Beto gets asked about AOC’s 70 per cent tax rate and gives half his answer in SPANISH – but dodges the question in two languages and is mocked on twitter
- The former Texas Rep. was asked about a proposed 70 per cent top marginal tax rate at the first Democratic debate
- He first dodged in English, saying ‘the economy has got to work for everyone’
- Then he switched to Spanish
- ‘Necisitamos incluir cada persona en el exito de esta economia’
- Interviewer Savannah Guthrie gave him 10 more seconds ‘to answer the direct question’
- Later Sen. Cory Booker also spoke in Spanish
Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke fielded a question about a proposed top income rate of 70 per cent at the Democratic debate – then managed to avoid answering it in two languages.
O’Rourke fielded his first question of the debate on MSNBC when asked about the top income tax rate – a notion that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez floated for millionaires in an interview soon after she came to Congress, setting off a debate about taxation.
‘This economy has got to work for everyone. And right now we know that it isn’t. And it’s going to take all of us coming together to make sure that it does,’ O’Rourke said, reverting to his campaign boilerplate language.
Then he switched to Spanish.
Rep. Beto O’Rourke delivered his answer in two languages without providing a direct answer
‘Necesitamos incluir cada persona en el exito de esta economia. Pero si queremos hacer eso necesitamos incluir a cada persona en nuestro democracia,’ he said, as Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey looked on with a wide-eyed expression. ‘Cada votante necesitamos la representation y cada voz necisitamos escuchar,’ O’Rourke said.
Roughly translated, he was saying that we need to include each person in the success of this economy, but if we want to do that, we need to include each person in our democracy. O’Rourke had said we need the representation of each voter and we need to listen to each voice.
However, he made a few slip ups, at first having to correct himself to conjugate ‘votante,’ then mixing up word order a few times.
Interviewer Savannha Guthrie wasn’t satisfied with O’Rourke’s response
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said she could back a 70 per cent rate on income of more than $1 million
NO INTIENDE: Sen. Cory Booker and Sen. Elizabeth Warren look on during O’Rourke’s answer
He also said ‘nuestro democracia’ when he should have said ‘nuestra democracia’ – for ‘our democracy.’
‘Right now we have a system that favors those who can pay for access and outcomes. That’s how you can explain an economy that is rigged to corporations and to the very wealthiest,’ O’Rourke continued, then switched to voting rights.
He talked about gerrymandering, same day voter registration, and a new Voting Rights Act.
Host Savannah Guthrie wasn’t satisfied with his answer. ‘That’s time sir. I’ll give you 10 seconds if you want to answer the direct question … yes no or pass,’ she said.
O’Rourke responded with more specifics, but not an answer on the top marginal rate.
‘I would support a tax rate and a tax code that is fair to everyone,’ he said. ‘Tax capital at the same rate that you tax ordinary income. Take that corporate tax rate up to 28 per cent,’ he said, mentioning the corporate but not the individual rate.
Later Sen. Cory Booker also spoke in Spanish on the subject of immigration.
‘La situation ahora es inacceptable,’ he said, calling the situation unacceptable. He said the president had ‘demonized’ immigrants, speaking in Spanish.
He called for ending ICE and Border Patrol policies he said were violating human rights. ‘When people come to this country they do not leave their human rights at the border,’ Booker said.