White House steadfast on pledge of no middle-class tax increase

Source: CNN

"The president was clear during the campaign about his commitment on not raising taxes on middle-class families," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday afternoon. "I don't think any economist would believe that, in the environment that we're in, that raising taxes on middle-class families would make any sense."

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/03/obama.economy/index.html

that affect the middle or lower classes disproportionately, then that's fine.

They'll just move on to something else

Geithner is always saying things that do not represent the administration's point of view. That's OK in meetings within the administration, but it confuses things when he talks to the press about his opinions.

And that's worth something.

Politicians have to understand that their tiniest misstatements can be understood in horrible ways. And who doesn't misstate something every once in a while. But that is not the problem with Geithner. His basic philosophy is way off.

NT!

You should never rule anything out.

Right now, my employer deducts roughly $75 a month (before taxes) for insurance premiums out of my paycheck (I'm single, it would be closer to $200 if I got a family plan). If a plan was put in place where the government assumed more control of health care, and my taxes went up $50, but my employer was no longer responsible for premiums, my personal net gain would be +$25, even though my taxes technically went up.

I don't look at everything in such selfish terms, though. I'd pay a little more in taxes to have the safety net in place where everyone wouldn't have to worry about falling through the insurance cracks. I always wonder what these right-wing "keep your hands off my health care" people would do if one of their children came down with cancer in that window most young Americans have in between falling off their parents' plan and before getting full benefits from an employer.

Thanks for the thread, Passaran.:thumbsup:

I noticed the "panic" in GD forum. Some users let MSM dictate common sense

salt and the rest is bullshit.

So for me, it's best to withhold judgment on contradictory or politically upsetting "news" reports for at least 24-48 hours if not longer to give the truth some time to come out.

Assuming they can keep to that pledge it will cut the GOP off at the kneecaps on the tax issue largely.

They're positively a-froth at the idea of beating Obama over the head with what they wish he'd said...