Thread: Obama Wiggles on Tax Plan and Issues

Watch the video and see Obama waffle.

ABC News: This Week with George Stephanopoulos -- Newsmakers, Politics and Analysis

First, Obama says his plan cuts taxes for more Americans than McCain's. Okay....

Then, Obama says McCain's plan is fiscally irresponsible because in the light of the budget deficit. Hmmm... But there is a way to renconcile these statements so far....

Then, Obama says, when prodded by Stephanopoulos about increasing taxes on the wealthy, we'll have to see what is happening in the economy down the road and address it then.

That last statement is Obama being an indecisive panderer. It is obvious he cannot wiggle successfully on this point.

If you line all these statements up, he proposes immediate tax cuts (which he said fervently he was going to give), that tax cuts without increases in revenues was McCain's flaw and was irresponsible given the deficits. He then concludes he will proceed with the cuts and delay increasing taxes to make up the revenues. Is that not a self-admission of irresponsibility?

Please.... only the level-headed need respond. Let's stay on point. Does any one see the inconsistency and impossibility of taking these multiple, divergent stances?

Originally Posted by Howe Itis

Watch the video and see Obama waffle.

ABC News: This Week with George Stephanopoulos -- Newsmakers, Politics and Analysis

First, Obama says his plan cuts taxes for more Americans than McCain's. Okay....

Then, Obama says McCain's plan is fiscally irresponsible because in the light of the budget deficit. Hmmm... But there is a way to renconcile these statements so far....

Then, Obama says, when prodded by Stephanopoulos about increasing taxes on the wealthy, we'll have to see what is happening in the economy down the road and address it then.

That last statement is Obama being an indecisive panderer. It is obvious he cannot wiggle successfully on this point.

If you line all these statements up, he proposes immediate tax cuts (which he said fervently he was going to give), that tax cuts without increases in revenues was McCain's flaw and was irresponsible given the deficits. He then concludes he will proceed with the cuts and delay increasing taxes to make up the revenues. Is that not a self-admission of irresponsibility?

Please.... only the level-headed need respond. Let's stay on point. Does any one see the inconsistency and impossibility of taking these multiple, divergent stances?

No, what Obama said he is going to do is completely possible. Obama will give more tax cuts to the poor and middle class, so his plan will reach more Americans. McCain on the otherhand will reduce taxes from everyone including the rich, less then Obama (I believe).

I have also seen how Obama's plan is more fiscally responsible then McCain's because or the increased taxes on the rich.

Economically, Obama's plan is poor, but he is still reducing taxes more for more Americans and Obama's plan is more fiscally responsible then McCain's.


However, Obama is avoiding issues by saying that he will address the stresses to the economy by increasing taxes on the rich later down the road... that should be something that he should think about right now.

So, he'll be "irresponsible" in the interim?

You didn't miss the point he made about it being irresponsible to not increase revenues somewhere if you have tax cuts for some groups, did you?

Originally Posted by Howe Itis

So, he'll be "irresponsible" in the interim?

You didn't miss the point he made about it being irresponsible to not increase revenues somewhere if you have tax cuts for some groups, did you?

No I didn't. He will increase revenues because of higher taxes on the rich, but he will reduce taxes the most on the most amount of people in the lower and middles classes.

Originally Posted by Howe Itis

So, he'll be "irresponsible" in the interim?

You didn't miss the point he made about it being irresponsible to not increase revenues somewhere if you have tax cuts for some groups, did you?

Howe, are you familiar with Obama's top economic guy?

He's Austan Goolsbee, from the University of Chicago.

Here's his bio: Austan Goolsbee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here's his U-of-C blurb: Austan Goolsbee


He seems like a very smart man.

Originally Posted by Nerv14

No I didn't. He will increase revenues because of higher taxes on the rich, but he will reduce taxes the most on the most amount of people in the lower and middles classes.

I am not being trite, but it appears you did miss it. Obama will provide his planned tax cuts no matter what. He said that, not me.

He thinks to not offset tax cuts on some with increases on others (in order to balance the budget) is irresponsible. He said that, not me.

Even though he will proceed with the "tax cut" portions of his plan, he will delay the tax increase portions of his plan and wait and see what happens in the economy. He said that, not me.

Alll these statements were made in a single interview within about 1 minute of each other. There's no parsing out of context necessary. Stephanopolous asked the questions "straight-up," and he answered them.

The only honest assessment is he is stating he is going to do something that he thinks is irresponsible. There is no wiggle-room here.

Originally Posted by Howe Itis

I am not being trite, but it appears you did miss it. Obama will provide his planned tax cuts no matter what. He said that, not me.

He thinks to not offset tax cuts on some with increases on others (in order to balance the budget) is irresponsible. He said that, not me.

Even though he will proceed with the "tax cut" portions of his plan, he will delay the tax increase portions of his plan and wait and see what happens in the economy. He said that, not me.

Alll these statements were made in a single interview within about 1 minute of each other. There's no parsing out of context necessary. Stephanopolous asked the questions "straight-up," and he answered them.

The only honest assessment is he is stating he is going to do something that he thinks is irresponsible. There is no wiggle-room here.

ohhh I think I see what you are saying.

I am just confused because I thought that part of Obama's platform was to raise taxes on the rich, and not mearly reverse the Bush tax cuts.

So is he going back on his promise to raise taxes on the rich as well? That is what I am unsure about.

Originally Posted by nonsqtr

Howe, are you familiar with Obama's top economic guy? He's Austan Goolsbee, from the University of Chicago.

And since Obama has no history of making decisions with or without an adviser, how do know if he will even listen to this guy? Every interview I have seen with Obama the last week confirms what seems evident:

Great public speaker, great rhetoric, not ready for prime time. He's been living in a world where you can re-shape your positions constantly. It's all theory. It's all academic. He's never run an ongoing operation of any kind. This is fine for a professor, expected from a legislator, disaster in a President.

Originally Posted by Nerv14

No I didn't. He will increase revenues because of higher taxes on the rich, but he will reduce taxes the most on the most amount of people in the lower and middles classes.

Increasing taxes on the rich doesn't increase revenues. Histroically it reduces revenues. Just shows you Obama's not playing with a full deck and niether are his supporters.

Originally Posted by Six

Increasing taxes on the rich doesn't increase revenues. Histroically it reduces revenues. Just shows you Obama's not playing with a full deck and niether are his supporters.

....... we are debating this in another thread, check out those sources in the "raising taxes kicks ass thread." During the Reagan and Bush years when taxes were lowered the GDP vs defecit level rose. During the end of the Bush I years and the Clinton years when taxes were increased that proportion slowed rapidly and declined.

sorry.