Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

EarlG

(21,826 posts)
Mon Jun 18, 2012, 12:18 PM Jun 2012

Pic Of The Moment: In CBS Interview, Romney Feels Nation's Economic Pain



"Right now, we're dealing with twenty-three million people out of work or stopped looking for work or underemployed. Homes are still bumping along the bottom, foreclosures are at very high levels, median income is way down."

-- Mitt Romney, June 18, 2012

As millions tune in to the Olympics in prime time this summer, just before Mr. Romney will be reintroducing himself to the nation at the Republican convention, viewers are likely to see "up close and personal" segments on NBC about the Romneys and dressage, a sport of six-figure horses and $1,000 saddles. The Romneys declared a loss of $77,000 on their 2010 tax returns for the share in the care and feeding of Rafalca, which Mrs. Romney owns with Mr. Ebeling’s wife, Amy, and a family friend, Beth Meyers.

-- New York Times, June 17, 2012
24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Pic Of The Moment: In CBS Interview, Romney Feels Nation's Economic Pain (Original Post) EarlG Jun 2012 OP
While I admit to be a novice re taxes evilhime Jun 2012 #1
That has to be the new TALKING POINT. TrollBuster9090 Jun 2012 #9
Perhaps the horse is a corporation. progdog Jun 2012 #11
I'd rather see the horse run for president, then. nt valerief Jun 2012 #12
Horses are more noble and trustworthy animals than most bipeds. Instead, we're ruled by Yahoos. freshwest Jun 2012 #21
Aw come on. Stop picking on those Poor BlueBloods. Think of it this way..... wandy Jun 2012 #2
But the corporate mafia group doesn't care INdemo Jun 2012 #3
This horse should be wearing corporate logos and FOREIGN flags, so we can see who's saving us patrice Jun 2012 #4
Actually Robme only owns half the horse KamaAina Jun 2012 #5
You're thinking of a quarter-horse jberryhill Jun 2012 #8
Go to your room! KamaAina Jun 2012 #10
That's deceptive. Blanks Jun 2012 #17
That's not very cricket of you to bring up Mitt's horsies like that. Major Hogwash Jun 2012 #6
One $1000 saddle = 2 month's food Rosa Luxemburg Jun 2012 #7
Wanted to correct the NYT on this point. CAcyclist Jun 2012 #15
One dressage saddle = 6 month's food! Rosa Luxemburg Jun 2012 #19
correct. magical thyme Jun 2012 #24
Can I declare my track losses? Betting at the horse track is my hobby. valerief Jun 2012 #13
He strapped that horse to the top of the boat to get it to London, I'll bet!! MADem Jun 2012 #14
Someone should Photo shop this, with Mitt riding the horse, saying, Tax deduction, crunch60 Jun 2012 #16
Yea, that'll connect with the average American Shankapotomus Jun 2012 #18
horse on roof of car... stanleyyelnatsdotCOM Jun 2012 #20
I still want to know if Ann gelded Rafalca like she gelded Mitt TahitiNut Jun 2012 #22
6 figure horses, and $1000 saddles??? Multiply that by 10. adigal Jun 2012 #23

evilhime

(326 posts)
1. While I admit to be a novice re taxes
Mon Jun 18, 2012, 12:54 PM
Jun 2012

I want to know if this then qualifies me to take a loss deduction on my taxes for the care and feeding of my two dogs . . . I mean come on, the horse is not his livelihood or a business deduction or his home . . .how does he get this, anyone understand it? <SMH>

TrollBuster9090

(5,953 posts)
9. That has to be the new TALKING POINT.
Mon Jun 18, 2012, 03:18 PM
Jun 2012

"How can Governor Romney be in touch with regular Americans when he got a 'DEDUCTION' of $70 000 to feed his HORSE which is nearly twice as much as the average American makes in a year."

Then the Romney camp will either have to defend it, or (better yet) foolishly try to EXPLAIN that it wasn't a 'deduction,' it was listed as a 'loss.' (Sort of like accusing Mr. Howell of having a 70 foot 'boat,' and then have him indignantly defend himself by claiming that it's a YACHT, not a 'boat.')

In politics, explaining is losing, and the most damaging talking points are only partially true. The partially true version is very damaging, but when the politician in question is confronted about it they are unable to deny it, and instead have to explain or qualify it. In the public mind it's tantamount to not only admitting the more damaging version is true, but the politician is a weasel for trying to slither out of it rather than just taking responsibility for it.

