Celebrity president? - Freeze-Frame Radio

Date: Thu Nov 17 09:11 2005

Celebrity president?

Trish · The Procrastinating Red-Head

I don't really care for Oprah that much. I know that she does good things, but I don't like how she treats different guests differently. She will change her manner and speech for different guests. It is especially evident when she has an african american guest on the show. I don't like that. You are who you are no matter who is around and if someone doesn't like you acting like yourself, why bother with them? O.K. I'm picky. My vote for president? I think Tom Hanks would be a fantastic president. Or maybe Denzel Washington. I have a lot of respect for both of them. Oooh, Cuba Gooding, Jr. also. Love, love, LOVE him.

Date: Thu Nov 17 11:59 2005

Oh yeah Denzel is a good choice. He has done some great humanitarian work!

ray925 · Darth Raydar

Oprah for president? At least all Americans would have a new car!

Molly · The Mediator

Yeah, but we'd still have to pay taxes on it!!!!

Date: Thu Nov 17 12:41 2005

Molly wrote:

Yeah, but we'd still have to pay taxes on it!!!!

Is that how you really feel? I know that was a big complaint, but I was in shock! I would find a way, park it maybe, but I would have found a way!

Molly · The Mediator

No, I was just making a joke. I didn't think those people's complaints were justified.

Date: Thu Nov 17 13:03 2005

Good, not that your opinion would not have been respected, I was just in shock over that! Please people!!!

Trish · The Procrastinating Red-Head

Here is the fix to the tax thing, sell the car, pay the taxes and buy a vehicle you can afford. Because if you can't afford the taxes on it, you won't be able to afford the insurance, either. Ya know?

ray925 · Darth Raydar

Yeah. I don't remember seeing Oprah with a gun to the heads of those people. I think they could have left them in the lot if they felt like they were getting screwed by the taxes.

WebGuy · Doesn't Do Windows

I remember the car give away but I was not aware the recipients were complaining about having to pay the taxes. Oh good grief!

Date: Thu Nov 17 13:21 2005

Oh yeah I think she even tried to do more, I will have to research now!

Date: Thu Nov 17 13:27 2005

HMMM... there is more to this story:

Oprah car winners hit with hefty tax

Like any prize, the value is counted as income; winners must pay up to $7,000 or forfeit the car.
September 22, 2004: 7:05 PM EDT

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Leave it to Uncle Sam to spoil the party.

When Oprah Winfrey gave away 276 cars last week to the audience of her show, images of people laughing, jumping, crying -- some hysterically -- filled the airwaves and the give-away became stuff of legend. Late night talk show hosts and newspaper columnists are still talking about it.

But now some of those eager prize-winners have a choice: Fork over $7,000 or give up the car.

if(cnnEnableCL){if(location.hostname.indexOf('.cnn.com')==-1){cnnAddCSI('contextualLinks','http://brun8tmp.turner.com/ctxtlink/jsp/money-story.jsp','origin=money&site=cnn_monnews_dyn_ctxt&category=moneynews&url=http://robots.cnnfn.com/2004/09/22/news/newsmakers/oprah_car_tax/index.htm');}else{cnnAddCSI('contextualLinks','http://cl.cnn.com/ctxtlink/jsp/money-story.jsp','origin=money&site=cnn_monnews_dyn_ctxt&category=moneynews&url=http://robots.cnnfn.com/2004/09/22/news/newsmakers/oprah_car_tax/index.htm');}}

According to a spokeswomen for Harpo Productions Inc., Oprah's company, the recipients must pay a tax on the winnings, just like any prize.

For a brand new Pontiac G-Six, the model given away on the show, the sticker price is $28,500. The $28,500 would need to be claimed as income so, depending on the individuals tax bracket, the tax could be as high as $7,000. And that was after Pontiac agreed to pay most of the local charges, including state sales tax and licensing fees.

The Harpo Spokeswomen said winners had three choices. They could keep the car and pay the tax, sell the car and pay the tax with the profits or forfeit the car

WebGuy · Doesn't Do Windows

Oh, well, $7,000 is pretty steep if you didn't have it.

Molly · The Mediator

Still, I agree with Trish, if I couldn't come up with the $7000, I would've sold the car, paid the taxes, and bought me a cheaper car.

Sparky · Phat Cat EL Presidente

I could see Tim Robbins as Prez.

Didn't Gary Coleman run the last time?

Molly · The Mediator

Not yet, Gary Coleman ran against Arnold...

Date: Thu Nov 17 13:45 2005

Really the $7000 grand only applied if it changed there tax bracket, so maybe they would not have had to!

Sparky · Phat Cat EL Presidente

Oh! Thats right! Sheez, what you talking bout Cheney??

Date: Thu Nov 17 13:48 2005

Sparky wrote:

Oh! Thats right! Sheez, what you talking bout Cheney??

Molly · The Mediator

Yeah, but how many people make so much in a year that claiming 28,000 extra as income isn't going to change your tax bracket?

CP · Lord of the Lair

Celeb President? I vote for Geena Davis, no seriously, His name escapes me, but right now he plays the DA on Law and Order. He used to be a Senator. I can't believe I don't remember his name.Dalton or something. Stuck.