Mac, iPhone, and iPad user Rush Limbaugh today discussed taxes, Apple Inc., Steve Jobs, and the New York Times, among other things, on his radio program that, since its inception on August 1, 1988, is the highest-rated talk radio show in the United States. The 3-hour Rush Limbaugh Show airs daily on a network of approximately 590 AM and FM affiliate stations. The program is also broadcast worldwide on the U.S. Armed Forces Radio Network. A November 2008 poll by Zogby International found that Rush Limbaugh was the most trusted news personality in the nation.
From the live transcript, Limbaugh said in part:
On Saturday there was a long, long story in the New York Times about Apple and its taxes and how Apple is avoiding paying taxes and how mean that is to the country. Now, let me set this up. I know many of you are not fans of Apple because you consider them to be a bunch of left-wingers and so forth. And I know that many of you get a little disturbed when I talk about my Apple stuff, that I like it, and I share it with you. I’m big on sharing my passions. But this is a teachable moment. It is a teachable moment about media. It’s a teachable moment about taxes. And it’s a teachable moment about young people who make up many of the bloggers on a lot of the tech sites that write about Apple and the other high-tech companies and gizmos and products and so forth.
After reading the story, one — and maybe it was more — but one young — I’m sure young — blogger on a tech site expressed sadness and disappointment over the lack of patriotism shown by Apple in doing what it could to avoid paying taxes. Apple did nothing illegal. There’s no law that they broke. This is the key point. There’s another thing in this story. The New York Times used a really fringe think tank called the Greenlining Institute as their source for financial data. And what this group did, they compared Apple’s taxes paid in a year previous to the year’s income they were using to compare. I think it’s an omission of ignorance. I don’t think it was done purposely.
For example, when you file your taxes for April 15th, you’re paying your taxes on your income of the previous year. So what these guys did in this story is report Apple’s income last fiscal year, and then they used the taxes they paid in the year prior. Well, Apple’s profits have been growing like crazy, so the percentage of taxes paid by Apple is, according to the erroneous way in which they reported, is much lower than what was actually paid… I will read you some of the highlights because it’s a teachable moment. It’s a teachable moment about capitalism. It’s a teachable moment about economic growth, corporate growth, competition, employment. It’s a teachable moment about taxes. And it’s also a teachable moment about what is very predictable, and that is how the youth, young people, these bloggers have been conditioned to look at this.
And the New York Times is now targeting Apple. I remember when the first iPad hit, Steve Jobs (in every print ad that featured the iPad) had the New York Times on the display. When they were demonstrating the Web browser of the iPad, the website they always used was the New York Times. There was a symbiotic relationship. Steve Jobs had said publicly that it was his goal to teach the New York Times how to thrive in the digital arena, outside of the “dead tree,” actual publication arena. But something’s happened. Apple’s gotten too big; it’s gotten too successful. Something happened, and now the New York Times is out for them. This is the third or fourth hit piece on Apple.
There’s a great example. I’ll give you a great anecdote. A couple three months, maybe, before he passed away, Steve Jobs goes to the Cupertino City Council in Cupertino, California, where they are attempting to get permission (Apple is) to build a giant new headquarters. According to the artist’s renderings, it looks like a giant circular spaceship with solar panels all over the top of the thing and a giant courtyard in the middle. They’ve got all the environmental stuff as part of the presentation. It’s supposed to be state-of-the-art, and it’s huge. It is huge. And Jobs himself goes to the city council to get permission to present the plans, to talk it up.
And of course Apple wants some favorable tax treatment as they’re doing this. And one of the anecdotes in the story is, a city councilwoman in Cupertino says (paraphrased), “Well, Mr. Jobs, if we do this, what can you give back? Perhaps you could offer free Wi-Fi for all of Cupertino.” And Jobs’ response was, “You know, I guess I’m a little stupid or old-fashioned. The way I thought this worked was, we pay our taxes and you do that. Now, if that’s not the way it works, we don’t have to build our headquarters in Cupertino; we can just move.” And, of course, the city councilwoman withdrew her idea.
She’s no longer on the city council, according to the story, and Apple is moving ahead with their plans. But what’s missing from this story? I’ll just tell you: It’s all about how… And Apple’s not the only one that’s cited for not paying its “fair share,” although they’re not breaking any law… So The Times is just beside itself, and the people who write the story make it clear that Apple is not being patriotic. Apple is not paying its fair share even though it’s not breaking the law. It goes on to describe the education deficits in California and the state budget deficits in California and the federal budget deficit and how Apple’s not paying it’s fair share. There’s a guy runs a community college near Cupertino, and this guy’s quotes are amazing [see full transcript].
