Mark Warner(VA) : keep Bush's tax cuts

[Mass]

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060919/NEWS09/609190391/1056

Warner: Kerry wrong on tax cuts
The ex-Virginia governor claims Democrats could appeal to more voters if they'd stop alienating the wealthy.

By THOMAS BEAUMONT
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

September 19, 2006


Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner said in Iowa on Monday that Democrats have taken the wrong approach in arguing against tax cuts enacted under President Bush, singling out former Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's campaign as a reason the message did not resonate in 2004.

In order to appeal to more voters, the party ought to avoid alienating wealthier Americans, Warner told members of the Greater Des Moines Partnership in Des Moines at the outset of a day of meetings in the lead-off caucus state.

"I think the Kerry campaign missed something," Warner, who is weighing a 2008 presidential campaign, told about 50 local business leaders.

"Even though the Bush tax cuts only applied to the top 2 percent of Americans, what I think the Kerry campaign missed was that the other 98 percent of Americans still aspired to get to the point in their life where they could qualify for the tax cuts."

The Bush tax cuts have been uniformly opposed by Democrats.


...

This guy is a democrat?

[patrioticliberal]

1. THat's it,not voting for HIM for president

[madokie]

17. me either, I'll be voting for Gore/Feingold

[mmonk]

2. No, DLC.

;-)

[donheld]

4. Amen!

No DLC.

[Totally Committed]

7. Amen! -------

NO effing DLC!

TC

[jackpan1260]

21. Amen. Screw Bill Clinton, Kerry, Edwards and Gore!

:sarcasm:

[karynnj]

36. None of these people had anything to do with this

Gore was not for these steep tax cuts for the wealthy in 2000.

Kerry and Edwards spent the entire 2004 speaking against those tax cuts. In fact, the OP is Warner CRITICISING Kerry for arguing for rolling back the task cuts. Your reading comprehension suffers.

[Cha]

24. Oh, Fucking Wait!

"Even though the Bush tax cuts only applied to the top 2 percent of Americans, what I think the Kerry campaign missed was that the other 98 percent of Americans still aspired to get to the point in their life where they could qualify for the tax cuts."

This guy is not only dlc but way too stupid. I have no freakin' aspirations to make it to the top 2% in anticipation of getting my tax cuts. I want my country to have a strong infrastructure..this clown can't see the big picture.

And Kerry, Gore, and Edwards aren't dlc. Clinton, yeah.

[me b zola]

38. ...or is pandering to the stupidity of republican minded voters

Geez this guy is a train wreck!

And watch for this--in repsonse to the Democratic outrage at his remarks, which BTW are attacking Dems--he will claim that it is the "far left" that is attacking the Democratic Party and dividing us. </zola's crystal ball>

[Cha]

42. mark warner/

panderer.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. When I saw the title I assumed it referred to Repub John Warner

because I can't imagine a Democrat saying something that offensively boneheaded. It's OK to crap all over the middle class and the poor, but God forbid we should alienate the rich?? I think I can cross Mark Warner off my list of accceptable Dem candidates for '08. But then, he's DLC...

[ccpup]

5. Maybe the Govt

could also give that 98% a tax break for the Lotto tickets they buy, too. You know, -- in light of the sorry state of education, the impenetrable glass ceiling of "middle management" and the Repugs dream of building basically a slave labor, super-cheap "working class" (think Wal-Mart) -- the thing that might actually get them to the 2% bracket? :sarcasm:

[Totally Committed]

6. DLC... DINO...

DLC... DINO...

DLC... DINO...

DLC... DINO...

DLC... DINO...

DLC... DINO...

This is a good example of why NO DLC DINO will ever get my vote for POTUS.

No way.

No how.

Never.

Not Ever.

TC

[acmejack]

8. I rest my case...

[Mass]

9. Not alienating rich people. What about caring for poor people.

[HughBeaumont]

10. What I think Mark Warner missed . . .

"Even though the Bush tax cuts only applied to the top 2 percent of Americans, what I think the Kerry campaign missed was that the other 98 percent of Americans still aspired to get to the point in their life where they could qualify for the tax cuts."

