The Amazon.com founder and space pioneer would love to see presidential hopeful Donald Trump in space but not for the reasons you might expect following his comments about Muslims yesterday.
Crazy ranting from Trump again….
Donald Trump effectively trumped the U.S. Constitution’s first amendment calling for a ban on Muslims entering the country in clear violation of the First Amendment and the freedom of religion guaranteed by it. But don’t worry, the wingnut with the hair has no intention of anything that would violate anyone’s perceived Second Amendment rights following yet another mass shooting.
Trump drew international condemnation for his comments on a Muslim travel ban from the UK, France and a host of other nations never mind from those that just don’t understand how he expects to get away with it. Early polling shows that most of his supporters seem to support him despite his rhetoric reaching new levels of low.
Speaking at a rally in South Carolina yesterday, Mr. Trump called for a “total and complete shutdown” of Muslims entering the U.S., though he did suggest that Muslim-American servicemen and women would be allowed to return to the United States if deployed overseas.
“It is obvious to anybody the hatred [among Muslims] is beyond comprehension,” Mr. Trump said. “Where this hatred comes from and why, we will have to determine. Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life.”
He added that a ban should remain in place “until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.”
But then Trump just got weird….
In a fractured and polorized/polorizing GOP, Trump’s remarks shouldn’t shock as much as they did many. Remember his comments on Mexicans when he announced his presidential run earlier this year?
What was truly bizarre on the day was Trump’s going a little silly on Twitter attacking Jeff Bezos the founder of Amazon as well as the owner of The Washington Post and space exploration company Blue Origin.
The CEO of Amazon was accused by Trump of not paying “fair taxes” and suggesting that if Amazon did its “stock would crumble like a paper bag.” While both are factually inaccurate, something that doesn’t seem to bother Trump, he continued his Twitter tirade with the allegation that Bezos ownership of the The Washington Post was nothing more than “big tax shelter” for Amazon since the paper is “losing a fortune” finishing with Amazon is a “no profit” company.
Any of these, are the talk of a loony and so wrong that I don’t know where to start. It doesn’t appear Bezos did either, but he did respond with a hashtag #sendDonaldtospace to show his disapproval.
Why is Trump wrong?
Firstly, The Washington Post is not an Amazon property so its losses (yes, Trump got that bit right) can’t be written off by Amazon.
Bezos also personally owns Blue Origin, once again disqualifying from being a “write off” for Amazon.
In the first nine months of the year, Amazon has paid $498 million in income taxes, not the behavior of a “no profit” company.
I can’t even believe I have to write these.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” said Martin Sullivan, chief economist with Tax Analysts.
I’m not saying Amazon is a saint with regards to taxes but Trump, for a “hugely successful businessman” or even for a fourth-grader, is just wrong.
Amazon has been the target of investigations in Europe over its tax burden and behavior in Luxembourg, but that’s where it ends.
Amazon, wisely, couldn’t be asked to respond to Trumps allegations.
