Plouffe reiterates that President Obama will not renew the Bush tax cuts

[jefferson_dem]

Plouffe reiterates that President Obama will not renew the Bush tax cuts
by Chris Bowers
for Daily Kos.

In his speech on the deficit today, President Obama took a clear stand against renewing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy when they are scheduled to expire at the end of 2012:

In December, I agreed to extend the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans because it was the only way I could prevent a tax hike on middle-class Americans. But we cannot afford $1 trillion worth of tax cuts for every millionaire and billionaire in our society. And I refuse to renew them again.
There is good reason to be skeptical about this since, as President Obama himself noted, he previously extended the tax cuts for the wealthy because he could not find the votes to extend the middle-class tax cuts on their own.

As such, during a blogger call with David Plouffe this afternoon, I wanted to know what President Obama would do if once again he could not find the votes to extend the middle-class tax cuts without also extending the cuts for the wealthy. So I asked Plouffe if President Obama would allow all of the Bush tax cuts to expire, including those for the middle-class, if that was his only option to avoid renewing the tax cuts for the wealthy?

In response, Plouffe said "he's not going to renew those tax cuts."

Despite the clarity of the initial portion of his response, Plouffe went on to talk for a while about future vagaries in a way that was not reassuring. So, after a couple minutes, looking for more clarity, I followed up: "just to be clear, that's a yes—he's not going to renew them under any circumstances?"

Plouffe's response was "he's not going to renew them," followed by another minute of talking.

<SNIP>

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/13/966689/-Plouffe-reiterates-that-President-Obama-will-not-renew-the-Bush-tax-cuts

[slipslidingaway]

1. We've heard that before, and negotiating drug prices under Medicare...

heard that before as well.

Bush tax cuts do not expire until after the election.

[Skink]

2. He knows it is the only way to balance the budget.

[robinlynne]

6. Then why did he just renew them ???

[Skink]

9. He wants to be liked.

[robinlynne]

17. You got me. I have no come back to that one.

[JoePhilly]

26. Because part of DU would have crucified him for breaking his

promise to not raise taxes on the 95% of Americans making under 250k. If he broke that promise, many on DU would be using it as proof that he hated the middle class, because after all, the rich don't really care about their tax cuts.

And of course the media would have loved to see him break the promise so they could break out tapes of Bush #1 saying "read my lips" followed immediately with video of Obama making basically the same promise, and then breaking it.

[robinlynne]

31. There would be no raising of taxes. that is the republican spin. We simply would ahve gone

back to a more equitable tax distribution. I would give up my 200.00 in tax cuts for all of the good the country would have gained by ending those tax cuts, wouldn't you? Our tax breaks are insignificant. Some segments of the poor actually got taxed more, as I recall. And losing hospitals, schools?? food for the poor? Was it worth it?

[JoePhilly]

41. The MEDIA would have claimed it was, in essence, a TAX INCREASE.

And then ...

While you claim that you would be happy to give up YOUR $200 tax break, that is NOT what the majority of the 95% said. The 95% would have been happy if the tax cuts for the rich expired, but not happy if their own expired at the same time.

And on DU, it would have played like this if all of the tax cuts expired ... DU folks would be screaming that the middle class NEEDED the money in those tax cuts, and they will feel extreme pain because Obama (that bastard) let them expire. But, the rich did not feel any pain when theirs expired.

Of course Obama was also able to get an extension for the unemployed. But let's ignore that too, I guess. He hates the poor and the middle class.

[mkultra]

27. To extend UI benefits

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. ...unless those mean republicans force him to.

Again.

Is he SERIOUSLY saying if a bill comes to him extending the tax cuts, but holding his healthcare reform hostage, he's still going to veto it?

Seriously?

[Whisp]

4. Obama takes the long view. Most of us are into the instant gratification thing.

he's about the future considerations, too many of us are 'I want it emailed now that life is now perfect'.

[msongs]

5. yeah he took two years to approve extending those tax cuts anyway lol nt

[Whisp]

8. I'm sure if you were his advisor, he would have made life on earth Perfect by now...

and those cuts were a compromise to keep the middle class with a bit more money. Where millions more would get a bit of help while the slugs and sap suckers had a windfalll thanks to the Repugs defending the 1% and the idiots raking on Obama

what a Shitler he is for 'caving' - nevermind the Process of how that sausage is made.

[robinlynne]

12. the tax help most americans got was nothing. It was miniscule. Saving the

economy by NOT renewing would have helped to save institutions which help us much much more than those tiny tiny tax cuts. poor people actually ended up with higher taxes in the "compromise". If you get 200 or 300 extra dollars for one year, is it worth what we are going through now? Do you think so?

[Whisp]

14. and I should take your word for that?

I have heard many people here say it is not miniscule and made a difference. Can you give me a graph for the 200/300 dollars you say? Are you sure that's all across the board?

and are you sure that everyone else thinks that a couple hundred bucks is miniscule? It isn't for me. I am glad you are in such a zone of comfort where it means nothing to you

[robinlynne]

18. hundreds of analysis were posted on Du at the time. every newspaper, every

economist analyzed it. You dont need me. try Paul krugman, or any other good economist.

[mkultra]

28. Why do you hate the unemployed

The tax extension was an exchange for unemployment benefit extensions.

[robinlynne]

30. whihc could have been negotiated in separate. The amount given to the unemployed doesnt come

close to the amount given to the rich.....

[mkultra]

33. That doesnt matter when real people are at risk

You take their condition too lightly. Peoples live are not something you take chances with. Your values are backward.

[Dawgs]

34. People's lives will be continue to be at risk for years becuase of the tax cuts extension.

Why some refuse to see this is beyond me.

[robinlynne]

7. Hang on. We waited for 8 years. Obama renewed them for another 2.

[Whisp]

10. the Repugs renewed them for another 2

let's just get some simple facts straight here

[jenmito]

13. Well, the Repubs. and the Conservadems.,

sadly.

[Whisp]

15. yah, those things.

[totodeinhere]

16. Obama signed the bill. He could have vetoed it. n/t

[robinlynne]

22. signed into law by Pres Obama on December 17th. The repugs were not even in power in the house or se

senate.

[jenmito]

25. Yes, because he didn't want to raise taxes on the other 98% of us. n/t

[robinlynne]

29. easily remidated by a new small bill. creating one deduction for households earning under X.

or tax credit or food aid or expanding medicare or medicaid. or more food stamps. many many other ways to solve that issue.
So we got, what 2 or 300 dollars per household? and lost our economy? and the debate about social security and medicare would not even exist, if he didnt sign that tax bill.

[BklnDem75]

32. Easy how?

Which repukes do you know that would've passed such a bill? It's easy to just say things, but there's more to it than that.

[Dawgs]

35. President Obama could have at least tried to put up a fight.

You might have forgotten already, but he almost immediately gave in without one bit of a public fight. That's not what I expected when I voted for him in 2008.

[jenmito]

36. Do you remember ANYTHING Obama said before the midterms?

Everywhere he went, he campaigned against extending the tax cuts for the rich!

[Dawgs]

37. So, he said he was going to do something and then gave in without a fight.

Thanks for making my point.

And, campaigning on it to his supporters two months before giving in is not fighting.

[jenmito]

38. No. He DID put up a fight by campaigning AGAINST them...

and then talking with members of congress. It didn't work. So he extended ALL tax cuts so he could keep the tax cuts for the other 98% of us. He won't do that again. He made that promise yesterday.

[BklnDem75]

39. Obviously, you've forgotten to make such a statement

Any honest person will tell you he fought for both, but in both cases, they were held hostage and removed so both bills could move forward. Let's not rewrite history and pretend this is an honest discussion.

[jenmito]

11. K&R! n/t

[PBS Poll-435]

19. +1

Nice to see ya!

[customerserviceguy]

20. At the end of 2012

We get 2013, and whatever Congress got elected at the end of 2012. They're going to determine if the Bush tax cuts get extended or not, and it might not be Obama in the President's chair to sign or veto the bill. This statement is nothing but pre-campaign posturing.

[Keith Bee]

23. Obama will be in the President's chair

But I get what you're saying: Money issues are not subject to Executive Orders.

[grahamhgreen]

21. Are we supposed to be excited he wont deliver (again) the tax cuts BUSH WANTED? He

needs to increase tax rates to 1950's levels

[polichick]

24. And put a carbon tax on the table!

[craigmatic]

40. If I were a betting man I'd bet against this being true.

[mountainlion55]

42. Bait&switch

Actions speak louder than words! Mr. Obama's actions over the last two years suggests that once he is re-elected that all these ideas will be dropped!