Warren Buffett’s Secretary to Sit with First Lady at State of the Union Speech
**Written by Doug Powers
In spite of the fact that even Warren Buffett is unsure what the “Buffett Rule” is, President Obama, fully aware that the US tax code is in dire need of more ambiguity, will push for it in his State of the Union speech tonight. Just to hammer home the point, Buffett’s Executive Assistant (the word “secretary” sounds incredibly non-progressive) will sit with First Lady tonight:
Billionaire Warren Buffett’s longtime secretary will be joining first lady Michelle Obama in her box at tonight’s State of the Union, White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer announced on Twitter.
Debbie Bosanek, who has worked for Buffett for nearly two decades, has become a symbol in the White House’s fight over the tax code and economic fairness. Obama is expected to renew his push for the so-called “Buffett rule” that would bring investment taxation levels into line with income taxation levels — and ensure that upper income earners pay rates as high as middle-class Americans.
In his Republican Response, maybe Mitch Daniels can use this as an opportunity to point out the need to lower the tax burden on folks like Ms. Bosanek — as well as talk about how one of her boss’s companies stands to benefit from Obama’s Keystone Pipeline rejection.
Rumor is that after the SOTU Buffett may generously offer to lower his secretary’s salary so as to drop her down into a tax bracket that more closely resembles the percentage he pays on his capital gains and dividends income, but if that happens she’ll probably decline.
(h/t Weasel Zippers)
**Written by Doug Powers
Twitter @ThePowersThatBe
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Makes you wonder is Buffet’s secretary is being paid to be a prop in Obama’s latest campaign informercial.
I wish all conservatives in attendance would stand with their back to idiot!
Or just stand up and leave.
I really hope that they do point this out, but I am not holding my breath. Or better yet, perhaps the message could be spread to the unemployed union workers who may have had a job if the pipeline were approved.
What just ticks the daylights out of me, the R’s popping and down, clapping like trained seals every time bho opens his lying mouth! I bet if the truth be known, not a handful of R’s can stand bho one bit!
BTW, isn’t buffett the guy who owes billions in unpaid fed taxes for years?
L
I support that idea. Why shouldn’t earned income be taxed at the same 15% as investment income? Oh wait.
Actually, I’m a little bit surprised that all of the dead voters in Chicago haven’t complained that the estate tax rates run from 37% to 55%.
She’ll be explaining to the First Lady why Berkshire Hathaway hasn’t paid the $BILLION in taxes it owes the US. Meanwhile, the MSM will labor overtime at their looms after the speech, weaving the “fairness” doctrine into everything from the news to toilet paper commercials.
BTW – is Oabama actually showing up or is he Skyping it in from Sochi?
Aloha Guy said,
Hence the term, blind stitch.
That would be the logical conclusion to come to. But we know Obama is banking on logic not being part of the conversation.
senator manchin’s date will not be able to attend tonight, since he is in the hospital recovering from surgery to repair damage from a stroke. i wonder if obama sent any flowers, or if manchin will get a stand in for mark kirk? now with a “r” and a “d” out on date night, which one brings the corsage?
Now you know why Romney wanted to wait until tomorrow to release his tax return.
Is this a joke? It sounds like something out of a Monty Python skit. Will Johnny “The Mad Hatter” Depp be there?
Of course he will. It is exact opposite of what is desperately needed – investment incentives and removal of regulative burdens on business.
Why aren’t the Republicans shouting about the real deal? The top 10 percent pay 68 percent of the tab. Meanwhile, the bottom 50 percent—those below the median income level— pay just 3 percent of the taxes, and don’t provide jobs for anybody.
This stunning cluelessness to reality is simply mind bogling. This ignorant, lying cretin must go home this year.
This national travesty has stumbled along far too long. Time to close the door on it.
Insubstantial. Weak. Shallow.
Lame. Unoriginal. Hackneyed. Timeworn. Trite.
Calculated. Predictable. Expected. Inevitable. Inescapable.
What? You weren’t talking about the
campaignSOTU speech?So the one who pays too much taxes sits with the First Hypocrite who spends too much taxpayer money? Yeah, lame.
I assume someone else is paying for the trip for the secretary – will she have to pay taxes on the value of it?
And what is THIS about? The unthinkable seems to be closer than we may like to believe. These are military exercises. This would be unusual even if they were just LAPD exercises.
