Bernie Sanders to Obama: 'Do Not Yield to Republican Demands' on Taxes, Cuts, Deficit Policy

[Better Believe It]

Bernie Sanders to Obama: 'Do Not Yield to Outrageous Republican Demands' on Taxes, Cuts, Deficit Policy
by John Nichols
June 27, 2011

Bernie Sanders went to the floor of the Senate last December to deliver the most important congressional address of 2010, a nine-hour long, filibuster-style condemnation of economic policies that favored the rich while burdening working Americans. The independent senator from Vermont electrified the nation with a call for economic justice that challenged Obama administration compromises with Republicans on issues of tax policy and declared: "There is a war going on in this country, and I am not referring to the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. I am talking about a war being waged by some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in this country against the working families of the United States of America, against the disappearing and shrinking middle class of our country."

Now, as Republicans pressure the president to embrace an approach to deficit reduction that will further widen the gap between rich and working Americans —with tax breaks for the wealthy and the slashing of benefits for the what remains of the middle class —Sanders is preparing to return to the Senate floor Monday for another epic challenge to the failed economic policies of Wall Street and its political amen corner.

The senator has scheduled a major Senate address for 4 p.m. EST Monday, when he plans to expound for at least an hour and a half on the urgency of rejecting "the Republican approach that demands savage cuts in desperately-needed programs for working families, the elderly, the sick, our children and the poor, while not asking the wealthiest among us to contribute one penny." As a member of the Senate Budget Committee, Sanders has argued that at least half of any deficit-reduction package must rely on new revenue by eliminating tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and the most profitable corporations. This "shared sacrifice" agenda must be the bottom line for President Obama and Senate Democrats as they wrangle with congressional Republicans over when and how to extend the debt ceiling.

"This is a pivotal moment in the history of our country. Decisions are being made about the national budget that will impact the lives of virtually every American for decades to come," argues Sanders says in a new letter to Obama that urges the president to hold firm for economic fairness.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/161659/bernie-sanders-obama-do-not-yield-outrageous-republican-demands-taxes-cuts-deficit-polic


This is the full text of Sander's public letter to President Obama. BBI

Dear Mr. President,

This is a pivotal moment in the history of our country. Decisions are being made about the national budget that will impact the lives of virtually every American for decades to come. As we address the issue of deficit reduction we must not ignore the painful economic reality of today - which is that the wealthiest people in our country and the largest corporations are doing phenomenally well while the middle class is collapsing and poverty is increasing. In fact, the United States today has, by far, the most unequal distribution of wealth and income of any major country on earth.

Everyone understands that over the long-term we have got to reduce the deficit - a deficit that was caused mainly by Wall Street greed, tax breaks for the rich, two wars, and a prescription drug program written by the drug and insurance companies. It is absolutely imperative, however, that as we go forward with deficit reduction we completely reject the Republican approach that demands savage cuts in desperately-needed programs for working families, the elderly, the sick, our children and the poor, while not asking the wealthiest among us to contribute one penny.

Mr. President, please listen to the overwhelming majority of the American people who believe that deficit reduction must be about shared sacrifice. The wealthiest Americans and the most profitable corporations in this country must pay their fair share. At least 50 percent of any deficit reduction package must come from revenue raised by ending tax breaks for the wealthy and eliminating tax loopholes that benefit large, profitable corporations and Wall Street financial institutions. A sensible deficit reduction package must also include significant cuts to unnecessary and wasteful Pentagon spending.

Please do not yield to outrageous Republican demands that would greatly increase suffering for the weakest and most vulnerable members of our society. Now is the time to stand with the tens of millions of Americans who are struggling to survive economically, not with the millionaires and billionaires who have never had it so good.

Respectfully,

Sen. Bernie Sanders;
and Co-signers

http://sanders.senate.gov/petition/?uid=c1fd7f9b-abd8-4e7a-a370-1867881259d8

[bullwinkle428]

1. Wish I could K&R this over and over again.

[Snoutport]

2. i can do it for ya once...