I’m not gonna try to remember them. I want to read them directly to you so I’ll find them after the break and perhaps get into the story. But this guy is just unbelievable. No, I take it back! He’s totally believable, given that he’s a product of the news media his whole life. But he’s just beside himself. His school’s budget deficit is Apple’s fault. The California state budget deficit is Apple’s fault. Not one word in this story — and I know it’s a story on corporate taxation. I understand fully. But, folks, it’s a hit piece, and there’s not one word in this story about how any of these taxing authorities spend money irresponsibly.
There’s not one word! Why is California running a huge budget deficit? Why is their education system in debt? It’s not Apple’s fault. It’s the people that run the state government’s fault, from the governor on down to the legislature, the assembly. That’s not touched on in this story. It’s an attack on successful capitalist companies who are not breaking the law and who are paying as little as they can, just like Warren Buffett.
But, you see, Warren Buffett gets away with it because while he’s owing a billion dollars in back taxes and fighting it in private, publicly he’s out talking about how he doesn’t pay enough in taxes and it’s unfair that the secretary pays a higher rate than he does. So he inoculates himself from any of this kind of criticism. The New York Times will never write a story about Buffett like the one that they’ve written here about Apple… Why is the state of California in trouble? It’s not because Apple’s doing anything. It’s not Apple’s fault. If the state were run like Apple is, everything would be hunky-dory. Apple’s not the guilty party. Microsoft isn’t the guilty party. Cisco’s not the guilty party. The guilty party are the state’s Democrats and whoever else. Republicans, too, if they’re engaged in this wild, irresponsible borrowing and spending. And the same thing at educational institutions. You don’t spend what you don’t have. And then when you do, and you rack up a big deficit, you blame it on yourself if you have any moral fiber. You don’t go blaming it on corporations that are doing their share.
Why does Apple, why do corporations want to spend as little on taxes as possible? I’ll tell you why. They want to be competitive with all the other corporations that are doing the same thing. They want to maximize shareholder value. They want to keep the price of their products low as they can so they can sell them. Everything a successful corporation does is oriented to two things: the stockholders and the customers. That’s who their bosses are. This New York Times piece and all the critics in it think the purpose of a corporation is to provide health care for the employees, free Wi-Fi for the community where the corporation is, and unlimited money for governments to spend irresponsibly. That’s what they think the purpose of a corporation is. And it’s not.
The purpose of a corporation is not to have jobs in the community. It’s not to have health care for people. That’s not why they exist. There isn’t one person that started a business because he thought his community needed jobs or because he thought people in his town needed health care. That’s not why people start businesses. Corporations are people. People work there. Stockholders own shares of stock. Who is it that’s paying these taxes? It’s people. Apple’s employees pay taxes. Apple pays withholding taxes. It’s absurd. I use that word a lot. It’s absurd to believe, as the New York Times wants, to think that corporations don’t pay their fair share.
Much more in the full transcript here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews readers too numerous to mention individually for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Does Apple know how to use its money better than the U.S. federal government? – April 30, 2012
Apple a bigger global power and more important than most nations – April 30, 2012
The New York Times blows it again: Incorrectly reports Apple’s tax rate – April 30, 2012
Apple to The New York Times: We are among the top payers of U.S. income tax – April 29, 2012
The New York Times: How Apple sidesteps billions in global taxes – April 28, 2012
The New York Times blows it, gets Apple CEO Tim Cook’s earnings spectacularly wrong – April 9, 2012
Rush Limbaugh: The New York Times has turned on Apple; they wouldn’t do this if Steve Jobs was alive – February 1, 2012
Apple CEO Tim Cook calls New York Times supplier report ‘patently false and offensive’ – January 27, 2012
Why did The New York Times revise their ‘iPad modest changes’ article and neglect to inform their readers? – March 8, 2012
The New York Times continues idiotic vendetta, claims Apple’s new iPad only offers ‘modest changes’ (UPDATED) – March 7, 2012
Rush Limbaugh reviews new Apple iPad: ‘It is amazing, it really is; and we’re giving one away each day’ – March 20, 2012
