Politico: "Obama has reversed pledges to immediately repeal tax cuts for the wealthy" (debunked)

[ProSense]

Really?

by Jed L
Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:48:44 PM PST

Politico's Carol E. Lee and Nia-Malika Henderson make the following claim:

Obama has reversed pledges to immediately repeal tax cuts for the wealthy

I'd like to see evidence of him making such a pledge, because I haven't found it. The closest that I've seen is this op-ed by Jason Furman and Austan Goolsbee, but it doesn't say anything about 'immediate' repeal.

If I recall correctly, since early 2007 Obama has supported repealing the tax cuts by allowing them to expire. A review of 11 New York Times articles ranging from April 21, 2007 to October 19, 2008 support my recollection, but perhaps there's something I'm missing.

If so, I'd love to have someone explain it to me. Otherwise, it's time to stop pushing this narrative.

Here's the list of articles:

April 21, 2007:

Senator Barack Obama (Ill.): let cuts expire for households earning more than $250,000.

May 30, 2007:

Mr. Obama would pay for his plan by not renewing President Bush's tax cuts for the most affluent Americans -- those making more than $250,000 a year -- when they expire at the end of 2010, aides said.

more

Eleven articles from April 21, 2007 to October 19, 2008.

[Lithos]

1. That is all I remember as well

He was always "let them expire" and "do not renew" for these things.

Truthfully, the political capital which would have to be expended is pretty severe and I would rather he use it for health care or fixing some of the other more broken things the Republicans have done.

[bluestateguy]

3. Thank you for your intelligent point

Too many people here did not understand that, and they were screaming bloody murder that the tax cuts for the rich would not be repealed on January 20.

A repeal in 2009 would require a congressional vote, meaning that Members would have to cast a yes or no vote to raise taxes back up to year 2000 levels. Now imagine how much those roll call votes can be distorted by an opponent's 30 second ad in 2010 (cue the gloomy music and the annoying narrator...).

Instead, the tax cuts simply expire in 2010, with no congressional vote (Reid and Pelosi will quietly disallow roll call votes to make the tax cuts permanent) and nobody's fingerprints will be on the whole thing.

I think it's brilliant.

[polichick]

2. Yep, that's what he said.

[JuniperLea]

4. That's how I remember it...

I guess there are a lot of people who just flat did not pay attention to what he was actually saying.

[tyne]

5. This should be kicked

because it's important to set this record straight....now.

[JuniperLea]

10. I agree...

And politico is on my last nerve. I'm about to deem them an unreliable source, personally.

[Historic NY]

6. Kicked & recommended..........

its actually what he said the options were let them expire or try to pass legislation. With all the other things happening letting them expire is probably the most expedient. Its also smarter and easier to justify.

[OhioBlue]

7. k&r - that's how I understood it. n/t

[annabanana]

8. One again that "librul media" ran away with a phony, ass-pulled story

because it was "conventional wisdom".. a good sound bite... sounded like it MIGHT be true.

What a load of lazy slobs.. No wonder they are sliding down the irrelevancy chute..

[FrenchieCat]

9. Some folks even said that him repealing those tax cuts was the "centerpiece" of his campaign.....

yep, they made that shit up.

The centerpiece (and he had quite a few, see energy) of Obama's campaign apart from bringing change on how we do business in Washington, was a Middle Class tax cut.

The fact that he said that he would pay for it via reverting the tax rates of those making over $250,000 to what they were under Clinton was just that....a way to pay for his centerpiece proposal.

[Thrill]

11. People can't wait to get Obama with a 'gotcha'

[Uzybone]

12. The selective history of Politico strikes again

Obama never said he would repeal the tax cuts immediately. It is much wiser to let them expire.