Bernie Sanders Decries Obama-GOP Tax Deal As “An Absolute Disaster," Pledges Senate Fight

[Purveyor]

Dismissing President Obama's embrace of Republican demands for tax breaks for billionaires and a massive estate-tax exemption for millionaires as “an absolute disaster and an insult to the vast majority of the American people,” Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has promised to "do whatever I can to see that 60 votes are not acquired to pass this piece of legislation.”

The White House was trying to sell the deal Tuesday morning as a necessary bargain—meeting all the major demands of congressional Republicans in order to achieve an extension of unemployment benefits. But Sanders was not buying that line. The senator said the Republican determination to hold jobless aid hostage to get a better deal for the rich was an "insult" and an "outrage," and he said it was "absolutely wrong" for Democrats to cut deals with them.

"Millionaires and billionaires do not need huge tax deductions. That's the simple truth. And the fact of the matter is—despite Republican rhetoric—if we're serious about creating jobs in this country, which should be our main priority, that's one of the worst ways to do it.," declared Sanders. " much better to take that money, invest in our roads, bridges, railroad systems, infrastructure. You create jobs doing that."

Pressed by MSNBC's Ed Schultz—who referred to Obama as the "capitulator in chief"—Sanders did not rule out the prospect of a filibuster.

"I will do whatever I can on this. This is a very, very bad agreement," said Sanders, who noted polling that says the American people oppose extending tax breaks for the rich. "I think we've got to hold tough on this, hold firm on this and not concede to Republicans who... have absolutely no inclination to compromise. They want it all for their rich friends."

Sanders was not alone.

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http://www.thenation.com/blog/156873/bernie-sanders-decries-obama-gop-tax-deal-%E2%80%9C-absolute-disaster-pledges-senate-fight

[Skittles]

1. Bernie nails it

"absolute disaster and an INSULT"

[polichick]

2. Bless Bernie Sanders, one of few who put the people first. nt

[Nite Owl]

3. One of the few on

our side.
Thanks Bernie!

[Vincardog]

4. Good it they have to SEnate DEMOCRATS should filibuster this

[phleshdef]

5. Bernie at least understands that as a Senator, HE has the responsibility to do his part in governing

It seems like a lot of other Democrats don't understand that role at all. They are bitching and moaning when they should be seeing if they can make the deal stronger or kill it altogether. They still have the ability to make sure this doesn't pass at all if they really want to.

[bbgrunt]

6. well, I hope he fights. I hope he filibusters. hope is cheap these days.

[budkin]

7. Love Bernie!

[totodeinhere]

8. If Bernie filibusters and succeeds, then extended unemployment benefits will be cut off.

Millions of Americans will have no source of income. And you better believe that the GOP will never allow extended benefits to pass if this compromise gets shot down.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

9. Get the 60 votes to pass what you want without having to compromise.

Instead of working against one plan, he's got all the power in the world to work towards an acceptable one. I like Bernie, and I hope he does work in a positive way on this one, but there's a reason this is necessary and it's because his colleagues in the Senate can't get the job done without making a deal.

[totodeinhere]

11. How is he going to get 60 votes when the GOP has 42 votes and everyone in their

caucus pledged not to budge on this?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

12. That's his problem, isn't it?

He's the one who doesn't want to make a deal, so he's got to go find the votes.

[Owl]

10. YES! Thanks Bernie!

[Carolina]

13. K&R