Rush Limbaugh: My first home computer was an Apple IIc; then every top-of-the-line Mac desktop since – February 24, 2012
Rush Limbaugh: The New York Times has turned on Apple; they wouldn’t do this if Steve Jobs was alive – February 1, 2012
Rush Limbaugh on Steve Jobs potentially being named TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year – November 18, 2011
Rush Limbaugh: Steve Jobs epitomized American exceptionalism – October 6, 2011
Rush Limbaugh: This is like Christmas Eve; I can’t wait for Apple’s ‘Let’s Talk iPhone’ event! – October 3, 2011
Rush Limbaugh: On the brilliance of Steve Jobs – September 1, 2011
Rush Limbaugh rewards Obama ‘tea party heckler’ with new Apple iPad, 13-inch MacBook Air – August 16, 2011
Rush Limbaugh blasts Intuit: Why doesn’t Quicken work in Mac OS X Lion? – July 26, 2011
Rush Limbaugh: Apple’s OS X Lion is fabulous, perfecto – June 30, 2011
Rush Limbaugh: Apple TV and AirPlay are cool – January 7, 2011
Rush Limbaugh app for iPhone and iPad hits #1 in Apple’s App Store – December 22, 2010
Rush Limbaugh giving away nine 64GB Apple iPad 3Gs through August 30th – August 12, 2010
Rush Limbaugh: Apple’s iPhone didn’t need a tax credit, why does Obama Motors’ Chevy Volt? – July 29, 2010
Rush Limbaugh: Apple is a ‘buy opportunity’; blames Obama administration, liberal media, Schumer – July 15, 2010
Rush Limbaugh’s iPhone 4 arrives one day early – June 23, 2010
Rush Limbaugh: The fascinating case of the Gizmodo guys and Apple’s 4G iPhone – April 28, 2010
‘Big Mac guy’ Rush Limbaugh resorts to his bully pulpit to get his Mac fixed – March 17, 2008
Rush Limbaugh thanks Apple for fixing his Mac issues – March 11, 2008
Apple calls Rush Limbaugh; working on his Mac issues – February 15, 2008
Rush Limbaugh still waiting for Steve Jobs – February 13, 2008
Rush Limbaugh’s on-air appeal to Apple CEO Steve Jobs – February 13, 2008
Rush Limbaugh giving away 10 Apple 8GB iPhones with 24-months of AT&T service – July 03, 2007
Rush Limbaugh giving away 80GB Apple iPods engraved with his signature – April 09, 2007
Steve Jobs & Rush Limbaugh agree: U.S. public schools are ‘unionized in the worst possible way’ – February 20, 2007
Rush Limbaugh and Apple Computer to intro new podcast service via iTunes – March 08, 2006
Rush Limbaugh announces video podcasts for Apple iPod starting December 12th – November 30, 2005
Rush Limbaugh: ‘I am the hottest thing in podcasting’ – June 09, 2005
Rush Limbaugh and Apple Computer working to bring podcasts of radio show to iTunes Music Store – May 17, 2005
Rush Limbaugh says ‘Mac OS X Tiger Rocks,’ posts link to free Rush advertisement for Mac – April 30, 2005
The Hill: Put Rush Limbaugh on Apple’s board of directors; he could sell tons of Macs – January 26, 2005
Rush Limbaugh: Why does Apple put politics first? – June 27, 2003
Rush Limbaugh comments on Gored Apple – March 21, 2003
WTF MDN? Is this a commercial for Rush? Why the commercial before the article? Please exclude such things the next time you post comments by Rush.
I don’t mind reading his on-topic comments about Apple, but I do mind reading the b.s. promoting his show beforehand.
Dear overly-sensitive knee-jerk Liberal,
That is an expository paragraph, not an ad. Had it not been placed there, your comment would instead read:
“Who the fsck is Rush Limbaugh to be commenting on anything and why does it matter what the big fat jerk says anyway?! Nobody listens to that garbage, so MDN should ignore him.”
Wah, wah, wah…
Ouch!
+100
Hey dumbass, what makes you automatically assume the person is a liberal? Maybe he doesn’t like Rush or maybe he doesn’t like promos like this.
For the record, I think Rush is right on this for the most part….and …gasp…I am a liberal.
I’m sorry, meant, “Dear overly-sensitive knee-jerk asshole.”
There, feel better, Lib?
Normally, expert opinion comes from people with credibility, of which Limbaugh has none.
You however have mastered the juvenile insult devoid of substance and contributing nothing to the argument, much like your hero, dough-faced, loud-mouth Limbaugh.
“You however have mastered the juvenile insult devoid of substance and contributing nothing to the argument, much like your hero, dough-faced, loud-mouth Limbaugh”
Am I the only one entertained by that attempt to sound moderate and even-keeled, failing in the last few words?
BTW, I don’t like the name-calling from either side, for any reason. Let’s just criticize ourselves; let’s admit none of us are as smart as we’d like to be, and we can go on from there as civilized adults.
Buster,
You may consider yourself a liberal, but if you can agree with Limbaugh on this issue, you’re really not. If you are a) open to listening to conservative perspectives; b) don’t automatically agree with whatever is in the New York Times, and; c) don’t think big corporations working to please customers while making a profit are the root of all evil then, by definition, you are not a liberal. Sorry, but don’t worry, I won’t tell all your liberal friends.
