The vast majority of Republicans have signed a pledge to not raise taxes, and have repeatedly claimed that letting a tax cut expire is the same thing as raising taxes. That’s why they are insisting that Congress extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, even though those cuts were intended to be temporary.
However, under their new plan, written by Orrin Hatch of Utah, Republicans would allow tax cuts for the working poor and middle class families to expire, raising taxes for an estimated 13 million families, while simultaneously extending tax breaks for 2.7 million affluent families. Their excuse? The tax breaks for lower-income families that were part of the 2009 economic stimulus law were always intended to be temporary.
So, when is a pledge not a pledge? When it is really class warfare.
12 Comments
IRONY IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE USA: Corporations (gun and ammunition manufacturers) – with the help of the GOP & Dem politicians they OWN – have hoodwinked ordinary Americans into thinking that the products they sell (guns and ammunition) are the only thing protecting ordinary Americans from the tyranny of the powers-that-be: politicians and corporations! WTF?
I had previously thought the Republican hypocrisy knew no bounds, and this proves it. My wife says Republicans were always this crazy (I don’t remember it that way) but that now they have stopped hiding it.
I wish we had a better alternative than the Democrats because they aren’t much better, but they ARE better than letting this country spiral down into oblivion.
This year’s election are going to be very close, and that in and of itself is scary. We need to do everything we can to stop the Republicans immediately, and the we have to GET MORE CHOICES as quickly as possible.
Maybe it is time for an American Spring.
Speaking of no longer trying to hide their insanity, John Kyl had some very illuminating words for the President from Congress today. Kyl complained openly that the President was spending too much time focusing on the middle class, and not enough time focused on the wealthy. It’s not something Republicans normally speak about so bluntly, but apparently Kyl couldn’t stand Obama’s “class warfare” anymore and wanted to turn peoples attention to the plight of the wealthy.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/jon-kyl-middle-class-obama_n_1696826.html
Once again, Robert Reich has written a top-notch piece of analysis explaining what is actually being discussed in terms even I can understand. Check it out at:
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Obama-s-tax-cut-plan-muddled-by-media-3723588.php
Thanks Don, that is an excellent article by Reich.
Jeff, I had to LOL about Jon Kyl claiming that Obama was engaging in class warfare just by using the term “middle class”. Get it? He used the word “class” so it must be class warfare. I also got a kick out of his phrase “the uniquely meritocratic basis of our society”. If only it were so.
John Kyl does not make factual statements
http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-04-12/entertainment/30003966_1_abortions-political-humor-senate-floor
Ah yes, I had forgotten that Kyl was the originator of the phrase “not intended to be a factual statement” when he said that Planned Parenthood spent 90% of their time performing abortions, when (according to PolitiFact) the figure was actually 3%.
All I want to say is “Fuck those fucking fuckers.” And feel free to not publish this comment because of my vulgar speech.
I try not to censor people, but I will say that comments like that don’t really help the conversation. I’m angry too, but I think discussing the things that make me angry is more effective than shouting obscenities.
If I may paraphrase Alison’s comment into something actually filthy dirty & nastily vulgar, how about “Republican those Republicaning Republicans.”
As a “treasonous, commie, socialist atheist” liberal, I think the language needs a little help changing to reflect the real world today.
OMG, he used the “Republican” word!
With all due respect to the (expletive deleted) Republicnas, I just have to point out for the record that not all Republicans are right wing extremist morons. There are a lot of very intelligent people with some (or a lot of) conservative views.
Unfortunately they are drowned out by the wing nuts, and the Party’s powermongers are more concerned about power than about either conservatism OR governance.
I am hopeful that this year’s elections may cause the Republicans to finally divide into two groups, and then maybe the Democrats can divide between moderate progressives and the left wing nuts and maybe we’ll be able to get a government that actually functions.
My hopes are not high, however.