Bush Argues For Kerry's Tax Cut

[DrFunkenstein]

INSANA: With respect to the condition of the jobless right now, there
is, obviously, as you said earlier, a lagging effect on employment. It
will not kick in until the economy is on a sustainable growth path. If
that starts to happen soon, how many jobs do you hope to create over
the next year or so? One of your would-be rivals, John Kerry, said he
wanted to get three million jobs back in the first 500 days.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Yeah. Look, my attitude is, so long as somebody wants
to work and can't find a job, that means we've got a problem. And so
rather than in quantifying numbers, all I want to do is create
conditions necessary so that all eligible people can find work. And
I'm optimistic that that'll happen. I'm much more optimistic today
than I was a year ago.

And what I said in my speech is that the economy is remarkable, the
American economy when you think about it, particularly in the context
of the world economy. I mean, we are "the" economy right now. We're
strong, and healthy, and vibrant, in spite of the fact that we have
had an emergency, the attack of September the 11th, we've been at war,
we've had corporate scandals. We've overcome a lot, which is another
reason why I'm optimistic, beside just the numbers. I know where we
have been and where we are going.

INSANA: Now, you said (inaudible) some people who criticize tax cuts,
who criticize the size of the deficit, and suggested that those are
not problems for the economy, the tax cuts aren't a problem, even
though your critics say that it's been a restraint on growth rather
than a stimulant. Can you tell the American people how those factors
have helped rather--

PRESIDENT BUSH: Sure. Well, first of all, when a person has more money
in their pocket, they're likely to demand a good or a service, and
when they demand a good or a service in a marketplace economy,
somebody's going to produce the good or service, and when somebody
produces that good or service to match the enhanced demand somebody's
more likely to find work.

I can't imagine anybody saying if we raised taxes that would encourage
economic growth. I'm not sure what school they come from. I know that
by these tax stimulations that we put out there, has not only created
more consumer confidence but it's created demand, additional demand,
and that's very positive. It's like low interest rates have created,
helped to create demand for housing.

There are things we can do to create the condition necessary for
economic growth, and I can't imagine anybody articulating a policy
that says as the economy is recovering, let's raise taxes.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030905/55357_1.html

Can you imagine the debate Bush would have with Kerry about the "average" tax cut?

If Bush is basing his tax cut argument on consumer spending he's sunk. If he's basing it on business re-investment, then Kerry has tax credits set up specifically for job creation and re-investment. Bush's cuts have ZERO strings attached to jobs or company investment. Kerry has even greater incentives for small businees to do the same.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. Anyone who prefers to say: "good or service" 3 times in succesion

when the word "product" would suffice is obviously straining very, very, hard to sound smart, although it unfortunately has the opposite effect.

[DrFunkenstein]

2. Or Trying Very Hard To Remember What His Coaches Told Him

He has to include services in there so no one mistakes him for creating jobs in manufacturing.

[AP]

3. If you think Kerry's nod to progressive taxation and Bush's

worshipping at the altar of regressive taxation camoflauged with mild statements like these are the same position, then I worry about the ability of my fellow democrats to support policy which will actually make America a better place.

[DrFunkenstein]

4. Um, Actually, I Was Being Ironic

My point was that Bush tries to sound like he is for progressive taxation, Kerry actually proposes progressive taxation. Kerry will let people who make less than $200,000 keep their checks to stimulate the economy, while making those living "comfortably" send it back to the government for revenue.

Now, can you imagine if Bush had to go to the debate against Kerry on the reality of the "average" tax cuts? Kerry's going to tear him a new one!

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