Regards,
Janice
Buster is a commie, low life, drone, from Canada. A real over the top loser. There is nothing that can be said to change this idiots Lemming mind about anything that isn’t a liberal talking point. Move along and try to communicate with actual on the fence type people who will listen.
Geez Reality say what you really mean. Between you and Fartchecker above, the knuckle-draggers are out in full force today. Canadians have a relatively think skin and for the most part, laugh (and pity) at idiots like you who have no capability to discuss issues.
Janice, I simply love how you pick and choose your own criteria to determine people’s political leanings. I am not close minded and believe it or not, left and right wing groups have some good policies. The problem, is that they are mixed with bad. One has to decide which has the least bad.
You are a card carrying COMMIE whether you realize it or not.
Get a dildo
I’m an independent, not particularly fond of Limbaugh’s style, but I think his comments are right on. I’m confused by the anti-success mindset in our culture the past few years. When I was growing up, we looked at successful people and businesses as a positive thing. Greed is certainly nothing new and there were as many greedy people working in companies then than now…. somehow everything is political now and every comment is an excuse to flame… that’s sad because it shuts down real debate that helps inform people of all sides of an issue. In Apple’s case, they employ thousands of highly paid (and some not so highly paid in retail) people who in turn pay taxes… I think Steve Jobs had it right when he pointed that out to the Cupertino City Council. I hope I can teach my kids that just because someone else has a lot because they worked hard or won the lottery, we are not entitled to take it.
“Who the fsck is Rush Limbaugh (a High School Grad, Oxycontin Addict, Closet Case) to be commenting on anything and why does it matter what the big fat jerk says anyway?! Nobody with a n education and a day job listens to that garbage, so MDN should ignore him.”
If you look back, you’ll see this is standard MDN Rush promotion.
It seems more like an explanatory introduction than a promotion — after all, MDN is read outside the U.S., too, so international readers might not know who Rush Limbaugh is.
Obviously.
The Libs can’t argue Limbaugh’s points so they attack him and take potshots at MDN for covering what a guy with 20 million listeners said about Apple, NYT, taxes, etc. over a significant portion of very expensive airtime today.
Perhaps, shit-for-brains, it’s there to help people like me, who are not Americans, who can’t listen to these shows, who may only be even vaguely aware of who the fsck Rush Limbaugh is, to understand the context of the dialogue.
Is that clear enough for you to understand?
The world revolves around its axis, not the USA, despite what you might think.
Wow, Horshack, I’m impressed. More great info for you here:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com
Wow Rorschach, congratulations on being more insulting than even some Americans LOL You are on a US site discussing a US Company, a US Newspaper, and a US talk show host. Hmmm let me see… If you want to bring in your take from your country you can do that… free speech and all. You bet your axis!
Hey Horshack, what scum pit part of the world do you slither in you dirt ball??!!
I agree with MacMike. If I wanted to get stupid I would just go ahead and listen to mush gum ball.
Citizen Zero, You already are extremely stupid. You’re a Lib-Tard.
Rush would be way over your head. But in case you want to try it anyway, go to:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com
Then maybe you should explain what part of Rush’s argument you disagree with.
I find focusing on the argument, not the person presenting it, leads to a more intelligent discussion about the issue.
Crazy, I know.
I actually didn’t say I disagreed with this particular comment. I did listen to mush gumball for about 7 years when he started but as his mind became more and more addled from the Oxy, he lost sight of his common sense.
Thank goodness he managed some semblance of coherence delivering this particular argument, which I find difficult to disagree with.
MDN is right to bring this to light. This is related to that hit piece he other other day on how i(products) have to be made in China because their production produces too much pollution. I do know why everyone is so surprised. Doesn’t the media do this to popular celebrities and politicians all the time?
just my $0.02
Rush is right — as usual.
Well, now we know what a bigot you are, too.
Unsurprisingly, your “logic” is AWOL.
-10
When Liberals can’t refute an argument, they attack like rabid dogs or at least try to immediately change the subject.
It’s how a three-year-old “debates.”
It’s so plain to see. I just wish the rest of the world could see it as clearly.
colour everyone with the same paintbrush eh? Pretty narrow-minded in perspective
I see what you did there…
Just like everything you right wing extremists have been doing on here?
If you call bigots a bigot in a bigoted way, does that make you a bigot too? 😉
While I’m an independent, I applaud Rush’s advocacy of Apple as Obama’s militant, America-hating liberals tear it down! Apple is the only reason that prevents me from California seceding from the union to purge this nation from the progressive cancer that tears everything good about the country down to the ground! Keep up the good work, Rush!
