Clinton says she wants to go beyond ‘Buffett rule’ on taxes

Clinton said that while she backs Buffett’s rule, which was first pitched by the Obama White House in 2011, she wants to go further in ensuring wealthy Americans pay higher tax rates.

With billionaire investor Warren Buffett by her side at a campaign rally in Omaha Wednesday, she said the country’s tax policies need to go further in order to “reshuffle the deck”. Four years ago, Buffett lent his name to President Obama’s proposal that would implement an effective tax rate of at least 30 percent on households earning $1 million or more annually.

But he said Hillary Clinton, “when she’s elected” will help tip the balance to help those who are not as fortunate.

Clinton said she would defend Planned Parenthood and a woman’s right to choose as well as marriage equality. Clinton says she wants Democrats to tell their Republican friends: “I don’t have horns”. Congress hasn’t enacted it.

Left unsaid is what Buffett might do in the months ahead, as a big-dollar fundraiser, a presence with Clinton on the trail, or both.

While she largely ignored Tuesday night’s Republican debate, Clinton indicated that a combination of policies addressing the economy and homeland security would be central in her campaign.

Introducing Clinton, Buffett offered a litany of statistics describing a growing chasm between America’s rich and poor, lamenting, “millions and millions and millions of Americans have been left behind”.

“That’s a primary reason – there’s a lot of other reasons, but it’s a primary reason – why I’m going to be so delighted when Secretary Clinton takes the oath of office”, Buffett said.

“I don’t know why Republicans are playing to the lowest common denominator in their party”, Clinton said.

Clinton was campaigning in deeply conservative Nebraska, which is holding its primary contest on March 5. The day of campaigning will be her last before the third Democratic debate on Saturday.

According to US News, Buffet’s public appearance with Clinton is aimed at offering his stamp of approval to the Democrat’s economic message of inclusive capitalism and toughness against Wall Street excess. The investment guru’s annual shareholder meeting is dubbed “Woodstock for Capitalists” and drew an overflow crowd of more than 40,000 people from around the globe last spring.

Buffett also noted that because of Nebraska’s proportional electoral college apportionment in the general election, the district housing Omaha, which trends more liberal than the rest of the state, could deliver the Democratic nominee one electoral vote.

“What he brings to the table is that he’s one of the few highly-respected business people who average people view as one of them”, said Marc Lasry, a NY hedge fund manager and Democratic donor, in an interview.