Lawrence O’ Donnell says Jesus was “the First Recorded Advocate of a Progressive Income Tax.”
And then O’Donnell calls those against progressive income taxes “the damned.” Yup. The damned. He talks about Jesus praising the widow who puts in all she has. Well, I’m thinking wouldn’t that make Jesus an advocate of soaking the poor, rather than the rich as O’Donnell believes. But Jesus was actually talking about GIVING, not TAKING, which is what O’Donnell is prescribing.
Honestly, there’s no way to watch this and come away with any other thought than O’Donnell is completely insane. I’m actually not kidding. Check it out.
April 26, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Jesus does not "take", we give to him out of choice.
Seriously ,was this an SNL skit?….If this is for real, this buffoon reaffirms why i took cable out of my house!
and please tell me that he does NOT profess to be Catholic….
April 26, 2011 at 9:30 pm
"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God".
God doesn't collect income tax…
In addition, his interpretation suggests that (a) taxes are apparently voluntary and (b) should be charged in inverse proportion to income.
Furthermore, Mt 17:20-24 seems to suggest that Jesus believes that only foreigners should be taxed, and subjects are exempt.
I suggest maybe it is Mr. O'Donnell who needs to learn a thing or two about the teachings of Christ.
April 26, 2011 at 9:55 pm
I think he really wants to say is "What would communists do?"
ODonnel seriously looks like a nutter.
April 26, 2011 at 9:59 pm
"Unlike you, I am not a progressive. I am not a liberal who is so afraid of the word that I had to change my name to progressive. Liberals amuse me. I am a socialist. I live to the extreme left, the extreme left of you mere liberals …"
-Lawrence O' Donnell
April 26, 2011 at 10:03 pm
This man is really confused about Jesus: is he an Episcopalian?
He should actually be *terrified* at the example, by which a **very poor** widow voluntary submits herself to a high form of taxation and Jesus not only doesn't say that the rich should give **instead of her**, but is even **perfectly fine** with the act and praises it!
Yes, the man is so confused – and his Christianity-by-hearsay is so similar to the rants of a young moron still fighting a brave battle against acne – that he must be an Episcopalian…
Mundabor
April 26, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Let me say that I am a moderate in this matter.
I am not against income tax. I wouldn't want indirect taxes and excises to take all the burden.
But a flat rate is fair enough, and possibly more socialist than it should. I don't think it anywhere near "fair" that one earning USD 100m a year should be paying, say, 18% of these USD 100m in income taxes.
In Mundabor's England, the flat rate would only apply above a minimum rate and would gradually decrase above a maximum "full flat tax" rate.
And no, I am not rich at all; but I try not to do envy…
Mundabor
April 26, 2011 at 10:36 pm
Wow, this is crazy. He can do this with a straight face?
April 26, 2011 at 11:21 pm
I love how liberals pull out verses in the Bible and twist them to suit their fancy. You hear them quote verses about caring for the poor, but you never hear them quote the verses condemning slothfulness and words like "any one who does not work, neither shall he eat".
Besides, in the story of the widow's mite, Jesus is emphasizing "giving" what you have, because you want to give. That has nothing in common with being "required" to give money to the government, for them to use at their discretion. That's absurd.
April 27, 2011 at 3:07 am
Parable of the talents. He who has more will be given more. The one who has less, who didn't even put his 1 talent in the bank to earn interest, lost his talent. Sounds capitalistic to me.
April 27, 2011 at 5:10 am
That was the funniest thing I heard all day, from a socialist. I could pull out the parable of the tenants or I could ask if what would the poor women in the bible do if she knew the money she gave was to pay for abortions? Or I could just sit back and laugh hysterically at this heretic.
April 27, 2011 at 6:23 am
No need to watch the video clip or any clip coming from communists. Did I say "communists"? Enough said.
April 27, 2011 at 11:09 am
No one can be at the same time a sincere Catholic and a true Socialist.
Pius XI Quad Anno {1931}
April 27, 2011 at 11:16 am
Also it must be said I do not watch this person. My remote is used as soon as I see his face. I remember his hatred for that fellow who told about John Kerrys military record in Vietnam. This fellow being a Catholic is totally ignorant about his faith and his promotion of the party of death is a scandal.
April 27, 2011 at 3:15 pm
@ the very first Anonymous: He and Chris Matthews are both "CINO"s over there at MSLSD.