Dem Rapid Response: It's A Simple Question Mr. Boehner, Are The Bush Tax Cuts Paid For?

[Turborama]

Run time: 02:00 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv8lXO9u3Jo   Posted on YouTube: August 08, 2010 By YouTube Member: DemRapidResponse Views on YouTube: 71   Posted on DU: August 08, 2010 By DU Member: Turborama Views on DU: 2515

 
MR. GREGORY: Let's talk about it. It's interesting, you talk about the importance of cutting the debt, the importance of cutting government spending, and you worry about the Democrats raising taxes. The Bush--the Obama administration wants to extend the Bush tax cuts only for those who make less than $250,000, and he wants to let them expire for those wealthy Americans making more than that.

You're opposed to that. You want to extend the tax cuts, and the Republican leadership does. But Alan Greenspan, who was on this program last week, chairman of the Federal Reserve, said that's the wrong idea. Here's what he said.

(Videotape, last Sunday)

DR. ALAN GREENSPAN: Look, I'm very much in favor of tax cuts, but not with borrowed money. And the problem that we've gotten into in recent years is spending programs with borrowed money, tax cuts with borrowed money, and at the end of the day that proves disastrous.

And my view is I don't think we can play subtle policy here.

MR. GREGORY: You don't agree with Republican leaders who say tax cuts pay for themselves.

DR. GREENSPAN: They do not.

(End videotape)

MR. GREGORY: Leader Boehner, he puts it right to you.

REP. BOEHNER: The only way we're going to get our economy going again and solve our budget problems is to get the economy moving, get more people back to work where they can care for their own families and begin to expand the tax rolls to bring more revenue to the federal government. And what we have to do is we have to get our arms around the spending spree that's going on in Washington, D.C.



MR. GREGORY: But Leader Boehner...

REP. BOEHNER: That's the only way we solve the budget problems.

MR. GREGORY: ...I'm sorry, you're--that--you're not, you're not being responsive to a specific point, which is how can you be for cutting the deficit and also cutting taxes, as well, when they're not paid for?

REP. BOEHNER: Listen, you can't raise taxes in the middle of a weak economy without risking the double-dip in this recession.

President Obama's favorite Republican economist, Mark Zandi, came out several weeks ago and made it clear that raising taxes at this point in, in the economy is a very bad idea.

MR. GREGORY: But do you agree that tax cuts cannot be paid for...

REP. BOEHNER: You cannot balance the budget without a...

MR. GREGORY: But tax cuts are not paid for, is that correct?

REP. BOEHNER: I am not for raising taxes on the American people in a soft economy.

MR. GREGORY: That's not the question, Leader Boehner. The question...

REP. BOEHNER: And the people that the president wants to tax...

MR. GREGORY: ...is, are tax cuts paid for or not?


REP. BOEHNER: Listen, what you're trying to do is get into this Washington game and their funny accounting over there. You cannot get the economy going again by raising taxes on those people who we expect to create jobs in America and to get the economy going again. If we want to solve the budget problem, we've got to have a healthy economy and we have to get our arms around the runaway spending that's going on in Washington, D.C.

MR. GREGORY: I just want to clarify this. I mean, if you--I'm relying on what Chairman Greenspan said. Maybe--if you're accusing him of funny Washington games. He says that tax cuts that aren't paid for are not--they are not cutting the deficit, that they are not actually paid for, it's borrowed money. And so do you believe tax cuts pay for themselves or not?

REP. BOEHNER: I do believe that we've got to get more money in the hands of small businesses and American families to get our economy going again, and the only way to get that economy going again is to do that and to get our arms around the spending.

More video and transcript here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38593566/ns/meet_the_press-transcripts

[EFerrari]

1. Thanks so much for putting this up.

Now, I'm going to force myself to watch him.

lol

:hi:

[Turborama]

4. You're welcome, at least with the transcript people get the option

I can't stand watching him myself but I enjoyed seeing him getting owned in this one.

BTW do you think he's had his wrinkles botoxed out on his forehead? It looks unnaturally smooth.

:hi:

[EFerrari]

2. This is ot but damn, I wish I could get a shine like that on my copper pots.

:rofl:

[gateley]

16. Bwah! That's funny! nt

[stopbush]

3. The bush tax cuts are in place NOW. So, why are they NOT creating jobs NOW?

Why are they NOT stimulating the economy NOW?

[gateley]

17. "Because of the runaway spending in Washington DC" -- I'm channeling

Boehner. I know it doesn't make any sense or answer the question. That's my point.

He was so NOT responding to the question that it almost became uncomfortable to watch.

[bulloney]

18. That's what every reporter should be asking.

The Bush tax cuts have been in place for several years. During that time, we've had the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression. It should be so natural to ask a Boehner or whomever that question whenever they throw that bullshit out about Obama raising taxes or the Democrats allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire.

The fact that they don't ask it speaks volumes on the lack of journalistic integrity in our media.

[activa8tr]

19. Gregory is too stupid to ask a question as good as yours! n/t

[Blacksheep214]

32. Slam Dunk!

Answer the question asshole!

We need to keep asking this question through the election so people can see what tap dancing and obfuscating really is all about!

C'mon Boehner, lie to us some more!

[State the Obvious]

5. Actually ask a Republican a question....and INSIST on an answer?

....and NOT allow them to wiggle out of it? Now that's a novel approach! :sarcasm: Let's use it.

When a Republican talks about extending the Bush tax cuts...ask them......Have the original Bush tax cuts been paid for?

(Sit back and watch them squirm.)

[JJW]

6. Crickets

If politicians from DC are so keen on reduction the deficit, why don't they cut their wages. It's always cutting stuff for the poor and children. Never salaries, or military funding.