"Don't hurt the rich . . . I'm gonna BE rich one day! Yes Sir!"

They can aspire all they want, Marky Mark, but more often than not, Horatio Alger is BULLSHIT! How about helping those who NEED the tax cuts instead of wasting them on people who don't vote (because whoever wins doesn't really make a difference in their position in life)?

[ProSense]

11. What is this the win-the-lottery economic policy?

Rolling back tax cuts for the rich is wrong "98 percent of Americans" aspire to be rich?


WTF?

There are a lot wealthy people who believe the tax-cuts are bad policy.

[bluestateguy]

12. Democrats appeal to plenty of wealthy people

In Beverly Hills and Marin County CA, the Upper East Side of Manhattan, Westchester County, NY, and Fairfax County Virginia (which was carried by a Democrat for the first time in 2004 since 1964). These are the limousine liberals (of which I hope to be one one day). Warner errs if he thinks rich people are only after tax cuts.

[karynnj]

37. True

Note that the blue states average income far exceeds the average income of the red states.

[Change has come]

43. ...

How does the cost of living compare?

[ProSense]

13. Clinton slams tax cuts, budget deficit

Clinton slams tax cuts, budget deficit
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/29/elec04.prez.clinton/index.html

Ex-N.Y. Gov. Cuomo lambastes Bush over 'unfair' tax cut plans
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20030117-9999_1m17cuomo.html

[Leopolds Ghost]

14. Warner IS a "Limousine Liberal" from Fairfax County VA.

What's sad is that he is considered liberal (and popular) in Virginia.

Places like poor, rural Southwest Virginia still support him because he is "folksy" and doesn't come across as one of those "liberal elitsist carpetbaggers" despite the fact that he is socially liberal, economically elitist, and a carpetbagger. :-(

I only hoped he'd win in 2001 because the alternatives were so much worse. Before that, when he ran against Warner, people on the left and right scoffed at this venture capitalist, neoliberal, DLCer.

He is a personable guy who bought a Governorship. Sort of like a Rockefeller.

[blm]

15. Another centrist who doesn't believe in election fraud - he'll go far.

I hope the bloggers supporting Warner and dissing Kerry enjoy their paychecks.

[Nimrod2005]

16. But if wealthy Americans make up 1% of the population...Who cares?

:wtf:

[leftchick]

18. he isn't a Democrat. He is the DLC poster boy!

that want him as the dem candidate so very badly.

[BootinUp]

19. He'll never be nominated now.

Good.

[DancingBear]

20. Hee, hee - like none of us who live in VA told you THIS was coming

Warner is a DLC Dem to the max.

Please disregard all the "plants" on here who sing his praises.

He is the ultimate example of the "no difference between the two parties" argument.

[jackpan1260]

22. Hokay. Accusing the few people around here who praise Warner

as being "plants" is the sort of mentality I would expect over at Free Republic. I disagree with Warner on this, and other things, but I do like him. If there is a way for me to get paid to say those things, let me know.

"He is the ultimate example of the 'no difference between the two parties' argument."
Remember when the "ultimate" example was Gore in 2000? What a mess that logic got us into.

[DancingBear]

27. Oh get over it

It's Job One of the DLC to praise their own around here.

Perhaps you know this?

BTW, has he already been promised the Carlyle Group slot, or does he still have to make his bones first?

[never_get_over_it]

26. Or none of us who use to live in VA

remember the good old days when Mark ran for Governor and sucked up to the NRA - oh man I almost had a blood vessel explode. I understand in VA how he had to "court" the gun owners but this was WAY over the top

I have met Mark and he is a nice guy persoally but he is WAY TOO MODERATE for me always has been....

[Connie_Corleone]

23. Just because 98% of Americans aspire to be wealthy...

doesn't mean it will happen. Most people will never be in the top 2% of the country. So why not give tax cuts to those who actually need it instead of the 2% who don't?

What an idiot!