Will TOTUS hit on Buffett’s secretary? That could be the only interesting thing that happens tonight.
Any future American President should be able to do virtually anything he pleases based on the gross excesses and outright criminality displayed in this pocket Lenin. No one could possibly match the standard of his depravity.
Doug Powers said,
Dewey Oxberger explains:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzZNh0P9K38
Will it be multiple Chiclet smiles from the Spokesmodel-In-Chief or one extended one?
We all know that this gesture is to send the message that Obeyme and Moochie really care about the “little people” and are pushing class warfare. Anyone who has looked at this whole scenario with Buffet’s comment knows he is comparing apples with oranges. I just can’t figure out how Buffet can be considered “successful”.
We should all be at the Sundance Film Festival instead. It’s for the 99% says multimillionaire Robert Redford – nattily dressed in a
“I Ski with the 1%”– oops, “St. Moritz” ski sweater with the Swiss flag on the sleeve, from the corporate sponsored celebrity-swag-giveaway headquarters in tony Park City.Why would there be any doubt?
“Economic fairness” will come when the current class warfare tax code is abolished and a flat or consumption tax replaces it. The rate should be adjusted annually to reflect an income of 12 – 15% of GDP for the government. No more. Combined with a mandatory annual balanced budget, that plan will permanently break the back of Marxism in America.
Better a thousand Bernie Madoffs than one Barack Obama.
Forgot to mention the depoliticization of public education as well…..
OT; but, I just have to….
Guess I’m “channeling” “Keeping up Appearances”:
It’s not “buff-et”; it’s “Boo-fayy“
You Lie! Maybe Congressmen are not supposed to speak truth to power but the people can and I will.
Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!
Watch for carefully-coded The Prog Will Rise Again words in this confession of defeat.
“We tried…” but they didn’t get it! So um.., I guess we got to try some more, at some point, in the future? Maybe…
As He is being all our pResident, rallying Libs, offering comfort words to PEU’s while turning his back on and blaming Conservatives.
When Buffett gives his entire fortune to the government to reduce the national debt, THEN I’ll be willing to pay more in taxes.
Note where Bernie Madoff is now.
Did we ever get the truth on this Buffett /secretary nonsense? Did Buffett release his tax return and his secretary release hers?
If not, then this is just another case of liars figuring and figures lying.
We still don’t know if Debbie Bosanek works 1 hour a week or 40 hours a week. Does she have a company car, 6 weeks of vacation and all the perks that saves her thousands a year? Let’s ask her to release her bank records, her husband and children’s bank records, her credit card statements from the last two decades. Does she own Buffett stock? Does she own any stocks? Which ones?
And of course, if all the 1% rich people in the US gave ALL their wealth, they would barely make a dent in the national debt. Trumpet that in your STFU speech.
Interesting that “Sundance” is so revered by Redford. The word is intimately intertwined with Custer’s Last Stand, which is viewed by Redford and the Left as a complete metaphor of America: her arrogance, hubris, criminality, and ultimate decline. 99% indeed.
Gad…. more staging for photo opts. Who give a wit about Buffet’s secretary? bho trots out a secretary to a bizillionaire and that is supposed to show how plugged in he is with ordinary working people. Well, she hardly has to worry about losing her job because Buffet can line his pockets with money he’ll get from the cancellation of the pipeline.
Amen.
Better a dozen Manila’s than one EPA. After three years of this bs, how bad could clutching a hankerchief to your face be? All that hustle and bustle, that’s what people going to WORK looks like!
I’m expecting a Reichstag fire in the coming months.
These phoney photo ops are disgusting!!! And then he begrudges the military pictures when he visits Iraq and Afghanistan. And what about visits to our vet’s hospitals? Well, maybe one visit. Not sure if there were more. He stands by a bed, gets a picture, and promptly leaves the building. I am also reminded of all those doctors who “forgot” their white coats, so the WH just happened to have a supply for the photo op.
The man is a complete jerk. And incredibly transparent.
RedDog said,
Hey do me a favor and throw Rolando Galman’s body in there while you’re at it?
It’s his gift to the little people. Now shut up and be appreciative.
My Congressman, Doug Lamborn (CO-5) is staying home. I e-mailed him to thank him for standing on his principles rather than standing and applauding for the Prevaricator-In-Chief as he campaigns and prevaricates once again.
