Gene Simmons: Romney Smart Enough to Avoid Tax Burden
by HollywoodlandYou won’t see KISS rocker Gene Simmons anchoring any cable news program, but the ageless bass player is eager to discuss the current GOP field.
Count Simmons in the Mitt Romney camp, and his reasons for choosing the former governor over Newt Gingrich come down to a pragmatic view of modern women. Simply put, they won’t stand for a first lady who came in third.
Mitt Romney’s got a chance … and he’s got the experience. He’s run successful companies, knows how to make money and knows how to be taxed at 15 percent instead of 48 percent if he lived in Beverly Hills the way I get taxed,” he says. “If you invest you should be taxed at 13-15 percent because if you invest you could also lose everything, so it’s all fair.
Simmons is more cynical regarding former Speaker Newt Gingrich’s hopes of beating President Barack Obama in the fall, and it’s not because Gingrich isn’t qualified to become Commander in Chief.
Fifty percent of the population are women, and they’re not gonna put up with a First Lady as the other women, the mistress … I really don’t give a shit. I just want to know if you can do the job. I don’t care what you do with your schmekel or who’s in bed with you.
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78 Comments
That's actually the most reasonable and down to earth comparison between Romney and Gingrich I've ever heard…
I can't believe Gene Simmons can't afford tax lawyers as good as Romney has
We've got the Demon! Yes! Star Child can't be too far behind!
I agree with him on Newt, but for different reasons. I think Newt is extremely smart and has, lately, been giving some amazing answers in the debates. However, I just don't feel he can win in the general election. There's a lot of stuff (or "baggage" as the media keeps terming it) that people don't like about him, even just his demeanor. In a perfect world, emotional reactions should not mean jack, but let's face it; it matters a lot these days.
I have been impressed with Romney for a long time. I also think he's become more conservative over the years and communicates such principles extremely well, perhaps better than any candidate we've seen since Reagan. I don't think conservatives give him enough credit and critique his track record way too harshly. I definitely think he can beat Obama, and I'm extremely worried that Newt will not. It would be a mistake to nominate him, I hate to say.
Mitt is as conservative as Nelson Rockefeller. Which is still more conservative than the Big Zero.
I can't believe Gene Simmons stays in Beverly Hills….
Gene Simmons/Ted Nugent in 2012
Well, Romney actually paid about 48% on that money, so … that's not really a plus.
Romney's basically a Democrat who calls himself a Republican. He doesn't even seem to like Republicans.
I seriously think we're in for four more years of Destructo the Zero. Sad, but true.
Putting aside the Romney vs. Gingrich squabbles, I can't believe I've never heard anyone point out that since you can lose all the money in your investments if they go sour, in the long run, high capital gains taxes do not constitute the Left's magical "fair share."
i wonder why none of our candidates can't explain that? just because a law is passed, people will find a way around it. raise the tax on smoking store bought cigarettes, people start making them at home. taxes are not just used to raise money, the government tries to get us to live our life by their rules to keep more of our money. a flat tax, or a national sales tax would end the gamesmanship, and just fund what the constitution says they are allowed to spend money on.
"(or "baggage" as the media keeps terming it) that people don't like about him, even just his demeanor."
The last part describes me-I don't like his demeanor. Plus a dozen other things which would make voting for him a bitter pill to swallow.
I will vote for anyone against Obama, but the guy I'm most impressed by (so far) is Santorum. If he accepted the VP slot from Romney, that would solidify things nicely.
By the way, I'm expecting that sometime in the next two months Joe Biden will announce that he is stepping aside for "family reasons" or somesuch, which will open the VP slot for Hil Clinton or another big name Dem in the election.
How many wavering Dems would jump at a chance to vote for Hillary?
Here we go. Gene Simmons is now added to the list of RINO's along with Coulter, Savage and anyone who dares to say anything negative about Newt.
The fact is that his wife was a mistress, and was content to be a mistress. It is not going to sit well with a lot of women. The critics have not started on Calista yet, but just wait.
Is it just me or have there been a lot of celebrities starting to come out for Republicans these days?
