is a fat pig, in every sense of the word.
JiangxiDad on April 15, 2008 at 9:10 AM
Jason Materra: Magnificent Bastard.
Theworldisnotenough on April 15, 2008 at 9:12 AM
In my state they are adding HOT lanes — carpool lanes that solo drivers can use if they pay a toll. Is one a hypocrite if he supports the concept of HOT lanes but avoids paying the toll by carpooling?
aunursa on April 15, 2008 at 9:13 AM
Kidding aside, it is amazing how Senator now denotes something sleazy and unsavory. I took my kids to DC a few years ago, and found myself looking at the capitol building with disgust. That didn’t feel too good. I don’t really expect to see our current situation/politics continue for the rest of my lifetime.
JiangxiDad on April 15, 2008 at 9:14 AM
HOT = high occupancy toll
aunursa on April 15, 2008 at 9:14 AM
Apples and oranges… military supporters don’t require others to serve, with threat of prison if they don’t.
hindmost on April 15, 2008 at 9:15 AM
As long as the lesser-people insist on “clinging” to guns and religion, they will never be able to appreciate the “brilliance” of the “progressive” mind.
Never mind me, just do what you are told.
RMR on April 15, 2008 at 9:17 AM
f libs
blatantblue on April 15, 2008 at 9:19 AM
You don’t see it because you don’t want to.
If Ted Kennedy supports the inheritance tax but uses legal loopholes to avoid it himself, you don’t find that hypocritical?
I do not support the inheritance tax and I WILL use all the legal loopholes I can to avoid them.
I have already paid taxes on all I have earned and aquired.
The inheritance tax is a double taxation.
ArmyAunt on April 15, 2008 at 9:24 AM
Sorta like Congressman, Governor, Mayor, Judge, Pastor and Priest.
fogw on April 15, 2008 at 9:24 AM
If Katie Couric “broke” this story maybe her nightly ratings wouldn’t be last and heading down. Oh wait, Teddy is a Democrat, so nothing to see here folks. Move along.
perroviejo on April 15, 2008 at 9:28 AM
Teddy was clearly thinking (well, clearly for Teddy) “Where the h3ll is that elevator?”
perroviejo on April 15, 2008 at 9:30 AM
What is that supposed to mean?
I am no fan of Ted Kennedy. I just don’t see this instance as hypocrisy.
No. Hypocrisy would be if Kennedy opposed the loopholes while using them.
aunursa on April 15, 2008 at 9:30 AM
Touché!
I forget the numbers, but the haughty war hero John Kerry and his wife Teresa Heinz also use family trusts to shelter a net worth that has been estimated to be around a billion dollars. In the end, they pay an effective income tax rate of around 12%.
Kennedy is the worst! What do you expect from a family that made their stake from being involved with organized crime.
moxie_neanderthal on April 15, 2008 at 9:31 AM
this is not a valid comparison…everybody has a choice to use the lanes or not…we don’t have a choice about paying estate taxes
erclimb on April 15, 2008 at 9:32 AM
I’m sure they would if they could. Remember the nut last year who tracked down via the interent a college Republican leader, visited his home, and assaulted him for supporting the war but not joining the military?
aunursa on April 15, 2008 at 9:33 AM
Jason, some GONADS there… The people from YAF always seem to ask the questions MSM doesn’t have time or intellect to ask.
pueblo1032 on April 15, 2008 at 9:33 AM
Very well said, and spot on.
In all seriousness, we do need to take note of when people in the Democrat Party say they are in the “Democratic” Party…that is a giveaway that they are really “Democratic Socialists” and part of the Communist Party USA. They are very pro-amnesty, because they want a larger proletariat voting block. Anyone remember what day of the year the large pro-amnesty rallies were held?
May 1st…May Day…a day with a long history for the communists.
Democratic Socialists will tell you all day long how we live in a “Democracy”, when that is a flat-out lie. We live in a Constitutional Republic, not a Democracy.
Recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and be reminded of “and to the Republic for which it stands”.
Very simple minded voters think, “Oh, we’re a Democracy? Then I guess I should vote for the Democrat”. Some of those voters, if they knew the truth, would think, “Oh, we’re a Republic? Then I guess I should vote for the Republican”.
Red Pill on April 15, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Remember McCain-Kennedy
Red Pill on April 15, 2008 at 9:38 AM
You’re missing the point. He has made a career of positioning himself as a soak-the-rich politician so he can bludgeon his political opponents and yet he uses a get out of jail free card to avoid paying the very tax bill he wishes to impose on everyone else.
Think Kennedy would ever support a flat tax? Hell no, because of the political advantages conferred to his rhetoric. The fact of the matter is that “progressive taxation” has the unintended consequences of creating what are in effect, two sets of books. Loopholes insure that folks like Kennedy appear to being “paying their fair share” but in fact they are dodging the very taxes they appear to embrace. Likewise, taxes have a way of filtering down and entrapping the working middle and upper middle class.
moxie_neanderthal on April 15, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Yes, Jason is a true American Hero. He certainly does have “Malkins”. I salute his honor and courage, and I pray for his protection from evil. He is speaking truth to power, and those who can’t handle the truth try to silence those who speak it.
Red Pill on April 15, 2008 at 9:41 AM
Nice job exposing that scumbag. Yeah, old Teddy can get pretty rowdy when he is talking down to a Supreme Court nominee, but look how he can’t even make eye contact with Jason. Term limits, term limits, term limits.
WisCon on April 15, 2008 at 9:47 AM
Wow. From the cowards at CBC to the stout heart of Jason Mattera, Young America Foundation and Hot Air. Well done, very well done.
Another democrap elitist’s feet held to the fire.
Zorro on April 15, 2008 at 9:49 AM
The smirk at the end was HILARIOUS! Ted Kennedy is a hypocritical fool and this just provides more evidence.
Reaganite84 on April 15, 2008 at 9:53 AM
The Kennedys are the epitome of wealthy liberals. You notice I didn’t use the evil word RICH, they are ‘well-to-do’. They have their wealth and they are intent on making sure that everyone else can’t become wealthy. That is one reason liberals are the most vocal proponents of higher taxes, the upper 50% of wage earners account for 97% of the revenues, and they don’t think that’s enough.
You NEVER hear the MSM call a democrat/liberal rich, in fact they try to down-play their wealth so they can appear to be one of the masses. Its too bad RICO isn’t retroactive.
belad on April 15, 2008 at 9:56 AM
The grin at the end was great! Ted, go have a drink.
CP on April 15, 2008 at 10:06 AM
WisCon on April 15, 2008 at 9:47 AM
That is why I refuse to travel to Tax-a-choose-its, buy products from there or even think about visiting it until the sheeples vote the bloviating wind-bag out of office. If everyone punished the state, in this manner, they might decide to dump his fat ass.
belad on April 15, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Mary Jo Kopechne was unavailable for comment
Wade on April 15, 2008 at 10:12 AM
You need to be super-rich to get the legal help to create the foundations that enable you to avoid the estate taxes.
So the super-rich pay less than the fairly well-off.
jgapinoy on April 15, 2008 at 10:17 AM
…and Kennedy helped create that system.
jgapinoy on April 15, 2008 at 10:18 AM
1977?
Surely there’s more recent history regarding Sen. Kennedy and his hypocrisy?
Yakko77 on April 15, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Or supported Hitler and got thrown out of his England Ambassador job.
