Tax cut deal can't be changed, Biden tells House Democrats

[sabra]

Source: The Hill

Vice President Biden told House Democrats on Wednesday that the tax agreement the White House struck with Republicans was essentially final, forcing the divided caucus to decide whether to press its fight for changes in the package.

"It’s up or down," Biden told the caucus in a closed-door meeting, according to Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.).

"So far as the administration is concerned, it's take it or leave it," Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), one of the most vocal critics of the tax deal, told The Hill after the meeting. "I would say (Biden) was pretty specific about that."

Biden did not address reporters as he left the briefing. "It was great," he said in response to a shouted question.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/132815-tax-cut-deal-cant-be-changed-biden-tells-house-dems

[Hell Hath No Fury]

1. So he negotiated with the GOPers --

but is telling Dems take it or leave it.

Bull. And. Shit.

[HereSince1628]

17. Yeah, that's just dandy. Biparisanship = WH and the R's

Just think, in 2 years they'll be back demanding our votes
and they'll argue that we MUST vote for them even if they are
way to the right of us because if we don't vote for them...
...the R's WILL GET EVERYTHING THEY WANT.

[somone]

2. Can he go back and "talk to his manager"

Mr Boehner or Mr McConnell

[Autumn]

3. I think the House Dems might have

told Biden to put a straw in it. Will he say "It was great," to that?

[SharonAnn]

4. Sen. Bob Corker in the Senate said he wanted to "add amendments"

Of course that's typical of the big business, protect the wealthy, take advantage of everyone else senator that he is.

[droidamus2]

5. So let me see...

Obama didn't include the Democrats in the final negotiations of this 'deal' and now VP Joe is telling him that they can't change it and he and Obama aren't interested in what they have to say. Doesn't this basically mean that the Pres and VP have told the Democrats in the House that they have no place in government and they should just sit back and shut up. Maybe the Democrats in the House should pull the trick the Republicans have been using and refuse to vote for anything until somebody starts listening to them. Between Obama and the blue-dogs in the Senate (and Mr weakknees Reid) the House Democrats have been neutralized and until they figure out a way to put some pressure on they are pretty useless.

[Angry Dragon]

7. +10

[tpsbmam]

8. Yep, last time I looked our Constitution mandated 3 branches of government

It's bullshit that there's nothing the Dems can do -- NOW I REALLY say filibuster their asses!

[Sherman A1]

10. As much as I really like Joe Biden

I don't think too much will happen if the House of Representatives (where all tax bills start) is left out of the mix.

There is that whole Constitutional thing as you mentioned.

[defendandprotect]

31. Steadily been giving way to "back room deal" with Repugs ....

[caseymoz]

21. I think it actually means our President's name is George Bush IV nt.

[hay rick]

24. almost

I'm waiting for your post (on edit: and mine) to be deleted. The other day I had a subject-line-only OP in GD tombstoned. It was "Barack Lieberman n/t." It was shot down as "not helpful, without content and disruptive to the community." Ironically, within hours Obama caved on the settlements, though that was not a similarity between the two men that I had in mind.

[caseymoz]

25. If it stays up . . .

. . . maybe it's a sign that our moderators have begun to agree.

[defendandprotect]

32. +!

[defendandprotect]

28. Like back room Health Care deals by Obama... they are moving everything to back room deals....

Never hear commentators discussing that --

This has been going on for decades -- at every level of government --

but especially re Congress --

and what Obama has done is OUTRAGEOUS!!

[ladjf]

6. But it could be derailed. nt

[bowens43]

9. the president doesn't make law.

time for the president and the vp to sit down and shut up.

[fascisthunter]

11. Hey Biden... this will be your legacy

asshat

[indypaul]

26. Bidens legacy is sitting on the SCOUS destroying this country.n/t

[defendandprotect]

34. Agree - we have Clarence Thomas on SC because of Biden's deceptions ....

lying to everyone about presenting counter-witnesses --

including to Prof. Hill and here legal defense -- and supporters --

and to the nation!

