Obama Says He’s Committed to Middle-Class Tax Cut Extension

[ProSense]

Obama Says He’s Committed to Middle-Class Tax Cut Extension

By Julianna Goldman and Angela Greiling Keane

Nov. 14 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama said he’s committed to extending tax cuts for middle-class Americans by the end of the year and indicated he’s willing to negotiate with Republicans an extension for the country’s highest earners.

“I believe it is a mistake for us to borrow $700 billion to make tax cuts permanent for millionaires and billionaires,” Obama told reporters aboard Air Force One on the return from a 10-day trip to Asia. “It won’t significantly boost the economy and it’s hugely expensive, so we can’t afford it.”

<...>

“There are going to be some disagreements, there may be some need for compromise, but we should be able at least to get through the lame duck making sure that taxes don’t go up for middle class families starting Jan 1., that some of the key business provisions that can assure economic growth get done,” Obama said.

<...>

“I want to hear from them how strongly they feel about it particularly given that they’re also saying they want to control the deficit and debt,” Obama said of Republicans. “If they feel very strongly about it, then I want to get a sense of how they intend to pay for it.”

more

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. WHY IS HE WILLING TO COMPROMISE WITH THOSE THAT ARE COMMITTED TO THIS

BEING HIS ONE AND ONLY TERM IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!!???
Every time he "reaches across the aisle" all he gets for his efforts is a bloody stump!!!!!!!!!!

Tell them to take their "Deals" and shove it up their asses....
Let the repukes be the ones that are known as blocking Middle Class tax cuts!!


DAMN!!!!

[ProSense]

4. Why are you screaming? I'm sure

you've heard by now that he's a Republican.

[BrklynLiberal]

14. Sorry for the screaming. I am just angry about this "compromise" crap!!!

[dkf]

15. Because he doesn't have the votes in the lame duck session much less in the new congress.

[Rageneau]

3. Let the Bush tax-cuts expire -- like they were SUPPOSED to.

The Middle-class "tax cuts" were only included in order to get Congress to pass the tax-cuts for the wealthiest. It is NOT raising taxes to let tax cuts that were always supposed to expire, ex-freakin-spire.

[polichick]

5. We can only hope that, when it actually comes down to it, he'll sign...

...legislation only extending middle class tax cuts - and veto anything with tax cuts for the wealthy. But in choosing the word "committed" he seems to be signaling that he'll sign a bill that extends both. Bad poker and bad politics imo.

[ProSense]

6. He isn't

"signaling that he'll sign a bill that extends both."

He said he's willing to listen:

“I want to hear from them how strongly they feel about it particularly given that they’re also saying they want to control the deficit and debt,” Obama said of Republicans. “If they feel very strongly about it, then I want to get a sense of how they intend to pay for it.”


In fact, challenging Republicans to pay for any extension, likely means that even a temporary extension will not happen.

[polichick]

9. Time will tell. nt

[geek tragedy]

22. 'Committed' means that he'll do what it takes, i.e.

caving to the Republicans, to make it happen.

Sorry, the end-game is obvious. Democratic majorities in House and Senate make their last 'acheivement' a ratification of Bush's tax cuts.

Barf.

[grumgrum]

7. Shame his Decisions are always through Political Lenses insterad of whats best for the Country.

A good leader would understand there is no compromise required for just letting the tax-cuts expire. Speak to the people and let them know that these tax cuts will expire for all and we can move forward with making the economy strong. To even consider a compromise for the wealthiest even during a time when you hold strong majorities in both chambers is yet another example of poor leadership.

The problem with Obama is his decisions are always how it will make him look politically..especially if it makes him look bad with republicans.

This poor approach is a terrible way to govern and as we have seen it ends up where everyone, especially his base, start hating him.

Learn to lead.

[ProSense]

8. Hmmmm?

"Shame his Decisions are always through Political Lenses insterad of whats best for the Country."

Why do you think you know best what's best for the country and the President does not?

Here are other proposals:

Schumer nails it on Face the Nation. Every Democrat should be saying what he's saying right now.

Extend the Bush Tax Cut to the Bottom 99 Percent, But Not The Top 1 Percent

[jefferson_dem]

17. Hey, welcome to DU!

Your concern is coming through loud and clear.

[bigwillq]

19. Hello.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Mass]

10. What is there to listen. They have already said they do not want to compromise.

In any case, cutting the rates for the rich is BAD because it will be done on the back of the middle class, if it is paid for. Compromise for the sake of compromise is not a good thing. If it is a mistake, say you will veto it.

[ProSense]

11. If they don't compromise

the point is moot, the tax cuts expire.

Frankly, I think that's where this is heading.

[de novo]

13. I sure hope so. Let them all expire, and then go from there.

[Name removed]

Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tx4obama]

12. K & R and.....

They should let the BUSH tax cuts expire.
Congress should pass a NEW Obama Tax Cut bill before January (in December) that would go into effect when the Bush ones expire.
I'm tired of hearing the phrase 'Bush tax cuts' --- it's time to have 'Obama tax cuts' ;)

[Clio the Leo]

16. Oh! We dont care what HE says...

... WE know what we THINK he means!

So there! ;)

[Rosa Luxemburg]

18. Yeah baby!

tax the very filthy rich

[craigmatic]

20. They'll just say he raised taxes anyway. I don't see why he doesn't just say fuck it and let the

tax cuts die. He's not going to get the lame duck congress to pass anything. If he does get the tax cuts he wants passed he'll get no credit. Why not just let them expire and put the country on the Clinton tax model and go back to reducing the deficit? I think Obama believes that doing something is always better than doing nothing.

[geek tragedy]

21. In other words, he plans to cave to the Republicans

who don't believe in compromise.

[playstation]

23. Temporary vs Permanent

That's the key. I've got twenty bucks says that tax cuts for the uber rich will be extended.