[Dept of Beer]

8. Once more.

[Shagbark Hickory]

3. What did Obama write back? That's what I want to know.

[Better Believe It]

4. The letter/petition will be given top priority by the White House

[frebrd]

5. +1 My thought exactly! K&R

[ElsewheresDaughter]

17. I'm getting in this line....I wanna know Pres Obama response too

[SammyWinstonJack]

52. His response won't mirror his actions. Never does.

x(

[no limit]

6. Will he filibuster the plan if no one else does? Will he vote for the final package?

Or will he do the same thing he did with healthcare and vote for a shitty deal he was against from the start?

I like Bernie, but talk is cheap. It's action that counts.

[Better Believe It]

7. Good legitimate questions that will be answered.

And I disagree with his claim that "the overwhelming majority of the American people who believe that deficit reduction must be about shared sacrifice ...."

I don't for a moment believe that the overwhelming majority of working people believe they should make big economic sacrifices and share the responsiblity with the rich and Wall Street for the economic crisis.

We have sacrificed far to much already!

[inna]

20. +

all good points, even though I consider Sanders THE least sold out Senator of them all (now that Feingold is gone)

[Better Believe It]

23. I agree.

[SusanaMontana41]

38. Bernie takes principled positions.

I expect that to continue.

Signed the letter, too ...

[INdemo]

58. He voted the for best we could get arranged between Obama and the

health insurance industry..Bernie Sanders must run for President. He is the only real voice we have in Washington..
Obama will not listen to Sanders.President Obama is committed carrying out the corporate agenda that he sold us out for.
I dont understand why Republicans are wasting their time and money to elect a challenger when Obama is the best candidate they could ever hope for.

[OHdem10]

9. It has been reported on CNN and Fox yesterday that the WH

has alredy taken Bush Tax cuts off the table.

They are now groveling for crumbs --tax loopholes, subsidies.

[no limit]

11. If that is true then the president flat out lied a couple months back in his big budget speech

where he said he would not extend these again. There was nothing ambiguous about what he said and there was no wiggle room, he said he would not extend these tax cuts again.

[Mimosa]

22. He did say he would not extend them again

Is he going to break his word?

[Overseas]

15. So ignore the Bush tax cuts and propose newer higher tax increases on millionaires on up.

Or that Wall Street transaction fee.

[Enthusiast]

48. LOL............nt

[Doctor_J]

28. CNN and Fox are right-wing GOP organs

they lie, every day.

[Enthusiast]

47. Exactly

This is why caving on extending the Bush tax cuts for an extension of unemployment benefits was a HORRIBLE MISTAKE. Another HORRIBLE MISTAKE was agreeing to a FICA holiday. Now they are proposing another tax holiday! Then when the Republicans claim social security is under or unfunded they will be right! And we will NEVER be able to enact those taxes again. I do not see President Obama as being on my side. I simply do not.

[INdemo]

64. I dont understand why Obama sold us out to the corporate mafia

but its obvious he does not represent those that cast their vote for him..So are we to believe him as he tries to run for reelection? We need a real progressive to challenge him..Bernie Sanders could win as an Independent..

[TBF]

10. K&R but I think I've seen this play before ... and I don't expect a different ending nt

[DesertFlower]

12. K&R. nt

[Faux pas]

13. Got the email this morning, signed and forwarded. Thanks for

posting this.

[Overseas]

14. K&R. I've signed Bernie's letter and loved his speech today.

I also emailed the President again.

Let's hope thousands of messages flood in.

[dotymed]

16. It would be in our interest

if Bernie could be persuaded to run.

[Phlem]

18. What can ya say?

Nothin.

Bernie's the man.

-p

[Phlem]

19. PS..

signed and kicked.

