Color me unimpressed with Rick Perry’s new flat-tax plan. This plan, among other things, calls for an optional 20 percent flat tax that taxpayers can select to pay in lieu of using calculations from the current tax code. Details of the plan aside, I just don’t think it’s going to fly or give Perry any real boost with potential GOP primary and caucus voters. I think it’s just too little, too late. It’s a Johnny-come-lately, “me too” plan that voters are going to easily see through.
It also smacks of desperation. Why didn’t he think of this when he was way ahead in the polls? It appears that he has concocted this plan only in response to Herman Cain's 9-9-9 tax plan, something Mr. Cain has used successfully to jump ahead of Perry (and everyone else) in the polls. Perry, who is now lagging at anywhere from third to fifth place, depending on the poll, is trying to re-invigorate his campaign.
So far, Perry has been his own worst enemy, being dragged down by poor performances in the most recent debates. Even when he tries to go on the offense against any of his opponents, it seems to backfire on him. However, one thing he does have is plenty of money and lots of staffers. But he needs a message if he’s going to regain his standing in the polls. I doubt that his new and quickly-cobbled-together tax plan will fit that bill. He and his staffers need to go back to the drawing board.
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