October 16, 2008

In a two-minute discussion of Obama's tax proposals, beginning at approx 40 minutes, Maryland GOP Chair Pelura tells a lie so glaringly, ourtrageously blatant that it should be prominently exposed on air, if his assertions haven't been corrected already. I apologize for commenting tardily about this.

Pelura says

"I don't know if either one of you have [sic] ever owned a business or know what it's like to be a sole proprietor or Chapter [sic] S - you are taxed on your gross. Thats how your tax rate is set. So I'm a sole proprietor. So even though I don't take home anywhere near $250,000, I'm going to fall into Barack Obama's tax rate."

Gentle readers, that is garbage. No small-business person pays taxes on gross income, gross business receipts, gross profit, or anything like that. If Pelura ever paid taxes as a small businessman, he knows this. Is this a Republican National Committee talking point? Are other Republican leaders spreading this lie around the country?

Here, for example, is the pdf of IRS Form 1120S, for Subchapter S corporations:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1120s.pdf

The form is self-explanatory, so I won't link to the instruction bulletin.

Pelura subsequently told Quincy Gamble

"You don't understand the difference between a sole proprietorship, an S Corporation, those kinds of things. That's different. You may not bring home 250,000, but you'll be taxed at that rate."

Pshaw. Gamble understands the situation just fine. Awfully laid-back gentleman, though.

Of less import is another lie Pelura told in that segment. He said that a government check to a person who has no tax liability is called welfare. I have no tax liability and I receive a check from the Federal government. This payment is not called welfare, however, it is called Social Security. Many geezers like me do not think SSA checks are welfare.

Grr. With state chairs like this, why would the GOP need enemies?

Pelura appeared on Anthony McCarthy's program recently, and made one obviously erroneous statement after another. Unlike Steiner and Gamble, McCarthy did not even attempt to correct him, although a couple of listeners called with facts. Pelura is not a source of reliable information, he is the Johnny Appleseed of misinformation. He shouldn't be allowed on any broadcast without 10 people, fingers on keyboards, ready to do real-time fact checking.