Hypocrisy Buffet

by JASmius

Not that this is any kind of newsflash or anything, but remember how famous Obamunist robber baron Warren Buffet took to the pages of the New York Times to reburnish his hard-left populist street cred by complaining that, gosh darn it, he just isn't paying a sufficiently hefty tax bill and demanding that House Republicans commit political and economic suicide by shafting America's beleagured job-creators with the gargantuan tax rate pillaging that is the stuff of Red Barry's fondest wet dreams?

It appears Buffet's company never got that particular memo:

[I]t turns out that Buffett's own company, Berkshire Hathaway, has had every opportunity to pay more taxes over the last decade. Instead, it's been mired in a protracted legal battle with the Internal Revenue Service over a bill that one analyst estimates may total $1 billion.

Yes, that's right: while Warren Buffett complains that the rich aren't paying their fair share his own company has been fighting tooth and nail to avoid paying a larger share.

The story of Berkshire's years-long tax battle, which is generally known in business circles, took on new life this week when a group called Americans for Limited Government (ALG) reported that, according to Berkshire Hathaway's own annual report, the company is embroiled in an ongoing standoff over its tax bills.

That report, in turn, was cited in an editorial in The New York Post.

"Obvious question: If Buffett really thinks he and his 'mega-rich friends' should pay higher taxes, why doesn't his firm fork over what it already owes under current rates?" the Post opined.

"Likely answer: He cares more about shilling for President Obama -- who's practically made socking "millionaires and billionaires" his re-election theme song -- than about kicking in more himself."

Such two-facedness is almost obligatory. But as tiresomely typical as this reflexive lib perfidy is, it's still useful to cite because it illustrates the core truths of the Left:

1) Greed is not the desire to maximize one's own wealth through hard work, risk-taking, and innovation, but lust after everybody else's wealth and the willingness to do what ever it takes to steal it;

2) Liberals are, accordingly, the greediest bloodsuckers on the face of the planet, and have no desire or intention of living the noble, virtuous life of poverty, misery, and utopian squallor they prescribe for their targeted subjects.

It's been said many times, many ways: If Warren Buffet really thinks he's so grievously undertaxed, then let that sentiment begin with his own steroidal checkbook.

Exit quote from ALG president Bill Wilson: ""On one hand Buffett advocates for paying more taxes, but when it comes to his own company's taxes, he has gone through great lengths to pay less. That's rich."

[cross-posted @ Hard Starboard]