Politics

Christie’s Logical Fallacy

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

Gov. Chris Christie (R-New Jersey) offered a fallacious argument when questioned about Warren Buffett’s argument on tax increases for the wealthy. The logical fallacy is Ad Hominem Tu Quoque and is committed when “it is concluded that a person’s claim is false because 1) it is inconsistent with something else a person has said or 2) what a person says is inconsistent with her actions.”

When asked about Warren Buffett’s call for higher taxes on the wealthy, Christie replies: “If he wants to give the government more money, he’s got the ability to write a check.” The implication is that since Buffet isn’t going to write a check, his argument is crap and he’s a hypocrite.

Buffett’s argument is that everyone in the upper tax brackets should be paying higher taxes. Just because Buffett doesn’t voluntarily choose to pay the higher tax rate is irrelevant to his claim that everyone ought to.

Here is the video:

H/T: The Non Sequitur.

64 thoughts on “Christie’s Logical Fallacy”

  2. Blouise
    Or are you referring to a variant of the “ant-dance” in the front yard.
    Or was it you who wrote that? My apologies, whatever. Always got my bottom bare. Except towards AY (Is he related to KY? With gritty sand in it. Woooo. I’m rolling today)

  7. Anonymously Yours said this:

    “I707,
    Do not forget to change your screen name upon exiting. How is the family doing…
    I think of you often and wish you the best. As I said it is good to see you and know that rhetoric will be in great abundance….. But save some…. You may need it to keep your date mate afloat….. Be careful with the pointy objects the can cause your date to deflate….m”
    ==================================

    I’ll give you the dignity of answering. Ídealist707 is my only screen name. And my profile is posted at WordPress. And my dates are not inflatable.
    Except their egos, because I listen.
    And you’re just jealous. Or inebriated on something. My rhetoric is for myself, it supplies my need as to venting. Like it or leave it. Your attacks are pitifully poor. Tony at least had knowledge and style. Skilled writer to. Can’t say that about you.

  9. Blousie — I have no doubt he said it. Whether it is true, I don’t know (but as phrased in the last comment, I find it doubtful, because the average rate would also be the highest rate). And if true, the secretary and the others are earning over $373,000. So I ask again: What is fair? Is 36% fair for someone earning that much?

  10. mahtso,

    I took that info from an interview he did recently with Charlie Rose on the show “Person to Person”. I rewatched the segment so as to get the quote accurately … his rate is 17% and the average rate for the people who work in his office is 36% … those are his exact words which can be found here 29:53

    http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7398064n

  12. “Buffet’s point about the difference between his tax rate and the tax rate his secretary pays (I believe his rate is 17% and hers is 30some% [I want to say 36% but I can’t remember the exact number he said] ) is most telling. ”

    It is my understanding that neither one has released their returns. And if the secretary is paying an income tax at 36% she has an income of over $373,000. What is fair? Reports are showing that 49%+ pay no income tax.

  13. AY,

    Your holding your own today I see. Just remember not all people are asses just those that are, are.

  14. I707,

    Do not forget to change your screen name upon exiting. How is the family doing…

    I think of you often and wish you the best. As I said it is good to see you and know that rhetoric will be in great abundance….. But save some…. You may need it to keep your date mate afloat….. Be careful with the pointy objects the can cause your date to deflate….m

  16. id707,

    Ditto SwM but don’t care about Copenhagen … I want to know if you ever met the girl who kicked over the hornet’s nest? 😉

  18. AY having celebrated my return with a snark, I dedicate this one to him.

    A few minutes ago on the main street, a middle-aged woman was struggling to help an elder one. I asked if I could help. Yes, take care of her while I look for help.

    While waiting it became apparent that here was a human, a chronic alcoholic, feeling overgiven, who sought help in her loneliness. Her diverging tales of woe confirmed that the “recently dead son” previously mentioned, but now alive, was not the cause of grief, rather for the moment the cause was her being abandoned as a child, etc..

    The former rescuer returned, backed up by others realizing the older woman’s needs; guards were on the way; an ambulance was discussed; and she rested on a nearby bench, visibly content; and perhaps glowing inwardly in that her day was being made.

    Messages come when we open our eyes. Are yours.

  19. When googling “Chris Christie”, I’d like to see links to the term “blowhard”… He’s one of the biggest, IMHO.

  20. Christie is well thought of because he is only slightly less crazy than most Right Wingers. It is a sad state of affairs when “slightly less crazy” equals viability in a politician.

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