Wade on April 15, 2008 at 10:21 AM
How do you figure…? Your example has nothing to do with this dismissal; if you actually think that guy was a military supporter, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
Your Kennedy/chickenhawk comparison is completely invalid, for reasons I stated earlier.
hindmost on April 15, 2008 at 10:22 AM
No more than a sales tax, dividend tax, or gifts above $12,000 a year. Taxes should be lower, and Kennedy’s ideas about tax policy are wrong. But he is right to use trusts in the same way that many people do to pass their estate to their survivors. It’s especially important if you have young children, since it allows you to define that the money be used for education or other purposes that reflect your values.
dedalus on April 15, 2008 at 10:29 AM
“It would be terribly unfair to tax work…”
Ted Kennedy
That is the only honest & valid statement I’ve ever heard come out of the horses
mouthass.mrsmwp on April 15, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Using figures from 1977, though?
amkun on April 15, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Not a surprise that Teddy speaks with forked tongue!!! Habit!!
jeanie on April 15, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Is there a transcript? I can’t watch the video thanks to it being blocked at work. I’ll have to wait until I get home to watch it.
Torch on April 15, 2008 at 10:47 AM
.04% of 50%
Gee…I wonder who picks up the tab for the other 99.96%?
franksalterego on April 15, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Not quite the Liberal Lion roaring from the Senate floor.
“Ooooo, please, door open, door open!
eeyore on April 15, 2008 at 10:51 AM
There should be some price to pay for selling out your country for a few thousand dollars.
snaggletoothie on April 15, 2008 at 10:51 AM
After the little bundle of joy I just mailed in, and the corresponding check attached, today was not a good day for me to watch that. Torture.
sheesh on April 15, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Ted Kennedy is the definition of Elitism. Such a TOOL!
Geronimo on April 15, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Don’t forget the bulk of the Kennedy fortune was created off the illegal liquor trade during prohibition.
THE CHOSEN ONE on April 15, 2008 at 10:55 AM
If there were any justice, ol’ Joe would’ve occupied the same cell as Manuel Noriega.
franksalterego on April 15, 2008 at 11:00 AM
THEY ARE KENNEDY’S - WHAT DO YOU EXPECT????
For heaven’s sake he let a young women SUFFOCATE in Chappaquidicik (sp?) [under water, btw].
Ol’ Joe is pretty warm right now….
Branch Rickey on April 15, 2008 at 11:10 AM
The royals of Massachusetts will not be bothered with obeying their laws.
Hening on April 15, 2008 at 11:16 AM
I’m no fan of the Kennedy’s, but I have no problem with bootleggers when the government tells taxpayers they can’t have a drink, especially on April 15.
dedalus on April 15, 2008 at 11:28 AM
notice how Ted cant even look him in the eye.
….what group are you with again?
efears on April 15, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Using figures from 1977, though?
Um… He’s a Senator with the power to leap tall hypocrisies with a single belch, but even he can’t resuscitate his folks and get them to die all over again.
krakatoa on April 15, 2008 at 11:50 AM
I love Jason’s little dig (I think it was a dig) about going to school in Rhode Island. I believe one Patrick Kennedy is from RI.
warrenmr on April 15, 2008 at 11:50 AM
And that is why people like Warren Buffet like estate taxes. You can bet his estate is in trust funds that can’t be touched.
Why do the big fish like estate taxes? Because when the people who inherit a business can’t afford to pay the estate taxes, these people come in and buy the business at a “distressed tax sale” on the cheap and have a nice running business that they add to their empire.
cjs1943 on April 15, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Buffett is giving almost all of his money to a charitable foundation.
dedalus on April 15, 2008 at 11:55 AM
errrrrrrrr……….mumble………..hmmmmm…….er………argh…………um…………….
drjohn on April 15, 2008 at 11:59 AM
I don’t understand your point. Of course he doesn’t support the military. He’s using the chickenhawk slur in an attempt to stifle support for the war. He’s trying to say that you can’t support the war unless you personally join the military. In the same way, people are saying that it’s wrong for Kennedy to support estate taxes when he uses loopholes to avoid paying them himself.
