Bill Clinton's rebuke to Democrats: tax deal is 'best' Obama can get

Eugene Robinson - Democrats have no choice but to accept an irresponsible tax deal
Approve the lousy deal. It pains me to write those words, because the agreement President Obama negotiated with Republicans on Tax Cuts is really quite awful. I know that some Progressives have come to see the package as a cleverly disguised "second stimulus," but they're just rationalizing. The fact is that nobody would start from scratch and design an economic boost offering so little bang for so many bucks. This Story Swindle of the year Democrats have no choice but to accept an...

Black Caucus opposes Obama's tax plan
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus on Friday announced that they are overwhelmingly opposed to the deal President Obama has struck with Republicans on extending the Bush-era Tax Cuts and are proposing their own alternative that essentially hews to a plan House Democrats passed this month. Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) was joined by CBC members Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Donald Payne (N.J.) and Donna Christensen (V.I.) in announcing the CBC's position on the pac...

Obama takes credit for compromise (Politico)
President Barack Obama reprised his defense of his Tax Cut Compromise with Republicans in his weekly address on Saturday, arguing that the fate of Middle Class families — and the still-fragile Economic Recovery — is at stake as lawmakers consider the proposal. “The opportunity for families to send their kids to college hinges on this debate,” Obama said. “And our recovery will be strengthened or weakened based on the choice that now rests with Congress.” The...

Tax Cut Plan Draws Ire from Left and Right
(Credit: CBS) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Thursday night unveiled the Legislation that would put into place President Obama's tentative Tax Cut deal with Republicans. Reid scheduled the first "test vote" on the bill for Monday afternoon, even as Grassroots organizers on the left and the right pressure Congress to oppose the deal. "This bill is not perfect, but it provides the economic boost middle-class families and small businesses in Nevada and across America need," Reid said in a...

Obama Urges Congress To Pass Tax Deal
President Barack Obama answers questions on his Compromise on Tax Cuts, Unemployment Insurance and jobs on Tuesday at the White House. (Chuck Kennedy / White House) (NewsCore) - President Barack Obama used his weekly address Saturday to urge Congress to pass the tax cut deal he negotiated with Republicans ahead of a Jan. 1 deadline and amid opposition from some of his most stalwart supporters. "We hammered out a deal that reflects ideas from both sides. It wasn't easy, and it's by no means perfe...

Obama-Clinton Briefing: Former President Endorses Tax Cut Deal
WASHINGTON — Bill Clinton implored Democrats to back the tax-cut deal that President Barack Obama negotiated with Republicans as the former president made a surprise appearance at Obama's side in the White House briefing room Friday. "I don't believe there is a better deal out there," Clinton told reporters who'd been summoned at a moment's notice to see the former chief executive back the current one. Clinton and Obama had just finished a private meeting in the Oval Office. Obama said i...

Come Saturday Morning: Reasons to Fight the Obama/GOP Poor Tax
Why should we be melting down our phones telling our Senators and Congresscritters “Hell NO!” on this turkey? Let us count the reasons: - The poorer you are, the more of your disposable income you’re prone to spend. The richer you are, the more likely you are to sock it away somewhere. This is why a stimulus that mainly benefits the poor is far better for The Economy as a whole than one that mainly benefits the rich. Yet the Tax Cut framework actually forces poor people...

Bill Clinton implores Democrats to back tax deal
(12-10) 14:07 PST WASHINGTON (AP) -- Bill Clinton implored Democrats to back the tax-cut deal that President Barack Obama negotiated with Republicans as the former president made a surprise appearance at Obama's side in the White House briefing room Friday. "I don't believe there is a better deal out there," Clinton told reporters who'd been summoned at a moment's notice to see the former chief executive back the current one. Clinton and Obama had just finished a private meeting in the Oval Of...

At Obama's side, Clinton backs tax deal
WASHINGTON — Bill Clinton implored Democrats to back the tax-cut deal that President Barack Obama negotiated with Republicans as the former president made a surprise appearance at Obama's side in the White House briefing room Friday. "I don't believe there is a better deal out there," Clinton told reporters who'd been summoned at a moment's notice to see the former chief executive back the current one. Clinton and Obama had just finished a private meeting in the Oval Office. In risin...

With Obama, Clinton urges Dems to back tax deal
WASHINGTON (AP) - Bill Clinton implored Democrats to back the tax-cut deal that President Barack Obama negotiated with Republicans as the former president made a surprise appearance with Obama in the White House briefing room Friday—and later took over the podium. "I don't believe there is a better deal out there," Clinton told reporters who'd been summoned at a moment's notice to see the former chief executive back the current one. Clinton and Obama had just finished a private meeting in ...

Facing Tax-Cut Revolt, Obama Gets Help from Bill Clinton
Frustrated congressional representatives this week were heard screaming, "Just say no!' and even "F#$% the president!" Such remarks were notable for their vitriol and vehemence, but were perhaps most shocking because they were coming from members of his own party. So on Friday, President Obama tried to tamp down the revolt with a little help from a previous occupant of the White House, Bill Clinton. Democratic furor in the wake of President Obama's agreement with GOP leaders on the Bush-era tax...

Obama: Tax cut deal worth passage, not perfect
Stumble This! President Barack Obama calls his tax-cut agreement with Republicans far from perfect but a good deal overall for Americans, while acknowledging that many fellow Democrats aren't happy about what he negotiated with the GOP. Pressing for passage by year's end, he told lawmakers in his radio and Internet address Saturday that "our recovery will be strengthened or weakened based on the choice that now rests with Congress." The deal would extend for all earners cuts in Income Tax rates...