Most rocking inaugural ball ever!
Dont kid yourself-in 2003 Gene Simmons offered to pay the lawyer tab for none other than the famous French actress, Bridget Bardot, after she had written a highly critical article of Islam in La Monde, and the French version of CAIR tried to have her censored. Mr Simmons is quite wealthy, and leans conservative on economic matters. I disagree with him about Romney, but Simmons does not like Obama.
It's an excellent point. The whole idea that we have a right to tax people's success is not only unprincipled thievery, but it assumes that somehow the success was pre-ordained. The reality is that success comes form taking risk and when someone taxes success they reduce the incentive to take risks. The left doesn't get that and that is why their economics are so destructive.
Better listen-just this morning in Davos, Switzerland, none other than George the SoreA$$ said that theres "little difference" policy-wise between Mittens and Obama. OTOH, SoreA$$ admits Newt "scares him". Anyone SoreA$$ has anything good to say about doesnt cut it.
He's going to make another mistake. He voted for Zero. I'm a woman, I won't vote for Romney. I would vote for Newt over Romney.
I don't like socialism no matter who is dishing it out.
Mitt Romney
Socialized Medicine. He said he'd repeal it, again last night, but Norm Coleman who works for his campaign, said yesterday, he won't. He'd keep some of it. He'll say it, have a meeting with Boehner and McConnell, and then say, we are going to keep some of it, to help people of course.
Gave cars to welfare recipients with AAA memberships. Allowing them to keep them even after going off of welfare. http://bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/201...
And last but not least worked with John Holdren who now works for Zero's EPA. John Holdren wants to put something in the water to sterilize people. All in the name of population control of course.
http://www.redstate.com/repair_man_jack/2011/10/1...
Sorry Gene, you don't speak for women.
ONLY difference between Obama and Mitt…Mitt is all white
First of all, it’s not worth getting angry about.-Mitt Romney, on healthcare
nope, Mitten's is just as bad as O.
I actually saw Simmons and Nugent at the same concert back in the 80's. Nugent opened for Kiss. I saw him open for Aerosmith back in 78 as well.
My uncle put it quite nicely when he said "I will happily wait in line to crawl through broken lightbulbs to vote for Elmer Fudd if he runs against Obama."
Yes sir.
AMEN!!
If Romney is the GOP nominee, I will go to the polls, sign in and then walk away.
I've voted for republicans while holding my nose for the LAST effin' time.
Let the country go over the cliff with a dem at the wheel. A republican will take us over that same cliff but doing 60 mph instead of 90 mph. The crash at the bottom will be just as bad.
Must have been good and loud!
LOUDEST for me — Rainbow opening for B.O.C. — late '70s — ears still ringing a bit.
Suddenly, Simmons and Bardot are my new heroes.
No one, and I mean NO ONE is bad as O.
Loudest I can recall was the German metal band Accept at L'Amour in Brooklyn. You could dry your hair in front of the amps.
I feel your pain and disdain.
But Mittens WILL be better than Obama. Yes, even W. and McCain are better than Obama. My house plant is better than Obama. A grease spot is better than Obama.
You're comparing Apples with Communists. Don't let Obama stay any longer than he has to. You will not be teaching anyone a lesson by NOT voting.
Am a woman who supports Rick Santorum but if it comes down to it would vote for Gingrich before Romney.
I disagree.
By putting a RINO in office who makes a mess of things makes it far less likely the GOP will ever nominate a conservative later on. If Gore had beaten that inarticulate nitwit Bush, Obama would not be president now.
Accept WAS the loudest of the loud…They would regularly pump out 150 thousand watts in smaller venues…by contrast….Iron Maiden was playing arenas with "only" 120 thousand watts…Bleeding ears anyone….LOL…I don't think any modern heavy metal act puts out that kind of wattage anymore…
You are absolutely right. I saw Maiden at the Garden in '83 and the sound wasn't loud at all.
The other decibel demons I recall were ManOwar who I saw in the same venue. Loud and wicked.
"I really don’t give a sh@t. I just want to know if you can do the job. I don’t care what you do with your schmekel or who’s in bed with you."
