For Obama, Bush tax cuts shadow further debt talks

[dkf]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House has one important tool in its arsenal to influence congressional talks over further deficit reduction measures in the coming months: the expiry of Bush-era tax cuts at the end of 2012.

After President Barack Obama presented the outlines of a deficit-cutting deal on Sunday, White House officials stressed that he would veto any attempt to extend the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans beyond next year unless other measures to reform the U.S. tax code were agreed.

That threat, which Obama has issued repeatedly since reluctantly agreeing to extend the cuts last year, is meant to mollify critics within his own Democratic party who are disappointed that measures to increase government revenues were not part of the deal reached on Sunday.

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7700XW20110801?irpc=932

On edit found this:


Now, if the deal passes, the issue of raising revenues will move to the new congressional committee. The White House said if tax reform does not succeed there, the tax cuts put forward by former President George W. Bush will be history.

[daa]

1. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me nt

[MichiganVote]

2. Oh that is such a joke. He doesn't believe in 'shared sacrifice' for the wealthy.

What a croc of shit.

[WCGreen]

3. Unless...

Key fucking word...

[frylock]

9. those tax cuts will be extended..

take it to the fucking bank.

[quinnox]

4. Its become the boy who cried wolf

Sure, Obama always talks about this but it always seem to be off the table when it comes to deals. Why do I get the feeling the tax cuts for the ultra rich will be renewed once again next year in another deal cut with the GOP.

[Atman]

5. Too many weasel words, Mr. Obama.

What the hell are "other measures to reform the U.S. tax code?" Means nothing. Repubs could say "We want to cut out ALL taxes on the wealthy!" and that would be "reform to the U.S. tax code." Mr. President, my patience has worn thin. Do something, ANYTHING, to prove to us that you're just not one of them.

.

[no_hypocrisy]

6. So that's why the Bush tax cuts weren't part of "the Deal", i.e.,

no demand for them to be permanent.

Tea Party/Republicans didn't want to shoot their wad at once.

[dkf]

7. That would have mixed the message certainly

The public would have seen we can't afford it

[RickFromMN]

8. Is President Obama a fool? There should be no negotiating. The Bush tax cuts must end..

The rich have gotten theirs. There is no shared sacrifice.
Giving the rich all this money didn't create jobs.

Why does President Obama believe he has any credibility left?

President Obama can't protect his Health Care Reform.
It will be up to the Senate Democrats to protect what little Health Care Reform there is.

President Obama put Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid on the table.
It will be up to the Senate Democrats to filibuster any attempt to weaken these programs.

I will vote for President Obama because the Republican alternative will be worse.
It will be up to the Senate Democrats to keep President Obama out of trouble.

I will not put any more faith in President Obama's ability to lead. He is a follower.
President Obama should have stayed in the Senate where he could compromise to his hearts content.
I regret voting for President Obama in the primary; I should have voted for Hillary Clinton.

It will be up to the Senate Democrats to filibuster so the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy are ended.

I hate to say this...my faith in the Senate Democrats is starting to waiver too.
There are a number of Senate Democrats who, I believe, will give everything away.
I only hope there are enough Senate Democrats to effectively filibuster.