Ok, so I have been working all day, did Obama concede on tax cuts for the rich already?

[usregimechange]

There are conflicting headlines. What's the story? I posted this morning about the need to push back and ask Republicans to give concessions first instead of moving the line before they even attempt an advance.

[Ozymanithrax]

1. No, he is in another country. n/t

[Uben]

2. He most certainly didn't........

.......or maybe he did! Depends.

[usregimechange]

8. Thanks for the clarification!

:hi:

[elleng]

3. There IS no story, just everyone playing their own games, spreading rumors.

[TheWraith]

4. No, they have not and never did.

The Huff Post headlines are a complete lie and misrepresentation. What Axelrod said was that they would CONSIDER a possible compromise. The White House has added that that in no way means a permanent continuation of the top 2% cuts.

[CTyankee]

11. It sounds to me like a trial balloon. See what happens if you float it.

If the backlash is bad, then you oppose it. All the more reason for all of us on DU to CONTACT THE WHITE HOUSE and tell them how you feel.

OK,I'll go first...

[Luminous Animal]

13. Jeesh. Obama has been saying that he would not compromise.

Now, directly after the elections, he is saying that he might compromise. Way to go down without a fight.

[TheWraith]

17. Right, please point me to where Obama said he would never accept any compromise no matter how slight

Oh, wait, you were just blowing smoke. Nevermind.

[gratuitous]

5. The negotiations so far

The tax cuts enacted by the Republicans back in 2001 are due to expire at the end of this year.

"Everyone" says it would horrible, the end of the United States, to let them expire.

Congress can do absolutely nothing, and the cuts would expire without any further action. There's nothing linking any tax cut for one income group with another. Congress could renew the tax cuts for lower income levels (for example) and let the higher income levels go back to where they were in 2001, before we had to pay for two elective invasions and the ongoing occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq, a little matter that has greatly enriched a few people and corporations that just happen to be in the high income level.

Republicans are yammering that if the Democratically controlled Congress doesn't renew all the tax cuts, but only the ones for earnings less than $250,000, it will be the Worst Thing Ever.

The Obama administration has decided to link tax cuts for all income levels, and has negotiated away the possibility of de-linking lower income tax cuts from higher income tax cuts. They've also proposed a two year "temporary" extension of tax cuts for earnings over $250,000, and if you believe that in 2012 the Republicans would allow that "temporary" extension to end, you're smoking something pretty strong.

The Republicans have conceded that they need to do more yammering. The Democrats are trying to figure out if they can concede any more before "negotiations" even begin.

[frylock]

12. excellent summary

[Luminous Animal]

15. "The Democrats are trying to figure out if they can concede any more before "negotiations"... begin

Yep.

[Tx4obama]

6. No. Obama is in India. He'll listen to all sides, that's all we know. n/t

[Bluebear]

14. 'He'll listen to all sides' - that's reassuring.

[apocalypsehow]

7. No. But it was a good day here on DU. n/t.

[coti]

10. Gotta admit, you're doing pretty good conflating the permanent and temporary high-end cuts!

Running some awesome interference, trying to disinform and confuse people!

Great job!

[coti]

9. Yes, because he is only ruling out the PERMANENT top 2% tax cuts.

He left the door open completely, in starting negotiations with the Republicans, to extend the top 2% cuts temporarily.

[Luminous Animal]

16. He led us by the nose and then capitulated without throwing a punch.

On September 7th
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/us/politics/08obama.html?_r=1

"President Obama on Wednesday will make clear that he opposes any compromise that would extend the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy beyond this year, officials said, adding a populist twist to an election-season economic package that is otherwise designed to entice support from big businesses and their Republican allies. "

On September 30th

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/09/obama-team-unveils-white-house-white-board-on-tax-cut-issue/1
The Obama administration has a new audio-visual aid to make its arguments about the George W. Bush tax cuts: The White House White Board.

Austan Goolsbee, the newly installed chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, uses illustrations to argue that a Republican plan to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans would cost the Treasury too much money and would not stimulate the economy.