-p

[bertman]

21. Signed. REC. Why is it an Independent who is doing this? Where are the Dems?? nt

[Better Believe It]

24. Good question. Golfing? Hiding? On vacation? Collecting campaign money? Deal making?

[mochajava666]

25. All of the above. Bernie is shaming Obama and the Dems.

I find it embarrassing that an Independent Senator has to plead to the President for some leadership.

Everyone is expecting Obama to fold like a lawn chair. I keep waiting for him to show a little backbone, and I'm afraid I will be disappointed once again.

[Better Believe It]

29. I don't think Obama is folding. He's trying to lead his class.

[woo me with science]

31. +1 nt

[Hissyspit]

26. VIDEO of Interview on Countdown w/ Keith Olbermann Tonight:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x595881

VIDEO of Senate Speech Today: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x595832

[Better Believe It]

30. Thanks for the links.

[Doctor_J]

27. Sanders predicted on Friday that Obama will cave

on Brunch with Bernie, he said this is really the last chance for the prez to do the right thing - he can either stand up for real Americans, or cave in to the Repukes (again). He said that he is pessimistic. He also basically said that if Obama caves in again, his presidency will basically be over - he will have no respect from anyone anywhere.

[rhett o rick]

44. And there are still people right here in DU city that will argue that what we get is better than

nothing.

[Enthusiast]

49. I agree with Bernie on this 100%.

"He also basically said that if Obama caves in again, his presidency will basically be over - he will have no respect from anyone anywhere."

[woo me with science]

32. K&R nt

[creeksneakers2]

33. I love what Bernie wrote, but,

Instead of writing, "A sensible deficit reduction package must also include significant cuts to unnecessary and wasteful Pentagon spending," Bernie could have suggested ending the US superpower/world policeman business. Tax cuts for the rich aren't going to save enough money to cover a deficit this size. Marginal cuts at the Pentagon won't be enough either. Big things have to go and the military is the best choice. If Bernie Sanders won't move against the MIC, who will?

[kenfrequed]

66. err

I think you/he meant tax increases for the rich, not tax cuts.

[a2liberal]

34. K&R (n/t)

[certainot]

35. this would be a lot easier if the left would stop giving RW talk radio a free speech free ride

[Doctor_J]

37. What do you suggest?

And don't say "write the sponsors". That doesn't work. Suggest something that has a chance of working.

[certainot]

65. call and complain to local sponsors, get universities out of talk radio, take protests there

many local sponsors of the RW radio stations are just there for business reasons, not very interested in politics, and are surprised to hear complaints- try it. i've talked to dems who were holding their noses to do it but wanted to be on the loudest station in the state and switched to other stations after i and maybe others called and talked to owners - it does work- i've done it. most sponsors have no idea how important RW radio has been for getting us into this mess. many are just following ad agency recommendations. ALL sponsors of RW stations in blue areas need to be shamed, and picketing of those stations will help that cause. the stations need those local sponsors for overhead and salaries. those sponsors need to be shamed until the only business owners left are teabaggers/dittoheads. those stations are dedicated to disinformation, racism, and global warming denial and obstructing democracy.

when the limbaughs and hannitys and local blowhards lie about and threaten our representatives and teachers and unions and scientists and get racist and homophobic we need to talk back- another way to do that is to protest appropriately located stations so their local sponsors get the message. it has hardly ever been tried and i would argue where location is appropriate a much smaller crowd at a limbaugh megastation in a high traffic area would get more press and political attention than a much larger protest at a capitol.

and no institution of higher learning has any excuse for broadcasting athletics on political radio stations, thereby endorsing them, especially those doing racism and global warming denial.

and here's a petition:

http://signon.org/sign/american-universities-1?source=c.url&r_by=241761

"American Universities: Stop broadcasting athletics on Rush Limbaugh radio stations.

To be delivered to: American Universities and Colleges

“We the undersigned demand that our state-funded universities and colleges immediately find alternative non-partisan radio stations to broadcast their athletics.

