I remember the 2004 election like it was the day before yesterday (with the 2008 election being yesterday).  Remember how John Kerry and his liberal supporters were unhinged at the jaw about the Bush’s “tax cuts for the wealthy?”  That’s an argument we’ll here for many years now, and the GOP will long be labeled as the “rich person’s party,” but this might interest those that vote Democrat mainly on the issue of “fairness.”

From the Boston Herald:

Sen. John Kerry, who has repeatedly voted to raise taxes while in Congress, dodged a whopping six-figure state tax bill on his new multimillion-dollar yacht by mooring her in Newport, R.I.

Exactly how much in taxes is explained later on…..

Could the reason be that the Ocean State repealed its Boat Sales and Use Tax back in 1993, making the tiny state to the south a haven – like the Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Nassau – for tax-skirting luxury yacht owners?

Cash-strapped Massachusetts still collects a 6.25 percent sales tax and an annual excise tax on yachts. Sources say Isabel sold for something in the neighborhood of $7 million, meaning Kerry saved approximately $437,500 in sales tax and an annual excise tax of about $70,000.

To quote one of the famous lines from the movie Airplane!; “Surely, you can’t be serious!”

The senior senator’s chief of staff David Wade denied the old salt was berthing his boat out of state to avoid ponying up to the commonwealth.

“The boat was designed by and purchased from a company in Rhode Island, and it’s based in Newport at the Newport Shipyard for long-term maintenance, upkeep and charter purposes, not tax reasons,” Wade told the Track

So, it’s all explained.  No further explanation needed, right?  There’s no possible way this should be an issue for any other Taxachusetts, I mean Massachusetts politicians, right?

But back in 2006, then-gubernatorial candidate Christy Mihostook some flack for avoiding some $23,000 in Bay State sales tax and $1,320 in local excise taxes by berthing his motor yacht in Rhode Island. But Mihos paid just $475,000 for his 36-foot vessel Ashleyand readily admitted that he used the boat at his West Yarmouth summer home

Would it shock you to learn that Mihos was a Republican? 

John Kerry is not the latest Massachusetts Democratic senator to skip out on taxes; the late Ted Kennedy, another champion of trying to make sure the rich pay their “fair share,” is pretty well known for amassing wealth and stashing the money in offshore accounts…..all to avoid paying taxes on them. 

I wonder how Kerry will be affected by the tax hikes that will be effective on January 1st, 2011, at 12:00:01; he wants YOU to pay your fair share, but will make sure he passes through Rhode Island to make sure that he won’t have to.