Durbin Says Democrats Will Back Obama's Plan on Tax Cuts for Middle Class

[TomCADem]

Source: Bloomberg

Illinois Senator Richard Durbin said Democrats will come together to extend Bush-era tax cuts for low- and middle-income households, including lawmakers who also want to keep the lower rates for high-earning Americans.

Durbin, the Senate’s second-ranking Democrat, said on CNN’s “State of the Union” program that “some Republicans” will also vote to keep lower taxes for only the first $250,000 of a married couple’s income, as President Barack Obama proposes.

At least five Senate Democrats and all 41 Republicans say Bush-era tax cuts should be extended across-the-board to help the economy recover from the worst recession since World War II.

* * *

“Some Democrats would say, ‘Well, perhaps we would do it a little bit differently,’” Durbin said. “But if that position doesn’t prevail, and I don’t think it will, then the ultimate choice is going to be whether or not we have the $250,000 income threshold for these tax cuts.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-26/durbin-says-democrats-will-back-obama-s-plan-on-tax-cuts-for-middle-class.html

[hlthe2b]

1. So did we schedule a "firing squad" for the "blue dogs"

of did we successfully transplant brains in the five?

[valerief]

13. Maybe the big Swiss bank accounts helped. nt

[bluestateguy]

2. The idea of Durbin as Senate Democratic leader scares me

If you think Reid and Daschle were pushovers, they will look like lions and tigers compared to Durbin.

[nyy1998]

10. And this is based on?

[bluestateguy]

11. Thank you for asking that

This act of blubbering cowardice right here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/21/AR2005062101654.html

He fell right into the Media Echo Chamber's trap by yielding to their demands for an apology.

[pnorman]

15. That's not all that compelling.

"Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) yesterday offered a tearful apology on the Senate floor for comparing the alleged abuse of prisoners by American troops to techniques used by the Nazis, the Soviets and the Khmer Rouge, as he sought to quell a frenzy of Republican-led criticism.

Durbin, the Democratic whip, acknowledged that "more than most people, a senator lives by his words" but that "occasionally words will fail us and occasionally we will fail words." Choking up, he said: "Some may believe that my remarks crossed the line. To them, I extend my heartfelt apologies."

He singled out the victims of the Holocaust, which Durbin called "the greatest moral tragedy of our time," as well as U.S. troops."

Comparing Bush's`wars to the Holocaust was DUMB, and most certainly offensive to many, including many DUers. I too would have taken offense had I noticed it. When the Teabaggers invoke the Holocaust, they're vigorously condemned here.

[karynnj]

16. Durbin did not compare Bush's actions to the Holocaust - he did NOT even mention the word

What Durbin said - in context - was completely accepted here on DU. He was speaking against the abuses - Abu Grahib etc by Americans of prisoners. His point was that this was NOT what we think of as American would do. In the typical way that the RW will take small pieces out of context - they started MID- SENTENCE in this quote - that is saying that if the actions were described we would not think they were what Americans could do. (Here's the comment - it's from a RW source, but that's where garbage lives - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqIlXfkylD4

Durbin, a genuinely patriotic and decent man, was subjected to hearing one Republican after another denounce his comment and him on the floor of the Senate. In addition, it was constantly on TV and radio - where the chopped version was repeated ad nauseum and as Durbin's reputation was smeared. In many ways, this was as bad as the attacks on anyone - and few Democrats were courageous enough to stand against the Republicans and point out that Durbin did not say what the Republicans were alleging.

His apology was given to end it - both for his own sake and the party's.

[pnorman]

17. I stand corrected, and THANKS!

I hadn't read deep enough, and gave his accusers here on DU the benefit of the doubt. But even then, I didn't buy into the accusation of "spinelessness" that was laid at him.

Time is getting short, so let's all put aside baseless bickerings, and GOTV!

[karynnj]

18. You're welcome

I agree it is time to stop bickering and GOTV and I am glad I took the time to write it as I think we all need to be aware of how the RW takes any bits of words - not even necessarily a full sentence = and turns them into sickening tornadoes that can destroy reputations that took decades to earn. I saw this most closely when - as part of the JK group here - we saw Kerry, suffering from a cold, skip a two letter word "us" in a joke written for him turn into a frenzy of hate. (later to add insult to injury, when Limbaugh maliciously called all anti-war vets, "phony soldiers", parts of the media downplayed it saying that he had "for a long time supported the troops" and forgave McCain for a few eye brow raising comments because he "was a war hero". Nothing like that was said of genuine war hero JK, who wrote much a lot of legislation that helped vets. )

One thing all of these episodes tell me - is step one has to be to look at the full statement. The fact is that nothing that Durbin, Biden, Kerry et al have ever said could compete with dozens of incredibly awful things that Palin or her mini me, O'Donnell, have said. They are serious public servants and for that reason, Democrats should give them at least the benefit of looking at the full statement - and then trying to defuse the nonsense.

[madrchsod]

14. i guess i won`t be voting for him in a few years...

thanks for telling me that durbin is a wimp.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. I have become such a cynic, that my initial reaction is "I'll believe it when I see it."

I hope and pray that this comes to pass..but I am not going to be counting chickens any time soon.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. How many democrats and does that mean w/o an amendment to share the extension of tax cuts

with "all Americans"?

[toddwv]

5. I would love to think that this was part of the plan...

Pull addressing tax cuts "off the table" until after the election.
Wait for groundswell of protests demanding tax cuts be addressed.
Introduce tax cuts for all but the top brackets with no compromising amendments.
Put the legislation on the floor forcing the Republicans to filibuster it or allow a vote to come up.
Legislation passes easily in the House.
Republicans in the Senate vote it down as expected along with help from blue-dogs.

There's your election poster.

However, I can't help but wonder sometimes if the Democrats are ok with the passive roll that some of them normally assume.

[DesertFlower]

6. let's hope so.

[veganlush]

7. It's weasel wording.

..they're still gonna give tax breaks to the million/billionaires at a cost of 700 billion in borrowed money because they are cowards without principles.

[Iowa]

8. I'll believe it when I see it.

[Unruly]

9. Then why . . .

. . . is there no middle class tax cut bill in either the House or the Senate? Both houses going home for the election without a vote on the "Obama Middle Class Tax Cuts" to campaign on.

What is waiting until after the November midterms supposed to accomplish?

[NeonDog]

12. Post Great Recession Tax Cuts or Obama Recovery Tax Cuts

Quit calling them the Bush TAX CUTS!!!
OK so the Democrats are stale and uncreative...would someone please provide them an Oxygen bottle..
F'iN IdJuts!!!!