[EC]

7. He's panicked...

that's good, he knows they are losing.

[earthcurves]

8. Man, that dude is seriously

orange.

[Donnachaidh]

14. his mother was an oompa loompa

hence the color and the bushie brows.

[activa8tr]

20. I am against Orange people in Congress...whites reds blacks and yellows, OK, but

Orange people are definitely sub-human in the logic department.

[State the Obvious]

24. It is a distraction.....

....Welcome to DU...

:hi:

[davidhilton]

9. He acts like a robot.

[davidhilton]

10. "We've got to get the economy going . . . we nee a healthy economy . . .

He just keeps repeating the same shallow & vague line after line - what a joke.

[activa8tr]

21. Sadly, many voters go only as shallow as he goes, I'm afraid.

This is the same voodoo economics and smoke screen that got Republicans elected since Reagan in 1980.

We need a new tool to fight this slime talking point. How about we ask the rich to pay back the loan we gave them in tax breaks since 2001, the loan to them that produced so few jobs. Pay back the money taxpayers gave you rich folks and you rich folks gave it away to off-shore outsourcing, cheap goods from overseas, lack of investments in our schools, roads, trains, air traffic, security, healthcare, etc.

[onethatcares]

27. you have hit the proverbial nail on the head.

those same tax cuts could fund employment in our schools, roads, trains, air traffic, security, and healthcare. What is so hard to see in that?

[gadjitfreek]

11. Yay, Captain Orange is at it again!!!

Orange you glad he was elected to the House? Orange you glad he represents the greediest sector of our nation? Orange you glad that he keeps doggedly pursuing the politics of fear, hate, aggression and greed? Orange you glad the video ended?

[activa8tr]

22. Wish I had seen your comment before posting mine above about Orange

people, and how I don't think they are human, nor are they humane. This one Orange person proves my point.

[Plucketeer]

12. I think this vid proves what I've suspected for some time....

If Boehner were to let truth come out of his oral cavity, his teeth would fall out and his lips would rot off. Picture the possessed gal in The Exorcist - sitting there with her head spinning completely around and spewing vile, green barf. That's what might happen to ol' Copper Top.

[activa8tr]

23. Man, I am glad I didn't see that movie, your image makes me shudder almost as

much as the nightmare of seeing Boehner on my TV for the next two years as House Speaker.

[CLANG]

13. I agree with one thing he said

That we need to get money into the hands of those that create the jobs. Then why did the pukes vote against the bill to help small business owners, which create the majority of jobs in this nation? Just because a person has a household income of $250,000, means squat to job creation unless they actually run a business. Boner is a liar and is staunchly un-American.

And as someone already pointed out - why did the tax cuts for the rich fail in creating ANY jobs at all over 8 years? Greedy bastards care nothing about the United States of America. They only care about the united state of their wallets.

[Ishoutandscream2]

15. Way to play journalist, Stretch!

Maybe he watched old videos of Edward Murrow.

[midnight]

25. Boehner refuses to deal with the selfish notion that tax cuts do not pay for themselves.

[MissMillie]

26. Why Why Why Why Why????????

Why hasn't anyone AT ALL, called out Boehner and the GOP on the lie that taxes hinder a recover?

Ronald Reagan signed the single largest tax increase in 1982....

[breadandwine]

28. Dem rapid response is bullsh*t. Who watches this outside the progressive internet?

When is the rapid response going to hit TV sports games in bars in the midwest?

That's what counts.

Till then the Democratic party continues to shoot with blanks.

There is no ad buy in this.

It's not going to reach the people we need to see it.

[Turborama]

29. I suppose according to that logic Think Progress is "Bullshit" too?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8904987

[breadandwine]

34. Progressive websites give progressives information.

But by themselves they do not reach the average middle American who is internet illiterate.


How much money does Think Progress have compared to the Democratic National Committee which can put ads on television?

There are millions of people in this country who are UNTOUCHED by the internet. When are we going to reach THEM? Evidently never.

[Turborama]

35. Has campaign season properly started yet?

I strongly suspect they have a lot of great ammo just waiting for when it does.

[big lu]

30. k&r

[livingonearth]

31. Why do they always say "those people who we expect to create jobs"?

They (the GOP) always act like we should be bowing down to some small minority of rich people that are supposedly creating all of the jobs for us lowly peasants in this country. Who are these assholes of economic feudalism, holding jobs over our heads till they see if the Bush tax cuts get an extend. It's as if Boehner is saying just kiss the rich people's asses and they will create you a job. Well Boehner, I don't bow! I'll create my own job if I have to. I just don't want to have to do it in a bankrupted third world country created by your rich friends holding out for more of the pie.

:rofl:
My spell check wants me to change Boehner to boner!

[SILVER__FOX52]

33. This guy is a joke.............

Now you see me, now you don't. He will never answer that question, because he knows the truth. If these tax cuts worked, then why is the economy in a ditch and why is the middle class disappearing. On what rational basis can he argue that this is what is needed to get us out of this REPUBLICAN, depression. He essentually saying this is what I "feel", not what I know and he's lying. What a maroon, as bugs bunny, would say. Ohio..............for the love of God, fire this guy!

[olegramps]

36. It is simple: Republicans are the enemy of the Republic.

[KansDem]

37. Hey, Boehner! You're 30 years behind the times!

We tried this already! Remember? "Trickle-down?" Goddammit, we tried this already! It didn't work. Savvy? IT DIDN'T WORK!!! So cut the "broken-record" routine.

It didn't work 30 years ago, and it's not going to work now...

[harun]

38. Shame on the dolts that vote for this dolt.

[yeswecanandwedid]

39. This guy is a big bag of fail. nt