Biden: Rich Americans show patriotism by paying more

Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden on Thursday said wealthy Americans would show their patriotism by paying higher taxes to help the country. 

{mosads}“It’s time to be patriotic, time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut,” Biden said on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” adding that wealthy Americans would still pay less than under President Reagan.

Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) wants to pay for a middle-class tax cuts by raising taxes on those making $250,000 a year or more.

Biden also argued that the race is still so close because voters have not yet made up their minds whether he and Obama can achieve their stated goals.

“They believe in the change we want, they just don’t know whether we can accomplish it,” Biden stated.

Republicans seized on the remark.

“Every hard-working American whose career isn’t built on taxing and spending will find Joe Biden’s claim that tax hikes are ‘patriotic’ laughable,” said House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) in response.

“Wrapping a massive tax hike in the American flag isn’t going to help families and small businesses struggling with high fuel costs,” Boehner added. “And it does nothing for the homeowners and taxpayers who paid for Barack Obama’s top economic advisors’ ‘golden parachutes.’ The fact is, there’s nothing patriotic about forking over more money to bureaucrats and politicians to waste.”