That’s what this may be signalling. That is NOT what America is about. But it is going to happen without any protest from ANY of the media.
Most people will listen to the SOTU or will get the sound bites from the dumMass media. The R response is almost a waste of time since it is treated like cutting room floor debris. And Cain is giving the Tea Party response which will get even less play time.
Whatever happened to the “You Lie” guy? Still there? If so, has he been assigned to sit in the corner and make himself invisible? Is he delivering pizza?
Marshall_Will: You’ve been riding in a jeep in Manila. I’d much rather see people on their way to work their than any more regulations from the EPA here.
last post mistake “people on there” not their.
OT sorta – Drudge reports according to Obama’s tax returns, he’s donated a whopping 1% of his income to charity. Course, why would he give his own money when he has yours to use.
Pam Geller finding a video in which Romney praises Hezbollah.
I ususally watch the SOTU, but this year I am not tuning in. After my blood pressure went through the roof during the last one, I don’t want to have a stroke. I think I will enjoy my time with the family or read a book.
Listening to a bunch of half-truths, manipulation of facts, campaign speech and the glowing ego are not worth the time.
There is no pic of this secretary, does that mean we have to watch the SOTU just to be horrified twice?
Quit braggin’.
I see that more as endorsing the “hearts and minds” strategy and outlining where our enemy is doing that better than we are.
Paratus,
Trolls, Progs and Libs of every stripe giggle themselves silly thinking they’ve got us painted into the corner “cheering for cancer”.
“Without the EPA ______ would look just like Mexico City!”
Reeeeally? I’m sure without their ever watchful eye we’ll be dumping anti-freeze down the nearest storm drain just for ‘kicks’. My tribute to you sir!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ieg6iME8muU
Well, I’m trying to keep an open mind. I’m sure Barry will propose some other fabulously wise ideas that should rocket him to another Nobel Prize, maybe for Economics this time.
Yeah, that made me hurl a little bit, too.
Where is he saying they are our enemy?
Where is he endorsing Hezbollah?
I’m surprised the story made it into the media.
I believe Romney is trying to say that if he is elected your next doctor’s visit will involve a Lebanese guy with a very large needle. HezbollahCare.
On January 24, 2012 at 10:37 am, Truesoldier said:
Exactly what I was thinking.
As for her taxes and salary, I wonder if any investment advice and her income from that is included.
I mean, if we’re going all social warfare and all.
Hezbollah is not our enemy. They are freedom fighters fighting the injustices that America has done to them since the early 600′s. If we had not treated them so badly, they would not be attacking us. It’s our fault they are like that. We need to get out of world leadership and let them do the leading from now on. Then the rest of the world will like us. Stop blaming the victim. Just ask Ron Paul, he’ll tell you.
I ran across an article that said she receives shares in Berkshire Hathaway every year. I imagine she’s quite wealthy after 20 years with Buffett.
On January 24, 2012 at 10:41 am, Truesoldier said:
Not that we should get into props, but I bet there would be many more union members than Buffet’s secretary ….paying much more in taxes if they had those jobs.
As the SNL character, “Church Lady” would say:
“Well now…isn’t THAT special!”
Like she’d ever get saddled with that “obligation” if she hadn’t already been used by the Obama propaganda and disinformation machine.
You are speaking of the Buckets – uh, boo-kays, right?
Well, I’ve got a quote for Warren:
“Et tu, Boo-fayy?”
She needs to disclose her tax returns. As the “poster child” for higher taxes, it’s her duty as an American…
I see that Steve Jobs widow will also be in the box with Moochelle.
I regret that I have but no tax to pay to my country.
On January 24th, 2012 at 1:15 pm, swede said:
Why aren’t the Republicans shouting about the real deal? The top 10 percent pay 68 percent of the tab. Meanwhile, the bottom 50 percent—those below the median income level— pay just 3 percent of the taxes, and don’t provide jobs for anybody.
exactly ! And why aren’t they pointing out that investment capital is money on which the taxes have ALREADY BEEN PAID when the money was first eraned — BEFORE being invested! Whay is this so hard for these innumerate Republicans to grasp? Am I wrong on this?
This stunning cluelessness to reality is simply mind bogling. This ignorant, lying cretin must go home this year.
Mark Steyn on Rush today mentioned her being there maybe to take dictation. What could be more appropriate than a dictator having someone to dictate to? (or something like that)
What would the elites do without useful idiots?