BTW, in no way am I suggesting that the estate tax is right or just. I simply don’t see the hypocrisy. If the estate tax is unjust, then that’s the strongest argument against it.
aunursa on April 15, 2008 at 12:01 PM
When will these dopey Dems learn not to talk to Jason? That said, Ted Kennedy disgusts me.
bloggless on April 15, 2008 at 12:29 PM
He should have that printed on his business cards….
liquidflorian on April 15, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Teddy Kennedy’s “secret” MySpace entry:
Hi there fellow bloggers. My name is United States Senator Edward Moore Kennedy from the Great State of Massachusetts. You can call me Ted if you want. I was born on February 22, 1932, although people tell me that I look at least 20 years younger.
I graduated from Harvard in June 1956 in the top 10% of my class. I also passed my law bar on my very first try.
I am one of the most senior members of that grand and much loved and respected institution known as the U.S. Senate. All my colleagues respect me and very often come to me for my wise council and advise. I must admit though that when John McCain and Lindsey Graham ask me to turn around and pull my pants down so that they can kiss my Irish ass it does get a little much, but it’s so gratifying anyway!
In fact I am so powerful now that I am, in many ways the defacto President of the United States. How’s that for a boy who had to work his way through college?
I am handsome and tall with a muscular build. The ladies just can’t get enough of me. Sometimes I think it is almost a curse.
I sometimes like to chill out after a long day of serving the American people by having a double martini. Contrary to what some of my very few enemies say I never have more than one drink at a time. Well sometimes one for each hand, but that’s it, never two glasses in each hand, except on special occasions like the arrival of 7PM.
I am a lot of fun after work. I am an excellent driver and sometimes I like to go on long drives and see how many bridges I can cross without getting wet. It’s a lot of fun! All the women tell me that I am just too much!
I would like to think that I am open minded, honest, polite, and trustworthy. And I appreciate the same qualities in others.
Who I’d like to meet:
…other progressive bloggers. People who like to rock out. Cool people who live close to Washington D.C. so that we can get together, take all our clothes off, paint 666 on ourselves, and run around stark naked and have a whole lot of fun.
MB4 on April 15, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Jason’s smile at the end — puurrfect!
-
deesine on April 15, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Still not paying taxes.
cjs1943 on April 15, 2008 at 1:08 PM
I’m glad someone else noticed too. There’s plenty to despise Sen. Kennedy over but using a 30+ year old New York Times quote seems a bit of a stretch.
Yakko77 on April 15, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Sure. Everyone can legally do the same.
dedalus on April 15, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Didn’t Harry Reid recently say that it’s not mandatory to pay taxes?
On Kennedy, preaching drinking water, while drinking wine:
…murmurings of the little harp-girl’s song in Heinrich Heine’s 1844 poem “A Winter’s Tale”
Entelechy on April 15, 2008 at 1:32 PM
Ted Kennedy is weak. He couldn’t and wouldn’t do a thing to help his dying female companion long ago and today he can’t and won’t do a thing to help anyone else but himself.
TexasDude on April 15, 2008 at 1:38 PM
Ted always sounds drunk!
Ted’s like “uhhh no…, uhhh” (Someone get me another shot of whiskey)
Chakra Hammer on April 15, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Excuse me, I’m in a hurry, I have a boat to run aground while cocked out of my skull….ahh your question was???thats why I’m against those windmill things some idiots want to put in Nantucket Sound…Walter Cronkite and I like to get liquored up and sail our million dollar yatchs around…ahh your question was??? Did you mention Rhodes Island…my nephew is a very good driver….aaahhh who are you????
Thats my Senator…ya baby!
dmann on April 15, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Well, it came through this time and I was able to watch it. Simply amazing…..though I did notice Teddy looking at his shoes and the ceiling a lot while trying to come up with an answer. Funny stuff!