By broadcasting on Rush Limbaugh and other political talk radio stations they endorse partisan political propaganda, global warming denial, hate, racism, and attacks on our unions and teachers, and therefore contradict their own stated goals and mission statements.”
Most talk radio stations in the US are dedicated to partisan politics and pro corporate propaganda. On most, only a small percentage of their prime time broadcasting includes non-partisan programing including state and local sports, weather, and traffic.


By broadcasting athletics on these stations our universities endorse and give community credibility and acceptability to talk stars like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Michael Savage, and significantly increase their local ad revenues.
Most national talkers are protected by call screeners from challenge and correction. There is evidence of regular participation by paid callers.


Long term attacks by these and other national and local talkers directed at teachers, unions, global warming science, as well as coordinated political disinformation and direct and inferred racism, sexism, and hate mongering, make radio stations that broadcast them unacceptable partners for American institutions of higher learning, as well as their students and faculty.

Please feel free to adapt this petition to your university or college."

[Doctor_J]

70. Can you name one station that's succumbed to such a petition?

You're wasting your time and energy. If it feels good, great, but it will amount to nothing

[certainot]

73. if you're not a troll what is your solution? continue to ignore it?

the petition is for the universities, the stations wouldn't be interested-

[Doctor_J]

74. So I repeat, how many stations have gotten rid of Limpballs because of

the petitions?

My solution is not really suitable for publication on an open internet forum. News from Greece over the last two days will give you a feel for what needs to be done. I just think it's silly to keep posting these ideas which are proven failures. Doing nothing won't help, and neither will signing internet petitions )or accumulating terabytes of transcripts of 1000 radio stations that repeat the same lies day after day, week after week.

[certainot]

75. it's never been tried- it needs an organized effort - from an organization so your certainty that

it won't work is republican style absolutism- same with your childish demands for proof, or violence in the streets, especially considering the loudest megaphones in every state will be, as usual, held by the likes of limbaugh and hannity. they did a pretty good job convincing most of america the katrina disaster was a bunch of local dem politicians.

when universities are forced by their students and faculties to get out of political radio, many local sponsors will follow and many of those stations will lose their ability to dominate local politics and bully politicians, and many will have to balance of go bankrupt..

[certainot]

67. ALSO a searchable record of transcripts of national and major local talkers

there would be no better way to know what the GOP are planning.

most of what the right does goes through the radio machine first. some of their campaigns are long term - weeks, months, even years and aren't well reflected in daily talking points- ACORN took years, van jones took weeks, the attacks and swiftboating is ongoing and perpetual but there is NO written record for the left's 'media analysts and 'brains' to read so the left is largely operating in the dark and playing catchup, reacting after the memes have been pounded into the earholes of 50 mil every week.

[Doctor_J]

71. WTF are you talking about?

All you have to do to "know what the Repukes are planning" is listen to five minutes on any AM station in the country, or CNBC, or Fox, or ConNN. Why would millions of pages of transcripts of the years of hate on 1000 hate radio stations help anything?

Jesus, your suggestions have gone from useless to downright nutty.

[certainot]

72. i still can't figure out if you're a troll or just thick. maybe both.

if it is that easy we wouldn't be in this mess- the alternate reality is created by talk radio and it is the repetition and ubiquity that counts. most of it only the radio can do, and it works because the 'analysts' on the left have no written record.

[southerncrone]

59. Amen!

The FCC needs to examine & shut down "news" organizations that spout LIES instead of NEWS!
Let's face it, THEY are what has laid the foundation for allowing & keeping the Repukes in power.
.....whoever controls the media, controls the country......PROOF.

[newspeak]

68. didn't you know that Faux won a lawsuit whereby

it's alright to lie? Apparently, the media has free reign to spout any kind of bullshite they want to the populace to catapult their own agenda.

It just amazes me, that after eight long wall street corporate deregulating, war fabricating years of Little Boots-money unaccounted for in Iraq, obscene war profiteering, american job destruction and an 89% deficit increase-the repugs have the solution for what they wrought. Totally mindblowing!

