Axelrod: GOP tax position 'untenable'

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http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/120953-axelrod-gop-position-on-tax-cuts-untenable

A top White House official said Sunday that Republicans urging an extension of tax cuts for the wealthy will only benefit Democrats in November's midterms.

David Axelrod, chief political advisor to President Obama, said most voters simply won't buy the argument that cuts to the middle class can't be extended without also renewing those for the wealthiest families.

"When these Republican members return to their districts, they're going to have to explain to their constituents why they're holding up tax cuts for the middle class," Axelrod told ABC's "This Week" host Christiane Amanpour.

"It's an untenable position to say, 'We're going to allow your taxes to go up on Jan. 1 unless the president agrees to give tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires.'"

[flpoljunkie]

1. Mitch 'turtle head' McConnell's response today: There are no bills to 'hold hostage.'

He's right.

[flpoljunkie]

2. Mike Pence on MTP: It'd be 'unconscionable' for Congress not to vote before Nov elections.

The drum beat to extend all the Bush tax cuts has started.

[COLGATE4]

3. No, when they return to their districts they're going to have

to explain to their constituents "why their (i.e. the constituents') taxes are going to go up! This is what will be played morning, noon and night by all the Rethug talk radio varmints and Fux news. "See - the Democrats are always all about raising your taxes. We (the Rethugs) wanted a vote so that the tax cuts Bush gave you didn't expire, and the Democrats didn't want to vote". Axelrod is living in a fool's paradise.

[flpoljunkie]

4. John 'of Orange' Boehner: Tax cuts punt 'most irresponsible thing I have seen.'

The drum beat has indeed, begun.

Boehner: Tax cuts punt 'most irresponsible thing I have seen'

By Bridget Johnson - 09/26/10 09:35 AM ET

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) called Congress' expected adjournment before acting on the Bush-era tax cuts the "most irresponsible thing that I have seen since I have been in Washington, D.C.

"And I've been here a while," he added.

Appearing on "Fox News Sunday" alongside Chief Deputy Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Boehner slammed Democrats for demurring on the tax vote, saying it "sounds like they're just going to punt the ball until a lame-duck session."

"I think she's afraid," McCarthy said of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). "She's got 37 Democrats in her own party that say they want to extend all the tax cuts."

"By leaving town without an up-or-down vote to stop the Obama tax hike, Democrats are giving middle-class families and small business owners one more reason to replace the arrogance and irresponsibility of this Congress with Republicans who are serious about getting this economy moving again," NRCC spokesman Paul Lindsay said.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/120945-boehner-punting-on-tax-cuts-most-irresponsible-thing-ive-seen

[flpoljunkie]

5. Right on cue, Lieberman's leading the charge for the R's to extend the Bush tax cuts for wealthy...

(Sadly, I think Lieberman knows of what he speaks, regarding what the Senate will do after the mid-term elections in November. In a word, cave. Perhaps Pelosi will decide to take a stand, with the Blue Dogs kicking and screaming all the way. Go for it, Pelosi!)

Lieberman: Dems will probably extend tax cuts for wealthy

By Jordy Yager - 09/26/10 12:36 PM ET

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) said on Sunday that he believes Democrats will compromise with Republicans and extend tax cuts for the wealthy.

“My guess is that we will extend the so-called middle class tax cuts permanently, so to speak, and we will agree to extend the tax cuts for high income earners for at least a year or two," Lieberman told CNN's Candy Crowley on "State of the Union."

"I favor that. It’s easy enough to say that people who make a lot of money don’ty deserve a tax cut now, but the truth is if you have more money, you spend more money, you invest more money that’s what we need to happen now to grow jobs and our economy."

Lieberman said that if the tax cuts aren't extended, the country could see another sharp fall into economic hardship.

“If we don’t do anything, everybody’s taxes go up in January," said Lieberman. "It is a possibility and to me it’s the surest way to send America back into a second dip of a recession. So we’ve got to find a way to break through this partisan gridlock and come to a compromise"

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/120963-lieberman-dems-will-probably-extend-tax-cuts-for-wealthy