On October 20, 2010, I sat in the Portland Convention Center and listenede to Barack Obama promise not to renew the Bush Tax Cuts for people earning over $250,000. When he caved in, I felt thoroughly disheartened. I understand that Republicans were using terrorist tactics holding the needs of millions of Americans hostage in several areas to allow them to protect 1% greed. I realize that Obama’s motives for caving-in were good ones. Nevertheless, I believe his decision was a mistake, because giving into terrorism just instigates mere terrorism. Here we go again!
President Obama on Monday will propose a one-year extension of the Bush-era tax cuts for people earning less than $250,000, his latest election-year effort to appeal to middle-class voters.
The president will make the announcement during a Rose Garden event, joined by families and workers who would benefit from the initiative, White House officials said.
The move is likely to set up another standoff with Republicans in Congress, who support extending the tax cuts permanently for all income levels, not just those earning less than $250,000 per year.
But the White House is calculating that forcing the GOP to reject the president’s proposal would put Republican lawmakers in a difficult position at a time when many Americans are struggling in a tough economy.
“President Obama today will push for extension of middle class tax cuts,” White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer wrote on his Twitter account Monday morning. “Will the GOP join him to provide certainty for 98% of Americans?” … [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Washington Post>
The answer to that question is obvious. With the 1% getting 150% more than the bottom 80% combined, there is no way in hell Republicans will fail to protect the 1%. To do so would be a violation of the Gospel according to Saint Grover, Supply-side Jesus’ apostle of greed.
However, Republicans are offering a counter proposal.
The Senate’s top Republican renewed an offer today to President Obama over the George W. Bush-era tax cuts, due to expire at the end of the year.
"What we ought to be doing is extend the current tax rates for another year with a hard requirement to get through comprehensive tax reform one more time," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaking on CNN’s State of the Union.
President Obama and aides have shown little interest in a one-year extension, saying the Bush tax rates should be extended for middle-class Americans but ended this year for the wealthiest… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <USA Today>
Now, let’s sort out the meaning of this deceptive Republi-speak. When Bought Bitch Mitch says comprehensive tax reform, he means raising taxes on the poor and cutting taxes for the 1% and corporate criminals. So the deal he offers, in short, that in return for us allowing a tax cut for the rich, Republicans will agree to mandate an even bigger tax cut for the rich and a tax increase for the poor.
Therefore, the only compromise we could see is another cave-in. I seriously hope that does not happen.
The Bush Tax Cuts expire at the end of this year. Mr. President, if you cannot extend my tiny tax cut without extending the huge tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, then let them all expire. I’d rather have my taxes go up.
18 Responses to “The Tax Cut Fight Returns”
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"The Bush Tax Cuts expire at the end of this year. Mr. President, if you cannot extend my tiny tax cut without extending the huge tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, then let them all expire. I’d rather have my taxes go up."
Let the Tax Cuts Expire…
We agree.
The Citizens for Tax Justice dug into the numbers to create a handy chart that documents what the Repubicans are fighting for is … oh, take a guess.
RIGHT! THE SUPER-RICH!
There's virtually not a hair's difference between the Obama Plan and the GOP Plan until you get to the top ONE PER-CENTERS.
And then the Repubicans want to give the already rich an EXTRA $50,000 tax cut.
So the battle is solely the Repubicans wanting to help those who need NO help.
Here's the Chart documenting the numbers:
http://inlinethumb20.webshots.com/51411/2692449270082084340S600x600Q85.jpg
And here's the Source [PDF]:
http://www.ctj.org/bushtaxcuts2012/us.pdf
Great information Nameless. Thanks
You're most welcome.
It's just SO frustrating that so many Americans are suckered by the right-wing spiel into voting AGAINST their very own interests.
Some of it is just not paying attention …
Some of it is just plain stupidity (sorry to be so blunt) …
But sadly, a good deal of it is (and I never noticed this before) but Pres. Obama is …
… BLACK!
There is no room for racism in this day and age! Having said that, some people are so clannish that they will not recognise anyone from another clan — whether an ethnic, religious, cultural or … clan. I think that you are right that Mr Obama being black is a problem for some.
Tell you what, you take Stephen Harper, (I'll throw in his harlots for free) and we'll take Mr Obama!
You get a pasty white guy, we get someone we can respect!
He is?!!? Dang! Well, he might have told us! 😉
Great links, Nameless. In fact, I almost used that one instead of the pie chart.
When you look at the pie chart and realise that the top 20% of the population (using income as the marker) received 74.7% of the Bush tax cuts, you realise just how obscene these cuts were.
And there is just no way that Jabber Jowls McConnell is going to let this pass. He is one of many bought and paid for political whores for the 1%! McConnell may make a counter proposal, but guaranteed it will be a death knell to the middle and poor classes if it passes. Democrats must do everything possible to push this forward, but if that is impossible, then let the tax cuts die and let the Republican/Teabaggers take the heat. Unfortunately, there will be heat all around but the truth has to get out.
Even more obscene the bottom 40% of Americans own 0.2% of the wealth.
Thank you TC—ewxcellent article and comments are great
YVW, Phyllis!
You know TC, every time you use that picture of McConnell I just have to laugh almost uncontrollably! That is the headshot only but I remember the picture too well. McConnell was making some announcement with two guys standing behind him. I said then, and still believe, that one or both of the other men were giving McConnell a wedgie and he was enjoying it way too much! I think his shorts were too tight and it was cutting off the blood flow to his brain.
Thanks for the laugh again!
I know the picture.
I'm with you , Tom. If they won't agree to extending the tax cuts for only those making under $250,000, then let them all expire. The Bush tax cuts did not make much difference for the majority of the people but those at the top got much richer.
Thanks, Patty.
If Obama wins you will not see the Bush taxes keep going. He did not want to do in 2010 but he was the president and had to think about everyone. Sure it was not alot maybe just a few $. I believe it does made a difference in someones life. And with how we already going thru a recession. It made sense to me. But now it time to rebuild and we all must but that extra dollar in the pot to help. And even the poor will put that 10 cents in. It's the trop % who would rather not. And if Romney and his side kick money take the White House the Bush tax cuts will live for ever. And our country will just fall apart. The rich will get richer the poor will get poorer and the middle class will become no more.
Of Course the GOP/Tea Party will not do anythiing to help the middle class or poor. But Obama call them out. We have a choice which way we go. Forward or Backward I believe the democrats have best reason to get out and vote. I also believe Obama/Biden will win. Nothing in life is easy but if you stay and fight the rewards will be great.
As I have said, if they all expire, we can replace them with cuts for the poor and middle classes only.