President Barack Obama told reporters in Seoul, South Korea that he wished to clarify his position on the expiring Bush tax cuts. He hinted, sad to say, that a deal with Republicans is in the offing. (read Obama Clarifies Tax Cut Position As Hill Dems Look For Deal here).
“Here’s the right interpretation,” Obama told a crowd of reporters on Friday who were eager for clarification about the tax cuts, “I want to make sure that taxes don’t go up for the middle-class families starting on January 1st. That is my number-one priority for those families and for our economy.”
Point #1: Are you going to let the egregious Bush tax cuts expire? Or are you going to bend to the pressure of Republicans and extend tax cuts for the wealthiest families in America? So far, it seems you are, Mr. Obama.
He wants to assure us he’s ‘taking care of’ the American middle class, but by prefacing his answer like this, Americans can be certain Obama plans to do no such thing. This is what I might call, padding the obvious intention behind his next statement:
“…I also believe that it would be fiscally irresponsible for us to permanently extend the high-income tax cuts.”
Point #2: The Bush tax cuts are fiscally irresponsible and contributed to the economic collapse with which America is still struggling (for an in-depth report on why Bush’s tax cuts are insane and will assist to further ruin the United States economy, read Bush’s Tax Cuts; A Form of National Insanity here).
Did I say America’s economy is “struggling” from the Bush tax cuts? I meant, America’s economic situation might be thought of as catatonic (second definition of ‘catatonic’: characterized by a marked lack of movement, activity, or expression; first definition: affected by schizophrenia characterized…by a marked psychomotor disturbance that may involve stupor or mutism, negativism, rigidity….definition here)
Is Obama going to let the disastrous tax cuts expire? With his rhetoric about not ‘permanently’ extending them, it seems he is going to strike a deal with Republicans. Nothing permanent, of course, just for the time being. Just while middle-class America struggles to pay for the nation’s deficit, give the richest families a tax break, but not permanently. Just at the worst economic timing possible. Just when corporate America’s profits are soaring (read Corporate America Keeps Profits Strong, Jobs Weak here).
Don’t expect Obama to stand up against the corporate far-right (read Boehner, Cantor, McConnell…). It sounds like he is going to strike a deal. But what do you expect? The Democrats couldn’t stand up straight even while they controlled both the House and the Senate.
The Obama administration tried to work with the Republicans, but found there was nobody home in the Land of Red. So stop trying to work with them, Mr. Obama. You can’t work with McConnell. You can’t work with Boehner. They are not listening. They are trying to ‘cut off your head’.
Read Dan Rather on MSNBC: Mitch McConnell ‘Wants to Cut Out Obama’s Heart and Feed His Liver to the Dogs’ (here)
Read Eric Cantor Opposes Compromise On Extending Bush Tax Cuts, Says Government Shutdown Will Be Obama’s Fault (here)
If you want to protect the middle class, Barack Obama, stand up to the Republicans. They are not going to work with you, no matter what, no matter if you temporarily extend the Bush tax cuts. They will not be your friends. Be strong. Make a ‘real’ statement on protecting the middle class. Most of us actually depend on you. If you didn’t realize it.
If you didn’t know, 2010 is the Best Year to Die (read here)
