ABC Ignores Its Own Revelation That Obama Was 'Wealthy' While Paying Off Student Loans
ABC News has, thus far, ignored its own revelation that, contrary to
insinuations made by Barack Obama, the then-private citizen and his wife
"were making enough to be considered 'wealthy' by the president’s own definition in the years before his loans were paid off."
ABC relegated this story to a posting on its website, not mentioning it on Wednesday's World News or Nightline.
The story was similarly skipped on Thursday's Good Morning America. World News
did touch on student loans, but only to accuse Mitt Romney of
flip-flipping on the issue. David Muir dug up a clip of the Republican
telling a college student to shop around and not expect the government
to bail him out.
On
Tuesday, President Obama said this: "We only finished paying off our
student loans off about eight years ago...That wasn’t that long ago. And
that wasn’t easy – especially because when we had Malia and Sasha,
we’re supposed to be saving up for their college educations, and we’re
still paying off our college educations."
Yet, as Jon Karl explained on ABCNews.com, Obama was sometimes making over $250,000 ($272,759 in 2002). He reported:
But according to their tax returns, which are available on the White House website, the Obamas had a healthy, six-figure income by the year 2000 (the earliest return available). And for at least two years before his loans were paid off, Obama, by his own definition, made so much they were wealthy enough to pay higher taxes.
Here’s a rundown of the president’s income, according to his tax returns, in the years before he paid off his student loans:
2004: $207,647
2003: $238,327
2002: $259,394
2001: $272,759
2000: $240,505
In 2001 and 2002, the Obamas would have met the $250,000 standard the president has set for those wealthy enough to afford to pay more taxes.
It’s also notable that the Obamas didn’t claim deductions for student loans on any of those years, most likely because they made too much money to qualify for the student loan deduction.
Interesting, pertinent information, but apparently not worthy of appearing on the actual ABC network.
A partial transcript of the April 25 World News can be found below:
DAVID
MUIR: And as Romney was delivering his speech, President Obama was
delivering one liners on late night. Tonight, Republicans are on the
attack, putting the two images side by side. The tale of two leaders,
they say. The President's team will argue it was a huge opportunity in
front of a giant crowd of college students, a key demographic, as the
President pushes to keep interest rates from jumping on those college
loans.
