General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBill Clinton does it again
Bill Clinton says renew all expiring tax cuts temporarily, long-term cuts should exclude rich
By Associated Press, Updated: Tuesday, June 5, 6:18 PM
WASHINGTON Former President Bill Clinton says broad tax cuts that expire in January should be temporarily extended, including for the wealthiest Americans, to give lawmakers time to reach a deal on long-term tax reductions that he says should exclude the rich.
Clintons comments Tuesday were in contrast to President Barack Obama, whose re-election he Clinton is supporting. Obama has opposed renewing the tax cuts for people earning more than $250,000 a year.
Reductions in income tax rates and other levies first enacted under President George W. Bush expire in January. Democrats say they want to extend the rates for all but the richest Americans, but Republicans say the wealthy should be included as well.
Clinton was interviewed on CNBCs Closing Bell With Maria Bartiromo.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/bill-clinton-says-renew-all-expiring-tax-cuts-temporarily-long-term-cuts-should-exclude-rich/2012/06/05/gJQAPRYoGV_story.html
Solomon
(12,319 posts)I never noticed before: that it is definitely out of the ordinary for a former president to be so publicly active in ongoing political campaigns.
Methinks Bill is a bit paternalistic regarding the presidency.
cali
(114,904 posts)I'm getting pretty pissed off about it.
Apparently Nafta and Glass-Steaghall weren't enough. He's got to make sure there is no recovery ever. He really and truly needs to STFU.
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)Seriously, after I read that Clinton did tours in Latin America promoting free trade agreements for money, he pisses me off. Then, the ongoing destructiveness in Haiti where he wants to establish Juarez-type sweatshops and lastly, how he manages to undermine the sitting president. I wish he would retire and organize his papers or something.
cthulu2016
(10,960 posts)A guy who plays no role at all is GW Bush.
Except Reagan and Clinton, every other former president in my fairly long lifetime was unpopular.
Reagan had Alzheimer's, so Clinton is the only beloved former president we've had lately who could campaign for folks.
Clinton actually helps. DU recreational hate-fests aside, Obama wants Clinton supporting him in a high profile way.
A former president is never going to be a surrogate... they don't say what they're told to say. But the persistent delusion that Clinton somehow hurts is just weird.
He is the equivalent of Reagan campaigning for Romney. The great majority of the Dem base loves Clinton.
DURHAM D
(32,611 posts)Let Axelrod know what you think.
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)I'm having a hard time believing BC would take "daily talking points" from anyone.
DURHAM D
(32,611 posts)You obviously have no idea how national campaigns work and the fact that OFA has asked Clinton to do what he is doing. It was in the news last week (TV) that he had to clear his schedule when he was asked to get involved immediately.
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)DURHAM D
(32,611 posts)Do you know so little about how this works that you actually think BC is doing this on his own? Really?
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)And now he's urging Congress to extend the Bush tax cuts. It's hard to tell which side he's on at any given time. That's precisely why articles have been written on him "Savior or Saboteur?"
DURHAM D
(32,611 posts)I know you don't want to believe this but Clinton out speaking and giving interviews is actually good for Obama, except on DU among 10-12 posters.
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)DURHAM D
(32,611 posts)AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)You've inferred you just think that is true and have no evidence of it.
Conversely, lacking any evidence or link from you, I think it's not true and have BC's acts of sabotage on the Obama campaign to back that up. Just in the last week he gutted the president's core argument on Bain and now he's urging Congress to pass the Bush tax cuts. Any comments on that? I assure you he didn't get a directive from OFA to do that.
DURHAM D
(32,611 posts)I suggested you let Axelrod know what you think. You do know that OFA and Axelrod are one and the same thing don't you?
"acts of sabotage" LOL
If you believe that then advise Axelrod to remove Clinton from the campaign.
cthulu2016
(10,960 posts)I've had MSNBC on the the background where the first 20 minutes of Hardball is clips of Clinton's rich praise of Obama last night while raising millions for his campaign.
So though I will grant that Clinton is not always on message, the cognitive dissonance has been funny.
DURHAM D
(32,611 posts)"Balance" is sometimes missing on DU.
cthulu2016
(10,960 posts)cthulu2016
(10,960 posts)DU may stand for "Dick Morris Underground"
tsuki
(11,994 posts)we are in now is telling us how to fix it? Does he need more 150K speaking fees from the banks?
Redford
(373 posts)I luvs me some BC but I feel like he is undermining the President and it is not an accident. I think he thinks Hillary might have a better chance in 2016 if Romney is elected in 2012.
Jello Biafra
(439 posts)mvd
(65,180 posts)a deal could happen. Also, shouldn't be giving away a bargaining chip like the tax cut expiration.
Blue_In_AK
(46,436 posts)He's not the president anymore.