I’d call you hyperbolic, but I lived through two terms where Libs called the U.S. President “Hitler” and “Satan” and worse, so you seem downright reserved in comparison to the Looney Left.
I don’t normally listen to RL, but I read the entire transcript and, I have to say, there is not one thing he said that I don’t agree with!
The continuous Rush Limbaugh ass-licking has got to stop. Most of us are repulsed by this person, as the bigoted mental case has no credibility. Speak for yourself rather than quote this divisive turd. Most of MDN’s readers are not fans, and the last thing I personally want to see when I come here for Apple news is political references- particularly from fanboys of the right. Jimmy Kimmel was right- the difference between Bill Maher and Rush Limbaugh is that Bill’s audience Knows he’s an asshole! If MDN insists on aggravating and polarizing its readers, this site will become irrelevant. A lot of us are sick of politics in general- particularly those people who make it even uglier than it already is. Man up and stick to your own opinions and takes without feeling the need to quote someone else for validation. In this case, as you can see, the argument turns to the source, rather than the issue.
You give away your ruse.
You are trying, but failing, to turn the argument from what Limbaugh says – with which I believe the majority of MDN readers agree – to who is saying it.
I say that you are scared that MDN readers will see for themselves the rationality and how they agree with what Rush says vs. what you Libs say that he says. That is how you come across. Very defensive. Very desirous of silencing speech or speakers you don’t like. Very Amercian Liberal 2012.
Also, I’m certain that you have no proof to back up your claims as to what “most of us” want. Further, guess what I do with headlines I don’t care for? I ignore them and move on to the next. I certainly don’t waste my time commenting.
So, now that your ruse of trying to turn the argument from Limbaugh’s points to the typical liberal mischaracterization of Limbaugh himself has been exposed, what exactly did Limbaugh say that you don’t agree with?
Oh, snap!
@First 2010 . . . “Further, guess what I do with headlines I don’t care for? I ignore them and move on to the next. I certainly don’t waste my time commenting.”
I agree on this point. Obviously including Rush Limbaugh’s comments on this site sparks a war and increases the hits to the site… if you really and truly are offended by free speech, then you should refuse to click on the story and go to the next. I’ve been having fun tonight jabbing some of you with my comments, precisely because you go off the deep end. To be honest, I don’t like the right insulting the rational liberal voices here (and there are many) but the wild vitriol of some of you just makes me want to play the game and see if I can make your heads explode 😉 Someone in the news commented on Apple– that is enough of a story to post to the site. Remember that thing called capitalism? Well the angrier you get, the more it works. Apple sells good stuff people from every political bend want to buy. Celebrate it, and comment if you wish, but popping out your eyeballs and letting steam come out of your ears, well, that’s your fault 😉
Auramac, Why not focus first on trying, as best you can, to make an intelligent comment about the post? From you drooling attack, we assume you agree with the New York Times that Apple is evil and unpatriotic, not like the virtuous and America loving, tax contributing General Electric. What did they pay, by the way. Now, Aura, continue your drooling rage.
Kent, if he was focused on making an intelligent comment he wouldn’t be a liberal anymore.
Although I have hope for him. They tend to gnash there teeth the most right before they come around.
Don’t forget, liberals are terrified mostly of other liberals. They don’t want to be talked about like their liberal friends talk about Palin for instance. They don’t want the New York Times going after them. And they know that there’s very little to fear from conservatives so they foam at the mouth touting their liberal “credentials”.
With enough ridicule and patience they quite often come around. Most conservatives start out as libs.
Well Said Man-Bear!
I listened to Rush today go over this and He is right 100% on this topic as he is almost always right on other topics. Conservatism is being proud of your country and freedom. Freedom is not for cowards or immoral people. This is why libs tend to lash out like a scared animal that is cornered and want to be controlled by a central government.
Excellent point. Libtards are scared, little, cretins!
Conservatism is being proud of your country and freedom. Freedom is not for cowards or immoral people.”
Conservatism is the product of ignorance, motivated by fear and fueled by hatred of whatever “other” is the object of derision/fear at the moment.
In the Revolutionary War the conservatives were those loyal to the Crown.
Nice try.
apparently you are mistaken, you don’t speak for most of the MDN bloggers. did you just dream you were the ‘appointed one?’
it is revealing to me, that your invective is directed at rush, the man, and you completely avoid commenting on the transcript.
it is my experience, that people who hate others do so out of fear. why are you so afraid of rush limbaugh? we’re here to help if you’ll let us. another teachable moment, if you will.
