Read My Lips, No New Taxes

[terrell9584]

Famous words from George Bush at the 1988 Republican Convention. He broke that promise and the American people remembered. Bill Clinton used that as an issue in 1992 and it was one of the things that contributed to his victory.


During the 2008 presidential campaign Barack Obama promised that there would be no mandated insurance if he were president. Will he keep his promise?

[zaj]

1. Fair discussion. Doubt it has the political impact that Bush/92 did.

[terrell9584]

7. Uh yeah it actually will.

The majority of Americans are not aware this shit has mandatory insurance in it. If it keeps it they will be pissed.


The idea that the government could pass a law telling you how you are to spend some of your income is one that average Americans won't accept with the economy as it is. Now, people may not like taxes but they understand the rationale. They can accept a defense for taxes. For the vast majority of Americans there is no explanation you are going to make to them that will make them accept the idea that the government can pass a law telling them how to spend the money that they earn, not on taxes mind you, but on a product sold by a private company.


The overriding issue this year has been the unemployment crisis. The government hasn't addressed it. We haven't gotten a jobs program but we are on the way to passing this new law that will leave the middle class even further under siege.


The American voter is pissed. If this passes they will remember and it will set back the Progressive movement in the country in a major way.

[still_one]

2. So what are you going to do about it? /nt

[lapfog_1]

4. The same thing the Bush 41 supporters did to him...

Sit on our hands in 2012.

[still_one]

5. After listening to the republicans tonight, that would be the last thing I would do /nt

[lapfog_1]

8. Well, that's your choice.

If nobody does anything, then the Dems will always be centrist corportists. They would have no incentive to keep their word to the left.

And I'm tired of picking the lesser of two evils.

And I'm really tired of the bad policy the "middle of the road" DLCers bring with them.

[still_one]

9. and, I will work on my Senators and representative to amend the HRC act when it becomes law

You see, I don't like the bill particularly, but I think it is better then the current system. At a minimum it will cover 30 million people who were not covered,

[laughingliberal]

10. Well, we can try but the history of this bunch leads me to fear they may yet make it worse nt

[lapfog_1]

11. You are listening to the talking points.

It will "offer" coverage to 30 million. But it won't do anything for about 1/2 of those which would allow them to buy the coverage. Yes, for around 15 million, there will be subsidies. Great. The rest, there will be fines to pay and still no health care. They will be making too much to get a subsidy, but because of pre-existing condition or age (more likely the latter) they won't be able to BUY the coverage.

And, because this bill (the major provisions) won't even start until 2014, there will be NO incentive to change things until 2016 at the earliest (got to give it a year or two so the "kinks" are worked out).

I hear on DU the constant argument "this is better than statue quo AND we will make it better over the next few years".

And I have to ask WHY you think either of those. It is WORSE than what we have now, and it will NOT BE WORKED ON anytime soon.

[still_one]

12. It won't be that long, we will see in the next two years who is more correct /nt

[Ozymanithrax]

3. Actually, Perot and Buchanan were the ones pushing that meme

Pat Buchanan printed up a newsletter and sent out bumper stickers that said, "Read Our Lips! No new taxes." The promise of no new taxes was a republican/conservative/Perot thing that hurt Bush I. Clinton advocated raising taxes, and then did so, thanks to Perot and Buchanan muddying the waters. Bush I raised taxes rather than increase the debt ceiling. He was the last Republican to make that mistake. It became borrow and spend after that.

[girl gone mad]

13. I'm not sure what you're talking about.

Here's what the OP is talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP9_kkzfN-w

[Rosa Luxemburg]

6. well only new taxes for the very rich

[EmeraldCityGrl]

14. Mandated Insurance at a time when families are being

foreclosed on, losing their jobs, and struggling to pay for the basics ?... they have got to be out of their minds.

As usual a lot of people aren't paying attention. When the reality sets in there will be a huge backlash.

Obama promised now new taxes for folks making less than $250,000. He failed to mention a good portion of
your income (for boomers) will now be required for healthcare coverage. The burden will be far to great for many.
For others, who are healthy, it might be a good idea to leave the country. With a small pension and SS you can live
a much more affordable life elsewhere and still receive adequate healthcare.

[HopeforChange]

16. I agree ! This is nothing but a BIG FAT tax on the Country

And if you do not buy insurance then the IRS will TAX You !!!

Obama Lied when he said no new taxes !

I am and have been a strong OBAMA supporter and was a national delegate for him but I cannot support a fat health insurance tax on the American people when people are starving and unemployed.

This will be the kiss of death to the Democratic Party.

Wait until people wake up and smell the coffee that Washington has just served !

[cowcommander]

15. Bush Sr doesn't have the star power Obama has either

The situation is hardly the same, Obama is still far more popular and far more charismatic than anyone the republicans could ever have for a very, very long time.