The Mickelson vote
After a brilliant round Sunday at a tournament in La Quinta, California, Mr. Mickelson hinted that new tax burdens might drive him out of the state, out of professional golf, and perhaps even out of the country. “There are going to be some drastic changes for me because I happen to be in that zone that has been targeted both federally and by the state, and it doesn’t work for me right now,” he said. “So I’m going to have to make some changes.”
The fan favorite who has won 40 events on the PGA tour described various state and federal levies and concluded that his tax rate now exceeds 60%. The sticker shock is understandable, now that President Obama has succeeded in raising the top income-tax rate this year to 39.6% from 35% and the top Medicare rate almost a full point to 3.8%. Meanwhile, Governor Jerry Brown persuaded Californians last fall to raise the top state income tax rate to 13.3%.
Blowback
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Yet he felt the need to “apologize” for his comments?
Good thing I’m not a public figure.
“You want me to apologize for telling the government to f’off for wanting more than 60% of what I make? Go die in a fire.”
Defenestratus on January 23, 2013 at 11:04 AM
And then just like Boehner he apologized. When will we get someone with stones to stand by a conservative viewpoint?
Difficultas_Est_Imperium on January 23, 2013 at 11:07 AM
Good for Phil.
The pushback is going to be severe. I heard some pinhead on CNBC talking about it and he was using the typical liberal tactic of destroying the messenger – calling Phil a liar because there was no way he was paying over 60%. The guy actually said it could only be 58 or 59% max; like that makes a difference. He totally ignored the fact that it’s all about California taking too much of Phil’s earnings compared to some other states.
BTW, Tiger said awhile back that was the reason he moved to Florida from California too.
BacaDog on January 23, 2013 at 11:11 AM
I don’t know, but I suspect that Mickelson probably has some fairly strong charitable inclinations.
He should have highlighted them and emphasized that he doesn’t need to run his money through the DC spin cycle to do good works. And besides, why should DC decide what merits his charitalbe support? So screw DC.
BuckeyeSam on January 23, 2013 at 11:13 AM
Instead of money people like Phil should argue about TIME. Why should I spend 60% of my time working for the Government?
brewcrew67 on January 23, 2013 at 11:16 AM
Let’s not forget, I’m sure that Phil’s personal exemptions are phased out and that his itemized deductions are subject to a haircut under the convoluted limitation that they currently subject high earners to hide that they’re taxing them more.
BuckeyeSam on January 23, 2013 at 11:16 AM
Come to Texas, Phil. Zero income tax and far cheaper cost of living (Florida is good, too).
michaelo on January 23, 2013 at 11:24 AM
Liberals must buy A LOT of golf gear.
tommyboy on January 23, 2013 at 11:28 AM
With other peoples’ money?
Defenestratus on January 23, 2013 at 11:33 AM
Tiger also proudly spoke at Barky’s first inaugural. No sympathy for anybody who backed that creep for getting what they supported.
As for Mickelson, wish he didn’t gutless out and start apologizing, but instead doubled down. Let him have a public meeting with Rick Perry welcoming him to Texas like Depardieu had with Putin.
He probably wishes he held his fire until after the Western swing though. They head to Pebble Beach in a couple of weeks and Phil usually tries to start winning there and hope the momentum carries long enough to earn another green jacket.
Gingotts on January 23, 2013 at 11:42 AM
It is always a good idea to base your vote on the gripes and whines of professional athletes.
Pablo Honey on January 23, 2013 at 12:19 PM
Low information voters may not read WSJ or HA…but they just might hear what Phil had to say…Rush’s new low info voter segment could use more like this.
When you look at those polls on raising taxes on the rich, it’s clear that most of those folks have little to no idea what the actual tax rates are. (Again, partly due to the Republican failure to push back on the liberal narrative and the silliness like the “Buffet Rule,” and partly due to the Republican failure to develop anything like an “educational” strategy.)
When someone like Phil says 60% of his money goes to taxes, or Tiger says he left California because of the taxes, people hear…people that wouldn’t otherwise do so, hear…and might actually take notice.
EastofEden on January 23, 2013 at 12:35 PM