Poor Rep. Fleming (R-LA) only has $400k left over after he feeds his family

[Ruby the Liberal]

Run time: 01:26 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW2VW-Z1M94   Posted on YouTube: September 19, 2011 By YouTube Member: ThinkProgress6 Views on YouTube: 171   Posted on DU: September 19, 2011 By DU Member: Ruby the Liberal Views on DU: 6487

 
If taxes go up, he threatens to lay off his Subway sandwich and UPS store employees.

Lets see how well those service industries you franchise survive on a skeleton staff, Rep Shot-Inna-Foot.

h/t http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/09/19/322405/gop-rep-whines-400k/

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. Note - he fails to include his $174k salary as a House Rep...

FAIL

[Scruffy1]

2. He also doesn't mention where the money to buy the franchises came from.

Five will get you ten it was inherited.

[Scruffy1]

12. Correction. he actually grew up poor.

He used the Navy to get through Med School and was a Navy Doctor until he opened his own practice. The money all comes from the despised government. Navy free education. Navy paycheck, medicare and medicaid payments. No wonder he hates the government. Just like Bachmann and Kline.

[adhd_what_huh]

3. What a mendacious and galling little prick....that is all...

[dotymed]

42. I bet minimum wage really pisses him off. n/t

[bertman]

4. "Class Warfare". Fuck that dipshit!! His company is NETTING 10% profit and

he acts like he has no investment money. What an asshole.

If there weren't those Subway sandwich shops then there would be other small mom n pop entrepreneurs opening sandwich shops.

It's dickheads like him that give dickheads a bad name.

REC.

[mascarax]

11. I agree w/your assessment: "dickheads like him give dickheads a bad name"

Wow, can't believe he fell into her trap! What an idiot...am sure he'll get lectured on actually stating true figures. His "job creator" rebuttal was hilarious.

And, yes, where DID he get the money? Inheritance? Through marriage?

[Pirate Smile]

5. This is a good example of where Boehner said he and Obama seem like they are on different planets.

Boehner would agree with this guy and Obama would look at him like he was a clueless lunatic.

[glowing]

6. so unwilling to give give more to make America whole..

Hey dip shit, if you have more of us with more disposable income, ur Subway shops will see an increase in sales. Rich people don't create jobs, demand does.. Drown these assholes out with their fake me, me, me messaging.

[mlevans]

7. So it costs him $200K a year to feed his family?

Wonder what they're eating. Not pasta and tuna fish, that's for sure.

[kestrel91316]

15. Budget for food is roughly $600 PER DAY. Ain't boxed mac 'n' cheese.

Probably a fair bit of imported champagne and caviar in there, I'm guessing. Ossetra and Dom Perignon.

[DeSwiss]

25. According to his bio.....

...http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15372106388">Fleming is "married to his wife Cindy for 30 years and the father of four adult children."

- So on top of being a whiner, this Repuke is a liar as well. But I repeat myself......

[livingonearth]

29. That's a lot of Ramen Noodles!

[AlbertCat]

54. Not pasta and tuna fish, that's for sure.

And certainly not at Subway!

[MADem]

8. If he can't make it work, he should just shut those places DOWN.

Give it up. Get out of business. He clearly doesn't have "the stuff." He's a lousy businessman.

I am sure some less-greedy "enterpreneur" (say it like the Wee Cowboy, now) will fire up a sandwich franchise to replace all those shops he closes, and find a way to make a fine profit, and FEDEX can pick up his UPS slack in a heartbeat.

Water seeks its own level--we won't do without if he takes his fat little wad of cash and goes home. He should STFU and pay his fair share.

All I can say is "And the horse he rode in on."

[Guilded Lilly]

9. The pitiful poster boy for Republican poverty.

[BREMPRO]

10. arrrogant evil elite prick= republican.

love the way the interviewer actually calls him on his measly $400,000 "left over". yeah and "feed his family" for 200K? he probably means his mansion and mercedes n private jet not the hamburger helper his wife n kids actually eat cuz he's so 'Poor" after taxes... what at prick.

[SoapBox]

13. ...what a jackass.

[thelordofhell]

14. This turd has probably never eaten a Subway sandwich

He just has these store franchises to pad his investment portfolio. What a prick.

[Ruby the Liberal]

16. More - doing the math, his employees make less than $11k/yr avg

Let's look at the math. Out of total income of $6.3 million, Fleming has $400,000 left over after paying 500 workers and for rent and equipment and feeding his family; $600,000 before he feeds his family, which apparently eats a lot of very expensive food. (I think what he's implying is that he keeps $200,000 and uses $400,000 to expand his businesses—if we believe his vague account, we're to see expanding his businesses as noble job-creation, not personal enrichment. But mostly we're not supposed to think too hard about these numbers at all, because they don't make much sense.)

