Cain's rivals: We love you, but we hate 9-9-9

Herman Cain's rivals for the Republican presidential nomination aggressively hammered Cain's "9-9-9" tax plan for the first 15 minutes on Tuesday night's presidential debate - while simultaneously hailing Cain for bringing it forward.

"Herman's well-meaning, and I love his boldness, and it's great," Rick Santorum said when asked about the plan.

He then pounced.

"The fact of the matter is, I mean, reports are now out that 84 percent of Americans would pay more taxes under his plan," he said, referring to a new Tax Policy Center analysis. Santorum went on to say the plan doesn't take "care of the families," since "a single person pays as much in taxes as a man and a woman raising three children." By removing incentives for people to have children, he added, Cain's plan risks pushing U.S. birth rates "into the basement."

GOP debate in Vegas: Winners and losers

Rick Perry opened his criticism of the plan with "Herman, I love you, brother" - and then added that once he lays out his own plan later this week, "I'll bump plans with you, brother, and we'll see who has the best idea about how you get this country working again." Perry said a plan that puts a federal sales tax on top of state sales taxes - or that adds a sales tax in states that lack them - is "not going to fly."

"I think that Herman Cain deserves a lot of credit," said Newt Gingrich. "He has had the courage to go out and take a specific very big idea at the right level."

Yet, he added, "there are much more complexities than Herman lets on."

"I mean, 9-9-9, when you get into details like you pay it on a new product, you don't pay it on an old product, et cetera, there's a lot more detail here than he lets on," he said.

Romney: It's "dangerous" to choose president based on religion
Romney's "credibility" on health care attacked
Fact checking the GOP Vegas debate

Michele Bachmann said Cain's plan would risk letting Congress run up taxes and suggested Cain was instituting a value-added tax "because at every step and stage of production, you'd be taxing that item 9 percent on the profit."

Cain defended himself by repeatedly suggesting that his rivals were "mixing apples and oranges." The former Godfather's Pizza CEO said the analysis of his plan being put forth by his campaign shows that his critics are wrong. He said his plan would not raise taxes on low income people and would be revenue neutral - the opposite of what most analyses have found. He also plan did not amount to a value-added tax.

"The reason that our plan is being attacked so much is because lobbyists, accountants, politicians, they don't want to throw out the current tax code and put in something that's simple and fair," he said. "They want to continue to be able to manipulate the American people with a 10-million-word mess."

Huntsman mocks 'game show' debate in Vegas
Cain, Romney under fire at Republican debate

Mitt Romney asked Cain to confirm that his plan would add federal sales tax to state sales taxes, prompting Cain to repeat his claim that an "apples and oranges comparison" was being made.

"Fine," he replied. "And I'm going to be getting a bushel basket that has apples and oranges in it because I've got to pay both taxes, and the people in Nevada don't want to pay both taxes."

Cain, who was under perhaps more scrutiny in this debate than any of his rivals, called on Americans to examine the plan for themselves.

"We simply remove the hidden taxes that are in goods and services with our plan and replace it with a single rate 9 percent," he said. "I invite every family to do your own calculations with that arithmetic."

Mitt Romney and Rick Perry go mano-a-mano over immigration
Rick Perry: Time to consider defunding United Nations

[noloyalisti]

I though the Republicons ALL wanted to raise taxes on the poor and middle class to give to the Top 1%. They are all just jealous that the Pizza Guy was able to come up with a plan to do just that and put it on steroids and they did not (yet).

[polisigh]

A stage full of reverse Robin Hoods and theocrats, none qualified for the job by temperament or by intellect. Their arguments are not factual and they are not rational. Perry and Romney show some honest emotion and it turns out to be hatred for their opponent.

[ReasonableViews]

I think Cain had the most to win or lose last night, and I think he didn't handle the 9-9-9 criticism well, and he really handled the terrorism negotiation thing poorly.

