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Jake Tapper is ABC News' Senior White House Correspondent based in the network's Washington bureau. He writes about politics and popular culture and covers a range of national stories.
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Rudy attacks Hillary's "Baby Bond"
October 05, 2007 3:35 PM
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani this morning assailed the proposal by Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, the Democratic presidential frontrunner, to give every child born in the United States a $5,000 "baby bond."
"I like the idea of giving every baby born in America a $5,000 account that will grow over time," said Clinton last week in remarks to the Congressional Black Caucus, "so when that young person turns 18 if they have finished high school they will be able to access it to go to college or maybe they will be able to put that down payment on their first home, or go into business."
Giuliani, the national Republican frontrunner, said that "the first moment I heard Hillary wants to give away $5,000 bonds to every child born in the United States, do you know the first question I asked: How many children are born in the United States? Because I was going to multiply that by the $5,000. Because I ran a city. I've run a business. I know how to make a payroll and I know how to reduce expenses. Do you know how much money it is per year? $20 billion."
The fiscal conservatives in the audience at the Americans For Prosperity Foundation’s “Defending The American Dream” Summit ooohed and aaahed.
"Hillary, that's real money," Giuliani said. "You and Bill can't afford that. It's got to come out of somebody's pockets. You know who it comes out of?"
"Mine!" shouted someone in the audience.
"Yours," agreed Giuliani, "mine, hardworking Americans. Hard-earned tax dollars."
The total amount would be more than that, Giuliani said, "because we're going to have to add to that the cost of the large bureaucracy that's going to have to print up the bonds, right? With Hillary's picture on them. You have to print up the bonds. You got to mail them out to all 4 million kids, right? You may just have to check and make sure you're getting valid birth certificates.:
Giuliani went on to ask if "she'll make it retroactive. And did you ever think that children of illegal immigrants will have to get this bond? They're born in the United States. They're citizens of the United States. And some of the people who get this bond, this money, may not need it. Suppose the Gateses have another child? Suppose they have twins? You'll be sending them 10 grand!"
The Giuliani campaign later emailed reporters what a "Hillary Baby Bond" might look like.
-- jpt
October 5, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (13)
I'm really happy that Mayor Giuliani is discussing the vitally important issues of our day like--Hillary's "baby bond"? Is THIS what the Repubs have come to--complete, total, and utter bankruptcy of ideas? If American voters are foolish enough to elect Mayor Giuliani on this point alone, they certainly deserve what they get!
Posted by: chuck | Oct 16, 2007 3:21:40 PM
When I was about 11-or-12 years old my Mom told me she could get $$400.00 per child in the Income Tax write-off..she enjoyed that..my Mom was given any Tax Refund that came back(it was hers)because my Dad would actually make jokes about paying TAXES..he was a very hard worker and a provider-w/fortitude....
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$$5000.00 might just be the dollar amount in question for American's beginning a family..<<--something to think about..I personally find the $$'s jokenly absurd in any dimension..
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If one travels into what would be considered the H.S. Education environment--its a shame to see some things..there's more GOOF-offs than should be..how does this align the Hillary Clinton example of funding education..actually I believe that such people as the Clinton's are absurd individual's anyway and care more about POPULARITY than BRAINS..they are Political Hound Dog's about more scent-than-sense..the cause seems bottle-necked by a blinding light of "nothing"/over the actual day to day travels that people might strive for..kinda' like the MINUS-theory of Masses...
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a Political Soft Touch that really lies openly in favor of FAVORS..or even politically "chicken hearted".
Posted by: Mark S. M. | Oct 8, 2007 12:17:30 AM
Guiliani and Clinton are BOTH CORRUPT!!!
Posted by: igspal | Oct 7, 2007 12:35:43 AM
- Please explain without defense anyone who does not bow to islam will be dead. so what then?
I find it funny the only Goverment ran institution that works is the military but the libs are against that, They support the orgs that dont work and when proven they want to make it bigger.
5000 for college, yea right!by the time the kids get to college it wil not cover books even with interest. and/or house, thats even funnier
Then of course the 20 billion is a low estimate include the illegals also!
Oh by the way peoples taxes will go up ten times that amount to pay for it, so where is the savings.
