Today’s Gatewood goes to Eric Cantor . . . again

by David Safier

[NOTE: I created The Gatewood in honor of Henry Gatewood, the banker in John Ford's 1939 "Stagecoach" who ran off with $50,000 in payroll money and said, while clutching the satchel full of stolen money,

"'America for Americans! The government must not interfere with business! Reduce taxes! Our national debt is something shocking!"

Video at the end of the post.]

We have our first two time Gatewood winner: Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, for his "jobs plan" to cut taxes and regulations.

In 1939, the old embezzler said, "The government must not interfere with business!" Here's Cantor's take:

"Washington now has gotten in the way, and we’ve got to make it easier, finally, for small business people to grow.”

And while Gatewood makes the blanket statement, "Reduce taxes," Cantor targets his cuts to . . . you guessed it.

The more far-reaching tax proposal outlined in Cantor’s memo would allow small business owners to deduct 20 percent of their income from their taxes.

Fewer safety and environmental regulations. More money in the pockets of business people. What a wonderfully Gatewood-like way to create new jobs. Remember, when Gatewood delivered his memorable lines, he had the stolen payroll money which was supposed to go to hardworking people in a satchel on his lap. How appropriate.

Here's Henry Gatewood, in his own words.