Herman Cain’s campaign, 9-9-9 tax plan face greater scrutiny as GOP race heats up

[alp227]

Source: Wash. Post

Herman Cain has succeeded in introducing himself to voters. He has moved from the bottom of the pack all the way to the top. His “9-9-9” tax plan is the most talked-about proposal of the fight for the Republican nomination.

But as the battle moves beyond televised debates and into a phase in which organization and on-the-ground campaigning become increasingly crucial, Cain will face his toughest test yet — demonstrating that there is more to his tax plan, his campaign structure and his positions on other crucial issues than he’s shown so far.

As questions add up over what the 9-9-9 plan would do, whom it would help and hurt, Cain’s explanations have fallen short of answering them. The essence of his response is: I’m right and you’re wrong. At the same time, he must contend with other weaknesses in his campaign, including his stumbles on foreign policy and lack of organization in crucial states.

“There are a lot of moments where he says ‘I misspoke’ or ‘I was joking’ or ‘I didn’t mean that,’ ” said Chuck Laudner, a former executive director of the Iowa GOP. “It’s a worry with a lot of caucus-goers that I’ve talked to.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/herman-cains-campaign-9-9-9-tax-plan-faces-greater-scrutiny-as-gop-race-heats-up/2011/10/19/gIQAHHKeyL_story.html

[beac]

1. You mean Sim City 4's 999 plan?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/13/herman-cain-999-sim-city_n_1008952.html

Long before Cain was running for president and getting attention for his 999 plan, the residents of SimCity 4 -- which was released in 2003 -- were living under a system where the default tax rate was 9 percent for commercial taxes, 9 percent for industrial taxes and 9 percent for residential taxes.

[Mz Pip]

2. As well it should

There's no way his plan woulod ever become law but it does say a lot about where his loyalties are. Rich people would pay less taxes; the poor, the middle class or retired people like me pay more.

Why would anyone other than a handfull of rich people support this?

[dballance]

3. Sales Taxes are always regressive

Sales taxes hit the middle class and poor more than the rich because they are a greater percentage of their income.