THIS is one of the reasons Obama compromised on tax cuts

[LawnLover]

DADT probably would never never passed otherwise. And there are a whole host of other reasons as well.

[Angry Dragon]

1. Then it should have been in the tax bill

[DefenseLawyer]

2. Do you have a shred of evidence to back that up?

I know there is no one on record saying they traded their vote on the tax cuts for their vote on DADT. Do you even have a credible off the record source for that assertion or does saying that just make you feel better?

[pnwmom]

3. Simple. Because we'd still be in a stand-off over the tax/stimulus bill

and nothing else would be getting done. Then we'd be into next year with a Republican Congress.

[DefenseLawyer]

4. I'll take that as a no. n/t

[WCGreen]

7. Good theory

[dkf]

20. True.

DADT is a beneficiary of Obama's compromise at the least.

[phleshdef]

5. Why would you need a shred of evidence when a shred of common sense would suffice?

But if evidence is all you need, there were key Republicans votes against it when it was part of the defense bill and those Republicans clearly said they wouldn't support it until the tax business was finished. The tax business was finished. The stand alone bill was presented. And those same Republicans voted for repeal, plus a few unexpected ones.

So, lets see. They go from voting against it one week, some clearly saying "no deal, until we get our tax bill". They get their tax bill, and then they vote for the repeal the next week. I'm sure you will chalk that up to some bizarre coincidence involving pixie dust and their hearts growing 3 sizes that day or something to that effect.

As I said, a little common sense would have been sufficient enough. But the history of the events that transpired over the past few weeks provide actual proof beyond that.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

16. GOP Senators Say They Won’t Vote Until Tax Cuts Are Resolved

Senate Republicans have vowed to block all legislative action during the lame-duck congressional session until the George W. Bush-era tax cuts are extended for all Americans.

According to CNN, all 42 Senate Republicans have signed a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) that pledges the party's abstention from all voting until the Federal government's budget and the nation's tax rates are decided. The GOP supports the extension of tax breaks for all Americans, which are set to expire on Dec. 31.

"While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate's attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike," the letter reads, quoted by the news provider.

President Barack Obama and many Democrats want the Bush-era cuts to be extended for all taxpayers, except for those families earning more than $250,000 per year. Left-leaning politicians have argued that approximately $700 billion would be lost if tax cuts are extended for the wealthiest Americans.

Republicans believe that failure to extend tax breaks for every income bracket would stifle an already-sluggish economy and hurt small businesses.

Reuters reports that Obama has asked Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and budget director Jack Dew to work with congressional leaders from both parties in order to reach a compromise and help prevent tax increases in 2011. Discussions were set to commence on Dec. 1.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/gop-senators-say-th...

[Angry Dragon]

23. So we better start seeing jobs then

or the tax bill was a huge mistake

[Nailzberg]

42. GOP weren't gonna cooperate until the tax cuts were extended.

Mark Kirk admitted there was an organized GOP obstruction effort, it was his explanation for why he voted against the 9/11 health bill in the senate even though he voted for the bill while a member of the house in September.

[aquart]

6. Sigh.

You keep yourself warm with that on all the cold winter nights to come. It won't matter if you're gay or straight if there are no jobs in your country, and your government is so bankrupt that it can no longer help you keep yourself alive. Be sure to cozy up to one of the many many fireplaces in the mansions of the rich.

[Hippo_Tron]

8. The incoming tea-bagger congress isn't going to allow a dime to be spent on stimulus

So it's not like that money from raising taxes on the rich would have gone to anything that would have created jobs.

[dkf]

21. True.

Good point.

[DURHAM D]

9. drivel

[Bluebear]

10. Pathetic

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. Maybe He Stated It Inelegantly

But resolution of the tax issue was a precondition for several Republicans to vote on any bill including the repeal of DADT. Please see post sixteen.

[AlabamaLibrul]

11. Well it's a shitty reason - was the CRA attached to a social security killer?

[L0oniX]

12. Bull shit!!

[leftstreet]

13. So it's Teh Gayz fault, eh?

unRec

There's no evidence of any compromise and this bullshit talking point will only hurt the gay community

[LawnLover]

30. That's patently ridiculous

This is only ONE example of why the compromise was made. There will be other bills, etc.

