Saturday, March 28, 2009

President Now Backing Away From Middle Class Tax Cut Campaign Promise

In 1993.

9 comments:

Charles D said...

Apparently the current President has not followed suit. I got a tax cut in my check this week.

Frankly, I think a small tax cut for middle class people should not have been included in a stimulus bill since it isn't a stimulus, but I got it anyway.

Cameron said...

I'm sure they won't mind if you send it back.

But the current president does seem to be following the script used by his Democratic predecessor:

President Obama's budget chief hinted Wednesday that the president's signature campaign issue -- a middle-class tax cut -- will not likely survive a budget battle with Democrats on Capitol Hill.

Charles D said...

The budget battle is mostly against Republicans and so-called Blue Dog Democrats who oppose all spending that isn't related to Defense, Homeland Security or law enforcement. I imagine some on the Republican side really don't want this tax cut since tax cutting is their signature issue - at least tax cuts for the wealthy.

I think the Obama administration is off course on the economy in some areas, but the budget with its investments in the future is the best we've seen in years.

Anonymous said...

Geezum crow, can you Wing Nuts actually get around to using some real math and even a little bit of current reality to attack Obama, or is he just so good that your digging the bottoms of the Wingnuttia barrels to come up with way out fluff like this? 'Tis to laugh.

Cameron said...

Not according to "President Obama's budget chief". The battle over the middle class tax cut is with congressional democrats.

Bottom line, 1993 is repeating itself when it comes to Democratic tax cut campaign promises.

Cameron said...

Anon,

I'm sorry that quoting an Obama budget official is wingnuttery to you.

Charles D said...

The big difference between Democrats and Republicans is that Republicans in Congress vote almost unanimously the way their leadership commands.

Democrats are divided. Most Democrats are either progressive or at least left of center, but there is a significant minority (the Blue Dogs) who consistently vote with the Republicans on economic issues. That lack of loyalty is exacerbated by the weak party leadership in both houses.

When a Republican steps out of line with the lockstep right-wing majority, he is targeted for removal and the party and big donors fund his opponent. The Democratic Party, on the other hand, not only does not challenge the Blue Dogs but actually uses party funds to nominate more of them in preference to more progressive candidates. Self-defeat at its finest.

Cameron said...

Bottom line, DL, is that one of the main planks in Obama's campaign, and repeated ad nauseum, was that middle class tax cut. The one where "95% of Americans" would get a cut. It helped him get elected. And now that's the first thing on the cutting room floor in his very first budget.

Jamie said...

lol@ anon. Welcome back.