Why can't Obama just say "I will VETO any bill that does not extend Middle Class Tax Cuts.....

[KansasVoter]

and raises taxes on those making over $250,000 a year."

And then daily talk about how the GOP is preventing the middle class from getting tax cuts.

Why would that not work?

[tekisui]

1. It could work. Especially if he got the rest of the Dem leaders

to join. Put the repukes on the defensive.

[skepticscott]

4. This would require

both unity of purpose and intestinal fortitude from the White House and Congressional Democrats.

Next.

[Skittles]

2. that would require guts

[Tansy_Gold]

3. and backbone, too.

[Skittles]

5. let's just say, it will never happen

:(

[davidinalameda]

6. both of which seem to be in short supply in the WH

[Shining Jack]

7. +1 n/t

[WillyT]

30. LOL !!!

Yep

:shrug:

:hi:

[potpolpilot]

8. He's not that clever. He wants people to like him. But basically it's

apparent he doesn't have strong beliefs...about just about anything. Healthcare as a right...not really important...Illegal occupations of other countries...not that important...overt sexual orientation bias....not that important..

[knotwurstforware]

9. I just dont understand

why Obama continues to play naively with a nest of vipers. The Republicans will continue to shit on him and yet he wants to try and shake their hands. Why?

[murray hill farm]

10. That would require honesty and integrity!

The idea that was presented to us... " we will give up anything and bow to anyone to get "tax cuts" for the middle class" is and was always cover theatrics to give into the deal that was already a given...tax cuts for the wealthy. Our President sold out long ago. It is all theatrics.

[AlinPA]

11. That would work. Americans would support that, somewhere I read here that most

Americans do not support the republican plan. This would be a winner for the Democrats.

[jefferson_dem]

15. True. They don't like the GOP plan. But the plan they support least is what we would get...

if Obama draws that phony line in the sand - that is, no extension at all...tax cuts increasing for the middle class. That would be devastaing in terms of policy and politics.

See this -

http://www.gallup.com/poll/144989/vast-majority-wants-aspect-bush-tax-cuts-extended.aspx

[jefferson_dem]

12. Because that shit wouldn't fly. Plus it would be counter-productive.

If this is a poker game, Obama/Dems are holding a pair of tens. Everybody knows that. Pretending he has a royal flush would be stupid. And nobody would buy the bluff. He/We would get nothing.

[KansasVoter]

17. And what is the downside?

[AndyTiedye]

22. The Downside is Getting Blamed for Taxes Going Up, Resulting in Repiglickin Sweep in 2012

[KansasVoter]

26. And extend them for the rich and lose the Dems also.

[Warren DeMontague]

33. That sounds like the same sort of "conventional wisdom" that has been getting us into trouble.

Call their bluff. The sky will not fall.

[jefferson_dem]

27. Here.

- http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=544267&mesg_id=544276

Thanks.

[Major Hogwash]

13. Because the rich get a tax cut too, for the first quarter of a million dollars they earn.

So, it's not really a "middle class" tax cut.
Everyone gets a tax cut under the Democrat's plan.

I think we should start taxing churches.

[flvegan]

14. Ahahahahahaha!!!!!

Oh, man. That's funny. Not the idea, I'm sure it would work. The very idea he'd do that. Lordy, that's a good one.

[Kaleva]

16. He ought to veto any bill that extends the middle class and wealthy tax cuts.

[ProSense]

18. Why would he need to say that?

It's not like saying that is going to stop the Republicans from blocking the middle-class tax cuts. Democrats decided to have a vote on his middle-class tax cuts on Saturday, and it failed. Anything that reaches the President's desk now will likely be the compromise he worked out.

Some people, a minority, want all the tax cuts to expire. That is not the President's goal, and the majority of Americans seem to agree with him.

[KansasVoter]

19. Because he needs to make this a big deal! A major stand!

[ProSense]

23. What do you think is going to be the compromise?

What's he going to be threatening to veto?

Do you simply want him to make an empty threat?

[ProSense]

24. OK, I read the OP wrong

It doesn't mention the tax cuts for the rich. I see you want him to issue the veto threat for the middle-class tax cuts.

[Travis_0004]

20. Imagine if a bill was passed extending tax cuts for everybody, and obama vetos it.

Then everybody would be pissed at Obama.

[Warren DeMontague]

21. Apparently. we have a deficit that MUST BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY

so, fuck it. Let all the cuts expire.

Enough, already.

[BrklynLiberal]

29. But only th emiddle class and the poor are being held accountable for that deficit.

Not anyone who could actually afford it....

[Warren DeMontague]

32. That's what I'm saying.

If the GOP is going to have a conniption, fine. The cuts will expire automatically. Taxes will revert to Clinton era levels.

The economy did just fine under Clinton.

[killbotfactory]

25. Because republicans don't fucking care!

They are willing to screw over everybody for the sake of helping a few millionares, and couldn't care less about what damage they do to the economy or the lives of american citizens because in the end everyone will blame Obama. End of story.

[BrklynLiberal]

28. I would work.. It should have been done months ago..

I am at a loss to even begin to understand wtf is going on in the White House

[ProfessionalLeftist]

31. He CAN.

But he won't.