To most of us, this is how pretty much all of you come across:
Via TPM, where they note that Lincoln not only instituted the nation’s first income tax, he also instituted conscripted military service (though the Confederates did the latter first).
And you might be thinking to yourself, “Self, that looks an awful lot like Dale Peterson in the background.” It’s him all right.
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leanleft
Kevin
tgirsch
Kevin T. Keith
Judd
Gee, let’s not forget when invoking Lincoln that he only freed the slaves in the part of the south that remained unconquered. Maryland had slaves for quite a few years until the 13th came along, because it had been keep in the Union at gunpoint. Slaves in the counties that were unconstitutionally formed into West Virginia we also exempted by Lincoln, as well as other places.
Then again, remember that the part of the outrage of the Whiskey Rebellion was that large eastern distilleries could afford to pay a flat fee while the small, underrepresented western producers, (primarily one man operations), were taxed by the gallon and ended up owing a larger amount. Why the left never cites this as the earliest form of corporate welfare I’ll never know, except perhaps it would make them look like they support the redneck agenda or something.
Let’s not forget the monument to black Confederate soldiers that existed in Arlington National cemetery for decades before the one for Union soldiers in DC.
While I feel that any form of taxation directly applied to earned income is repugnant, I guess what you are trying to say is that arguing your point using dead white guys as props makes you look like an idiot.
*headdesk*
Peterson’s out as my dream VP for 2012. I’ll have to check and see if Zell Miller is busy.
Excuse me, I’m having a Poe moment. Is this an actual campaign ad or a parody?
Dan:
It’s real. It’s the sequel to this. The Tea Party isn’t content to just jump the shark, they stick a rocket up their own ass to clear it.
Judd,
I believe you, but if it weren’t for your claim that it’s real, your link would have made me conclude that it was a parody.
Notwithstanding the accuracy of any of his history, that was — well, it’s hard to a find a word both strong enough for how bad it was and one weak enough for how gaudy and vapid it was — cheesetacular, or maybe cheezspankerific.
Dan:
I can’t think of an appropriate word either. I think the most descript thing that can be said of the original ad is that Glenn Beck made fun of it for being too over-the-top. What standard must be met to draw that brand of scorn?