Torch on April 15, 2008 at 2:38 PM
You forgot ‘murderer’.
trigon on April 15, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Watching stuff like this makes it clear just how critical it is to win the White House and regain control of congress. All the bigwig demofascists are taking beatings from talk radio and the blogosphere. They will squash both if they get total control of the federal government. Besides the fairness doctrine, hillary has already talked about controlling the internet and you know barry will have youtube shut down if he can.
peacenprosperity on April 15, 2008 at 3:31 PM
The Kennedys were among the strongest and most vocal supporters of wind power until they found out where a wind farm was proposed, then it was NIBY
belad on April 15, 2008 at 3:31 PM
belad on April 15, 2008 at 3:31 PM
It should be NIMBY not NIBY, sorry for the error.
belad on April 15, 2008 at 3:48 PM
Ya gotta love Jason. :o)
oakpack on April 15, 2008 at 3:55 PM
LOL this is great thank you. Kennedy is such a jerk.
Wild Thing on April 15, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Scratch most of those attendees at the San Francisco fundraising bash for OhBummer, and you will find that they have protected their own wealth via trusts and foundations, too. The hypocrisy of the elitists is galling.
Meanwhile, the estate tax hurts entrepreneurs, family businesses, family farms, and those who plan financially for their futures. The salt of the earth who have been most contributory to the American Dream are doubly taxed.
onlineanalyst on April 15, 2008 at 4:25 PM
That is really funny MB4, but where in the hell did you find the time to make that whole thing up. But im still laughing about it so thank you for finding the time, lol
SoCalInfidel on April 15, 2008 at 4:53 PM
Jason, it is too bad Fat Boy isn’t up for re-election this year. Whomever his opponent will be, would love this video.
Mooseman on April 15, 2008 at 5:07 PM
Teddy, fat, drunk & liberal is no way to go through life…
golfer1 on April 15, 2008 at 5:30 PM
Teddy, fat, drunk & liberal is no way to go through life…
golfer1 on April 15, 2008 at 5:30 PM
This is why the internet and cell phones needs to be controlled. Too much free speech goin on out ther!
JellyToast on April 15, 2008 at 6:02 PM
aunursa on April 15, 2008 at 9:13 AM
So you think that it is alright for Kennedy to avoid taxes while forcing others to pay these taxes?
Johan Klaus on April 15, 2008 at 6:03 PM
Maybe just enough for a big tax break.
Johan Klaus on April 15, 2008 at 6:09 PM
Kennedy is just another arrogant fatass richwhite person.
It’s truly amazing what the masses let rich people get away with.
Dave Rywall on April 15, 2008 at 6:26 PM
Dear Aunursa,
The American military is a voluntary force. Some choose to serve, others don’t. The military doesn’t want the service of those who don’t want to serve.
The American federal tax is a compulsory force. There is no choice in participation. And, the IRS specifically demands the payment even of those who don’t want to pay.
I can see how your original post makes sense on the surface. However, unfortunately, it doesn’t test out. In any case, great to have a wide variety of thoughts posted!
Tokyo Times on April 15, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Let’s speak metaphorically.
1 Mary Jo Kopechne represents estate tax repeal.
2 The car driven off the bridge by the drunken senator represents legislation to repeal the estate tax.
3 Ted Kennedy running away from the accident, leaving Mary Jo to drown in anguish, represents Democratic Party sincerity as regards estate tax repeal.
MaiDee on April 15, 2008 at 7:03 PM
Your logic is flawed. Not joining the Military does not contradict supporting the war, so it’s not hypocritical to support the war while not serving — no more so than being a Cowboys fan even though you don’t play for the team or own season tickets. By dodging the taxes on his inheritance, Kennedy is contradicting his stance that inherited wealth should be taxed — hence, it’s hypocritical.
Spolitics on April 15, 2008 at 8:44 PM
Murderous swine.
Hog Wild on April 15, 2008 at 8:56 PM
I sure hope Jason has bodyguards.
Dr. Bob on April 15, 2008 at 11:56 PM
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