(But to answer your question: only plutocrats are allowed to deduct their animals from their taxes. Regular people who've fallen on hard times are expected to EAT them before expecting any govt. assistance.)

wandy

(3,539 posts)
2. Aw come on. Stop picking on those Poor BlueBloods. Think of it this way.....
Mon Jun 18, 2012, 01:40 PM
Jun 2012

That flippen horse must cause employment for at least one person.

INdemo

(6,994 posts)
3. But the corporate mafia group doesn't care
Mon Jun 18, 2012, 01:52 PM
Jun 2012

..they want a puupet..and he is perfect for them to just pull the strings and he will dance any step the corporate mafia group asks him to....

patrice

(47,992 posts)
4. This horse should be wearing corporate logos and FOREIGN flags, so we can see who's saving us
Mon Jun 18, 2012, 02:03 PM
Jun 2012

from more teachers, and more firemen, and more police, and more disaster preparedness, and health care, and alternative energy entrepreneurship, and from peace, and a future as a nation.

Blanks

(4,835 posts)
17. That's deceptive.
Mon Jun 18, 2012, 05:40 PM
Jun 2012

One of you say he owns the back half; then someone shows a graphic indicating that he owns the front half. Then it's called a quarter horse.

With that kind of confusion; Romney has this thing in the bag.

Major Hogwash

(17,656 posts)
6. That's not very cricket of you to bring up Mitt's horsies like that.
Mon Jun 18, 2012, 02:23 PM
Jun 2012

I say, ol' boy, it's a bit of a sticky wicket for you to bring that up now. Why don't you brew some tea and bring some crumpets, and we'll hold a tea party and discuss it like gentlemen.
I'll bring some cupcakes with those confectionary things sprinkled on top and every time I ask you if you got your sparkle pony, you can shoot one of those sprigles out of your ass.


CAcyclist

(2,235 posts)
15. Wanted to correct the NYT on this point.
Mon Jun 18, 2012, 04:37 PM
Jun 2012

Actually, the saddle is more likely $6000. There are no new dressage saddles that only go for $1000, unless you wanted a synthetic wintec.

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
24. correct.
Tue Jun 19, 2012, 09:21 AM
Jun 2012

Good quality, new "off the rack" dressage saddles were around $3,000 the last time I looked (in a catalog out of curiosity, lol).

Custom designed and made, top quality saddles of the type the Romney's would own are likely double.

At least a couple decades ago, you could get a used, good quality "off the rack" dressage saddle for under $1,000 if you were in the right place at the right time.

valerief

(53,235 posts)
13. Can I declare my track losses? Betting at the horse track is my hobby.
Mon Jun 18, 2012, 03:44 PM
Jun 2012

(Not really, but I'm sure it's someone's hobby.)

MADem

(135,425 posts)
14. He strapped that horse to the top of the boat to get it to London, I'll bet!!
Mon Jun 18, 2012, 04:36 PM
Jun 2012

And he tried to tell everyone that the horsie loved it, that he scrambled right up there!!!!

 

crunch60

(1,412 posts)
16. Someone should Photo shop this, with Mitt riding the horse, saying, Tax deduction,
Mon Jun 18, 2012, 05:10 PM
Jun 2012

tax deduction!

Shankapotomus

(4,840 posts)
18. Yea, that'll connect with the average American
Mon Jun 18, 2012, 06:38 PM
Jun 2012

Who doesn't attend equestrian competitions, let alone own a horse that competes in them?

 
20. horse on roof of car...
Mon Jun 18, 2012, 10:43 PM
Jun 2012

Well, at least he can't put the horse on the roof of his car and drive to where ever he needs to go.

I say he can't, this is Willard RMoney we are discussing.

TahitiNut

(71,611 posts)
22. I still want to know if Ann gelded Rafalca like she gelded Mitt
Tue Jun 19, 2012, 05:14 AM
Jun 2012

... or if she had it done by the hired help.

 

adigal

(7,581 posts)
23. 6 figure horses, and $1000 saddles??? Multiply that by 10.
Tue Jun 19, 2012, 08:47 AM
Jun 2012

There is no way Romney's horse is only worth $200,000. An unproven lower level horse is worth that much. Horses that get to the Olympics are worth millions!! And no one is buying a good dressage saddle for $1000. The better ones start at around $3600, and go up from there, to 5 figures. What a crock this article is!

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Video & Multimedia»Pic Of The Moment: In CBS...