Thu, May 8, 2008 3:59pm ET

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Fox News' MacCallum allowed GOP strategist to falsely claim Obama is "pushing for this global tax that would require America to pay tax to the U.N."

Summary: On The Live Desk, Martha MacCallum did not challenge the false assertion by Christine O'Donnell, 2008 GOP Senate candidate in Delaware, that Sen. Barack Obama "and my opponent [Sen. Joe] Biden are pushing for this global tax that would require America to pay tax to the U.N." In fact, the Global Poverty Act, a bill introduced by Obama, would not "require America to pay tax to the U.N.," and it would not commit the United States to any targeted level of spending.
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Posted by carlileb5935

You gotta love these guys. When they frame everything as a tax, they get away with it in most people's minds, and at the same time reveal just what's really going on in their own heads about their ugly view of the world. 

Ah, the 80's. Who would have ever thought that selfishness was going to turn into a cardinal virtue, and its practitioners our culture heroes? 

Posted by snoopy

Wow, the UN appeaser angle. Who'da expected that one from the loud and the desperate?

Posted by eddy3957 reregistered in reply to snoopy

LOL,.... Fox News---Loud and Desperate.  We wail, you cover your ears.

Posted by nerzog

Wow, these guys work fast, don't they? Part of their strategy will be to bury Obama in a mountain of bullsh*t. While he's busy digging out from under it, Gramps will be mavericking around on his bus, being "candid".

What I find incredible is that people who are supposed to be so outraged by our giving money to alleviate world hunger apparently have no problem with pissing away $250,000,000 PER DAY in Iraq.

Posted by wolf kotenberg in reply to nerzog

they have no trouble pissing away integrity either. I am guessing Mccallum would not do well on Jaywalk .

Posted by wolf kotenberg

By the weay, how come they are always short on time in a 24/7 news cycle

Posted by solon in reply to wolf kotenberg

That is a very specific tactic. It forces concision. THAT forces everyone to frame what they say in terms of conventional wisdom. Suppose they brought a Noam Chomsky or a Howard Zinn on to explain the dynamics of Iran. First they would give some backround and historical information you may not have heard before. It would be something other than, they are a terrorist nation run by a hardline scary guy they support terrorists. Now say you hadnt heard what they were saying before and it would give a different perspective. You want some backup, you want to be sure it was more than their opinion or biased rhetoric. Now they could very easily DO that but NOT in the three minutes they are given to talk, not between commercials. So they guests are basically limited to the conventional wisdom when you say Iran is a terrorists country run by a scary fundamentalist guy people KNOW what you are talking about. This limitation is vere deliberate. THAT is why they are always short on time. Have you ever watched a panel discussion on BBC, THEY dont seem to have that problem and yet they get finished in the same half an hour.

Posted by eddy3957 reregistered in reply to solon

Sounds good to me.  Then during the break perhaps the producer can communicate to the host what to change the topic to or coach the host as to what to say or ask---if the guest is getting to close to the truth.

Posted by wolf kotenberg in reply to solon

And i thought all stations aired commercials at the exact same time...........................

Posted by Dem02020

 

In the still picture (screen shot) that covers the link to the video clip (which I won't bother looking at), there's a picture of who I guess it is that's the "GOP strategist" in question... and also in the picture, can clearly be seen the Trademarks of "Fox News Channel" to the left in the picture, and then "Fair and Balanced" on the right side...

The GOP strategist is also a candidate for the U.S. Senate, and said "[Sen. Obama] and my opponent Biden are pushing for this global tax that would require America to pay tax to the U.N."

Wouldn't it have been "Fair and Balanced" if someone representing Sen. Biden were there, to be able answer what this GOP strategist/candidate said?

I mean, what is "Fair and Balanced" supposed to mean anyway?

And why put those words on the screen, while some GOP strategist/candidate is saying these things, without anyone from Sen. Biden's campaign there, to answer them?

 

Posted by dbeden4153 in reply to Dem02020

Dem, I don't think Fox pretends anymore.

Posted by worrierking

Someone should talk to Ms. MacCallum.

Fear of taxes is so 2007.

It's Stealth Muslim candidates who associate with scary black preachers that we need to fear today.

I guess she's from Slower Delaware.

Posted by nerzog

Oh, I get it now. How could I have missed it? Obama is a secret Muslim planted by the Illuminati to obliterate our system and sign us up with the ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT, confiscate our guns and make us ride bicycles to work and eat arugula. It's all very clear now.

Posted by worrierking in reply to nerzog

Don't forget he's also one of those juice drinkers.

I can't stand anyone who drinks juice.

How could we ever trust someone like that?

Posted by dbeden4153 in reply to worrierking

I believe Dave Chappelle said it best

Posted by cArn

Just utter the words "taxes" and "U.N." in the same sentence and some people will start foaming at the mouth. Classical conditioning at it's saddest.

