Forbes Touts Flat Tax at Nixon Library

Though no longer a GOP presidential candidate, Steve Forbes, the political-bug-bitten publishing magnate, brought his campaign for a flat tax to Orange County on Wednesday and speculated that he could have won next Tuesday’s California primary.

Forbes also acknowledged that while he continues to push his highly criticized proposal for a 17% flat income tax, the political debate over revisions in the tax system will likely result in a compromise of his plan.

Basking in the warmth of the staunchly Republican Orange County crowd that filled the auditorium at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace, Forbes explained that he left the campaign trail last week after realizing he would not compete well in this week’s primaries in four industrial states, “which I had to do if I was going to make a credible showing in California.”

In fact, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole rolled over the only major candidate still in the race, conservative commentator Patrick J. Buchanan, in Tuesday’s four Midwest primaries.

“I honestly believe that if we had gotten the base in any of those later primaries, I could have won California,” Forbes said during the speech, which had been scheduled before he pulled out of the primary contest.

During his six months of campaigning, Forbes spent an estimated $30 million of his own money.

Forbes came to California to remind voters that while he is no longer a candidate, he will continue to participate in the political debate.

Delivering what became his trademark stump speech on the economy and the flat tax, Forbes drew cheers when he offered his now-familiar prescription for the Internal Revenue Service: “Kill it, drive a stake through its heart, bury it, and hope it never rises again.”

The 17% flat tax was backed by “pro-growth” Republicans like former Bush administration official Jack Kemp, but nonetheless drew harsh criticism from Forbes’ Republican opponents during the campaign. Not until this week--after he pulled out of the contest--did Dole speak charitably of the flat tax concept, saying he is now looking “possibly at a single rate” tax plan.

Forbes said he was “encouraged” by Dole’s comment. “Even though it wouldn’t be a pure version, it’s certainly further than he was willing to go a few months ago,” he said.

Asked by a member of the audience if he would be willing to modify his plan so that mortgage interest and charitable contributions can continue to be deducted, the former candidate defended his plan but added: “I put on the table a pure flat tax because I knew if I put in exemptions, it would be killed before it could even be fairly discussed. The political process will make changes in it. I’m a realist enough to know that.”

When Forbes first joined the GOP presidential field last September, political pundits commented on his awkwardness and shyness--traits that gradually disappeared as he became comfortable with campaigning. On Wednesday, he was clearly at ease, even allowing himself to joke: “When I’m elected president. . . .”

And when a Democrat-turned-Republican voter rose to say he still plans to cast his ballot for Forbes on Tuesday, Forbes replied: “Oh, I won’t object.”