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House Democrats Rip Obama's Tax Cut Deal
WASHINGTON -- House Democrats gathered in the Capitol Tuesday evening to debate the tax-cut deal President Barack Obama struck with Republicans, but as it turned out, they were already in agreement to an extent rarely seen on the left side of the lower chamber.
Across the board, Democrats who attended the meeting said, Obama's deal was deemed too costly, too tilted toward the rich and too much of a cave to Republicans.
"The wealthiest few in the country come out like gangbusters," said Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), a Blue Dog who said he would oppose the deal. Many other Blue Dogs, Pomeroy said, would also vote down the package, on the grounds that it adds heavily to the debt.
Even if every House Republican signs on, Obama needs 39 Democrats to vote to extend the tax cuts for the wealthy. "I don't think the president should count on Democratic votes to get this passed," Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) said.
Told that Obama had compared liberal unrest with the deal with progressive anger at the dropping of the public health insurance option, Weiner said he also saw a similarity. "If you don't fight for something, you can't expect to get it," he said.
House Democratic leaders huddled with Vice President Joe Biden over the weekend to discuss the strategy required to pass such an unpopular piece of legislation, HuffPost reported earlier this week. Of the 51 Blue Dogs, roughly half are lame ducks, having lost reelection or retired. Corralling those outgoing members will be key to Obama's success, but Pomeroy said the president has a steep hill to climb.
Biden met with Senate Democrats earlier Tuesday and found hostility to the deal, but only two members spoke out aggressively, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) said.
The vice president is slated to try to persuade House Democrats Wednesday, but is unlikely to find a receptive audience given Tuesday night's meeting.
"Suffice it to say there was an awful lot of things expressed, pro and con, but at the core was a deep and abiding concern by a number of members that this was not a good deal," House Caucus Chair John Larson (D-Conn.) said. "We're fortunate that we have tomorrow to continue to listen to the White House."
In that time, Larson said, the House will also demand changes. "There was an awful lot of determination for the House to work its will" in Tuesday night's meeting, he said.
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said that opposition was coming "from all stripes" within the Democratic caucus.
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), a former CPC co-chair, said she was also voting no. "It's not very popular with Democrats, I can tell you that," she said.
If the Senate manages to pass the Obama-McConnell deal, one of Nancy Pelosi's last acts as House Speaker of the 111th Congress will be to gather support for the package, but she doesn't seem happy about it.
"Republicans have held the middle class hostage for provisions that benefit only the wealthiest 3 percent, do not create jobs, and add tens of billions of dollars to the deficit," Pelosi (D-Calif.) has said regarding the deal. "To add insult to injury, the Republican estate tax proposal would help only 39,000 of America's richest families, while adding about $25 billion more to the deficit."
Leaving Tuesday night's meeting, Pelosi diplomatically acknowledged "unease" among her caucus.
Democrats are also concerned about the temporary 2-percent cut to Social Security taxes included as part of the deal. If the tax cut becomes permanent -- as tax cuts often do -- Social Security will be deprived of revenue at a time when it is under heavy assault from deficit hawks.
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53 Comments so far
Show AllThe payroll "tax holiday" is stupidity beyond belief, even for these lickspittle Dims.
This will just subsidize corporations, who won't have to actually give COLA raises, since employees will see their take-home pay rise anyway.
Also, future benefits are determined by lifetime contributions, so lowering the payroll tax will reduce future amounts these workers will receive under SS monthly payments.
The beginning of the end of SS, which I always feared would be the result with electing Obama or Hillary as president. (Only Nixon Could Go to China syndrome).
Contact your members of Congress and tell them to vote against Obama's regressive agenda.
I did that both yesterday and the day before. I spoke with pleasant, young-sounding men and women all of whom assured me that they would pass my message along. BTW, my Rep. is a MN blue dog, and well, you know who MN's Senators are. The calls were not toll free, so it probably cost me a buck, three eighty. Cheap, and effective.
So do it now! Everyone!
Yes the payroll tax holiday is more of the same nonsense that got us into this mix of assuming tax cuts will stimulate the economy. I do not need a $2000 social security break to create
insolvency for my kids social security. Putting a few more
bucks into the pockets of those who still have jobs is not
going to help the millions unemployed.
For that we should be raising taxes on the rich, financial speculation tax to get revenues to restore all public transit
operations cut, run trains or light rail on existing rails all
over this country, run shuttles (electric vehicles if we want!)
to connect to public transit.
Have a goal to cut 5% of cars off the road annually and
instead fund public transit with an increased gas tax.
Green investments in solar panels on every roof, insulation
for all buildings, windmills, R&D on new storage technologies
to help smooth out the spikiness of renewable power.
We know what we have to do, it is has been known since Jimmy Carter.
So just do it!
THAT will create jobs and put the unemployed back to work and
not just anxiously endlessly searching for jobs that never come.
The funding cut for social security won't JUST "create insolvency for my kids social security", it will affect yours and mine as well.
Now that Obama's catfood commission's efforts to start unravelling Social Security have stalled, Obama and Republicans are implementing this back door attempt to satrt the unravelling and assure the death of social security by a thousand cuts whereby each year another salvo is thrown at social security until 20 years from now the program has so little value left in it that Americans will beg Congress to get rid of it. The few Americans who are still getting value out of Social Security at that point will be outvoted by the majority who don't.
This is a very rare moment of good news! Could it be that all the Repugs will vote for the Obama Betrayal Tax Plan only to have it defeated by his own party?
I am not holding my breath but I find myself in the most dangerous of positions -- holding a tiny ray of hope that a few Democrats get the problems. Is it possible?
10 to 15 years ago Obama would have been a registered Republican (openly, not in secret) with the policy positions he supports.
-- Zagone
"10 to 15 years ago Obama would have been a registered Republican (openly, not in secret) with the policy positions he supports."
In Nixon's day, Obama would have been considered a right-wing batty Republican, far too extreme to be electable.
Yes, Obama would have made Barry Goldwater look like a centrist.
"This is a very rare moment of good news! Could it be that all the Repugs will vote for the Obama Betrayal Tax Plan only to have it defeated by his own party?"
Yes, and this is the end of Obama!
There used to be the requirement that tax legislation must
originate in the House of Representatives.
They also used to calculate benefits based on fourteen highest quarters.
""The wealthiest few in the country come out like gangbusters," said Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), a Blue Dog who said he would oppose the deal. "
Up is down, out is in, right is wrong, Blue Dogs complaining about giving money to the rich.
Why do I feel like I'm at the Mad Hatter's tea party?
Why? Because you are!
Yes, anybody who doesn't believe that DC means Delusion Central (not District of Columbia) is afflicted with terminal delusion syndrome.
I call it Bubble Town.
More theater from DemocRATS, of course. These mobsters in the House couldn't care less about Obama caving yet once again, but they need to show their naive base that there's still some sort of integrity left in their corrupt party. Pathetic.
My thoughts too. As always, more political theater, meant to distract and distort.
The Dems can't, don't, won't do anything but pander to their corporate masters. They know of no other way.
Better get used to it:
Tax cuts for the rich, forever!
Social Security, say bye bye. Its so much better to put your pension dollars into private investments, don't cha know? More sensible that way, and more fiscally responsible. SS just isn't viable because there's just not enough funding available.... I wonder why?
Palin in 2012!
Why the hell not? We've tried competence, and look where its got us. I think We The People will have a much better shot with massive gov't incompetence.
A "much better shot with massive gov't incompetence"? I assume you don't mean to suggest that we try something like China's Cultural Revolution?
No, we wait for the collapse of the nation – should occur in about 2 months under Palin.
Then we rebuilt the country the way it was intended. For We The People.
Please also take into account the facetious nature of my Palin endorsement ; )
I donno about that 2 months. Possibly the engineers and taxidermists will be able keep Palin going for quite some time -- much like they did with old Ronnie when his mind went. However, the expression "chickens coming home to roost" describes what the nation and its empire are facing and there are a lot more chickens coming home now and shortly than when Ronnie was the face of the oligarchs. So even a competent wizard behind the curtain will be quite challenged to keep things stable, and might not be able to do so.
Facetious endorsement, yes, noticed that.
I fear you're right.
As lapdog to the powerful, Obama is #1
(not forgetting Tony Blair)
Alternative headline for this piece: "House Democrats blow smoke up Amerika's ass in mock protest of Obama's gift to the uber-wealthy."
They'll posture and gesticulate for a couple news cycles, and then the money will be passed up the line. Same old same old...
The reason there is so much "unease" among the demon-crats is not that they really disagree with their lying leader Obama and the repugnant-cans. It is because Obama is forcing them to show their true colors.
Representative Weiner talks about needing to "fight", but I do not believe that the word "fight" means what many of us would be inclined to assume it means.
Just as "hope" and "change" mean delude and escalate, "fight" most likely means dance with.
If only someone would prove me wrong!
I would be thankful???!
In Democratspeak FIGHT means fight the people who voted for you.
... or, more directly, fight FOR the people who fund your campaigns, and to hell with everyone else.
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
Orwell would be surprized to find 1984 a reality. About the only thing missing is the uniform jumpsuit. Maybe that's next.
Don't forget the cameras in every room of your home. That technology is already here and being promoted as the hot new thing in video games. It is here. It is now. Old George O. only missed by a couple decades.
Of course that technology has been here quite awhile with computer cameras. There was recently an incident in PA wherein students were allowed to take laptops home from school... and guess what... whenever the laptops were operating, school officials were watching and taking pictures. Ain't that just sweet?
How long before the cameras become mandatory? For our own protection of course...
The Democrats are experienced at talking big, but fail to act big. They are incompetent, ineffective when it comes to "fighting" the Republicans. They almost always "compromise" or cut deals -- they never fight to the finish to win.
Don't demonize as "terrorists" the ALF or the ELF or the other underground activist groups whose philosophy is "Words mean nothing. Action is everything."
"rodent"
"Money changes everything!"
Cindy Lauper for president!
We need to "dance" our way through the halls of fraud because these warmongers have no sense of rhythm, much less, justice.
The republicans are not going to benefit from this, but the democrats need to recognoize the election just past actually happened.
Move over Herbert Hoover. There's a new kid in town. We need to limit how much the political campaigns spend so we get better politicians.
The title alone, "House Democrats Rip" was enough to make me stop reading.
The only thing "house Democrats rip" open is their pay envelops from this GD ruling-elite corporate/financial/militarist EMPIRE which contain their treasonous pay for doing what they are doing to we Americans, our country, our children, and our future as a species on our beautiful fragile single and only earth.
That's the only thing that Demos and Repuglicans "rip" open ---- the Repuglicans pay envelops are fatter, while the Demos heads are.
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
CD editors,
Why the hell post a Fluffington piece of propaganda?
Please consider being more responsible and 'kind' to your loyal readers and posters.
Best,
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
(reader and supporter of CD)
Alan,
Well stated.
I for one, can't stand the Fluffington Post.
I was half-way surprised that Obama actually even tried to get unemployment extended - although the 99'ers are screwed......
What didn't surprise me was the stealth attack on Social Security - because I know that is the true Obama objective - DESTROY Social Security......
and frankly those that HAVE A JOB aren't the ones in truly dire straits..... it's the unemployed......
and there are no Hard Times if you make a million a year!
but you greedy bastards can bankrupt the country to get your extra cashola....
the country is run by vampires - why be surprised at anything anymore!
Politics is confusing. I keep hearing that the US has a two party system where both parties are the same.
Yet it seems to be a three party system with the Republicans, the Blue-dogs, & the not-Blue-dog Democrats. And for the past decade there has been an informal coalition between the Republicans and the Blue-dogs in congress leaving the not-Blue-dog Democrats as the minority party, thus explaining some of the success of the Republican agenda.
But in a recent article on Common Dreams it was stated that since the passage of Obamacare that the corporate money is now going to the Republicans and the Blue-dogs are not doing nearly as well as they were only months ago. Could the remaining fickle dogs be considering a coalition with the not-Blue-dog Democrats now that they are are being insulted (financially) by the corporations and are not needed by the Republicans who will have a majority in Congress without them? How will Obama explain to the people about an on going alliance with the Republicans against the Blue-dogs and the not-Blue-dog Democrats? Or will this so-called progressive president stay with the Blue-dogs and tactically move ever so slightly to the left?
_______________
How anyone call what Obama has been proposing on tax cuts "a deal" is beyond me.
"But in a recent article on Common Dreams it was stated that since the passage of Obamacare that the corporate money is now going to the Republicans and the Blue-dogs are not doing nearly as well as they were only months ago."
well, nothing confusing there.
since the corporates and wall street have successfully rendered the dems completely powerless (which didn't take much of anything anyway), they don't have to give a penny to the dems, no matter how much the blu-dog dems suck up to the corporates and walls street. why pay for something that is freely available any day?
I thought Obama was sincere in his campaign promises to promote policies to improve the lives of ordinary Americans who've been adversely affected by powerful money interests. His betrayal of his base in rolling over on the extension of the country-damaging tax cuts for the wealthy has led me to question my ability to judge someone accurately. He's lost my support.
Sorry, President Obama, one thing I can't abide is someone who breaks a promise--especially one that would correct a serious inequity between classes. I overlooked a few other of your actions (or nonactions) that concerned me, but I gave you the benefit of the doubt. But submitting to Republican bullies, who care only about the very rich, is one step too far in this cae. I believe an agreement could have been reached that would benefit the middle class and the economy generally without surrendering to the obstructionist, greed-driven GOP.
Wake up--the Dems belong to Wall St. too.
Don't make the mistake of believing it's just the Republicans who represent the rich.
D&R's--rotten to the core.
Obama is a politician, not the god many thought him to be, thanks to main stream media where he was regularly worshiped leading up to the election. His parties setback in November necessitated a move toward the middle. He was able to achieve unfunded unemployment concessions further adding to our nations debt however. Hence he was being a good politician. Obama is thinking he might weather the current storm and be elected once again in 2012.
I didn't vote for a politician. I voted for a man of integrity to represent some of my beliefs, such as the need to end the illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as close down Guantanamo, the need to hold Wall Street and its Banker accomplices accountable, the need to restore the centuries old Writ of Habeas Corpus as well as end the unconstitutional view that the president can jail or kill without trial any citizen he declares dangerous, the need to stand tall against Republican hypocrisy, the need to protect the safety net for the poor, the elderly and the infirm. So let's see, what did I get? Not a wrangling politician but a corporatist, who stands for nothing in particular beyond compromise and acquiescence.
As for me there is no storm that he needs to weather; he is in the doldrums of indifference. As a result, I will never vote for him, ever. Nor will I ever vote for another Democrat again.
Am in agreement with you.
I am lower class, am working class.
We need that the government respect and defend Habeas Corpus, respect and defend the right of everyone to a fair trial before we can be sentenced, and respect and defend the right to freely say what we think. These are foundational rights. With them we fight for the rest of what we feel to be important as citizens, rather than us trying to resist as subjects. There is a vast difference and we must not allow ourselves to become so powerless as to be subjects. It is time that it again become inconceivable that any politician who claims to represent us should question the necessity of respecting and defending these rights.
I am deeply ashamed by the criminal involvement in Afghanistan in our name. I am appalled at the increasing power of those who rent and lend and how this power is increasing at the expense of the safety net and our places in the economy. I am appalled at the insidious constraints placed on freedom of speech as the result of the concentration of media ownership and appalled by the callous disregard of the commons by those with power and influence.
And as much as I am appalled by all these I am even more appalled that all the levels of government now are beginning to see us as being subjects. In part they do so because we are not organizing and taking to the streets to disabuse them of such thinking. (A few other matters would get raised while we were at it.) Habeas Corpus, the right to a fair trial, and freedom of speech are ours and are foundational rights with no room for compromise if we are to remain citizens.
I will not vote for Democrats either. Up to this past elections, Dems got all my votes--no more.
Now I voted Green and Independent.
Just like the Repugs, the Dems are rotten to the core.
Obama makes me sick.
Obama betrayed the independent movement that put him office. We are the ones Who wanted with many progressives to get rid org the republicans. He (Obama) is the rebirth of Regan and trickle down economics.
If the MSM had done it's job rather than the witnessed slobber fest, he could have never been elected.
No, he's WORSE than Reagan--far worse.
This is the straw that is breaking the camel's back!
We cannot tolerate this! This is not a good deal for the middle clas and low income, Obama is lying!!!
So folks would you rather have a greedy fat cat loving GOP Pres IN 2012 ?
Be careful WITH all the smearing and demonizng of Obama since IF
we get a GOP PRES watch out. They will FINISH US OFF GOOD
They will Finish what they began - 1981 Reaganomics deregulaition of not just banks / lenders/ but also energy ,trucking,airlines industries and more- massive cuts and debt- Reagans 1986 total amnesty for slave wages- - Bush 1-2 Cheny
the Goldman Sachs FED boys...Greenspan Rubin Paulson Bernacki- ALL of whom
put us on the path to 2008 global meltdown - 700Billion TARP- 2 long long wars based on lies- fear- profits- Bush gave more tax cuts - made more debt-
Paid for Nothing...then just dumoped it all on the' new guy
IS THAT WHAT YOU ILLOGICAL FOLKS CRAVE ? THINK USE REASON CHECK FACTS
DO NOT COUNT ON THE CORP RUN FOR PROFIT MEDIA SINCE THEY HAVE FAILED MISERABLY TO KEEP US INFORMED OF ALL THE FACTS THEY JUST REPEAT THE FOX BECK PALEN INSULTS- VILE NAMES- SMEARS AND B S
Wake up--we ALREADY HAVE A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT.
DUH!
Stupid Democratic Party apologists strikes again!