Florida socialist congressional candidate Oliver Larkin repeatedly declined to say how much he would raise taxes on high earners while defending his call to tax billionaires “out of existence” during a contentious interview with .
Larkin, who volunteered for then-Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in 2008 and led a New Hampshire presidential campaign field office for Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in 2016, sparred with Hannity over his Democratic Socialists of America-aligned platform as Florida voters prepare to vote Tuesday.
When asked about the idea of an economy based on the promise of “to each American based on their needs from each American based on their ability,” Larkin replied, “I think thats a fine concept.”
The axiom was popularized in 1875 by German political theorist Karl Marx in his “Critique of the Gotha Programme.”
Larkin, who is challenging moderate Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., in a district considered a prime Republican target in Novembers general election, said he was less concerned with ideological labels than with meeting his potential new constituents every day.
“I’m coming at the race from a pragmatic point of view of what the American people and the people of South Florida need, and that is Medicare-for-all, that is universal child care, that is the policy proposals that you just articulated on your show,” Larkin told Hannity.
Before introducing Larkin, Hannity listed a series of policies he said the millennial left-winger supported, including abolishing the Electoral College, automatic same-day voter registration, shunning fossil fuels, abolishing ICE and prosecuting its agents, free public college, an end to sanctions on Iran and Cuba and a “passionate hatred of Israel,” in the conservative hosts words.
THE MEDICARE FOR ALL TRADE-OFFS SOCIALISTS AREN’T TALKING ABOUT, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS
Hannity challenged Larkin to go beyond the proposals and explain how he would achieve each of his policy objectives, starting with higher federal taxes
“Out of every dollar these so-called evil rich people make, how much should they be able to keepâ¦?” he asked.
Instead of offering a figure, Larkin praised former Presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower for presiding over extremely high top marginal tax rates.
“Give me a number,” Hannity demanded.
PROGRESSIVES WANT TO TAX BILLIONAIRES FIRST, AND YOU’RE NEXT ON THE LIST
“What percentage of every dollar should every American be able to keep after they pay the government, local, state, federal [taxes]?”
Larkin replied that the figure depends on income, but did not specify any income ranges except to say that “billionaires should be taxed out of existence.”
Hannity countered that most billionaires are among the “most brilliant” people and argued that it is wrong
