Cornel West Owes the IRS More than $500,000 in Taxes

[brooklynite]

The New Republic

Presidential candidate Cornel West, who has spent most of his career advocating for higher taxes on the wealthy, owes the IRS more than half a million dollars in unpaid taxes.

Throughout his decades in the public eye, West, who is an academic at elite institutions and a bestselling author, has blasted the concentration of wealth at the top of U.S. society. Since announcing his run for president, first on the People’s Party ticket and currently on the Green Party’s, he has argued that taxes on the wealthiest Americans need to be “higher, much higher.”

But West hasn’t been putting his money where his mouth is—literally. An investigation by The Daily Beast, published Thursday, found that West owes $543,778.78 in unpaid taxes. The Beast cited tax filings in Mercer County, New Jersey, where West owns a house in the town of Princeton, and in Los Angeles, where West’s personal attorney is.

The IRS has filed liens against West for the years 2005, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, when he failed to pay anywhere from more than $62,000 to nearly $137,000 in taxes. The liens, or federal claims against property for unpaid debts, are all still open.

[yardwork]

1. Not surprised.

[Hortensis]

2. Hypocritical, of course. Don't forget his unpaid child support,

close to $50k.

But off-balance zealots who mix up truth and deceits however they wish also frequently have lives in disarray. He's soiled his nest at a strangely long list of prestigious institutions he's no longer welcome at, but overall he seems to be doing better than some. He still has a following, albeit mostly courtesy of the internet and his credential as a black man to speak on black issues.

Yeah, I'm not an admirer. But, to be fair to me, I know I'm really also a lifelong opponent of far right "neoliberal" economics, which he can't seem to go a day without lying about to those who should be able to trust him. For just one of his insulting deceits.

Btw, although some may not consider dishonesty in argument incompatible with intellectual viability, mightn't most people agree someone who can run up over half a million in unpaid income taxes probably should have paid his child support?

[LenaBaby61]

11. I know people who know him well ....

And he's not who people think he is 👀

[Hortensis]

15. ... Intriguing! But expected.

It'd be very typical that he's not even who he thinks he is.

"I Don't Hate Biden, I Just Hate Hypocrisy and" wait for it -- "Neoliberal Policies That Don't Help Poor And Working People"

[brush]

3. Hahahahahahahaha. What a hypocritical bastard...raging all the time about...

the rich should be taxed higher.

Well this should finish off his campaign to take votes from Joe Biden. Maybe he thought he could pull off a Jill Stein recount maneuver and then pocket the money like she did, and pay off his owed taxes.

[Cha]

5. It's like the Twilight Zone.. did he

think no one wold find out? he's running for pres on the Green ticket, for crap sake.

[sarcasmo]

4. Jill Stein's benefactor will take care of that debt.

[Blue Owl]

6. Cornel -- please drop this stunt

And ditch Jill Stein while you're at it...

[brush]

12. The hypocritical bastard is still mad at Pres. O for not paying him and...

Tavis Smiley enough deference in not coming on their TV show back in the day. Michelle came instead.

The pair got a bit too full of themselves and their importance. West has been trying to get back at the Dems since.

Smiley lost his TV gig over sexual harassment allegations in 2017. He's making a comeback in LA with a radio show in the last couple of years.

[MOMFUDSKI]

7. Oops

So?

[LudwigPastorius]

8. Bob Kennedy, Jr. is pretty well off.

...and he needs a running mate.

Maybe he and Cornel can strike up a deal.

[brush]

13. What do you mean? It sounds as it you favor such a move.

FYI: They'll both trying to take votes from Dems so repubs win. That's not secret.

[LudwigPastorius]

14. "It sounds as it you favor such a move."

Spoiler alert:

I don't.

[brush]

16. Good. It pays to be clear.

Last edited Sat Aug 5, 2023, 12:12 PM - Edit history (1)

[milestogo]

9. Nowadays that's a badge of honor.

Trump started the trend.

[msfiddlestix]

10. hence campaign for president gambit, I suspect.