Going To The Dogs
If Obama is letting Big Dog pinch hit, you know things are deadly serious. Bill Clinton spoke today in favor of the Obama tax deal, and if anybody can twist arms in favor of getting this thing done, it's him. I honestly didn't expect Obama to play the Clinton card, but it means he's 100% committed to getting this deal through Congress. Here's some of what the former President had to say: I have reviewed this agreement that the president reached with Republican leaders, and I want to make full di...

Obama defends tax cut deal in weekly address
Well, we all knew this was coming, right? Tax Cut deal! So we hammered out a deal that reflects ideas from both sides. It wasn’t easy, and it’s by no means perfect. And as with any Compromise, everybody had to live with elements they didn’t like. But this is a good deal for the American People. The vast majority of the tax cuts in this plan will help the Middle Class, including a new cut in Payroll taxes that will save the average family about $1,000. And as this plan is debat...

Obama: Tax deal 'by no means perfect'
President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington, Dec. 8, 2010. UPI/Dennis Brack/POOL WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Saturday urged Congress to adopt the Compromise tax plan he reached with Republicans, even though it is "by no means perfect." In his weekly radio and Internet address, the president said if Congress doesn't act on extending Tax Rates enacted early in the administration of former President George W. Bush, "tax rates will automatically go up for jus...

With Obama, Clinton urges Dems to back tax deal (AP)
WASHINGTON – Bill Clinton implored Democrats to back the tax-cut deal that President Barack Obama negotiated with Republicans as the former president made a surprise appearance with Obama in the White House briefing room Friday — and later took over the podium. "I don't believe there is a better deal out there," Clinton told reporters who'd been summoned at a moment's notice to see the former chief executive back the current one. Clinton and Obama had just finished a private meetin...

[Headline] - BUBBA TO THE RESCUE
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Bill Clinton implored Democrats to back the tax-cut deal that President Barack Obama negotiated with Republicans as the former president made a surprise appearance at Obama's side in the White House briefing room Friday. "I don't believe there is a better deal out there," Clinton told reporters who'd been summoned at a moment's notice to see the former chief executive back the current one. Clinton and Obama had just finished a private meeting in the Oval Office. Obama said it ...

Bill Clinton and Obama Team up to Push Tax Deal
President Barack Obama looks on as former President Bill Clinton speaks in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 10, 2010. Former President Bill Clinton made a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room Friday afternoon to express his support for the Tax Cut Compromise worked out between President Obama and Congressional Republicans. Mr. Obama stood next to Mr. Clinton while the latter made a statement of support for the $858 billion bill, which is facing s...

It Just Gets Better and Better to Be Rich In America
What a great week to be rich in America! On Monday, President Obama compromised with the Republicans on extending the Bush Tax Cuts, leaving no Millionaires or Billionaires behind. By Thursday, a generous estate-tax exemption was heaped onto the deal, permitting wealthy couples to leave up to $10 million to their families without needing to pay a single cent in tax. Gee, thanks, grandpa! So thoughtful of you! Both moves are certain to further concentrate wealth in the hands of fewer and fewer ve...

Robert Reich Wrongly Claims Bill Clinton Inherited a Recession
The staggering ignorance and/or blatant dishonesty of liberal economic commentators never ceases to amaze me. The Recession Clinton inherited was relatively small, and caused by the Fed raising Interest Rates too high to ward off Inflation. The Recession Clinton inherited? What recession? According to the National Bureau of Economic Research - the group charged with determining the official start and end dates for such things - the early '90s Recession ending in March 1991. As the Commerce D...

Arizona Democrats reject Obama/Republican tax cut package
Spurred by an Arizona congressman, House Democrats on Thursday rejected the package of Tax Cuts and Unemployment Benefits negotiated by President Obama with Republicans. "The opinion of the majority of us is the president caved too early in the negotiations," said Rep. Raul Grijalva. He said Obama could - and should - have negotiated a better deal. Grijalva said that without significant changes, the package is dead. That means higher taxes for everyone beginning next year. It also means no exten...

Obama calls in Clinton to help with tax fight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Friday called on a battle-scarred dealmaker, former President Bill Clinton, to help convince reluctant Democrats to back a Compromise tax plan before rates rise for most Americans in January. As Democrats in the House of Representatives sought to toughen provisions targeted at the wealthiest, Clinton urged them to pass the plan in its current form before they hand over control of the chamber to Republicans next month. "This is a much, much better...

Obama: Tax cut deal not perfect, but worth passage
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama calls his tax-cut agreement with Republicans far from perfect but a good deal overall for Americans, while acknowledging that many fellow Democrats aren’t happy about what he negotiated with the GOP. Pressing for passage by year’s end, he told lawmakers in his radio and Internet address Saturday that "our recovery will be strengthened or weakened based on the choice that now rests with Congress." The deal would extend for all earners cuts in...

Low Taxes Are the Problem, Not the Solution
Sen. Bernard Sanders speaks against Tax Cuts on the floor of the Senate on Friday. “Every Economist that I’ve talked to … acknowledges that this [tax] agreement would boost Economic Growth in the coming years and has the potential to create millions of jobs,” President Barack Obama said this week. But if low taxes are the solution, this must mean that high taxes are the problem. Yet the Bush Tax Cuts are already in effect; taxes are therefore low already, and the unemplo...

President Obama taps Bill Clinton to preach compromise on tax cuts
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama took the unusual step of turning to a Democratic predecessor, former President Bill Clinton, to help rescue the tax-cut Compromise plan as conservative Republicans began to join a widening opposition that includes growing criticism from the president’s own party. Clinton appeared with Obama at the White House briefing room to endorse the deal in the latest twist of the lurching debate, which has tightened its grip on Washington. It was the first su...