That leaves $5.7 million to run his businesses and pay his workers. If that $5.7 million was divided between 500 workers, without even thinking about rent and equipment, the average pay would be $11,400. Obviously the real number is much lower, which points to a whole lot of part-time, minimum wage jobs. So, Rep. Fleming? If you really wanted to be a noble job-creator, you'd give more of your employees something close to full-time work at something over minimum wage.

But, hey, the poor guy! Only either $600,000 or $400,000 to "feed his family" and expand his low-wage business empire. Plus, presumably, the ($174k - Ruby) government salary he doesn't see fit to mention here. It's just unfair to beat up on someone so disadvantaged, let alone raise their taxes.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/19/1018241/-Wealthy-Republican-congressman-apparently-pays-workers-less-than-$11,400-per-year

-- Glad this is getting traction. I have seen the video re-tweeted from no less than 8 different internet and media sources now.

:popcorn:

[tpsbmam]

18. Add in his $174,000 congressional salary PLUS the healthcare

and other benefits WE mostly pay for (we pay 70% of Congressional health insurance costs), which are accorded to him and his family.....and the asshole makes close to 1/2 million bucks a year. Awwwww, my sympathies go out to him. He's right -- he can't afford to pay one more dime in taxes! :sarcasm:

[zalinda]

17. That $600,000 profit, would be the only amount that he would

be taxed on. So, the 6.3 million is a moot point. And, if he invested $400,000 of that $600,000, he would only be paying taxes on $200,000. He really has nothing to complain about, unless he is making far more than what he is saying.

zalinda

[WhoIsNumberNone]

19. He'd better not close down any UPS stores-

That would force a lot of right wing front groups to move to new offices....

[WhoIsNumberNone]

20. I wish I had $600,000- that fucking prick!

[Plucketeer]

21. Amazing one can be "successful" in business

and so ignorant about life!

[movingviolation]

22. boo-fucking-hoo!

After I feed my family, I'm lucky if I can pay any of my bills. $378 a week on unemployment does not go far AT ALL! I lost my job of 10 years a week ago, and even then I was living paycheck to paycheck. It seems to me that capitalism itself is class warfare. These Richie Rich assholes can eat shit & die. They can't call themselves job creators if they ain't creating any jobs with their vaunted "*" tax cuts. Fuck them.

[WhoIsNumberNone]

23. Count your blessings

I have a job and I make $250 a week. Fortunately I don't have a family to support, but I still don't make enough to cover my nut, so those bastards at Citibank are getting fat off me having to play the credit card game to keep food on the table.

Don't worry Fleming, you Teabagging wanker- You've only been in office for one term. You'll get plenty rich if you make nice with the right lobbyists...

[DeSwiss]

24. From GAWKER:

Here's how Fleming put it:

"I would say that...my net income—he amount that I have to reinvest in my business and feed my family—is more like $600,000 of that $6.3 million. And so by the time I feed my family I have maybe $400,000 left over."

See? This guy's barely keeping his chin above water! He can even hold onto a lousy 600 grand without his enormous family of ravenous truffle addicts whittling it down to just $400,000. So how many kids does it take to consume four times the U.S. median household income in food each year?

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15372106388">According to his bio, Fleming is "married to his wife Cindy for 30 years and the father of four adult children." Maybe he sends them each like 12 gourmet fruit baskets a day, every day.

http://gawker.com/5841749/congressman-spends-200000-a-year-on-food">link

- Still feeding four adult kids, eh? Well with that kinda money being thrown around for the food, I'd be eating everyday with the folks too......

K&R

[urgk]

26. "enormous family of ravenous truffle addicts"...lol (n/t)

[colorado_ufo]

51. Does he, like, have

65 mistresses on the side? Really, really fat ones?

[David Sky]

27. This has GOT TO BE the most revealing video of

Republican GREED.

And the Congressman didn't bat an eyelash as he claims it takes $200,000 to "feed" his "family" consisting of himself and his wife, assuming his four adult kids don't live off this enormous wealth, and actually WORK for a living.

[awoke_in_2003]

28. I don't know who I feel more for...

him, or the unemployed Mitt Romney.

[livingonearth]

30. Class warfare? The right is famous for that.

All we've heard from the right for months is how public sector workers have it so great compared to their private sector equivalents with sweet pensions and benefits, and how union workers have it so good compared to non-union workers. Never once do these GOP assholes describe that as "class warfare". What a bunch of hypocrites!

[cstanleytech]

31. I vote we create a website called "Feed Fleming" and ask people to send him a can of spam.

[Left Coast2020]

46. YES!!! GREAT IDEA!!!

Lets make this POS whiner, "Republican Without Food" poster boy!!

[tinrobot]

32. This guy's policies actually hurt his business,

Working class people with disposable income are exactly the type of people who eat at Subway. Without disposable income, they're more likely to bag their lunch and eat at home.

If we raised taxes on the wealthy and used it to stimulate the economy, he would probably get more business.

