Obama supports an Un-Fair Tax?

So, if our Senator Barack Obama is not supportive of the Fair Tax, does that mean he wants an Un-Fair Tax? 

Michael Foote of Illinois Fair Tax shared a response one of his members received this week from Obama's office, written in the typical Obama-esque way, which is letting you know he knows your arguments, but poking you for even thinking you can get him to agree.

And, as usual, the questioner walks away thinking, "Well Obama may be wrong, but darn, he's sure a great guy. . ."

Foote, in his group's typical, but effective patient tone, gives Obama the benefit of the doubt and encourages folks to call the senator and explain why Fair Tax is good.

Obama's response:

Dear Robert:

Thank you for writing again about the fair tax. I appreciate hearing from you.

As you know, my concern about S.25 (introduced in the 109th Congress) is that it would reduce taxes for wealthier Americans, but would not help to improve tax fairness and would significantly worsen the federal deficit. If the tax rate were set at the level required to mitigate the damage to America’s fiscal situation, the result would be a higher effective tax burden for people least able to afford it, particularly lower income families and the traditional middle class.

There are certainly tax reform approaches that achieve some of the goals of the "fair tax" while also avoiding increases in the federal deficit or adversely impacting those least able to afford it. For example, I am intrigued by a "fair" tax proposal introduced by Senator Ron Wyden that builds on former President Reagan's tax reform of 1986 by collapsing the current six rates to three and taxing all income, whether from wages or interest and dividends, at the same rates. The Wyden proposal also streamlines deductions while making sure that lower income and working class taxpayers get breaks as significant, proportionately, as those received by rich taxpayers.

Americans need tax reform, and I believe we can accomplish it. Our goal should be a tax system that is simple, easy to comply with, devoid of abusive shelters and loopholes, progressive, and fiscally responsible. Rates should be as low as we can afford, and we must promote national savings and investments in America’s long-term economic competitiveness. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Senate Committee on Finance to achieve those objectives.

Robert, thank you again for writing. Please stay in touch in the future.
Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator