Posted on 12/03/2012 4:26:04 PM PST by drewh
White House sources are telling Democratic reporters that the president is willing to go over the so-called fiscal cliff if GOP leaders dont agree to his demand for higher tax rates on the wealthy without substantive spending cuts.
A political deadlock would mean an automatic tax increase for middle-class and wealthy Americans on January 1, and the opportunity for Obama and the Democrats to push a tax-cutting bill for middle-class voters in 2013, say the White House officials, who leaked the claim to two liberal columnists.
The first of two December 3 leaks came via the left-wing Mother Jones Magazine publication, where columnist David Corn reported that according to senior administration officials, Obama is not eager to go over the cliff, but he is willing. If no deal is reached by the end of the month, all the Bush tax cuts for the rich and not-rich will evaporate.
Obama would then demand in early January that the new Congress immediately pass legislation to reinstate the lower tax rates for the bottom 98 percent, wrote Corn.
Corns claim was later seconded by a left-wing columnist at The Washington Post, Greg Sargent, who sometimes is used by the White House to leak official views.
I have just confirmed that [Corn's report] is accurate Obama is willing, albeit very reluctant, to go over the cliff, Sargent wrote.
This stance puts Republicans at a disadvantage because the fiscal cliff will automatically raise upper-income taxes, ensuring Dems can come back and move to pass just the middle class tax cuts, challenging Republicans to vote against renewing them after they have expired, Sargent wrote.
But a deadlock and a trip over the fiscal cliff would also allow the GOP to stand firm on their opposition to any increases in tax rates, and effectively require the Democrats to cooperate with a GOP proposal to revamp the nations tax laws in 2013.
That national tax debate could help the Republicans win the 2014 mid-term elections, when Obama and Democrats will try to regain the House majority lost in 2010.
Democrats and White House officials are already trying to blame the GOP for any deadlock and the scheduled tax increases, and are now arguing that the nations stalled economy was caused by the GOPs determination to protect the income of wealthy Americans.
And what a crash it's going to be.
That tells you right there how left-wing the Democrats have gotten. The White House is leaking to Mother Jones before any other news organization. Not the New York Times, not the Washington Post, not the LA Times, not AP, not Reuters - but Mother Jones.
Obamugabe not only hates the middle class, he hates capitalism, the Constitution, Christianity, and all things decent.
Same as his party.
Wow, I actually agree with Obamao.
Floating trial balloons via Mother Jones. What a pathetic tool. Go ahead, moron, crash and burn at the bottom of the cliff. Tweet all you want. Make as many Toutube videos between now and Christmas to send out to your minions. Pull out all the stops.
I am ready. GOP, stand firm. He’s been pulling this ‘holiday’ crisis crap for four years.
“A political deadlock would mean an automatic tax increase for middle-class and wealthy Americans on January 1, and the opportunity for Obama and the Democrats to push a tax-cutting bill for middle-class voters in 2013, say the White House officials, who leaked the claim to two liberal columnists.”
Republicans should propose to make the Bush tax cuts permanent. Let the Democrats vote on that.
The plan was to go over the cliff, the day the plan was made.
It was always a part of the plan.
People are gonna get exactly what they voted for with this guy. Lets tank it NOW. Why put it off. Let those libs become unemployed right now at the beginning of this fools term.
Exactly.
Crash the US. Al Qaeda and Soros on speed dial, living at 1600 PA AVE, DC.
Shove all-in over this P.O.S.’s bluff: he’s holding a seven high.
“It wont be the Obama tax increase. He will blame the GOP. Then, Barry will happily EO his way around the debt ceiling if he has to. The GOP wont stop that.”
Lots of snarky remarks before your reply, but you see things more clearly.
Actually, Obama’s “strategy” is pretty sound. One may detest one’s enemy, but it would be a grave mistake to underestimate him.
Let the tax cuts expire, and blame Republicans now for their refusal to “negotiate” (even though it’s the ‘rats who won’t do so). Round one...
Next year, after taxes have increased, push for “tax-cutting” legislation, which the Pubbies will have to accept. If they don’t, blame them AGAIN for “high taxes on the middle class”. Round two...
Repeat in 2014, and the Republicans may have a hard time even hanging onto their majority in the House. Round three!
As G.W. would say, that’s “strategery”!
So at what point do people who normally cut checks in April say no to this game?
Next year, after taxes have increased, push for tax-cutting legislation, which the Pubbies will have to accept. If they dont, blame them AGAIN for high taxes on the middle class. Round two...
You got it, FRiend. Next year the kenyan will ride in on his camel to save the day. He will propose the “Obama Tax Cuts” to rescue the middle class from the evil GOP.
You know it must kill the dims to constantly be forced to deal with the “Bush Tax Cuts”. Well, here is the end of the Bush tax cuts all gift wrapped by Boehner and McConnell. Merry Kwanzaa to all!
I've said it a million times. If you want to shut down this corrupt government, millions would have to refuse to file, refuse to send them any payments, increase deductions to the max, and watch them squirm.
It's called a tax revolt. It's the ONLY way to keep what we have. But, it's not going to happen because the populace is scared of their own government.
Pathetic really.
Is anyone else tired of the blame game?
I, for one, don’t care who blames who. Go over the cliff. Destroy the economy. I want this petty bickering to stop and somehow restore sanity.
I hate the GOP, I don’t happen to care if they get blamed - same for the democrats.
It’ s time to clean house.
Really????!!! That's your idea of a fair trade? Destroy the economy...in return for an end to petty bickering?
One would think that the U.S. economy was of somewhat more value than that.
I don't care how much you hate Republicans...and Democrats...why would you want to ravage the lifes of so many Americans just to get rid of petty bickering?
Given a healthy economy, I could put up with a whole lot of petty bickering...
How has this bickering and finger pointing helped so far?
The crash is coming, and they are all to blame. And by the way, it is not me who will be ravaging lives. It is the government R and D. They have been doing it, are doing it and will continue to do it.
They are implementing their plan. Do not listen to this BS. The more you do the more you will become their slave.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.