Posted by mefirst in reply to cArn

actually all the talking is just hot air unless we address the real problem.  overpopulation, around the world, and in this country.

Posted by Science101 in reply to mefirst

The world itself is not overpopulated.  Certain regions of the world most definately are.  Mass population in China, India are two very big issues.  The united states - not so much at all.  There plenty of open and uninhabited land that is perfectly fine for living, its just not developed yet.  This is a young country and will be evened out by time.

But if we want to start the overpopulation stuff, why do the democrats want to grant amnesty to another 12 million people in the US - so they can repopulate.

Posted by mefirst in reply to Science101

the world is greatly overpopulated, as is the united states.  why do you think western states are arguing over water?  there's not enough to go around.  alabama, georgia and florida are arguing over the same issue, the water delivered to the appalachicola river which is reduced because of diversion to the ever growing atlanta area. it's also why fish stocks have crashed in many areas of this country, overfishing to feed a growing population.  and i agree with you, and have said so, that we need to slow immigration to slow growth in this country.

Posted by jeter2

In fact, the Global Poverty Act would proclaim that "[i]t is the policy of the United States to promote the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day." But the bill would not "require America to pay tax to the U.N.," as O'Donnell claimed. As Media Matters documented, the bill would establish no specific funding source; it would not commit the United States to any targeted level of spending.

Well then is this just empty rhetoric?

If not, then the US is committing to spending, just not setting limits of spending. I'd rather have specific limits, thank you. No specific funding source? What the hell is that supposed to mean? When the US government spends, the funding comes from...drum roll here...our taxes.

So no we aren't paying taxes to the UN. We're paying them to our government who in turn will fund some sort of vaguely outlined ambiguous program without specific spending limits...with that tax money.

If I've got this wrong, please feel free to straighten me out ;-)

Posted by tommy in reply to jeter2

Bottom of page 5, right above and out of view where MMFA's link takes you......The official goal of the United States foreign assistance is: "To build and sustain democratic, well-governed states that repond to the needs of their people, reduce widespread poverty and conduct themselves responsibly in the international system" (bold is from me)

Translation; $$$ 

Right on J! 

Posted by jeter2 in reply to tommy

Translation; $$$ 

Ha! Thanks Tommy, that's what I figured.

Posted by jawill11 in reply to tommy

The official goal of the United States foreign assistance is: "To build and sustain democratic, well-governed states that repond to the needs of their people, reduce widespread poverty and conduct themselves responsibly in the international system" (bold is from me)
 

Translation: Those of us with means and wealth helping those who are less fortunate to live a decent life without hunger and disease. 

Those bastards!

Posted by nerzog in reply to jeter2

Sounds like it just requires the President to endeavor to persevere in and effort to commence considering a committee to study various methods by which we can contemplate attempting to reduce world poverty. No big deal.

Posted by pete592 in reply to jeter2

"Well then is this just empty rhetoric?"

Don't pretend that symbolic legislation is something new. 

If you actually read the bill, you'll see that all it really does is set goals.  It starts out by putting the President on the hook for coming up with a plan to meet the goals of the bill.

Obama may very well be signing himself up. 

Posted by tommy in reply to pete592

So, it's a meatless toothless piece of legislation that essentially does nothing except to say we need to think about this?  

Posted by DEMS_SOL in reply to tommy

Sets forth specified reporting requirements. Directs the Secretary of State to designate a coordinator who will have primary responsibility for overseeing and drafting the reports, as well as responsibility for helping to implement recommendations contained in the reports.

Not exactly - it also creates a bureaucracy to monitor and report on all the thinking about it that will be done.

Posted by tommy in reply to DEMS_SOL

Of course, another unaccountable federal agency with unlimited funding ability.....just what we need.

Posted by pete592 in reply to tommy

You can beat your head against the walls of a internet forum or start contacting your congressmen to let them know how outraged and repulsed you are.  I suggest both.

Posted by tommy in reply to pete592

Since you have no idea, you really have no idea.

 

Posted by pete592 in reply to tommy

It wasn't a claim of knowledge, Tommy.  It was a suggestion.

Posted by tommy in reply to pete592

As soon as my head heals from their wall wounds, I will consider it, thank you.

:)

Posted by pete592 in reply to tommy

OK, I admit, it was very snide.  As I told Jeter below, I'm not fostering hostility toward you or any other formidable poster I mix it up with.  I'm in a really $****y mood lately because of a hereditary health issue I'm having to deal with.

Posted by tommy in reply to pete592

It's all good Pete, we all get caught up, no prob....

Please, take care of your health and I sincerely hope all is OK.....everything else pales in comparison to that.

