Al Franken explains why he voted YES on the Tax Cut Sell out...

[BrklynLiberal]

I got this email from his office:

THE HARDEST VOTE I'VE TAKEN

Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota

Dear

A lot of people are unhappy that the President punted on first down, and I'm one of them. Extending the Bush tax breaks for the super-wealthy will explode our deficit over the next two years without doing anything to help our economy. It's bad policy.

But for Minnesota's middle class, struggling to get by in a tough economy, there's a lot in this bill that will really help: tax cuts for working families, a payroll tax holiday, energy tax credits, and the extension of Recovery Act initiatives that are already making a difference.

And for the Minnesotans truly suffering right now—men, women, and children on the edge of economic disaster—the alternative is simply unacceptable. If we let Republicans block unemployment benefits, even temporarily, there will be a lot more pain for working families, a lot more homeless kids spending Christmas in a shelter or a car.

If this is the prelude of a permanent extension of the Bush tax breaks for the super-wealthy, we're in big trouble. We'll lose our ability to make the investments we need to grow our way out of long-term budget deficits: education, infrastructure, and research and development. And I am taking the President at his word that he will fight harder to put an end to these wasteful tax breaks in 2012 than he did in 2010.

This isn't a great deal by any stretch of the imagination. But I got into this line of work because I wanted to stand up for Minnesota families trying to put food on the table and build a better life for their kids. And, for them, the only thing worse than a bad deal would be no deal at all. That's why I voted yes yesterday—and why I will continue my fight for economic policies that create jobs, address our deficit problem, and build new opportunities for Minnesota.

All the best,

Al

[dflprincess]

1. "and why I will continue my fight for economic policies that create jobs, address our deficit "

problem and build new opportunities for Minnesota."

Really Al? - You're going to continue the fight you just abandoned? And what will keep you from caving in again?

I called his office and was told a lot of people are not happy with this & are especially concerned with the payroll tax "holiday" and the effect it will have long term on Social Security. I suggested Al sit down and talk to Bernie Sanders again.

[BrklynLiberal]

5. I could not believe he fell for that tax "holiday" crap!!!!!!!!

He is a huge supporter of Social Security. He always tells the story of how his wife's family survived on SS after her father died.

[dflprincess]

7. I once had the opportunity to speak to Franni Franken (a truly lovely person)

my family also benefited from SS survivor benefits - we compared notes on that. We're about the same age and back when we were getting benefits they continued until a child was 22 if the "child" was in school (Reagan axed that). I would never have gotten through college without those benefits. They were enough to cover my living expenses and my part time job covered tuition.

[jtown1123]

11. I too know the Franni Franken story, which is why I am shocked he went for payroll tax holiday

If there are any constituents on DU I suggest they write him and educate him on the dangers. He is an advocate for Social Security so this is extremely concerning.

[Marr]

2. Obama is the one who formulated this shitty deal, and he's the one who deserves the blame.

He did not need to lump things like unemployment insurance and the undercutting of Social Security in with tax cuts for the working class, but he did. He wants those items passed, and sat down with Republicans to figure out a way to put enough pressure on his own party to do so.

[AndrewP]

12. +1

[treestar]

14. Then Franken can vote no or he is to blame too

[Forkboy]

15. ok

[Marr]

20. Franken didn't frame the deal-- he only gets to vote yes or no.

He has to ask himself whether or not the cheese Obama put on the trap is worth risking a pinch. You can see how those two positions are not equally responsible, I'm sure.

[treestar]

34. Senators are powerless?

Who knew?

Surely the Founders meant for Senators to be powerless. They meant for Senators to be slaves to the President!

That's why they whined about GW acting like a King. :rofl: :rofl:

[Marr]

36. Are you talking to a voice in your head now? When did I say

that senators are powerless?

That was a bizarre comment.

[Roland99]

3. Dems have Wall St Disease - Short-term is all that matters.

[hulka38]

35. +1

[Myrina]

4. My only hope ...

.... is that they voted 'for' this POS with a secret agreement that it will crash and burn in the House during markup.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. From your keyboard to the ears of she who can make it happen...

[stopbush]

8. Expalins? Shouldn't that be "Ex Palins?"

:)

[dennis4868]

9. He basically agrees with Obama why the deal needs to be made...

even though it is not perfect....

By the way, I strongly disagree that Obama punted on first down. A deal needed to be struck ASAP because by January 1 there will be more repubs in congress and they feel even more strongly about not giving a shit about the unemployed than the ones that are in congress now....time was not on Obama's side....this is why Obama wanted a vote on middle class tax cut extension before the election but Franken and his colleagues put the vote off (on first down).

[Erose999]

25. You don't play poker by immediately showing your opponent your hand. n/t

[customerserviceguy]

29. Or folding, before you have the slightest idea what your opponent is holding

The Rethugs would have felt enormous pressure to continue the unemployment benefits, if the choice to extend them fell to them in January.

[creon]

10. Tough choices

It was a hard call for Franken.

Unfortunately, that is what it came to. It came to this because Congress did not do what needed to be done ; on this issue and several other issues.

That failure to deal with those issues, and enact competent legislation is the reason why the November election was lost.

[sabrina 1]

30. And he took the easy way out. I'm really disappointed in him

and don't find his excuses at all convincing.

[treestar]

13. Then he's a sellout too

It's the Senate's bill, why is he blaming the President? He's using the President to shield himself.

He can vote no. Isn't that the ballsy thing to do? He should get the same crap the President gets for it.

[blindpig]

16. They all are. n/t

[Scurrilous]

17. Kick

:kick:

[johnlucas]

18. Remember, Michael told you in 1995 "They Don't Care About Us"

The chorus goes:

All I Wanna Say Is That
They Don't Really Care About Us
(We're deep in the fire!)
All I Wanna Say Is That
They Don't Really Care About Us
(I'm here to remind you!)

Incorporate that into your consciousness.
It's more than just a song.
It's reality.
Understand it & act accordingly.

They Don't Care About Us
John Lucas

[Ramulux]

19. Such bullshit

Typical political feel-goodery meant to trick us into thinking he didn't have a choice. I expected better from Franken.

He says it in the very beginning, this is bad policy, so I have a crazy idea DONT FUCKING VOTE FOR IT! It disgusts me that he even brings up the poor unemployed Minnesotans when they are the ones who will be paying for this horrible deal, because he didn't have the guts to vote against it. Pathetic.

[Individualist]

23. +1

[Kermitt Gribble]

21. Sorry, Al,

Your vote sucks on this one... You don't even make much of an excuse for voting for your self-described "bad deal".

[fascisthunter]

22. Al, you f'ed up

and lost a lot of trust. Sorry, but that's how things go. Very disappointing.

[Erose999]

24. "And I am taking the President at his word" - Don't do it Al. Surely you're smarter than that.

Obama's word is worth less than nothing right now. Add $0.50 to "Obama's word" and it might get you a cup of coffee...


at John Boehner's house....

[EmeraldCityGrl]

26. Under the wire Al. That's what I call him now. n/t

[WinkyDink]

27. I get it; I truly do. But WHY, oh WHY was there no OUTRAGE from Obama over this EXTORTION??

Because he didn't feel under pressure.

[B Calm]

28. Al Franken. . . Mike Malloy was right about Al

[Ramulux]

31. What did he say about him?

[upi402]

32. Franken explains how to prepare a seed corn souffle!

Yay for fucking our future in EVERY possible way! Yay!

[Better Believe It]

33. Sorry. I'm not buying your excuse to justify voting for a bill that will attack Social Security