And if that sociopathic shitty budget Rand proposes passes, the American people will be in the toilet. There will be a massive increase in job loss, seniors, children, the increasing poor and the sick will suffer even more. But hey, the wealthy and corporations will gain even more power (if that's even possible) and fair labor will be slave labor.

We are so screwed if the majority of Americans don't wake up and finally realize they've been conned by those on corporate mcpravda pushing the all unregulated capitalism is good meme and for profit sociopathic corporations do it better.

[senseandsensibility]

36. kick for those that haven't seen it

So true. Nothing else to add, really.

[lonestarnot]

39. K & R, but isn't Mr. President used to the mess yet?

[defendandprotect]

40. k/r -- Bless Bernie Sanders -- !!

[LetTimmySmoke]

41. It's scary not having any confidence in your leader.

[jannyk]

42. K&R!

[rhett o rick]

43. "Mr. President, please listen to the overwhelming majority of the American people..."

How sad that he has to say this to a Democratic president. Will Pres Obama "listen to the overwhelming majority of American people"?

[sendero]

45. Once again.

... Obama has the chance to do the right thing, or not.

Any plan that puts more of the burden on the poor and middle class is a FAIL, and after watching Obama FAIL over and over and over again in these sorts of negotiations I will be SHOCKED if he doesn't fold like a paper napkin yet again.

Pleasantly surprised, but shocked nonetheless.

[Enthusiast]

46. Bernie should not have

to write the president asking him to do the right thing. The President should always do what is right. Unfortunately this has not been the case.

I wonder how many of us have told the president the same thing. I have. If the President allows the Republicans to buffalo him............I won't believe it anyway. I will know it was predetermined and planned that way.

I fully expect Obama to disappoint us again. It just doesn't matter what "we the people" want.

[Enthusiast]

50. President Obama should

address the people of the United States of America. He should tell them that the deficit was caused by two wars while simultaneously enacting huge tax cuts for wealthy Americans and multinational corporations.

He should tell the American people in terms that cannot be misunderstood -that they must petition their representatives to allow the Bush tax cuts to expire so we can get a handle on the deficit.

He must tell the American people that if they do not force their representatives to increase taxes on the corporations and the wealthy they will lose medicare and social security benefits as a consequence.

He must do this in a very forceful manner. If he doesn't show this leadership we are finished. We are finished as a first world nation. Our remaining purpose will be to serve corporate interests while trying to exist in a world of an ever declining standard of living.

If you don't believe this, you simply are not paying attention.

[southerncrone]

60. But how can he explain NOT doing this when WE had control of

the House, Senate & Presidency?

He squandered our best opportunity early on trying to "play nice" w/the opposition.....or worse.....I don't even want to think about what the other reason might be.......

[NorthCarolina]

51. K&R

[nonperson]

53. Can't even get to the petition to sign it

I'll try later.

We need a Bernie Sanders for President write-in campaign with voters retaining verification of their write-in vote.

[somone]

54. Recommended

[NorthCarolina]

55. Petition signed... it took a long time though. I think the site is overloaded. nt

[lib2DaBone]

56. Bernie for President!

[Le Taz Hot]

57. Only 38,000 signatures?

We have WAY more than than on any given day on DU.

[southerncrone]

61. Signed. K&R

:kick:
Yes, too bad a Dem isn't doing this. Shameful.

I hope Bernie does run for POTUS....he would be a formidable opponent.

[theFrankFactor]

62. I'm Sure Mr. Obama is On Board, He Has Shown Amazing Leadership...

I don't think there's any question where our President's heart "lies".

Really... you gonna "remove" this post too?

[KansDem]

63. KnR

:dem:

[bluestateboomer]

69. K&R! n/t

[qwlauren35]

76. I'll keep trying...

to sign the letter. All night if I have to.

[peace4ever]

77. based on prior experience, he will 'compromise' and cut benefits for we the people

as well as raise taxes on we the people, as well.

hopefully he proves me wrong.