White House challenges GOP in deficit talks

[TomCADem]

Source: USA Today

President Obama challenged Republicans on Monday to take on some of their "sacred cows" as budget talks aimed at preventing an unprecedented government default focused on tax increases and Medicare reductions.

The president met separately with the Senate's Republican and Democratic leaders in what signaled the start of critical head-to-head negotiations aimed at cutting more than $2trillion from federal deficits over the coming decade.

To reach that figure, Obama is insisting that tax breaks and subsidies benefiting specific industries and individuals be eliminated — something Republicans thus far have refused to consider.

"Democrats and the administration have shown themselves willing to take on tough issues and make tough choices, and it's important that Republicans are willing to do the same, to take on some of their sacred cows," White House press secretary Jay Carney said.


Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-06-27-budget-debt-limit-talks_n.htm

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This debate is heavily influenced by the corporate media. Notice how Republicans can complain, where is Obama on the debt talks even though the White House and the Vice-President have been leading debt limit talks up until this point.

Conversely, when Republicans John Kyl and Eric Kantor abandoned talks because they weren't getting their way, the media did not play the talking point of where are the Republicans? Instead, this hissyfit was portrayed as great leadership.

Finally, the media plays the talking point that President Obama can only display leadership by convincing Democrats to give up, rather than pushing demands for the rich and oil companies to bear some of the burden of reducing the debt. On the other hand, Republicans Mitch McConnell and John Boehner get a complete free pass on their inability to get other Republicans to accept a compromise. Indeed, by failing to even to try to get Republicans to reconsider some of their sacred cows, McConnell and Boehner are portrayed as strong leaders.

Blame Democrats and Give Republicans A Free Pass. The corporate media applies a different set of rules to Democrats, then it does to Republicans and the American public buys into this narrative.

[DontTreadOnMe]

1. It is Obama that is LETTING the media control the message

Obama is one of the worst President's in my lifetime of controlling the message. He is ALWAYS reacting, instead of leading the message.

Here is THE WINNING MESSAGE:

"We are at war... and we need to pay the bills to support the troops and our country. And the rich are going to pay for it."

END OF MESSAGE. Put them on the defensive. Don't ask or justify why the rich have to pay for it... JUST SAY IT! Start the message with THEY ARE PAYING.
Then let the Republicans try to argue WHY THEY SHOULD NOT PAY...

Obama get a D- for message control.

[DJ13]

2. Agreed 100%

The GOP makes being on the offense easy, take advantage of it ...... for a "change"!

[TomCADem]

3. Blame Democrats, Give Republicans A Free Pass - White House Said What You Proposed

The amazing thing is that Democrats and the White House are saying what you propose, and Republicans are breeziling arguing WHY THE RICH SHOULD NOT PAY!

But you, an informed liberal, are being denied this truth, as corporate censors keep you blind! You blame the Democrats and President Obama for not taking an action that you propose demanding answers from Republicans, when the very same talking points and questions you propose are being said! Yet, the corporate media is keeping you from this truth.

First, for example, TODAY the White House said ALMOST EXACTLY what you said:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/06/27/press-briefing-press-secretary-jay-carney-6272011

Because we have a choice here. For example, on the issue of revenues, do we perpetuate a system that allows for subsidies in revenues for oil and gas, for example, or owners of corporate private jets, and then call for cuts in things like food safety or weather services -- things that the federal government really does need to do on behalf of American citizens -- or do we look at everything and we take a balanced approach.

We obviously believe a balanced approach is the right approach, and we’re not alone here. It’s important to remember there are a number of proposals out there in this time period that have been made. The only one that doesn’t take a balance approach has been the House Republican proposal.

So-called Gang of Six -- balanced approach. Simpson-Bowles, Rivlin-Domenici -- all of these recognize that the only way to achieve significant deficit reduction and to deal with some of the issues that drive our long-term debt is to take a balanced approach, one that doesn’t put all the burden on certain segments of society, on the middle class, or on seniors; that calls for cuts in non-defense discretionary spending and in defense spending; that looks at savings from entitlements, but also savings from the tax code.

It’s the only way to get it done if you want to do it right and you want to do it in a way that is fair and balanced and ensures that the economy continues to grow and continues to create jobs.

With that, I will take your questions.

Ben. Welcome back. Congratulations.

Q Thank you very much. Let me start on that point you were just making -- “It’s the only way to get it done.” So is it fair to say that this issue of a balanced approach, including increased tax revenue savings, tax increases, however you want to frame that, that’s a red line for the White House? That will be part of the deal from your perspective?

MR. CARNEY: Well, to get a significant deal, to get significant deficit reduction, there has to be a balanced approach. And let’s be clear what we’re talking about when we’re talking about the revenue that’s on the table. We’re not talking about the issue that the President has put forward in his framework, and that is the Bush tax cuts and tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. This is about subsidies for oil and gas companies -- $40 billion; a loophole that allows for the owners of private corporate jets to benefit enormously in the billions compared to, say, Delta or American Airlines; and other measures that benefit millionaires and billionaires or in some way complicate our tax code that isn’t helpful. And we have to -- we have to be willing -- that has to be on the table.