Posted by DEMS_SOL in reply to tommy

Hey - this bill creates jobs - don't be so hard on it! BO is doing his part to keep the economy afloat!

Posted by jeter2 in reply to pete592

Don't pretend that symbolic legislation is something new. 

Huh? I did no such thing. I asked a question...Pete why are you always so angry?

BTW, symbolic legislation is basically worthless, whether it comes from the Left or Right.

Posted by pete592 in reply to jeter2

That wasn't anger, Jeter.

It's not you I'm angry at.

Posted by jeter2 in reply to pete592

Well ok Pete, maybe I read you wrong.

So who or what are you angry at?

I'm leaving work now...if you answer, I'll get back to you later.

Posted by pete592 in reply to jeter2

I'd rather spare the forum my personal BS and I certainly don't want to use it as an excuse for getting snippy with anyone.

Let's just say I'm pretty p***ed off at God right now. 

Posted by DEMS_SOL in reply to pete592

I am sorry to hear of your difficulties Pete.  I will put your troubles in my prayers for resolution. I am confident others here will do likely.

Posted by tommy in reply to pete592

Pete,

Considering how you battle here, and how formidable you are on these forums, I would bet you will take on whatever you are facing with equal vigor.  God usually doesn't give us anymore than we can handle.  Take care....

Posted by pete592 in reply to tommy

Thanks All.  It means a lot.  :-)

Posted by jeter2 in reply to pete592

Pete,

Sorry man. I hope everything will turn out ok. Though we're all anonymous posters here who likely will never meet face to face, we have in many ways become a tight community, a scrappy cyber-family who, when all is said & done, have developed a real fondness for one another.

Hang in there Pete. Keep the faith. My prayers are with you.

Posted by pete592 in reply to jeter2

Thanks, Jeter.  I feel the same way.

It's not debilitating or immediately threatening, but it's something that will be residing under the surface for the rest of my life and dictating almost everything I do.  It inflicts a lot of emotions to be diagnosed with it at a young age, thinking you were indestructible because you lived what you thought was an active and healthy lifestyle.

Posted by DEMS_SOL in reply to jeter2

When the US government spends, the funding comes from...drum roll here...our taxes.

C'mon J - as the bill does not specifically target taxes for this purpose ayone who assumes it does ends up in the crosshairs of media watchdog (activist) websites.

Better duck!!

Posted by tommy in reply to DEMS_SOL

Yeah, but there are so many better ways to say it than that darn "tax" word.

Like "pay your fair share"......"invest in our future"....."fees"

Learn the lexicon, and use it. 

Posted by jeter2 in reply to DEMS_SOL

Better duck!!

Good idea...Incoming Liberal outrage missiles can be painful!

;-)

Posted by eweston8542983 in reply to jeter2

I wave a repulsive feather duster in your general direction.

;0P

Posted by loonz in reply to jeter2

Well then is this just empty rhetoric?

If not, then the US is committing to spending, just not setting limits of spending. I'd rather have specific limits, thank you. No specific funding source? What the hell is that supposed to mean? When the US government spends, the funding comes from...drum roll here...our taxes.

The woman said they were pushing for a global tax that would require us paying taxes to the UN which is false.  She could have said the Act will send taxpayers' monies to poverty stricken nations which I don't think anybody would disagree with, even though the bill doesn't specifically say that.

Posted by DEMS_SOL

As Media Matters documented, the bill would establish no specific funding source; it would not commit the United States to any targeted level of spending.

OK - so what's the point of a Bill that seeks to reduce global poverty but provides no revenue to do so?  I read the Bill - it sounds all warm and fuzzy but how are the goals accomplished?

Posted by tommy in reply to DEMS_SOL

The happy word "investment".........

Posted by DEMS_SOL in reply to tommy

ooo...warm, fuzzy and happy.  And to think those wingnuts at FOX never mentioned that once in this story.

Posted by nerzog in reply to DEMS_SOL

"And to think those wingnuts at FOX never mentioned that once in this story."

Of course not. If they admit that it's just a harmless piece of fluff legislation, they can't scare the Evangelical Troglodytes with visions of New World Order Taxes to pay for Black Helicopters.

Posted by DEMS_SOL in reply to nerzog

.. and take their guns away from them too!

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5762984.html

Posted by solon in reply to DEMS_SOL

So if there were an OBLIGATION to meet a certain goal you would throw a fit about the UN running the country since it only says we should try to hit a target to alleviate world poverty then it is meaningless. It is a promise to work toward a goal. If you disagree with the goal fine say why. This disengenuous tactic of attacking the promise as not meaning anything when you would attack an obligation as being an attack on our soveriegnity is cheap. You guys love to frame things so there is no right answer. Also many such committments BEGIN with broad statements. Do you think Rural electrification BEGAN with specific spending appropriations and specific generating stations to be built in specific places or was a consensus built that is was support garnered by starting witht he broad goals to be accomplished and statements of intent, kind of like THIS? Your argument is disnegenuous.

