Stephen A. Smith continues to soft launch his political career, and in the latest example, he provided a scathing story about the way taxes in California work – and even directed a message towards current state governor Gavin Newsom.
For years, the sports personality that seems to be on ESPN 24/7 has entertained running for political office, and maybe even president. Polls have long shown that Stephen A. Smith could be competitive as Democratic presidential nominee. That being said, those numbers have never been enough to convince one of the faces of ESPN to leave his network job to pursue a career in politics. He’s been very outspoken about that, as rumors have tried to connect him with a potential presidential run.
But that didn’t stop him from exploring more political conversations on The Stephen A. Smith Show (unaffiliated from ESPN) and his other, very-politics-forward program: Straight Shooter with Stephen A. Smith. He utilizes both of those to let people know where he stands on current issues, and also joins other shows to discuss politics.
Smith joined the PBD Podcast and really got into the tax structure in the state of California. He mentioned that the Golden State’s income tax rate at the very top was approaching 13.6%, and suggested it would be pushing 17% if Gavin Newsom had his way. Though he has an issue with that… it was the way that California tracks tax payers that really got under his skin.
Stephen A. said that, at one point, he found out he would need to be in Los Angeles more often so that he could fulfill his role on ESPN’s NBA Countdown. The sports analyst was fine with doing the show out of L.A., until his estate planners informed him of how the IRS tracks California tax payers:
“I’m sitting down with my estate planners and all of that. And they said, ‘Look, when the weekend arrives, it would be in your best interest to go to Vegas or to Utah or something.’ I said, ‘Why?’ And they said, ‘Well, if you stay in California, you know, IRS, they ping your phone.
So, anytime you get a call or you’re on the phone, they know that you’re in the state. And that counts as a tax day.’ And I said, ‘You got to be kidding me.’ And sure enough, when I saw my tax returns, it was absolutely correct.”
Technology is great, eh?
The state’s taxes became such a problem that Stephen A. Smith – like many others – eventually left and now resides elsewhere. But while he was still there in California, Smith says he ran into Gavin Newsom, and told the governor how he really felt about the taxes, and that he’d never have his vote:
“I remember years later, I look at Gavin Newsom, who I’ve spoken to a couple of times, and say, ‘You look beautiful in those blue suits. You look very presidential. But you ain’t getting my vote.’ Because of these damn taxes.”
Stephen A. Smith always telling it like it is… which is why many people think he’d make a pretty good politician himself, if he ever wanted to make a career change.
