Axelrod Won't Rule Out Tax Increase

[steven johnson]

Reagan went back on his no tax increase pledge and got away with it. History may repeat itself.

By Michael D. Shear

President Obama's top political adviser refused today to rule out the possibility that the White House might agree to a tax hike on health insurance plans that would hit middle-income Americans.

Speaking on ABC's "This Week" program, David Axelrod declined to repeat Obama's "firm pledge" during the campaign that families making under $250,000 will not see "any form of tax increase, not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes."

Instead, Axelrod said the president has no interest in "drawing lines in the sand" on the issue of how to pay for the costly health reform plan making its way through Congress.

"One of the problems we've had in this town is that people draw lines in the sand and they stop talking to each other. And you don't get anything done," Axxelrod said. "That's not the way the president approaches this."


TAxelrod Won't Rule Out Tax Increase

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[Cant trust em]

1. When are we going to stop being outraged that the administration doesn't "rule things out"

They never rule anything out until the bill is signed.

I've stopped reading these stories.

[SunsetDreams]

2. Couldn't have said it better myself.

[960]

3. When Obama stops backtracking on campaign promises

You know, he's the one who made the pledge. Why not be angered that it's now "not ruled out".

[Cant trust em]

6. a backtrack would indicate that he now supports the tax

Until I hear an official reversal, I'm not going to be outraged.

[960]

7. A backtrack is being open to something you campaigned against.

[Cant trust em]

10. Seems like a lot of energy wasted on a nebulous statement

I think I'd spend my time thinking about things that have been said, compared to things that haven't.

I think we just have a different philosophy here.

[krawhitham]

23. You need a dictionary

[SunsetDreams]

8. you can be angered if you want...

however I choose to hold my fire until a bill reaches his desk. It's still going through, being crafted you know. It hasn't even been voted on, yet. It isn't even close to the Presidents desk. Until President Obama, himself, says this, or he is about to sign, or in fact does sign something with this alleged "not ruled out" taxes media driven hype, I will choose to not say he is backtracking on campaign promise(s).

Sorry no outrage here.

[960]

9. I'm not outraged. Just tired of the lack of leadership.

It's like it's become. "Whatever. Anything the congress passes I'll sign. I'm not going to use the bully pulpit or ask for legislation.... whatever they do I'm chill with it. Nothing is off the table, we're open to everything."
Alot of the Obama fans think this is really cool leadership. I think it is a lack of leadership.

[SunsetDreams]

11. Your right, you're not outraged, you said "angered"

Sometimes it gets really hard to tell the difference.

Are you quoting yourself?

It's like it's become. "Whatever. Anything the congress passes I'll sign. I'm not going to use the bully pulpit or ask for legislation.... whatever they do I'm chill with it. Nothing is off the table, we're open to everything." Usually when one uses quotation marks, they are quoting someone else.

I don't think I will say it's really cool or that it lacks leadership since it's not a President Obama quote.

[BlooInBloo]

13. But then the I Hate Obama whiners would have relatively little to say.

[Cha]

22. When poutrage goes

out of fashion?

[WeDidIt]

4. The REpublicans sure hope for that tax

Hell, I'd become a Republican if that tax passed.

[WinkyDink]

5. If we didn't need a tax increase to fund the I.I. of Iraq, we don't need one now.

[sisters6]

12. ......TAxelrod ---opps--was that a slippy??

......TAxelrod Won't Rule Out Tax Increase

[stray cat]

14. Government services require taxes - if you want something you have to be willing to pay for it

[Cant trust em]

17. I think that the bigger question is hwere do those taxes come from. nt

[BlooInBloo]

15. Axelrod also didn't rule out eating my BABY!!!!

[masuki bance]

16. My guess is that if someone asked him about it, he would have. nt

[jenmito]

19. Maybe the DINGO ate your baby!

:rofl:

[high density]

18. Taxes will be increasing somewhere to pay for a public option

That's fine with me as long as I'm no longer paying $x,xxx per year for health insurance on myself.

[NYC_SKP]

20. "TAxelrod"??

Okie dokie.

Dissatisfaction noted.

If I want better roads, I'll pay higher highway or excise taxes.

I want great healthcare, I expect it to cost money.

I also expect some form of taxation to be involved.

After all, I'm spending $400/month for shit for a single person now.

Since I assume that if I get a public plan I'll be dropping Blue Cross, I'll gladly pay that in taxes if the coverage is more complete and useful.

:patriot:

[spanone]

21. did he say there would be a tax increase? no. nwmhtt

[paulk]

24. he could start by rescinding the Bush tax cuts on the wealthy

instead of just letting them run out.

It would sure beat a middle class tax increase.

In fact, I'm kind of outraged that he's even talking about a middle class tax increase while those tax cuts are still in effect.

[namecallerholic]

25. I'll never happen. They are too afraid of the media.

[Cha]

26. NO, Obama is not afraid of the fucking

corporatemediaWhores.

[madrchsod]

27. my wife and i pay 4000 in taxes to the insurance company

plus what ever they decide to not pay on my surgery and rehab