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Middle class tax-cut issue backfiring on Democrats
Boston Globe ^ | September 30, 2010 | Matt Viser

Posted on 09/30/2010 5:49:52 AM PDT by reaganaut1

President Obama’s urgent call for Congress to immediately extend tax breaks for the middle class was supposed to create a defining Democratic issue and cast Republicans as defenders of the rich on the eve of crucial midterm elections. Now, three weeks later, Democrats are further divided and Republicans are using the tax cut issue to their advantage.

The House and Senate adjourned last night, leaving the central pocketbook issue to be decided after the Nov. 2 midterm elections — and just weeks before the tax cuts are set to expire. That indecision injects more uncertainty into whose taxes will go up, and by how much.

Democrats worry that they have been robbed of their most valuable populist talking point: that cuts on income taxes should be extended for the middle class, but not for the wealthy.

“It is both a political and a governmental mistake,’’ said Representative Michael Capuano, a Somerville Democrat, of the delayed vote. He pushed for a vote this week and tried floating an alternate proposal — to no avail. “To me, it is a classic example of what’s wrong with Washington.’’

The tax cut extension is expected to remain a political issue over the next few weeks, but not in the way Democrats had initially intended. Rather than using it on the campaign trail against Republicans, Democrats could find themselves on the defensive as the GOP yesterday began framing the vote delay as an example of government ineptitude and cowardice.

“The failure to have a vote on the expiration of the tax cuts, knowing that they were coming, with a majority in the House and Senate, makes the president and the Democratic leadership of Congress look even more incompetent,’’ Republican strategist Karl Rove, a former senior adviser to President George W. Bush, said in an interview.

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS:
The article is full of quotes by MA congressman saying they should have passed a bill to raise taxe sooner. Massachusetts is a pretty affluent state with a disproportionate number of families earning more than $250K. It's also an expensive state where $250K does not make you "rich". Why do my fellow MA residents keep electing such turds?
1 posted on 09/30/2010 5:49:53 AM PDT by reaganaut1
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To: reaganaut1
They did it because they were going to lose the vote. The GOP had enough Democrat support to pass their alternative that would of extended all the tax cuts.

So rather the do the will of the people, the Progressive Fascist Democrat leadership in the Congress punted.

2 posted on 09/30/2010 5:52:52 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (The problem with Socialism is eventually you run out of other people's money. Lady Thatcher)
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To: MNJohnnie
the Progressive Fascist Democrat leadership in the Congress punted.

They haven't done a budget, either. I suppose since the Fed is printing money like it's going out of style there is no longer a need for a budget?

3 posted on 09/30/2010 5:58:52 AM PDT by Thermalseeker (Stop the insanity - Flush Congress!)
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To: reaganaut1
I'm in MA and I'll tell you part of the problem: the GOP.

I know quite a few conservatives in MA. I won't say the state is full of conservatives, but there are more of us than some might think. The problem is, we don't vote. We're convinced it's a waste of time. We know we're gonna lose, so we stay home.

Now, let me say that I've never missed an election. But I know many folks who just don't bother. Part of this is the perception that there are few of us, and part of this is the fact that the "Republicans" who run for office usually are a bad lot.

Case in point: A few years ago, my town held a local vote on a property tax increase. It was a divisive issue. We already pay a lot, and many elderly residents have a tough time coming up with the money. It really seemed like the town could go either way. At the Town Meeting, our state rep showed up -- he's a Republican. He gave an impassioned speech on the issue, about the current economic troubles, and how times were tight -- and THAT'S why he was arguing in favor of the big tax increase.

I tried to get involved in local Republican affairs, and I was sickened by it. They have no principles, they don't like people who do have principles, and they have little real interest in changing anything.

As usual, the people aren't so bad -- but the politicians suck.

4 posted on 09/30/2010 6:01:06 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Things will change after the revolution, but not before.)
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To: reaganaut1

these tax cuts need to go away to seal the republicans into office. people don’t want their taxes that high.


5 posted on 09/30/2010 6:05:27 AM PDT by television is just wrong
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To: reaganaut1

They only had 4 years of Democrat control to make it happen.

The Democratic party of whiny procrastinators. Just like a ten year old kid. Why didn’t you get that done? “didn’t feel like it”


6 posted on 09/30/2010 6:06:18 AM PDT by listenhillary (A very simple fix to our dilemma - We need to reward the makers instead of the takers)
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To: MNJohnnie

It makes me wonder how much the Progressive Fascist Democrat leadership will be listened to after the election.


7 posted on 09/30/2010 6:08:14 AM PDT by listenhillary (A very simple fix to our dilemma - We need to reward the makers instead of the takers)
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To: reaganaut1
Yes, when I think of 'rich', I think of a millionare, not someone who is worth 250,000!

This is more 'class envy' from the Socialist Party aka, Democratic Party.

8 posted on 09/30/2010 6:09:47 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration (When the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn (Pr.29:2))
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To: ClearCase_guy

>>As usual, the people aren’t so bad — but the politicians suck.<<

One person was responsible for getting prayer out of our schools. ONE. Attitudes like you described are irresponsible and lame.


9 posted on 09/30/2010 6:13:28 AM PDT by CynicalBear
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To: reaganaut1
"When asked why his party could not agree on a plan, Senator Chris Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut, said simply, “Because we’re Democrats."

Reminds me of one of Will Rogers quotes:

I don't belong to an organized party, I'm a Democrat...
10 posted on 09/30/2010 6:16:02 AM PDT by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: ClearCase_guy

There are exactly the RINOs that Rush has talked about for 20 years...


11 posted on 09/30/2010 6:17:58 AM PDT by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: reaganaut1

Obama has done something Rush, Hannity, Fox, Bush etc wasn’t able to do.

He woke the majority of the nation up to the facts that:

1) The Dems are no longer your party of JFK. They are now European Socialist wannabees.

2) The Dems are corrupt. The MSM just reporting just on Republican scandals and hiding Dem ones isn’t going to cut it anymore.

3) The Dems really DONT have any ideas. They just like to give away money, and the heck with what people need and want. It’s all about political power.

I salute you Barack. You may have been, in a strange twisted way, the salvation of our nation. Now go away- and take your unhappy wife with you.


12 posted on 09/30/2010 6:25:27 AM PDT by I still care (I believe in the universality of freedom -George Bush, asked if he regrets going to war.)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Start a Tea Party group in your local area to solve the problem of disinterested conservative voters?


13 posted on 09/30/2010 6:28:51 AM PDT by November 2010
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To: ClearCase_guy

I am in CT and our GOP is just as bad. They put up people they know will lose in order to support the ‘good’ democrat. It is complete nonsense! A lot of the tea partiers are running for the various RTC precincts and hopefully, if we get enough conservatives in, we can boot the useless leadership. I am an alternate now and intend to get elected next go round in 2012! I suggest we all do what they did in other states and totally flip the GOP!


14 posted on 09/30/2010 6:38:58 AM PDT by sorrisi (CAP spending and TRADE Congress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: MNJohnnie
Why wouldn't the Dems at least put the middle income tax cuts to a vote before the election? If it passed, they could look like tax cutting heros, and if it failed they could blame the Republicans.

I believe that they didn't want to extend the tax cuts for ANYBODY. Nothing else makes sense.

15 posted on 09/30/2010 8:14:15 AM PDT by sportutegrl
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To: sportutegrl

You are right. All their bills are to be financed by those taxes. They must have them. If they lose the tax vote, their base will be foaming at the mouth because there will be no money for the socialism and because the *rich* were not punished.


16 posted on 09/30/2010 11:11:35 AM PDT by reformedliberal
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