If it was only about posture, Perry would win. The man can stand straight! http://******/pJCtjF

[nomorelibs]

I don't know enough about Cain's plan to comment, but what I do know is that our current tax system is the most pathetic in the free world. The government chooses which companies enjoy tax breaks, and credits. A simpler, fair tax or flat or whatever has got to be better than what we have. Seems like anyone that tries to simplify the tax code is vilified. While at the same time people complain endlessly about the tax code. Law makers add more and more to it everyday and most people are clueless about what they can or cannot claim. Why can't we all agree to claim nothing, pay what we owe and simplify it????? But it will never happen. Because Republicans want to give tax breaks to their interests and Democrats want to give their interests. And both side believe they are doing the right thing. So lets not jump all over Cain for trying to fix the damn thing.

[steeepe]

adonist: Everybody who works already pays payroll taxes. Nobody get a free ride. Why pick on the poor? Don't you think it's a bit distressing that almost all of the country's wealth is getting concentrated i the hands of a few while everybody else struggles? Why do you want to continue giving the rich big tax breaks? In economics and science and so many other areas, you have to rely on experts who know what they're talking about. Cain's expert advisor s an accountant, not an economist. His plan is totally regressive -- hitting people who actually toil much harder than the fat cats that sit back and make money on investments. Seems very un-American to me.

[jamesdew8]

Oh yea we have all seen the great job Obama has done with creating jobs! Obama has no clue how to run this country. Like all democrats he only has a dream with out a plan. I fyou dont believe me then just look at how he handles problems. He just throws billions of dollars at the problem with no or little over site and no thought. That is not a plan and certainly no vision.
The blind leading the blind.

[Samlv]

Interesting that they're cornered, because if they say he's a nut, they're racist. So, they come up with this baffling line of thinking.

It is also clear that the GOP would prefer to cut taxes for the rich as much as possible, so being opposed to a plan which would do just that isn't really plausible.

I like the fact that Cain is mixing things up. It is good for the process.

But, POTUS?

Anything is possible post Obama. Obama marks a milestone in US politics, because it means we might elect anyone regardless of qualifications and sound thinking to be POTUS.

[jamesdew8]

Speaking of the 9-9-9 plan i never based having children on taxes.

[DenverBroncofan]

by pahgre October 19, 2011 9:41 AM EDT
by 2happy2ride October 19, 2011 9:07 AM EDT
"There are a few factual, rational thoughts interspersed, but the lack of civility is disturbing. Are there no intellectual discussions between contrary views?"
==================================================================




It sure seemed like anger and uncivil accusations were the key components of the GOP debate last night, awash in interruptions, accusations and petty point scoring that made all involved look less than presidential.

I believe you nailed the teapublicans correctly in last night's debate.
=============================================================

You Pahgre also blend right in, with most of what you post...no matter the topic. I am amazed to see no name calling, yet noty surprised to see the constant insults on the first page

[NevadaScott7]

"The World Is Flat!" ~ All Oponents of the Brilliant 999 Plan.

"What's the point of washing hands before I perform surgery?" ~ All Oponents of the Brilliant 999 Plan.




Dear Poor and Middle Class,
Let's work together to re-build our great country
starting with the BOLD, Fresh, Positive, Business Problem
Solving Approach of Mr. Herman Cain.

The Democrats / Obama / Alinsky / Communist Hollywood / Socialists
have no story to tell but the story of "Blame". Listen to them
closely. Every message they send you is a story of class warfare
and blame.

You know and I know that Americans are all one.

Americans are one for freedom, love, charity, growth,

and making America the best place in the world to live.

Why do Democrats (Gay, Lesbian, Hollywood, Super-Rich supporters
of Obama, and the Media Elite ~ CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, etc.)
so desparately want to start a war between us?

Check it out. I am not rich, but my goal is to live on 1/3 of
my income so that I can use the rest to help out my fellow Americans. I cannot do this under our current Tax Code.

Vote for Herman Cain. Let's get a fair tax in place so that
Job Creators (i.e. Entrepreneurs) will want to start businesses
and create jobs.

Let's stop the killing of babies and reverse Roe V Wade.
Do we really believe God (the source of all blessing and praise)
is going to bless us if we do not FIGHT to reverse this
most horrific practice. Herman Cain is correct. Killing is
not good for ANY REASON.

Work with us.

Join the fight.

Visit HermanCain.com

Support Mr. Cain TODAY!

Begin to make a difference. First in your heart, then with your
wallet. Then start talking to people about Bringing Americans
Together Again.

Read more celebrity gossip at: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/polls/herman-cain-is/#ixzz1bEctA3Fo