[SammyWinstonJack]

25. Is he part of the 2%?

Just protecting his tax cuts? Done with him! And screw the wealthy! Greedy pigs! How do they sleep at night knowing their tax cuts have harmed so many?

[Strawman]

28. The dime's worth of difference btw Warner/McCain is now six cents

I won't lift a finger for this guy.

[saltpoint]

29. As if the wealthy were a tragically put-upon victim.

I love Warner's resolve on the death penalty. One of the most refreshing stances to come along in some time.

But I feel he has missed the boat on Bush's tax cuts.

Sen. Kerry's harsh talk on those tax cuts is more resonant, IMO.

[Apollo11]

30. Mark Warner - SCREW YOU!

So I should support a system that serves the richest 2% because, hey - maybe one day I will be rich?

NO! I want to be part of a system that ensures EVERYONE can have a decent quality of life!

Even if I was in the richest 1% - I would like to think that I would care about the other 99% of my fellow citizens, not to mention my fellow human beings around the world. Otherwise I would be financially rich but morally poor - and probably a very miserable person deep-down.

We should all want decent housing, a clean environment, safe streets, a good education and healthcare for everyone. That means public programs run by elected officials - financed by taxes - paid by those who are in a position to pay - especially the rich.

I don't want to be the guy in the back of the limo, being driven along city streets with sidewalks full of homeless people, going home to my mansion in a "gated community". Is that who Mark Warner thinks I should want to be?

It's like saying that we should think carefully before abolishing slavery - because we should all aspire to become slave-owners one day.

But SLAVERY IS IMMORAL!

And INCREASING ECONOMIC INEQUALITY IS ALSO IMMORAL!

In Gore We Trust :)
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com
www.draftgore2008.org
www.climatecrisis.net

[mom cat]

31. We can't have those robber barons getting their feelings hurt,

now can we. No surprise coming from a recent Bilderberg invitee (along with Hilary and Chalabi).

[Texas_Kat]

32. This is going to go down as one of the dumbest things

a 'seasoned' politician has ever said.

Good. Eventually, a candidate's character (good or bad) shows through.

[Marr]

33. "Alienating the wealthy"! What a fucking laugh that is!

There is nothing about our society, least of all our political process- that "alienates the wealthy". Far from it, it services the wealthy from top to bottom.

For Warner to even mouth such a ridiculous phrase suggests he's completely out of touch.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

34. Ha ha! I love that he said that!

I want the DINOs out of the fucking closet ASAP so that their true positions can be revealed and their irrelevancy come that much more quickly.

Thank you, Mark Warner, for making my decision to never support you for higher office for me! :D

One DINO down, so many more to go....

[FrenchieCat]

35. Woah!

:wow:

But what will those poor millionaires do without Mark Warner giving them a "helping" hand? :sarcasm:

PS. I didn't like his Iraq policies either.....once I found out what those where...which was like pulling teeth! :eyes:

[mhatrw]

39. Since when has any US political party done anything to

"alienate the wealthy"?

[Tactical Progressive]

40. My math may be rusty

but even if the entire top two percent had a complete financial downfall and two percent from the bottom 98% were economically mobilized upwards to take their place - inotherwords about one thousand times the actual rate of economic mobility in our society - but let's just say it happened, doesn't that still leave 98% of the country in the soup?

What republicanism doesn't comprehend is that getting people into the financial stratosphere DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM because the problem isn't whether you or I or anyone can climb that high, it's the elimination of poverty, helplessness and fear of everyone, whether they make good or not.

Their attitude of winners being all that matters is corrupt from its inception, and has permeated this society to its core. I don't know what form of enlightenment can wake this country up from this fundamentally immoral and unethical worldview, if anything can, but it pains me to see an ostensible progressive apparently grounded in the core ideological banality of that perspective.

[politicasista]

41. If he thinks this is 1992 all over again

then he is in for a rude awakening once he realizes that the corporate RW smear machines is NOT the same media from 92.


Sorry, he ain't Bill Clinton.

[bigdarryl]

44. Dumb fuck