Reporting about the absurd ways corporations avoid paying taxes is refreshing. This is another way Apple’s a great thing for America, it’s a company people want to love and so it is a flashpoint exposing things like working conditions and tax-law scamming. Apple will survive or fail based on its future innovation, so they’ll be fine. Who cares if it’s Rush Limbaugh or the NYT or Mike Daisy’s semi-fictional account, the point is questioning this stuff is healthy for the whole country, right?
It is the Times and Daisy that have their own twisted version of the “truth”, but what Rush Limbaugh said above seems right on the money.
It does but he has also said some very idiotic things in the past. Like everybody I guess.
If you kicked all the goddamned liberal pinkos out of office in California the budget deficit problem will go away by itself overnight because liberal commie pinkos don’t know the meaning of balanced budgets.
heh heh goddamned liberal pinkos…..made me think that you are wrong. God did everything he could to help the poor and sick and needy….he was probably the first liberal according to your perspective..hehhehheh
The only thing is, I wouldn’t have used the fscking inept government to help the poor. I’d only use the government if I wanted to enslave the poor and guarantee dependent votes for me.
WRONG BLISTER!!!!!!
GOD, in The Bible, states that you should not try to take from your neighbor. You need to take care of yourself.
So you LIbtards have it all backwards as usual. You are doing the DEVIL’s bidding and stealing from the hard working. Go To Your Home, HELL!!!!!
Gawd, not sure which sky gawd you exactly follow, doesn’t mean Jack in these United States before the law.
Jesus, whom Christians claim to follow, would not be welcome in the Republican rallies that many so-called evangelical churches have degenerated to.
FYI- The last Balanced Budget in the US Government was submitted by William Jefferson Clinton.
When he left office we were running a surplus and were on track to pay down the entire accumulated national debt, Dubya Bush (our first appointed President) and the Republican Congress (until 2006) destroyed all that with tax cuts, unfunded Medicare D and 2 wars on borrowed money.
Reagan, Daddy Bush and Bush The Idiot submitted NOT ONE balanced budget. The last Republican drafted budget that balanced happened under Dwight Eisenhower- over 50 years ago.
In California the problems date to Republican Howard Jarvis and Prop 13.
Modern Republicans suck at financial affairs, foreign affairs, national defense and most everything else. OBL is dead and Dubya never did get him- despite saying that “he can run, but he can’t hide”.
The truth hurts. What’s hilarious is that conservatives want to try and spin it to day Clinton in his eight years managed to balance the budget because of what Bush senior set in place..uh…no.
BTW…..MDN is code for FOX.
MacDailyNews is a wholly owned subsidiary of the FOX networks. Why do you think they are otherwise anonymous? Is it not clear yet that they purposely promote political arguments as complete hit whores? Wise up…
Wrong login…?
The curiously erudite comment that I made was eaten by the stray positrons in the interwebs tubes…
How long will it take all of you just to accept each others political views. Even if you don’t agree with it, you are still one nation that needs to reunite. Put aside your differences!
Gotcha. Will do. After November elections.
You really will believe anything Fox shoves down your throat.
No, Mitch, I don’t believe it much. I’m just sayin’, for the benefit o’ some foreigners, that it is just no use to expect nicely behaved electioneering, in the U.S. But afterwards the attack dogs will get a two year breather, until the mid term elections. Been this way since Andrew Jackson, or maybe before.
While I tend to lean ever so slightly left, I agree with Rush. Apple has broken no law and they are doing what is required of them (ethically and legally) to protect the interest of their shareholders.
As I previously noted in an earlier article, Microsoft was been accused of doing the same thing in 2009. Here is MDN take on that story. You can judge for yourself if MDN is consistent.
I am also from Canada. I also have the same political view as you. But it still hurts to see all of the terrible language that is being thrown from both sides.
Awww, do you need a hug?
You can’t possibly be from Canada, the stereotype is too obvious.
No it’s because it hurts to be called all of these things. And yes I am from Canada. I am 15 with an IQ of 140. Maybe if you fixed your government your kids will too. To do this you need to stop listening to right extremists especially the ones that are insulting all liberals on this page. The ones that do not realize they are demonizing half of your country and most of Canada.
Sorry, I didn’t realize. I take back everything I said.
I meant no offense to you personally.
Do carry on.
@Manbearpig:
I’m a dual Canadian-American citizen. I’ve voted for Nixon once, Reagan once, Clinton twice and both the Liberals and Conservatives in Canada. I’m about as middle of road as one can be. I find your comment to match your screen name exceedingly well and to unfortunately reflect the increasing schism developing in American society (and beginning to creep into Canada).
+10
Given the irresponsible way that politicians, Democrats and Republicans both, spend tax-payer money it doesn’t even matter if corporations pay their fair share.
Infrastructure will always be crumbling, education will always be underfunded, etc. no matter how much tax money you throw at the state and the federal government.
