Rush Limbaugh in OnTheIssues Fact Checking


On Tax Reform: FactCheck: JFK lowered top income tax rate from 91% to 65%

Rush Limbaugh said on his radio show on Oct. 12: "JFK made the case for tax cuts as a means of growing the economy. JFK, a Democrat, is advocating tax cuts in the same sense that Arthur Laffer always has.

Rush referred to this 1962 speech by Pres. Kennedy, pledging "across-the-board, top-to-bottom cut in personal and corporate income taxes" for the purpose of stimulating the economy.

Rush seems to have a case. But in fact, the top marginal tax rate in 1962 was 91% and JFK proposed lowering the top rate to 65% (compared to a top rate of 37% today). Similarly, the corporate tax rate in 1962 was 52% and JFK proposed lowering it to 47% (compared to a corporate rate of 15% today).

In the context of the much higher rates in 1962, cutting tax rates meant something very different than today--Rush presumably knew that context, and hence was lying about JFK's proposal. No politician of any party today would even consider RAISING tax rates to the LOWER levels proposed by JFK in 1962!

Source: OnTheIssues FactCheck on the Rush Limbaugh Show Dec 10, 2012

The above quotations are from Presidential Primary Fact Checking by OnTheIssues.org.
Click here for main summary page.
Click here for a profile of Rush Limbaugh.
Click here for Rush Limbaugh on all issues.
Rush Limbaugh on other issues:
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Jobs
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
Technology/Infrastructure
War/Iraq/Mideast
Welfare/Poverty
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Nov 03, 2024