Rudy Giuliani criticized Republican opponent Mike Huckabee’s "FairTax" proposal during a speech he delivered at a fundraiser in Greensboro, N.C. today, knocking a candidate who has seen a surge in the polls recently.
Without mentioning Huckabee by name, Giuliani told the audience that "I don’t think we can embrace a fair tax. I think there are several deductions that are vital to our economy, and that could not be deconstructed … from our economy."
Huckabee, who recently took the lead in Iowa polls after trailing Mitt Romney and Giuliani for months, has proposed eliminating all federal income taxes and replacing them with a sales tax of 23 percent. "We’ll be taxed on what we decide to buy, not what we happen to earn," Huckabee’s website reads.
But Giuliani said eliminating deductions for charitable contributions and home mortgages would hurt the economy and prevent some people from buying a house. "The home mortgage deduction is considered by many to be critical to the ability of people to be able to buy a home," Giuliani told the crowd of about 600 women, who had paid $50 and up to hear the former New York mayor speak. "This helps them do it, and it’s a good thing for America."
Katie Thomas