THAT little problem needs to be addressed before loopholes and corporate tax rates are tackled.
In this case, I can not care about whatever grudges US american residents may have with Limbaugh or not.
I say PLUS ONE PLUS ONE PLUS ONE!!!!!!!!
Rush is still FOS
Another strong argument.
I don’t know about everyone else here but I’m starting to feel real pity for these libs. Poor little dears.
IF Limbaugh’s show helps against the BS NYT is doing recently, I as an AAPL shareholder want it to happen.
I’ve mentioned numerous times…
Corporations don’t pay taxes!!!! *YOU* do….
Corporations should have a zero tax rate….
that’s right– corporate net profits are taxed twice, first by means of the corporate tax, and then shareholders are taxed on dividends paid– it’s the same money taxed twice. Apple also generates untold billions in taxes paid to all levels of government– taxes they pay on utilities (electricity, water, etc.), as well as all the other business expenses in all their U.S. operations (sales taxes on paper and printing, to cite one small but huge example), they pay half of each employee’s social security tax, they employ tens of thousands of people who pay income taxes on their wage/salary, and, to give just one last small/huge example: most of Apple’s products sold in the U.S. generate state and local sales tax receipts– and that’s A LOT. A great, concise read on corporate taxes: http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/CorporateTaxation.html
All the ruckus over this article has nothing to do with what Limbo is saying. Instead, it’s how MDN is such a whore over any comment he makes about Apple. MDN will lick this guy’s balls for an Apple statement. Limbo says nothing new about this tax thing. But because HE says it it gets a big ol’ transcript on this site of every word he says.
Which part of “much more in the full transcript” didn’t you understand?
I don’t know what MDN’s intentions were with this post, but they got themselves the usual political shit storm as a result. Really folks, whats up with all the name calling? Is this the best you can do? Sheesh! (Oh, right, I’m sure some of you will call me a “commie” or “lib-tard” just because of I’m asking people to act like adults — as if a conservative would NEVER ask such a thing!) Whatever! I just want to read about MACs!
Nope- I’m not going to call you any names. I really don’t like it when the left or the right does that. I agree with you 100% on that. As for MDN, I imagine they are happy to include Rush Limbaugh for the hits and because yes, he is a big fan of Apple, even though his politics are probably way to the right of most Apple employees (actually I made that up – I have no idea about thousands of people’s political leanings). “There is no such thing as bad publicity.” I think that fits most blog and news sites. See those little ads placed around the page? cha-ching!
Although I find it difficult to believe that I’m actually agreeing with Rush Limbaugh, he’s on the money here. The whole thing with this college president is a bunch of bull. Apple is playing the game according to how the rules are written. It is the duty of a corporation to minimize its tax bill. Anything less would constitute irresponsibility to its shareholders. This jerk should be blaming his lawmakers for 1) writing laws with such gaping loopholes, and 2) mismanaging the money they already get. Back in the days prior to the Reagan governorship, colleges (both 2- and 4-year) in California were fully funded. A California resident could attend college virtually for free. Since that time, politicians and voters decided that higher education was not a priority, So this guy’s angst is completely misplaced. But obviously the Times was searching for someone with a modicum of credibility to forward the agenda they’re pursuing, and this guy fit the bill. I believe it’s no wonder schools like DeAnza College are in the shape they’re in if these are the kinds of people being chosen to lead them.
“After reading the story, one — and maybe it was more — but one young — I’m sure young — blogger on a tech site expressed sadness and disappointment over the lack of patriotism shown by Apple in doing what it could to avoid paying taxes.”
This is indeed a sad day for America. It shows that the indoctrination by the left’s politicians, media, and public and higher education is finally paying off and showing merit.
‘Apple is showing their lack of patriotism for not paying taxes’?! Excuse me?! I thought this country was founded because an oppressive government and their taxation on the citizenry. ‘Taxation without Representation’ was the cry of the day. Do you think you have representation today??? Do you think the government is here to help you? Do you think the government gives one hoot over your situation? Heck no! And if you think so, stop watching CNN or MSNBC or reading the NY Times. ‘Make examples out of people’ is this government philosophy. “Crucify” I believe is the word of the day at the EPA. But that is but just one government agency. Don’t think only “Oil Companies” are in the government’s sights. Apple is only an Obama speech away. Representation? Only if you are a deep pocket spender of one party or the other, maybe.
But to have someone say that legal loopholes to avoid taxes makes you unpatriotic is dead wrong! These too big for their britches, political elitists that make a 20, 30 and in some cases 40 year career in politics, that spends the taxpayers dime willy-nilly and when they run out and need more just dump on the citizenry they are supposed to represent and serve, to avoid paying any more taxes than one needs going to these miscreants, is the height and epitome of being patriotic!