[ObaMania]

50. AFAIC, it hurts Subway and UPS in general.

After seeing this, I know I will never use UPS or eat at Subway again.

I'm a pretty active shipper and always use UPS for convenience. Not any more that's for sure. And Subway? I've noticed a decline in quality over the years and now seeing who owns and operates these places, I can understand why.

[OnlinePoker]

33. The point that he should be hammered on...

If he and the other millionaires saying they need their money to invest to create jobs...why are the number of jobs declining and the unemployment rate rising?

[Mister K]

36. You nailed it!!

This is the main issue here. All of these companies have a lot of cash on hand here in the US and overseas. They are making record profits but refuse to spend it. Then when Obama says they will tax that income, they complain that they wont have enough to create jobs. What jobs are being created now at the lower rate???

[The Wielding Truth]

39. Yep. Big business has had lower taxes for the @ 10 years. No new jobs.

[zinnisking]

34. Very sad. I hope to have $2k i my savings by the end of the year.

How did Pacino put it...?

Representative John C. Fleming should go right to fucking hell.

[LaPera]

35. $250K AFTER deductions under Obama's plan his "left over $400k" he pays only a small

tax hike on the $150K over $250k ....So he may pay a few hundred dollars max more than he already does on his $150K - Not bad - spread the pain evenly among everyone - not like Bush's unfair huge tax cuts for the rich did.

This gradually goes up to people netting millions and billions AFTER deductions past $250K

Making $250K or less AFTER taking out for deductions pay NOTHING!!

[ScottLand]

37. Dude, you didn't include a link where I can donate to him.

I'm working a contract job for $13.00 an hour so I feel his pain....

[Ruby the Liberal]

40. You are in luck.

He so happens to be up in 2012 with the rest of them.

http://fleming.house.gov/

[lib2DaBone]

38. Politicians live in a gold-plated universe....

They can't even "imagin" the real world American workers live in.

[m2o3b456]

41. Let them eat subway.

Truly there is a problem when "let them eat cake" remarks can be made every single day and the only thing we can expect the following day is more of the same jack arsed remarks. Obama needs to take this guy to the mat in a press conference. He needs to use the bully pulpit to pass his bill and he isn't. Saying "please" and "pass this bill" in front of die hard followers isn't going to cut the mustard. The Republicans are already shaping the debate with "class warfare" remarks and once again Obama is on the defensive. He MUST have a press conference and tear into these knuckleheads NOW.

[SirRevolutionary]

43. To be fair though, by family he means

all the Koch brother's relatives, friends, offspring of international business elites, prostitutes and extended family and friends, drug dealers and anyone written down in their black books, and other undisclosed recipients (mainly lobbyists). A mere 400k is simply not a reasonable amount to "feed" his impoverished "family".

:sarcasm:

[ProgressoDem]

44. The reason this is so stupid is his answer.

Class warfare has never created jobs? Well if you have $400K to feed your family, you obviously aren't going to suffer much if Obama asks you to pay $18K more!

[Left Coast2020]

45. This jackass needs to be the poster boy for......

....other ignorant repugs for 2012 election. This guy takes selfishness to a whole new level. Does he really think the rest of the country is that stupid?

Someone please keep this vid for the election.

[Ed Suspicious]

47. I'm getting tired of this scaremonger shit. These assholes know full well that...

wages are fully deductible and actually decrease his tax burden. Why would you eliminate needed staff so you could pay more in taxes? It's the most convoluted line of bullshit ever.

[999998th word]

48. When is the telethon? Would my gift be tax deductible?

[DeSwiss]

49. Rep. Fleming: “Class warfare has never created a job”

- Not true. Guillotine operator.

[hue]

52. This is a prime example of how the Repigs LIE!

He ends up calling himself "virtuous" for being one who "makes money".
He lies to us & lies to himself. It makes me wish he would have at least a year
of suffering, starving, & no place to sleep with bill collectors hounding him & his
"family" crying for food while being sick with no health care.....etc.

[Ishoutandscream2]

53. Bless his heart. He can't afford a tax increase. He needs a tax cut!

[AlbertCat]

55. Just for this whiny poor-put-upon rich guy rant....

.... tax him twice as much as everybody else in his bracket.

What an asshole!

:eyes: unbelievable!

[DirtyDawg]

56. Nothing about this prick...

...that a thorough IRS audit wouldn't solve...assuming his accountants haven't already thought of that. I've got plenty of coon-ass relatives in Louisiana and believe me, there ain't an honest, rich man (or woman) in the whole damn state...particularly the politicians. The rest are content to go huntin' and fishin'.

[Bonhomme Richard]

57. That's $400,000/year that's left over.

After year two he has $800,000, etc,etc,
So yes, he can invest in more businesses.
It cost $100,000 to $300,000 to open a subway franchise. I'll bet Louisiana is the lower end of that. Give me a break. He could open 2 subways a year on that income.