Posted by tommy in reply to solon

That's your opinion.  I am weary of some "initiative" or warm and fuzzy sounding "Global Poverty Act" with no specifics, or whatever this is.  It is a set up for some huge government funded bureaucratic agency that is top-loaded with cushy administrative jobs and a fat, endless budget.....with very little ending up where it's intended, but it all sounds sooooo good.

Uh huh, give me specific details and then we'll see... 

Posted by solon in reply to tommy

Is it my opinion that is how a consensus is built? Why no it isnt if you have been paying attention you KNOW that is how a consensus is built. Do you have FACTS to show this will result in a huge beauracracy with cushy jobs or is that YOUR opinion? I think its something we ought to do. Putting hard and fast obligations would hem us in. How much will our economy grow? How much is this war going to cost us, how much can we afford and will that change due to changing circumstances? A comitment to the process, to the concept, is the proper FIRST STEP.

Posted by eddy3957 reregistered in reply to solon

You're on fire. ........... Yeah, I say think first then invade (or not) or do whatever else.  I know on a personal level that works out better usually.

Posted by RoberttheP

Does this lady have a chance to win against Senator Biden? I would bet not.

Posted by DEMS_SOL in reply to RoberttheP

Probably about as much chance as Hillary has of becomming President.

Posted by The Happy Warrior

Wait a second; they have a problem with this bill? Seriously? Is it because it was co-spoonsored by Chuck Hagel and Olympia Snowe?

 Requires the strategy to contain specific and measurable goals and to consist of specified components, including: (1) continued investment or involvement in existing U.S. initiatives related to international poverty reduction and trade preference programs for developing countries; (2) improving the effectiveness of development assistance and making available additional overall United States assistance levels as appropriate; (3) enhancing and expanding debt relief as appropriate; (4) mobilizing and leveraging the participation of businesses and public-private partnerships; (5) coordinating the goal of poverty reduction with other internationally recognized Millennium Development Goals; and (6) integrating principles of sustainable development and entrepreneurship into policies and programs.

Sets forth specified reporting requirements. Directs the Secretary of State to designate a coordinator who will have primary responsibility for overseeing and drafting the reports, as well as responsibility for helping to implement recommendations contained in the reports.

I missed the tax part ...

 

Posted by dbeden4153

O'DONNELL: Well, keep in mind that Barack Obama is a time bomb. We have no idea what's going to happen between now and the convention. He is so far to the left, pushing for things --

McCRARY: I disagree. I don't think that Senator Obama is so far left. I mean, Senator Clinton, Senator Obama are quite similar, and they're both --

Wow, talk about balance.  Their motto is a complete shill.

 

Posted by tigirs3280

Such ignorance. I can't even watch the stuff.

Since when did the UN ever have any authority to levy "taxes" on sovereign nations?

FOX should be ashamed at insulting the intelligence of Americans.

maidenusa

In fact, Christine O'Donnell -- and Cliff Kincaid of AIM -- are right, and Media Matters is wrong.

 

Christine O'Donnell never specified S. 2433 nor mentioned any particular bill.   She did not limit -- as you try to do -- the topic to only one specific piece of legislation alone.

 

She said -- correctly -- that Obama and Biden are pushing for a global tax to the UN.   You simply assumed that this must be found only in the four corners of S. 2433.  That is a game you are playing.

 

There is absolutely no purpose for S. 2433 other than as part of a LARGER campaign to create a world socialist order empowering the UN.

 

It has been US foreign policy for decades if not centuries to fight poverty world-wide.  We do not need another bill to declare that it is US foreign policy to fight world poverty.  That is not what S. 2433 does.

 

The duplicitous argument of Media Matters is that S. 2433 actually does nothing at all. 

Since the US has already been fighting global poverty at least since JFK if not much earlier (Marshall Plan, anyone?), clearly S.2433 is doing something entirely different.    Otherwise, pray tell, what does S. 2433 actually do if it only declares the same policy that has already been the policy of the United States since the Marshall Plan and JFK if not a century earlier? S. 2433 is clearly laying the groundwork for a global tax to the UN.  If it only declared as a policy the elimination of poverty, it would be entirely redundant and unnecessary based on decades of US actions and policy. SECOND, where did Christine O'Donnell refer to  S. 2433? She did not say that she was talking about this particular bill. She said that Obama and Biden are pushing for a global tax. She never said that S. 2433 was the  ONLY  step in their push for a global tax to the UN. 

Why are you switching the subject to S. 2433, when Christine O'Donnell never mentioned S. 2433 at all?    It is in fact Media Matters who is being dishonest.