Since Simmons has claimed to have had sex with over 4,500 women, saying anything else would be rather stupid, don't you think?
Not voting is a vote FOR Obama….so I guess you want him re-elected.
If you've got Gene Simmons do you need any other endorsement? From now on if someone questions Romney I'm just going to say, "Gene Simmons!" and hang out my tongue!
Gosh Gene Simmons makes so much sense. He should be running for office.
Ideally there shouldn't be an 'Income Tax' at all. The Govt. (Congress & Exec) should come up with a budget. Then send out a tax bill to each state for the states share of the burden. How the state raises the cash to pay the tax should be between them and it's citizens. Tax on income? Sales Tax? Inheritance? Casino's? Govt. Brothels? Legalized drug parlors? etc., etc. If the people don't like how their state raises the money they can change the Legislature. Or move to a state that they do approve of. The IRS should just be there to keep score and cash the checks.
Mr. Simmons I'm sure has enough smarts to out wit the IRS. And what is wrong with wanting to keep as much of YOUR hard earned money as possible? If the government spent it wisely I wouldn't mind. But there are some parts of the government that are a total waste. And that is what I object to.
Rock'nRoll over crap rap any day.
Newt sucks. Period. The guy is a totally classless political animal who makes a living on the government gravy train. Just what we need. Another Clinton clone.
I met Mr.Simmons in 1976,and was just flabbergasted at how cool,awesome,and down to earth he really was.Even at the rocket launch of their fame,still a cool guy.
Please don' t get him mad!
I preferred Rush over Kiss (primarily for the former's virtuosity of musicianship) when both groups were rising to the top of the Rock world thirty years ago but that said, I've always admired how skillfully Kiss has managed its career as a group. They're one of Rock music's trully great marketing success stories. I wish them all well.
But, as an aside, I wanted to wish Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791), happy 250th birthday. He wrote his symphony #1 in E flat at age 8. Astounding. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__uhYfAQUZ0
Looks like simmons's left O's butt and went to kiss Romney's plastic one.
Reality freak!
In your wildest wet demented dreams.
Someone tell the Tongue, Newt won the majority of married women in South Carolina.
The way things are looking I may not be voting at all again this year.
Great conversation all around. It is interesting how there seems to be a significant correlation between being conservative and liking old-school hard rock and metal from the 70's and 80's. Someone should a write a book on that someday.
I feel ya. In the midst of all the Newt/Mitt hulabaloo, people have lost sight of the fact that they BOTH, as wel as Santorum, are two-faced RINO frauds. I've maitained the last time the GOP an honest-to-God conservative was 1984. Seeing how well that went I don't know why they're so averse to someone who actually believes in economic and personal freedom. The only one who comes close is Ron Paul. And his views on foreign affairs will lead to the West losing World War IV. The GOP needs another Reagan and not just someone who invokes him.
Mostly those who watch their money.
With respect to those saying they may not or will not vote – I sympathize with your reasons for feeling that way, but I have to agree with those suggesting that not voting is just another way of handing Obama another 4 years to wreak havoc on our Nation. Any of the Republican candidates, however flawed, would be preferable to the potentially permanent damage 4 more years of Obama would cause.
Saying attilla wants Obama re-elected may be too harsh, but I agree 100% that not voting will put Obama in office again, and our Nation can't afford that from any standpoint. This November we Conservatives and Libertarians can vote for some of what we want (from Romney, Gingrich, Santorum, or Paul), or we'll get the same thing we've gotten for the last 3+ years from Obama – absolutely nothing positive or helpful to our cause or to the Country.
Gene Simmons is a musician, but above all he is a very, very savvy business man. So, listen to Uncle Gene. He is correct in his opinions here.
Hollywood is only supporting the 'democratic' republican!!!
Hollywood is only supporting the 'democratic' republican!!!
He certainly does NOT speak for me!! I didn't trust Romney in the last election, will NOT vote for him this time around either!!!
Is it too much to ask that one of the Republican candidates explains the difference between Capital Gains tax and Income tax. ??
