John Rossomando
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Tuesday night’s debate exposed a potential political weakness of Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 proposal that could haunt him.
The discussion of national sales taxes have consistently proven unpopular with the American electorate.
A May 2009 Rasmussen poll found that 68 percent opposed creating a national-sales tax while only 18 percent supported the idea.
Michelle Bachmann’s quip that the “devil was in the details” could hurt Cain’s chances in the long-run because it exposes its soft underbelly.
Rick Santorum similarly had a point when he said that creating a national sales tax alongside of the personal income tax and corporate income tax would create a new revenue pipeline for the federal government.
There hasn’t been a single time in the past when tax hikes have been accompanied by reduced spending. Quite often the opposite has been true.
Although Cain intends to keep Congress from raising the 9 percent by imposed a 2/3s requirement for raising the rate while he is in office, there would be nothing to prevent a subsequent Congress from raising that rate or repealing it altogether.
Cain’s opponents could severely damage his candidacy should they keep hitting him on the third nine in his plan.
But Cain enjoys prominent supporters like House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan who said Wednesday that Cain’s 9-9-9 plan represents the sort of “bold” ideas that are needed.
Ryan said the 9-9-9 plan could be the start of a meaningful debate over tax reform.
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