Posted by: spock | Oct 6, 2007 11:48:59 AM
The only other person besides Hillary Clinton that could suggest such a stupid thing as the baby bond would be George Bush and he would never consider such a proposal as it may help someone in this country. As much as I think Giulini stinks I will have to agree with him on this one. I can hardly wait to hear the next dumb idea that one of this string of losers will come up with!! How about a government sponsored health care plan for every-one's pet? How about establishing a prison colony on Mars for all the political prisoners? Come on candidates there are a world of dumb ideas you can come up with!!
Posted by: LANNY EDWARDS | Oct 6, 2007 10:57:46 AM
The Preamble to the U. S. Constitution states: "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, PROVIDE for the common defense, PROMOTE the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." (Emphasis is mine!)
Look at the verbs in this sentence folks! Our founding fathers intended for the federal government to PROVIDE for the common defense. That means the federal government has the constitutional obligation to spend whatever it takes towards defending the United States. And defense doesn't just mean waiting until an enemy attacks us. The best defense is a good offense. It's always better to fight the enemy abroad.
Now then our founding fathers wanted the federal government to PROMOTE the general welfare. They didn't say PROVIDE the general welfare. There is a huge difference. So when you compare what the federal government might GIVE to the children to that of what we SPEND to defend the country, remember, it is the federal government's constitutional duty to DEFEND. And it is NOT its duty to GIVE money to anyone. Now over the years, Congress has taken on the role of taxing the Haves, giving free handouts to the Have Nots based on the notion that free handouts will help promote the general welfare. Instead all it has done is create a dependence on the federal government by a large segment of our population. Starting up another federal entitlement program that gives every new born child anything is a very bad idea.
Posted by: James Danley | Oct 6, 2007 10:19:23 AM
These are the two darlings of the media. One skunk calling another skunk a stinker. Hillary and Gudy need to withdraw from the race and endorse Ron Paul for President.
Posted by: David Allen | Oct 6, 2007 9:36:58 AM
I think it's a great plan, and if Guiliani is so concerned about fiscal conservatism, why doesn't he focus on all the money we're pissing away on defense. We're paying money, sacrificing lives and getting no return. At least with Clinton's plan, we'll get a return on the investment.
Posted by: cordelia525 | Oct 6, 2007 9:24:17 AM
Yes lets attack a dem for wanting to spend $20 billion on kids. Meanwhile Bush and his republicans in congress are ok with spending 100 billion and more on an ill concieved war in Iraq claiming it keeps terrorists from coming here.
Can we please stop the hypocrisy? Where is that $100 billion coming from? The same place the $20 billion would come from...hard earned tax dollars, all wasted on building things that get blown up the next day. What idiots!
Posted by: Omar | Oct 6, 2007 4:46:50 AM
I can't believe polls show Hillary beating Rudy. He would manage this country so much better than any Bush Or Clinton. If the country can't see it by now, then maybe it deserves the Clintons to occupy the White House again. I hope every time Clinton comes up with a stupid, pandering, government controlled idea that would weaken the country over all, for her political gain, he smacks her right back in her place!
Posted by: Ryan | Oct 5, 2007 8:24:19 PM
Just as important is where she said it! Is this pandering?-You Think! Rome Burns
Posted by: S. Braden | Oct 5, 2007 7:09:52 PM
weres the 5k per kid coming from hillary?
tax and spend ..tax and spend...
Posted by: darknessesedge@yahoo.com | Oct 5, 2007 6:56:51 PM
Conniving Calculating Cackling Clinton's new "Chicken in every pot" - a new low in political pandering. Mexico is, not doubt, very pleased.
Yep, that's what the country needs: a $5000 INCENTIVE FOR ILLEGALS to drop their anchor babies here. The invasion should reach new levels never before seen by any country. (It would make D-Day seem like a casual gathering of folks for a picnic.)
Here's an alternative - do like Sarkozy in France who is rounding up 25,000 THIS YEAR ALONE and deporting them all. Sarkozy should serve as a model for the current crop of US elected weasels who won't do what is necessary to enforce the law of the land and stop the invasion.
Posted by: ALEX H. | Oct 5, 2007 6:32:26 PM
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