Could I possibly have heard this correctly?

[Atticus]

I was "half-way" listening to Hardball when I THOUGHT I heard one of the guests---or maybe Mathews himself---say that the White House was reluctant to tax the very wealthy more to pay for healthcare because the Bush tax cuts will expire next year and that would be two "tax increases" in less than two years.

So, how many damn votes will this top 2% cast in 2010 and 2012?

Are we supposed to feel SORRY for these plutocrats that they might have a few million dollars less to play with if they are called upon to resume paying taxes at a rate which saw the nation prosper and their fortunes increase?

The American middle class is BLEEDING and is in dire need of leadership that can and will empathize with them and take steps to provide them with health care and jobs and---dare I say it?---HOPE! But, all that is trumped by neo-cons and Blue Dogs whining about the poor millionaires who won't be able to swing that second private jet or another "alternative residence"?

I know the man has a lot on his plate but, damn it, this isn't complicated! If the Democratic Party doesn't stand with labor, the middle class and the poor, it doesn't stand for anything and has no right to continue as a political party that pretends to differ significantly with the GOP. As the current head of the Democratic Party, President Obama has, maybe, a few weeks to turn this around and get behind the PEOPLE. This first State of the Union address could, in my opinion, determine the 2012 presidential elecion.

[dysfunctional press]

1. don't worry- once the pukes take back congress- the tax cuts won't expire.

nt

[MichiganVote]

3. LOL! God that's the fucking truth!

[MichiganVote]

2. If so they're as clueless as I guess them all to be in DC.

[babylonsister]

4. Take what tweety says with a grain of salt and educate yourself. THEN,

come back to us with links to prove your point. :fistbump:

[Atticus]

6. What would you like a link for? The Hardball program? That the Bush tax cuts will expire soon or,

maybe, that the middle class is "bleeding"?

I didn't think my post contained any facts that would find serious dispute on DU. We may differ on what those facts MEAN, but those are called OPINIONS and are, I think, what this is all about.

[babylonsister]

7. Is the "WH reluctant to tax the very wealthy more to pay for healthcare

because the Bush tax cuts will expire next year and that would be two "tax increases" in less than two years??"

That is what I'd like a link for. :D

[laughingliberal]

10. I think their actions speak for themselves. I didn't have to hear it on Hardball to know this

administration doesn't want to tax the rich or piss off Wall Street.

[babylonsister]

12. You're kidding, right?

People have been fighting on DU about Obama wanting to 'tax the rich' and how it will effect the middle-class for weeks. Again, a case where no one can win, especially Obama.

[laughingliberal]

15. He is against the House bill's surcharge on individuals making $500,000 per year

and couples making $1,000,000. If he is supporting any taxes on the rich I would be glad to hear about it. So far, I only know of his support for a tax on health care benefits of workers who have high priced policies from their employers which may or may not be above average coverage.

[Atticus]

11. As I thought my post made clear, that is what I BELIEVE I heard reported on Hardball.

Do I know for sure that's exactly what was said or what the source was?

No.

Sorry if I misunderstood your comment.

[laughingliberal]

16. I heard it, too.

And that is what was said. That he did not want the House version of funding that imposed a surcharge on the rich cause the Bush tax cuts would expire next year and that would mean this group would have their taxes raised twice.

Boo-fucking-hoo.

[Liberal In Texas]

5. It's not the numer of votes they cast, it's the money they cast.

$ buys influence and favors.

[laughingliberal]

8. That is exactly what you heard. Will someone please tell us how many tax breaks they've gotten since

St Ronnie scammed the American people with the trickle down scam. The top rate has gone from 74% when he took office to 38% currently. I don't think they give a damn about anyone who is not in the top 1%. This is way beyond reasonable. We need to kill this damned bill while there's still a working class and a shred of a middle class left to save.

[midnight]

9. It is all about balance.... Right now there is none....

[slipslidingaway]

13. Maybe they should listen to Gruber who frames the tax on Cadillac plans

as not really a new tax.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=422188&mesg_id=422274

Direct link to interview...
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june10/cadillac_01-11.html

-----And I love the way he says this is not a new tax, instead we are scaling back on a tax break - nice framing.

"JONATHAN GRUBER: I think you are, Gwen. And I think Josh's points are right, because I think you need to remember that we're not talking about a new tax on these people.

We're talking about saying they currently get an enormous tax break. And we're going to slightly scale that back and use the money to cover uninsured people..."

[slipslidingaway]

14. From the AP ...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100112/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul

"House and Senate negotiators working on President Barack Obama's health overhaul bill appear likely to drop a proposed income tax increase on high-wage earners and possibly jettison a requirement for large businesses to offer coverage to their employees, Democratic officials said Tuesday..."