"Class warfare"..."I wear that charge as a badge of honor."

[itsallhappening]

"'Class warfare,' they say. You know what? If asking a billionaire to pay the same rate as a plumber or a teacher makes me a warrior for the middle class, I wear that charge as a badge of honor."
-President Obama, 9/27/11

Why didn't he accept that badge of honor and not extend the Bush tax cuts in December 2010? He had a chance then not to ask but tell billionaires they were going to pay the same rate as a plumber or a teacher. He chose not to be a "warrior for the middle class."

Since hearing the above quote, I've been wrestling with what he said. I think there's only one answer that makes sense. He's saying that only because the 2012 campaign is underway.

I heard him say things like that in 2008, but he took a pass on living up to that promise the first chance he got. Now that he's saying it again, what should we believe?

[CakeGrrl]

1. Then you must have forgotten the hostage-taking GOP threatening UI benefits

if they didn't get some concession on letting the tax rates return to previous levels.

Funny thing about hostage-takers - they don't care about doing harm. The person on the other side of the "negotiation" DOES care...and gets tagged as the weaker for it. That's crap.

[pansypoo53219]

2. he gave them 1 more year to DISPROVE that job creating BS.

and fucking uncertainty. fuck, we can all be CERTAIN now, tax cuts don't create JOBS! plus help the unemployed.

[Citizen Worker]

3. Beware, Obama is in campaign mode. Should he be re-elected everything he says during this campaign

will be conveniently forgotten just as they were following the '08 campaign.

[BlueMTexpat]

4. Beware also of anti-Dem incumbent posts on a Dem website.

We already have a bought and paid-for M$M. We don't need consistently and constantly to see Obama-bashing posts here.

JMO.

[tallahasseedem]

10. +1

Amazing isn't it?

[Cigar11]

6. Everything?

Hea right ... you just go ahead to Vote your conscience ... please.

Meanwhile, there are many who received continued unemployment when they really needed it.
Meanwhile, ask the auto industry who's their buddy.
Meanwhile, the uninsured will finally have hope.
Meanwhile, if you're an American Soldier you now have a date with your family.
Meanwhile, if you're Gay in America, you have someone who gives a shit representing you.
Meanwhile, if you're Old, you have a President who will not screw you.

I can go on, but you get the point.

[BzaDem]

5. Maybe because he didn't want to see $2000 taken from families of 4 at the poverty line in the middle

of a recession?

Letting the tax cuts on the rich expire would have been fine. They weren't going to spend the money. The problem was that this wasn't an option by itself. The economy needs to be doing better if it is going to withstand the 3.2 trillion hit it would take if the tax cuts for the NON-rich expired.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. We also would not have had DADT repealed, the START Treaty, and extension of unemployment

benefits.

How soon the ODSers forget this. Too busy blaming the man rather than the Republicans who obstructed everything!!!

[phleshdef]

8. You are dead wrong in every single way. The Bush tax cut extension was because of middle class needs

You don't really need this explained to you. But the deal was made so that middle class tax levels would stay stable and so that unemployment would be extended.

And the past year has shown us that he made the right decision. This Republican Congress would very possibly not have extended unemployment. They nearly let us default on our debt, you think they give a shit about helping the unemployed?

If you think that middle class tax stability and unemployment aren't huge middle class issues, then you understand nothing about the middle class economy.

[mkultra]

9. its Math Warefare

[lunatica]

11. Here's another thread where you can educate yourself a little concerning facts

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x772937

[Cherchez la Femme]

12. Yep

His campaign patter and actual governing mode are diametrically opposite. He's in campaign mode now.

This "class warfare" bit reminds me of his 'comfortable shoes' pro-union pledge.

[Tarheel_Dem]

13. Kick

:dem: