Boehner: I'll Drop Tax Cut for Rich If I Have To

[mike r]

Source: CBS News

The leading Republican in the House, and a vocal proponent of allowing an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts for all Americans, including the wealthiest 3% of earners, objected to charges by President Obama that Republicans are holding tax breaks for the bottom 97% of earners hostage unless the wealthiest also get an extension.

In a pre-taped interview to appear on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday, Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner said that, if approving a bill to extend breaks for middle class income Americans were "the only option," he would support it.

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated extending tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans would cost $700 billion over the next decade.

At a speech in Ohio earlier this week, Mr. Obama said, "With all the other budgetary pressures we have - with all the Republicans' talk about wanting to shrink the deficit - they would have us borrow $700 billion over the next 10 years to give a tax cut of about $100,000 each to folks who are already millionaires."

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/09/12/ftn/main6858401.shtml

[saltpoint]

1. I wouldn't send this guy to the grocery store for eggs and

milk, let alone want him to be Speaker of the House.

[yellowcanine]

11. Promises. promises. Right, Mr. Boehner.

Easy to say when you are out flogging the bushes for votes and you know that tax cuts for the rich are not exactly a winning campaign slogan.

[pattmarty]

38. I agree. The voters in his district have to be fucking morons.

[dhpgetsit]

48. His opponent Coussoule look like a pretty good candidate,

I would so love to see the orange man get sent packing.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/l/b/lbrillante/2010/09/can-justin-coussoule-beat-john.php

[ooglymoogly]

63. Went to the sight and registered, then went to the donation page

to donate, but as they do not accept paypal will have to go back when I have my credit cards at hand. Looked for contact info to make the suggestion to also allow paypal donations as many elderlies and shut-ins do not have the mobility to search out the info needed to donate by credit card and so have paypal accounts to make things easier.

[ooglymoogly]

64. PS thanks for making this info available....Coussoule does look good. nt

[lunatica]

2. No matter how drunk he gets he can see which side of his bread is buttered

His display of cavalier cynicism is breathtaking

[Cal33]

6. There are only two things Neocons have respect for and respond to:

1. Money, and 2. power -- both in whatever form.

Boehner & Co. would have far more respect for Obama, if he were to bulldoze over and crush them.
They look down on and despise him for his repeated offer of bipartisanship.

This is something that Obama never understood. His attempts at placating them only made them
despise him more. Just look at what's happening in congress. Even a blind man should be
able to see. Obama should at least read up on how most appropriately to behave towards psychopathic
people that one comes across.

[abq e streeter]

27. +1 ...You're absloutely right about that..."made them despise him more"

Standing up to bullies is how you stop them; not by appeasing them.

[ooglymoogly]

65. FDR said something to the effect. Know me by my enemies.

And stood up to and outwitted the whole sorry lot on the right.

[JNelson6563]

30. I disagree

I really think Obama is not shocked by this, disappointed maybe but not shocked. He can unequivocally state in the 2010 and his own re-election bid for 2012 that he made an honest effort to work with them but, after 100% refusal, he has to push ahead with his own agenda and grant them no consideration.

Julie

[pattmarty]

40. Honest effort? The "honest effort" should have ended at 6 months in his term....

.......Obama and his advisors either are "in bed" with business from the get go, or really, really naive. I'll pick the first.

[defendandprotect]

56. Agree -- otherwise, we voters are the "naive" followers ....

[pattmarty]

67. No, we were naive when we all voted for him, you would have to...............

..........be really stupid as a liberal/progressive to believe ANYTHING he "promises" now. Hey, I believe in the "what can you/did you do for me?" politics now.

[No Elephants]

85. Problem is, except maybe for Kuch, our other choices seemed worse (to me, anyway); and I did not

think Kuch had a prayer of winning the general and the thought of a victory for a de-mavericked McCain following Dummya was beyond contemplation.

Unless powerful Democrats re-gain belief that Democratic principles work AND can win Presidential elections, we will continue to move toward what is really a one-Party system only nominally divided in two, with the one Party being essentially Republican. Ditto if the DNC and powerful individual Democrats continue to steamroll primary challengers. Ditto if we do not eliminate the 60 vote rule, which suits conservatives, who don't want government doing much.

And, Democrats have to find a way to improve messaging and also to recruit young.

Or, just reconcile ourselves to being Republicans. As it is, our choice seems to be only between right and center right--and we even get center right only if we manage a majority of the House, 60 Senators and 5 Justices who are at least olly moderately corporate.

[defendandprotect]

91. Agree --- except that DLC/Rahm has been recruiting young "blue dogs" --

and "conservative" Dems --

[ooglymoogly]

66. Agreed. and +1.

[Cal33]

62. Are you saying that Obama should keep on appeasing the

Neocons for two more years? By that time there will be nothing left in this country
for him to give them, they will have had it all. And the Dems. will drop him like
a hot potato. It will be too late. Even now, it is already late, but I think he
still has a chance - maybe his last chance - of winning over the Dems.

[The Wielding Truth]

44. You are soooo right! The stronger O is the more we will improve.

[defendandprotect]

92. So ... the more Obama gives the store away to the corporates, the stronger Obama is???

[LiberalFighter]

13. It's easy to see which side of the bread is buttered when both are buttered.

[AlbertCat]

46. His display of cavalier cynicism is breathtaking

I was gonna say:

That's very orange...er...white of you, John, you drunken loser! BTW, YOU aren't in any position to decide what is done.

[AmericanMan1958]

3. Keep the Heat ON!

See the GOP are spineless when the winds of politics changes directions.

Our biggest mistake as Progressives is we let other dominate the talking points.

We must stay true to our beliefs. If we give into the politics of hate and divide, well this country we so love will surely be lost.

Mark my words, These Politician that are behind the Tea-baggers and the Haters will abandon them, when the heat gets hotter.

Stay true to the proven values that made America great.

[Cal33]

7. Welcome on board AmericanMan1958!

[earcandle]

19. Right on!

[barbtries]

33. WE don't let them

the media insists upon it.
you know what the headline in the news and observer was yesterday for the story that Obama plans a back-to-school speech for school children? "Adults Yawn Over Obama Speech." the supposed story was that this year, repukes were not going to make a big deal over "allowing" the DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES to talk to their children about doing well and remaining in school.

another recent "news" article in the N&O http://www.newsobserver.com/ alerted commuters to the possibility of heavy traffic last wednesday because of an event at the RBC Center. the event? a fricking right-wing religious so-called motivational seminar! http://www.ripoffreport.com/adult-career-continuing-education/get-motivated-semina/get-motivated-seminars-ripoff-b8eya.htm

these bastards actually had the traffic sign on the 40 eastbound flashing the warning for DAYS before the event. i have never seen such a thing in my nearly 3 years in NC, and i was extremely offended by it. but i had no hand in "letting" it happen and certainly no power to stop it.

it's the fucking media in this country that's about 95% representing the corporate right. WE don't let them, we're being FUCKED by them.

i think it's apathy the left needs to fight and fight till there's no more fight. and i'll cop to having to fight that in myself. but i won't take responsibility for "letting" the right dominate the talking points. obviously they own the media.

[grilled onions]

34. Agreed

and welcome!!! :hi:

[davidwparker]

35. +1

[defendandprotect]

57. Thought that the GOP $$creation$$ of the T-baggers was a sign that ....

they are having to resort to near violence -- very angry demonstrators --

spitting on Congress members -- some of them armed!!

This is weakness -- especially when it is so out in the open and so traceable!!

[gateley]

70. Welcome to DU, AmericanMan1958!

:hi:

[gateley]

4. Apparently Obama's approach is working. That's great! This is the first time

I recall seeing Republicans capitulate. Keep it up, O! :thumbsup:

[blueworld]

24. And it will go on like this as long as the Prez keeps framing the fight this way

Scum-sucking ideologues that they are, when they're confronted like this the GOPigs have no choice but to whine & compromise. Great move by the Prez & I hope to see much much more.

[Exilednight]

43. This is exactly right. He framed thre debate before rethugs could, and then kept pushing ..........

and made sure his voice, not the House Speaker or Senator Majority Leader, but it was his voice that America heard.

If he would of been doing this for the past two years, the legislation that has already passed would of been exactly what he had promised on the campaign trail.

[CTyankee]

39. I think Boner got a message from voters...I'm sure he isn't doing this out

of the goodness of his heart (if he had a heart to begin with)...

[defendandprotect]

58. Agree -- looks like the right wing blinked -- though they will try to cover it .....

they may actually find some way to NOT have to do this --

[gateley]

68. I'm thinking that maybe the "golfing" ads about him and the President

coming right out and saying it caused repercussions from the voters. It's always about the money and voters.

If he had a heart he wouldn't have been spewing the Republican bs to begin with.

[customerserviceguy]

41. My question is, who's Boner capitulating to?

Extending tax cuts for the rich is something the tea partiers oppose, too. Establishment country-clubber Republicons are trying to keep the tea partiers in the fold, if Boner held middle class taxes hostage to the rich, he'd enrage them, and he doesn't need that kind of division this fall.

[gateley]

69. Voters -- it's gotta be. nt

[customerserviceguy]

74. Middle class tax cuts

are popular with both progressives and tea partiers. Tax cuts for the rich are favored by neither group.

Besides, he's trying to take away the President's "party of no" argument for a bit. But just like Lucy, that football's gonna get pulled away at the last second.

[onehandle]

5. Speaker Boehner insuring his new job by acting moderate.

He just negated our attacks on tax cuts for the rich.

The orange man cometh.

[JNelson6563]

31. Nonsense.

Do you think the GOP as a whole will follow suit? No, they won't. They will simply reframe the thing as Obama wants to raise everyone's taxes and Boehner is just dead wrong on this. Wouldn't be the first time the GOP tossed a top leadership off the boat to suit their broader purpose, no matter what a stalwart partisan that person may have been over the years.

Julie

[onehandle]

37. Boehner got the headline. It's on a top story everywhere today.

And will be repeated all week.

'John Boehner seeking Speaker's gavel willing to work with President Obama.'

Swing voter: 'Hmm... Maybe if John Boehner is Speaker, government will get things done.'

[JNelson6563]

53. I don't think so.

I think the right will be furious with him. And, according to so many here at DU, if your base is pissed you can't possibly win.

Julie

[No Elephants]

86. Voting base is different from donor base. Most sane voters, Pub or Dem, want the rich taxed and

also want middle class cuts.


"And, according to so many here at DU, if your base is pissed you can't possibly win."


Most of my reading and posting is in LBN. In this forum, though, I've never seen it stated that way.

[HughMoran]

8. Don't trust him

...but it's tough to argue against the way Obama framed the issue.

[Hamlette]

49. me either. He'll say "the dems didn't even give us 10 full years to read the bill we passed

under Bush. How dare the dems try to sneak this expiration date by us without being bipartisan or some other bs.

[OneAngryDemocrat]

9. THIS should have been the article's headline...

He (Boehner) said he believes tax cuts for just the bottom 97% is "bad policy."

[ozymandius]

10. I've heard he needs a cork on the end of his fork.

Boehner is just that incompetent.

[defendandprotect]

59. Never heard that expression before . . .

what does it mean???

[gateley]

71. Me, either. I just quickly Googled it but came up with zip.

Did you just make that up, ozymandius? :spank:

[ozymandius]

75. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels reference

[defendandprotect]

83. Ok -- got it -- !!

[Beetwasher]

12. Well I'll b damned we beat the fuckers at their own game and they're on defense

[24601]

76. Yeah - defensive all the way to the Speakership - dumb like a

fox.

[Beetwasher]

89. The Election Happened And He's Speaker? On What Planet?

You sound like his biggest fan? How's your tan?

[SpiralHawk]

14. "You have to." - Citizens of the United States of America

"No more special tax favors for rich republicons. Pay your fair share, and stop the whine."

- Citizens of the USA

[L0oniX]

15. Finally ...some ballz.

[No Elephants]

87. Things like courage and resolve have nothing to do with testicles.

[L0oniX]

90. What ever.

[DWilliamsamh]

16. If it were the "only option" is his out phrase

Boehner will NEVER publicly support allowing tax cuts for the richest 1% (of whom he is one I would wager) to return to 37% (while allowing there real source of income - capital gains - to trundle along at a mere 15%). There will always be another option. Namely NOT allowing those cuts to expire.

[tularetom]

17. He knows Obama has a winner and he wants on the bandwagon

More like he's attempting to grab the reins of the bandwagon away from Obama.

Unfortunately he'll get a lot of help from our liberal media and it will wind up looking like the republican's idea.

[Mickeyc1004]

18. Looks like Boehner is "Poll" watching.

Not that I think that polls are relevant these days, but Boehmer may.


"A majority of Americans favor letting the tax cuts enacted during the Bush administration expire for the wealthy."

http://www.gallup.com/poll/142940/americans-allowing-tax-cuts-wealthy-expire.aspx

[ProSense]

20. A G.O.P. Leader Bound to Lobbyists

A G.O.P. Leader Bound to Lobbyists

Maybe he's waiting until this story fades from memory.

[niceypoo]

21. This is what happens when you call the republicans bluff, Barack

...they fold up. Gingrich folded repeatedly when Clinton was president.

[drm604]

22. How do you like that?

I'm waiting to see how this plays out, but it looks like calling their bluff and holding their feet to the fire may actually work. Surprise, surprise.

I just wish we would have behaved like this a lot sooner.

[AlecBGreen]

23. This is HUGH!!1!1!

honestly, can you remember the last time the GOP backed down when confronted by the Dems? For that matter, can you remember the last time the Dems STOOD UP to the Gop on ANYTHING!?

Hello! Anybody paying attention inside the beltway?! THIS IS HOW YOU GET STUFF DONE!

[gateley]

72. +1! nt

[sam sarrha]

25. if his lips are move'n, he either lying or blow'n a journalist for a good review..

[NewJeffCT]

26. Let's put his words to a vote

see if he follows through on them.

[Guilded Lilly]

28. Boehner, you are dealing with a man who has

more intelligence in one of his clipped fingernails than you have had in your entire, bullshit, flap jaw life.
When that man gets fired up...for whatever reason and in this case...finally!...you are orange marmalade drenched TOAST.

[1American]

29. Boehner, the track-layer for the Republican Hate Train

Boehner will do whatever his Boss Lobbyists order him to do.

[BBbats]

32. Well, that's real white of you,Boehner!

[Riley18]

36. He conveniently left out that he won't "have" to if he gets Pelosi's seat.

[customerserviceguy]

42. Who knows what he'll really do?

The Repigs were making a lot of bi-partisan talk back when the President's approval ratings were in the stratosphere, then backed away later.

This is just Boner letting the air out of the President's "party of no" theme.

[perdita9]

45. Wow, Obama made a Right-Winger Blink

See what can happen when you call out the bullies?

[AlbertCat]

47. If I Have To

Doncha love how he frames it as being bullied, reluctantly having to do something distasteful to him? But HE must to SAVE the middle class he obviously cares oh so very much about? Poor put upon John. He's just a Christian martyr!

Bull shit!

[pleah]

50. Mr. Umpaloompa gonna cry now?

This will go over like a lead balloon with his base. LMAO!

[Kablooie]

51. Sounds like Boehner's getting nervous about the Democratic opposition.

That's the only reason he would suddenly agree to something that Obama proposes.
First time in 2 years.

[defendandprotect]

60. Agree -- which gives us some idea that the "polls" aren't exactly truthful .....

keep in mind if they were saying that the public wants Obama to move to the left --

then the GOP and Obama would be forced to move to the left --

This way, it happens w/o acknowledgment -- by either side???

It's a controlled move to the left, if we're right????

[veganlush]

52. I hope the pres. learned from this..

he stands up and forcefully speaks the truth about them and they're forced to back down..

[pgodbold]

54. If anyone believes Boehner please leave DU. You are too stupid to be here.

[defendandprotect]

61. Imagine they are looking for a way NOT to do this .... hmmm.....

[defendandprotect]

55. "Boehner says he'd support a middle-class tax cut "-- Trick or Treat?

Boehner says he'd support a middle-class tax cut

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100912/ap_on_bi_ge/us_tax_cuts

----------------

Or has the right wing blinked?

[Jim_Shorts]

73. Boehner is negotiating

from a position of weakness. He is trying to make a deal to get something when he absolutely no say in the matter. Watch Obama make some concessions to the repubs for being so kind.

Obama hasn't departed from most of the conservative economic theories. (business tax cuts ect.)

If working people don't start organizing (like they did in the 30's),the elites will continue to steamroll us. It has been and always will be about class warfare. Only here in the United States do people act like "you just don't talk about that openly".

I'm not sure how or why the people in the U.S. have become so timid.

[alp227]

77. Obama got him?

And all day heads have been exploding I suppose. The CBO report must've opened Boehner's eyes.

[butterfly77]

78. HE LIES!!!!!!!!!

[Fool Count]

79. With such a unique bipartisan consensus established, why not

vote for the extension of the middle-class tax cuts first, and then deal with the remaining 3% of earners later? The republican
strategy has always been to lump all the "taxpayers" together in every discussion. Now they are on record willing to separate
out the rich. Why not take advantage of that?

[ProudDad]

82. The right option would be to raise the marginal tax rate on millionaires

to about 110% and start getting our money back...

[No Elephants]

88. LOL

[klook]

80. Gee, I wonder if it would *ever* be "the only option"...

Hmmm, now, whaddya think? Gosh, that's a hard one to figure.

What part of anything Tanboy says is not a lie?

[ProudDad]

81. See how easy it is, Obama

Getting up on your hind legs and make a couple of speeches and the fuckers cave...

Imagine what would have happened if you had begun this in January of 2009?

Hell, there could have been Universal Medicare for All, stimulus for the working classes instead of just the rich, incarceration of war criminals like bush/cheney/bibee/yoo...

Hey, how about an end to the wars and preparations for preventive wars...the REAL succubus killing USAmerica...the permanent war "economy"...?

And, wonder of wonders, a re-purposing to what an economy SHOULD BE: provide for the needs of human beings instead of locking up the wealth of the Earth for a few...a solid state economy instead of a Ponzi scheme...

And, hey, while we're at it, an 80% reduction of 1990's level of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 so that Earth remains a hospitable environment for large air-breathing mammals...

But, that would have taken a great deal of courage... I never thought you had the courage to buck the desires of the rich fucks who paid to get you (or your opponents -- they didn't care) elected...after all, they chose you (and them) because you're already brainwashed into capitalist-think and they, rightly, determined that their rapacious system would be well preserved with you as spokesmodel for the Korporate Kapitalis USAmerikan Empire.

[Politicalboi]

84. "the only option,"

Well if I have too I have too. The words "only option" is key here. It probably won't be the "only option", so he'll have to vote against it.