And what exactly are YOU blaming the gay community for?

OBAMA CUTS TAXES FOR EVERYONE!!! That's the headline that most Americans will see. So your concern is severely misplaced.

[hlthe2b]

14. As much as I want Obama to get a fair shake--this kind of spin....

is not the way to accomplish that.

[LawnLover]

31. Spin?

This isn't spin. This and other Republican stonewalling is the REASON for the compromise. No spinning necessary.

Come on, use your brain.

[hlthe2b]

37. No...

there is no evidence for it.

[Jefferson23]

15. I have seen no evidence to support this, none at all. n/t

[DemocratSinceBirth]

22. See Sixteen Please

I don't know what the OP's agenda is but the Repubs were holding up everything until the tax issue was revolved. I thought that was common knlowledge...

[Jefferson23]

24. I 'm aware of the information you posted and I would agree I don't know

what the Op's agenda is either. As far as what the Republicans obstructed, Obama made the tax deal without Democrats, that
is what I meant when I said I have seen no evidence to support what the OP stated.

[LawnLover]

34. The OP doesn't HAVE an agenda

I'm merely pointing out the obvious reasons why Obama compromised on the tax cut.

For godsakes, people, does everyone have to have an agenda? Are you THAT paranoid?

[Jefferson23]

38. I'm not paranoid about anything, the agenda reference speaks only

to your hypothesis..which as I said, I do not see any evidence supporting it.

[LawnLover]

40. This perhaps?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-11-30-sena...

[Jefferson23]

43. Republican planning on obstructing legislation is alway in place, that

is what they do..no surprise. Obama did not include Democrats in the tax bill process LawnLover, nor did he
take his cause to the American people about how damaging it will be for our country.

I do not see the correlations between DADT and the tax bill, if anything Obama was able to fight for DADT on the
level that he did get more military pushing for it at the end. Recall what an idiot McCain sounded like on the issue;
no matter how many top brass wanted it repealed, he was looking for more lame excuses. The Republicans did not have
any credibility left and it passed.

[Poboy]

18. Straw fail.

[Canuckistanian]

19. No.

He made the deal because the GOP was holding unemployment extensions hostage. Period. End of sentence.

Not that that excuses THE WAY he did it.

[BzaDem]

25. DADT "probably wouldn't have passed?" Actually, it DEFINATELY would not have passed if the tax cut

compromise wasn't signed into law.

All 42 Republicans signed a letter saying they would block all bills until that comromise passed. Then they proceeded to do exactly that -- until the compromise passed.

Not sure why people think there is the slightest bit of ambiguity here.

[LawnLover]

32. I'm not sure how much more evidence anyone needs than that. nt.

[frylock]

26. if that's the case them i am so pissed off at teh unemployed gays!

are you fucking shitting me with this?! really?

[Stinky The Clown]

27. Were you being serious?

[paulk]

28. absurd

[RegieRocker]

29. Are you saying he is bargaining with terrorists (repugs)?

[LawnLover]

33. Do you people live in a DU bubble?

I mean, seriously. Do you not pay attention to anything that goes on outside the DU forums or the progressive/liberal blogosphere? If you're paying any attention at all, you'll realize that what I said in the OP is absolutely true.

Just look again to the letter signed by Republicans (as noted above) to block any and all legislation unless the tax cuts are extended.

The math is VERY, VERY simple. Perhaps you need a calculator anyway?

[COLGATE4]

35. Bullshit. What can you cite that provides any support for your assertion?

[LawnLover]

36. Um, let's see. How about this?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-11-30-sena...

[Rex]

39. You can believe that if you want to, doesn't make it true.

Laughing @ all the people here worrying about how Obama compromised with the GOPterrorists! Did it trouble you folks so much that you make up stuff to feel better?

[LawnLover]

41. Making stuff up?

Did I make THIS up?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-11-30-sena...