Second, as you also requested, here are the Republicans trying to explain why the rich such as oil companies should not pay? Well, here you go...

http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/06/26/254359/kyl-defends-taxpayer-subsidies-for-richest-oil-companies/

Kyl Defends Taxpayer Subsidies For Richest Oil Companies

Appearing on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) argued that budget talks should not include the reduction of oil and gas subsidies. Kyl, who abandoned budget negotiations with the White House this week, claimed that eliminating $2 billion in annual subsidies for the richest oil companies — instead of slashing programs that feed the poor and protect the middle class — would “hurt the American consumer”:

"First of all, if you want gas prices to rise and pay more than $4 at the pump, go ahead and do this. That is not what we should be about right now. That kind of tax increase is going to flow right to the consumer. Everybody knows that. Secondly, you are picking out one industry in the United States, an industry that employs almost 10 million people, represents 7.5% of the Gross Domestic Product. You’re saying to them you are not going to get the same tax treatment that all other manufacturing corporations get in the United States. So we’re going to punish you, because you make a lot of money. It’s also true with those big profits, they have enormous costs of investment. Of course, you covered the issue of how much it costs to put one of those platforms out in the middle of Gulf of Mexico. Billions of dollars. Big money all the way around. You’ll hurt the American consumer if you impose more taxes on them.

So, CONGRATULATIONS, you got what you asked for. But, are you hearing this on the corporate media tonight? No. Of course, we have all been condition to blame the Democrats and Give Republicans a free pass, because god forbid that we accept the truth that we are being lied to by the television news media. If we don't see it on TV, we assume that Democrats are not saying it. We have been conditioned to give Republicans and corporate America and its news media a free pass, and blame the Democrats even when they do exactly what we propose that they do.

[Doctor_J]

4. I like Donttreadonme's much better

No rhetorical questions and mumbling about "lots of proposals out there". Here it is:

"We're fighting two wars that the republicans all voted for. The rich haven't paid as much as everyone else. They start right now, and any bill that comes to me without tax hikes for billionaires will be vetoed. Period."

And when these corporate whores ask Repuke-framed questions, the president should call the republicans liars and hypocrites.

[TomCADem]

7. Do You Really Think The Corporate Media Is Not Covering This Because Of Word Choice?

The bottom line is that Democrats are saying exactly what is being proposed, but unlike Republicans, they are not getting free uninterrupted airplay of their talking points. Indeed, the DNC and DSCC have been running ads smacking Republicans for trying to kill Medicare in order to pay for taxcuts to the rich. Paid ads! But, do you see them for free on Fox News? Of course not.

Indeed, what does the corporate media do? The corporate media discredits such ads, by running "fact checks" calling such claims lies as noted in this DailyKos article:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/22/969334/-PolitiFacts-Medicare-fail,-round-two

So, are we going to start resisting the corporate media's narrative, and stop blaming Democrats, and start holding Republicans accountable?

Or, is just too darn irresitable to buy into the corporate media narrative and blame Democrats, and Give Republicans a Free Pass.

The Politifact BS fact check just underscores the degree to which the corporate media has stacked the deck against Democrats and the left.

[Doctor_J]

8. I think the president should, for a change, go on offense

Every, single day: "Any bill that does not raise revenues from the hyper rich will be vetoed". And then stick with it

He has appeased these people, who hate his guts, from the very first day on office.

If you have read any of my posts over the last 5 years, you would know that I believe until we the people start dealing summarily with the Big Media whores, we will never get democracy back. Dealing with these rabid, psychopathic liars amd propagandists is the only way to stop the galloping fascism. And it is quite clear that they are beyond the reach of the law - that our remedy is going to have to be very aggressively pursued. There is a slowly growing group of real patriots who are ready to begin doing what needs to be done, at at some point we'll have the numbers to do the job.

In the mean time, the president needs to stop blathering, draw a line in the sand for once, and challenge the wingers instead of backpedaling before the negotiations even begin.

[JDPriestly]

9. Obama won't admit it, but if you look carefully at his appointments,

especially his picks for the Cat Food Commission and Timothy Geithner (a Pete Peterson protege) you will have to admit that he has planned to cut Social Security benefits from the very beginning -- at least from the time he appointed Timothy Geithner.

The weather service? Really.

[ImNotTed]

6. Amen!

Thread recced.

[Major Hogwash]

5. We need more revenue enhancements!! (Their new euphemism for taxes)

Tax the drunks!!
Tax the churches!!

That's redundant!!

[Amonester]

10. The American public does NOT buy into this narrative.

Poll after poll after poll clearly SHOW a majority want the deep pockets who own Washington (and they know it) to start SACRIFICING their fair share instead of piling up their fortunes in offshore tax heavens.

[Lasher]

11. Obama should say he will veto legislation that includes Medicare cuts.

Reid and Pelosi should chime in, to remind voters it is Republicans who want to 'reform' Medicare. This would be a winning strategy for 2012.

But it's not going to happen. Obama's already caving in like a Chinese coal mine.

[savalez]

12. Excellent observation.

Rec'd.

[Samantha]

13. Nancy Pelosi should be a party to these talks

Mitch McConnell is the Senate Minority Leader. Why is the House Minority Leader excluded? She would push the most progressive ideas, and it seems to me that the Dems still control 2 out of 3 branches of the government. So why do Mitch McConnell and Boehner both get included, and only Harry Reid for the Dems has input?

I think we need to start asking this question.

Sam