Obama won because of Ignorance in the electorate. It can be fixed if you actually try. Common Sense will win.
What person in this country who files tax returns does NOT take advantage of deductions? I know I don't throw a few grand extra onto my check when I attach it to the return.
Any one not voting is handing another win to Obama. Any Republican is better than Obama right out of the gate. For the sake of this country, Obama needs to go.
You must vote. Even if you have to hold your nose. Obama and those on the left drive for "Get out the Vote" "rock the vote" and all that other crap because they know an uneducated and uninformed voter is ripe for there emotional plea's. We aren't going to see a Reagan soon but we can prevent and slow the train until one arrives
And I feel you but after watching my beloved California walk off a cliff I know there is too much at stake
Romney actually paid too much. He had no salary, so the maximum he should have paid is 15%, so he is not taking full advantage of things like tax free municipal bonds. If you remember – the media doesn't – the Kerry's paid under 8% on their income. And for those from MA you should remember the last time T. Kennedy had an opponent we saw that his Kennedy foundation (for multiple Kennedy's) earned 250 millions in profit and paid 2 million in taxes.
Thank you Gene Simmons for pointing out the OBVIOUS
Gene might be right, but I think he's over stating the 50%. Remember, Calista is the third wife. I think one of the reasons Marianne's attack didn't go over very well is because she really was a homewrecker. It's a little rich to watch a mistress claim she refused an open marriage with a man when she had no problem sharing him with his first wife. The fact that Newt left that shrew isn't quite as bad as him leaving the first wife for the shrew. If anything, my biggest gripe with Newt's marital history is that he ever married Marianne in the first place. What the hell was he thinking?
The idea behind the lower rate was that the IRS figured you "earned" the money first and paid the higher tax rate, then you invested it and made money from that initially earned income. Unless you inherit money, you have to earn it before you can invest it. Simmons probably gets his money in royalties, etc., which I suspect is all considered earned income and would be subject to the higher income tax rate.
I couldn't agree more.
The more we capitulate and vote for the McCains and Romneys of the world, the less likely the GOP will ever nominate a true conservative. The GOP establishment will feel comfortable into railroading any true conservatives out of future presidential primaries, if they knew we would consistently hold our nose at the end and vote for whoever they throw at us.
Besides if Romney wins, he will be the likely GOP nominee in 2016 and it will be 8 more years until we get to choose a different type of nominee. I really would prefer not to have to wait that long
Romney balanced the budget in Mass despite Democratic state senator
Turned a profit in Salt Lake
Gave more to charity as a percentage and $ than anyone else in the race
Saved several companies – hence most income at LTCG
Understands capitalism, balance sheets and tax issues
One wife
You can't say any these points about Oblama
100 interwebs for you and your uncle both!
"unprincipled thievery"… You mean there is a principled thievery????
No, they've been supporting each of them. Paul in particular gets celebrities, but Mitt and Newt have too.
I didn't want to offend the lawyers I knew.
Romney sure comes close….he is way too timid and will not raffle feathers, one eye always on press and independents
The critics would have something to say even if The Crist himself would run for president!
Not to discount the fact that Romney stated on teenage abortions if the pearents forbid he will favor the courts to decide!!!!!! And that is a CONSERVATIVE?
How do we know Mitt is lying? His lips are moving! I wouldn't trust anything he says at this point…he was very upset that Norm Coleman spilled the beans…so to speak…
I think at this point when our country is on the verge to become Greece the personal life of the potential nominee is less important than his convictions and drive to save our country. Being a moderate and "working with democrats" wouldn't cut it! Look where it got us so far. The definition of insanity is pressing same buttons and expecting different results.
If you wanna see LOUD….MOTORHEAD!!! (trick question..Lemmy IS God!)
BTW!
Simmons can't be President since he was born in Israel. Ron Paul's head would explode at the suggestion.
Who cares what Gene Simmons says about politics? Did we all miss how he predicted that Rick Perry would be our next president and that he (Gene Simmons) is NEVER wrong? http://dailycaller.com/2011/08/17/gene-simmons-de...
This is not news, it's ego.
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