I see humor and amusement at the amateur way clark is coming out.
reviewjournal.com
Sunday, September 21, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
EDITORIAL: Founding principles
Retired four-star Gen. Wesley Clark, who last week became the 10th Democrat to officially attempt to unseat President Bush, has quickly become the national flavor of the day, sucking much of the attention away from the previous media darling, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.
While Gen. Clark's resume is impressive -- Rhodes scholar, first in his class at West Point, supreme commander of NATO forces, investment banker -- to date he's rarely taken specific stands on domestic issues.
But we are learning where Gen. Clark's inclinations lie, as this June interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" revealed: "The Bush tax cuts weren't fair," Gen. Clark said. "The people that need the money and deserve the money are the people who are paying less, not the people who are paying more. I thought this country was founded on a principle of progressive taxation."
Really?
The U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 9, states:
"No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken."
Meaning? At the time of the founding, the only taxes on individuals Congress was allowed to assess had to be based on population rather than wealth or earnings. The notion of imposing "progressive" tax rates on incomes, with richer people paying higher rates, was prohibited by the Constitution. It took the ratification of the 16th Amendment to clear the way for income taxes of varying rates.
In isolation, such total ignorance of our nation's history and traditions does not mean Gen. Clark lacks the qualifications, demeanor or temperament to serve as president. But if the former scholar wishes to be taken seriously as a candidate, he'd be well advised to close any similar gaps in knowledge as the campaign progresses. |