Now, we've had more than a year of Biden suggesting that Israel should be

bombing Iran! Biden repeats that "Israel would be justified in attacking Iran!"

We can't get rid of this poisonous administtation fast enough --

And, IF we don't get a truly LIBERAL Democratic administration in its place ....

we are going to be in a very serious POST-Democatic Party era --

Obama isn't only hurting himself -- he's destroying the Democratic Party .....



while uplifting the Republican party!!

[MJJP21]

12. They don't

The Dems and maybe even Obama really don't want this passed in my opinion. They want it to go down in flames as it should. Let the tax extension expire. History has shown that low taxes did not do what the republicans claimed in the past. It did not create jobs or expand the economy. The exact opposite happens. We had some of the lowest taxes in history right before the great depression and and low taxes were a reality just before every major recession in this country.

[Jim__]

13. The dems have to respond: Then it will not pass.

What the fuck is wrong with obama? He leaves the democrats out of the negotiation?

[ProudDad]

14. The fuck it -- DOWN...

Fold it 7 ways and stick it up where the sun don't shine, Biden... :grr:

[BlueJac]

15. They will cave........

tough talk but they will fall in mindless lock step..........I hope not, but all hope has been dashed!!

[harun]

18. We've known for months they will cave. They as in House Blue Dog Dem's.

The Blue Dogs, who will be out of a job shortly, will help the Repukes pass it.

[KansDem]

16. Tie up Congress...let the fucking thing expire...

Problems solved...

[defendandprotect]

35. Except we'll still have two more years of Obama and his love for back room deals!!!

[hay rick]

19. Joe should know.

Article on Joe's role in the tax "compromise" negotiations here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/us/politics/08deal.html?scp=2&sq=joe%20biden&st=cse

The choice is between letting the tax cuts expire and forcing the Republicans to carry out their threats vs. accepting this poisonous deal, which in the long run, will cripple future federal budgets by expanding the deficit and will also pave the way for gutting Social Security by allowing the Republicans and a compliant media to paint the normal employee contributions needed to sustain the program as "tax hikes" only one short year from now.

Obama was conned, either by his inner circle of economic advisers or by his own wishful thinking, into thinking that the original compromise-stimulus plan was big enough to kick start the economy, pull us out of the recession, and sustain a significantly lower unemployment rate. He is now prepared to make the same mistake a second time. The "stimulus" the payroll tax holiday provides may help delay further immediate decline in the economy, but it is not of sufficient magnitude to turn the economy around. The difference between the proposed 2% holiday and the Making Work Pay rebates that it replaces is only on the order of $60 billion. A measure of it's futility is the fact that the Republicans are willing to sign on to it.

Obama will face the same circumstances (a battered economy) in a year when it is time to restore normal funding for OASDI and in 13 months, when it is again time to fund unemployment extensions. One can only imagine what the Republican ransom demands will be in the next go round. They are already eyeing first born children- not Obama's- ours.

[caseymoz]

20. Leave it.

Tell him to negotiate with the Republican house, then.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KamaAina]

23. Dear Bog, he's been possessed by Bill Frist

:scared:

[defendandprotect]

27. We need to change this entire administration -- including Biden ... !!!

And replace it with liberal Democratic leadership --

we need Obama to announce he is stepping down in 2012!

[Tansy_Gold]

29. House Democrats tell Biden, "Wanna bet? Just watch!" n/t

[mbperrin]

30. Leave it.

Bag full of shit with one marble in it somewhere is still mostly a bag full of shit.

[drm604]

33. Since when is that up to the executive branch?

I'm pretty sure they can't order the legislative branch around like that.

[bullwinkle428]

36. Way to COMPROMISE, Joe!!!

:mad: :mad:

[mvd]

37. So NOW it's take it or leave it?

Unbelievable, if you ask me.