WaPo Fact Checker Destroys Obama’s Misleading Tweet on Romney’s Taxes Claim that It’s A “Fact” Romney Pays Less Taxes Than Middle Class Families

THE LYING KING IS BACK AT IT …

President Barack Obama is back at the class warfare attacks on Mitt Romney as Obama certainly cannot run on his record for the past 3+ years in handing the US economy, jobs and spending. What is the ‘Food Stamp’ President to do … make false comments about his opponent of course.

“FACT: In 2010 and 2011, Romney paid less than 15% in taxes on $42.5 million in income—much less than what many middle-class families pay.”

— Tweet by @BarackObama, July 3, 2012

However, the Fact Checkers at the Washington Post, yes you read that correctly, the WAPO is slapping back at Obama’s misrepresentation about Romney and destroys Obama’s tweet about Mitt Romney paying less in taxes than a middle class family.There is nothing worse than a President who would knowingly try to deceive the America people with lies about another. What is the real reason why Romney’s rate is as low as it is … charitable contributions. What a terrible thing to do Barack. Maybe you and Biden might want to explain why you two do not give more?

We are avid readers of tweets by @BarackObama, though of course it is not the president himself but his campaign team that posts them. We are also very curious when politicians claim they have uttered “a fact.”

So, is it really true that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, who is very wealthy, pays a tax rate “much less” than “many” middle-class families.

Romney released his 2010 tax return and an estimate of his 2011 return earlier this year. He earned a little more than $20 million each year, a good chunk of it in capital gains and dividends, which are taxed at a preferential rate as low as 15 percent.

But that’s not the only reason why Romney’s tax rate is at that level. He also donates about 14 percent of his income to charity, which gives him a pretty big tax deduction. (As we have noted, President Obama in 2010 also gave about 14 percent of his income to charity.)

Indeed, Romney gives about as much to charity — $3 million — as he pays in taxes. Those itemized deductions are counted against income that would ordinarily be taxed at a 35-percent rate. We figure that without those donations to charity, his effective tax rate would be at least 19 percent. (Much more)

Let’s cut to the chase … WAPO gives Obama 3 Pinocchio’s.

The Pinocchio Test

The Obama campaign’s tweet relies on a very slippery “fact.”

Romney, by receiving much of his income in capital gains and dividends and giving millions of dollars to charity, is certainly able to keep his effective tax rate relatively low, especially compared to a wealthy person who earns much of his or her income in salary. But, even so, Romney still pays an effective tax rate that is higher than the tax rate paid by most Americans.

What would you rather have, an individual giving $3 million to a charity or $3 million to the federal government to waste in ridiculous spending?