Wow.
Gotta love the comments when something religious or political gets talked about on MDN.
The comments are almost more entertaining than the story.
“Mac, iPhone, iPad, Viagra and Oxycontin user Rush Limbaugh today discussed taxes, Apple Inc., Steve Jobs, and the New York Times, among other things, on his radio program- roadblocked by Bain (as in Willard “Mitt’ RawMoney) owned Clear Channel and Premiere Radio Networks.
In many markets Limpaugh is simulcast on 3 and 4 stations in one ADI. It’s kind of easy to be number one when one company owns 12 stations in your town and only allows Limbaugh and similar kinds on the only stations airing talk radio in the market.
In markets where Limpaugh has fair competition (as in not buried on some 50 watt fringe signal) his range from not special to sucky. So spare us the boilerplate bullshit about his 20 million listeners. The translation is that means 20 million people listened to at least 15 minutes of his 3 hour show sometime during a given WEEK. Not daily, but 15 minutes during 15 hours of programming (5 days x 3 hours for you conservative home schoolers). The real numbers of serious listeners are less than 10 million and the demographics skew rural, poor, uneducated, old and white as a sheet.
And which markets are those?
Let me help you out
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/stations/all_stations/
Now many of those markets overlap, but none are the same.
They are also in competition with each other.
I drive a great deal for my job, and if I decided to listen to Rush, I can generally keep him on the radio, even in rural markets, continuous for most of my entire area.
Now here is something else you don’t know/ understand/ care about. Rush could make as much if not more by skipping to Sirius. He has stayed loyal to his stations, a good portion AM, because they made him.
I know that you can’t comprehend Conservatism, because you have relegated it to religion and racism, which shows you have no depth of knowledge, just a knee-jerk, childish outlook on life that requires you to take the easy way out of most decision and lay the blame on others for your setbacks.
FYI
Excrement In Broadcasting is distributed by the same Bain Crapital (think “Willard Mitt RawMoney”) that owns Clear Channel (LBO 2008)- the owner or operator of most of Limpaugh’s stations.
The bulk of the rest are owned by Cumulus, who now own most of the former ABC (Reich Wing Nirvana) O&O Radio stations that did the national launch of Limpaugh and Slanthead Hannity.
Because of deregulation companies like Clear Channel went on buying sprees and at one time owned approximately 2,000 radio stations in the US. In even some very small to moderate markets they owned 4-6 AM and FM outlets.
In market after market as Clear Channel expanded profitable stations underwent radical overhauls and the slate was wiped clean for radically conservative radio and Fox Radio (of course) because we cannot trust the “liberal media”. Many highly rated local hosts were replaced with cheaper in house syndicated crap, local staff were slashed and national news contracts were cancelled for either ABC or Faux.
As the same company owned the shows, the distribution and the outlet it was most profitable to schedule at the expense of competing content. In many ADIs adjacent markets overlap with a full signal as well as simulcasts on AM & FM and in places like South Florida it is possible to turn on a radio and get Limpaugh on 5-6 stations simultaneously.
Regardless of your politics, nobody needs to be roadblocked to the exclusion of anyone else.
___________________________________________________________
As to conservatism, I was debating Hayek, Buckley and Rand with Political Science majors in college 30+ years ago and was taking POlitical Science courses taught by the then State Republican Party Chair. So I laugh my ass off at your charge of cannot comprehend. I have heard it, understand it quite well and know it has been found wanting.
Barry Goldwater, the father of the Conservative movement within the Republican Party, criticized the NeoCons as he saw that NeoConservatism is NOT conservative. It is highly strident, reactionary and blind- not open to debate or discussion. It is accepted as an article of faith without proof.
I have no problem with true conservatism- I have a problem with corporatism- which is what controls the Republican Party these days. For all the whining by Republicans, it also holds a strong grip on the Democratic Party as well.
After reading many of the comments it just occurred to me that many of them could be considered hate speech. Hope you spoof your ip address and mac addresses.
we dump the assdumb Kenyan moslem scumbag in November. He goes back to the tree in Kenya where he was delivered.
I’m thinking that I’m done with MDN if I see one more Rush article. Ignoring the fact that he is conservative political commentator I really don’t understand why his opinion on anything to do with tech would be relevant.
“Ignoring the fact that he is conservative political commentator I really don’t understand why his opinion on anything to do with tech would be relevant.”
Actually, if you ignore the political commentator aspect, it’s quite clear why his opinion is relevant: millions of people listen to his show each week. If he’s cheerleading Apple products, then, as you said, just ignore the politics; MDN does, and they report about this influential Apple advocate’s statements to millions.