Warren Buffet’s scretary…
could somebody PLEASE “Joe the Plumber” this lady?
Check her plumbing Joe.
Uh..ok. Theres too many shiites in here and not enough wahabbis.
1) Does anyone doubt that Buffett’s secretary’s salary is well into the 6 figure region (not to mention “fringe benefits
)? 
2) If Buffett and his secretary are so concerned about her tax bill why haven’t they modified the way she is compensated to lower it?
Trumka is going to be there ,so i hear on tv !
That’s what happens when your defecation flow/hour exceeds the flush capacity of your greenie weenie carbon neutral recyclable water saver heads.
You think it stinks in here now? Ha! Wait till summer!
Another sad example of how easy it is to co-opt the Tea Party. It’s all about quid pro quos. Et tu Rubio?
:so much fun:
And why can’t Romney articulate a simple and credible defense of capitalism and his own tax rate? It’s not like Americans are completely ignorant about capitalism. Seeing how easily the Republican candidates adopted the left wing line of attack against each other, maybe they just play for the wrong team? They adopted the leftist arguments so easily that you have to ask whether they weren’t simply coming home to their true ideological mindset.
Being asked to vote for one of these GOP candidates is like being asked to choose from a list of Yankee players for the best candidate to elect into the Red Sox Hall of Fame. I don’t want to sound like a purist (perfection is the enemy of the good) but how about giving us a list of players who actually played for the Red Sox?
I’ll play. Just to take the opposite side. The candidates often morph into whatever they need to in order to be elected. ALL candidates. If they don’t, they typically lose. The experienced politician will do so and be successful. The inexperienced ones do not and typically lose.
I would say it’s not what they say but what they do. Their record, in total. Bits and pieces can be selected to create an image or destroy an image.
The voters are the ones with the power. They are the ones who select.
In other words, it’s the voters, not the candidates, who have the final responsibility and create the market for the pandering.
You weren’t clear… is this secretary going to sit with Laura Bush, or Mrs Biden, or Mrs McCain?
Because, as her husband is not eligible to be President, Michelle Obama is NOT THE FIRST LADY.
Hey, now that Michele Bachmann is now out of the President race… how can we get her to replace Weepy the 8th dwarf? (Boehner)
If perfect is the enemy of the good, then good is the enemy of perfect.
Perfect isn’t the enemy of good; it’s the enemy of “good ’nuff”. And “good ’nuff” is DEFINITELY the enemy of the perfect.
Tonight, Obama gave the State of the Union speech.
In related news, my toilet overflowed tonight.
It really did, too. Sorry for the cross posting, but I had to share that one (at Mrs. Acclaim’s insistence, that’s what I muttered after it overflowed… *grumble*).
I am beginning to believe that at 5pm, all politicians and lobbyists in D.C. drop to the ground a pray to a picture of Joe Izuzu.
Only thing that makes sense anymore.
Atlas is Shrugging.
Anti-Greed Act
Equalization of Opportunity Act
Anti-Dog-Eat-Dog Act
Yet, as “Atlas” grimly foretold, we now treat the incompetent who wreck their companies as victims, while those resourceful business owners who manage to make a profit are portrayed as recipients of illegitimate “windfalls.”
“Yet one pertinent warning resounds throughout the book: When profits and wealth and creativity are denigrated in society, they start to disappear — leaving everyone the poorer.”
I have heard many people claim she pays a higher tax rate than Buffet. I have not actually seen ANY EVIDENCE to prove this claim!
Where is her tax return? Until that return is produced, this is likely a big lie.
Maybe someone has to show the Princeton grad how to use her mePhone.
A very simple fix for our economic woes, Everyone and every organization pays 10% income tax with no deductions except employees payrolls, and no exemptions. If you recieve money for your enterprise, by grants, by borrowing, by begging, by working, by investing, whatever. This includes charities and hospitals, churches and not for profits, and everything else. That income tax should be collected on the first 100k in sales tax, and above 100k on paper form with deductions for proven sales reciepts. This gets the illegal business and off the books cash business also.
Here’s a interesting fact: Buffett’s secretary makes between $200,000 and $500,000/year
link
having watched the SOTU campaign speech, with frequent camera cuts to this woman…for sure Buffett is not going to get any sexual harassment suits from this ole bag…the jury would laugh the case out of the courtroom.