When Deficits Don't Matter: GOP Insists On Tax Cuts For The Wealthy

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 11:04:28 AM EST
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HuffPo:

"If what it takes to prevent a tax hike is to start with two years, if that's what it takes to talk Democrats out of raising taxes, that would be a good start," said Don Stewart, [GOP Leader Sen. Mitch] McConnell's communications director. "But we're not for raising taxes in two years.The most important thing is to prevent a tax hike in the middle of a recession," Stewart added. "This should be done for as long as possible, but a 2-year freeze at the current rate, if that's what it takes to prevent a Democrat tax hike, would certainly be preferable to an immediate tax hike on every taxpaying American."

Cutting taxes for the wealthy as proposed by the Republicans would cost $700 billion over 10 years. See when deficits don't matter? When it involves tax cuts for the wealthy. Where's Pete Peterson on this?

Also, if Republicans want to cut taxes for 98% of Americans, they can support the Obama tax cuts for the middle class. They don't. They only care about tax cuts for the wealthy.

Speaking for me only

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When Deficits Don't Matter: GOP Insists On Tax Cuts For The Wealthy | 11 comments (11 topical)

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Well we'll see in November... (5.00 / 3) (#2)
by magster on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 11:53:56 AM EST

... if 2 months of populism is enough to counteract 2 years of broken promises.

color me stunned............not! (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by cpinva on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 12:16:58 PM EST

actually, this has been basic republican philosophy since reagan, so there's nothing new or surprising here.

what would be surprising (stunning, really) would be for obama to actually let only the top two tiers of marginal rates expire. in other words, show some backbone.

i'll not be holding my breath.

I think I'll start calling them the (5.00 / 4) (#9)
by Anne on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 12:35:34 PM EST

"Obama" tax cuts when they actually ARE the Obama tax cuts; until then, they're just talk. And if I were a betting person, I would bet that they will only happen IF they are an across-the-board extension, not limited to everyone but the top 2%.

Interesting though, that calling them the Obama tax cuts creates the illusion - just in time for the mid-terms - that Obama - and Democrats - actually care about the financial woes of the masses; there isn't much in anything they have produced over the course of the last 20 months that supports that mindset, so the timing is more than a little convenient.

Since it is unlikely to expect any action before the election, it remains to be seen how this populist ownership of the tax cuts as "Obama's" will actually shake out; unless Obama dissolves the Cat Food Commission in the next little while, I think the populism he is artificially and disingenuously creating today will evaporate in a NY minute come commission recommendation time - but since the goal isn't really to help us, as much as it is to save their own jobs, they can and will say whatever it takes to get the votes in November.

And it is still avoiding the essential truth that tax cuts aren't going to help create jobs and demand for products and services - not when so many aren't even paying taxes because they aren't earning any income to pay taxes on.

"Obama's" tax cuts, my a$$.

: And they are not even really tax cuts. (none / 0) (#10)
by Buckeye on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 12:52:55 PM EST

Obama could decide to let the current tax rates expire thus raising taxes on everyone. Or he could support policy that keeps them the same for the middle class but lets them be increased for the wealthy. The middle class is either going to keep the same rates they have had over the last 10 years or see them increase, they are not going down.

Well (none / 0) (#1)
by Jackson Hunter on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 11:48:40 AM EST

the sun did rise in the East this morning didn't it? :) Bush said it best in regards to the Regressive base, "the Haves and the Have mores." They'd take the pennies off of a dead bum's eyes and give it to a Billionaire if they could. It is their only focus. Which is why we can't keep trying to "comprimise" with them, they and their wretched philosophy must be completely invalidated. Of course it pretty much already is, but we keep throwing them a life jacket instead of an anchor.

Jackson

: OMG You are right (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by Militarytracy on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 12:19:37 PM EST

You can't compromise with people who really do have a corporate business plan for taking the pennies off of a dead bum's eyes.

Repubs won't call it that though (none / 0) (#5)
by ruffian on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 12:21:56 PM EST

They'll say they don't want anyone's taxes raised. As usual, they have a much simpler argument than the Dems. Dem's won't counteract that with 'we only want to raise taxes on the rich' for fear of being called class warriors.

I truly fear the horrible Orzag plan will win. Kick the can down the road another two years. Dems are spineless.

"Obama tax cuts"?? (none / 0) (#6)
by coast on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 12:22:00 PM EST

n/t

Yep (none / 0) (#7)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 12:23:05 PM EST

: Excellent framing. (none / 0) (#8)
by coast on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 12:24:28 PM EST

n/t

true. (none / 0) (#11)
by cpinva on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 01:25:00 PM EST

but since the goal isn't really to help us, as much as it is to save their own jobs, they can and will say whatever it takes to get the votes in November.

but, as that well known, ancient greek philosopher, BTD, once opined:

pols are pols, and they do what they do.