In a sign that bipartisan negotiations might not start off on the most congenial foot, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) accused Republicans today of trying to spare Donald Trump from tax hikes.
“On Tuesday, Americans from across the political spectrum made it clear that they want a balanced approach to tax policy that asks millionaires and billionaires to pay a little bit more. The sooner Republicans come to grips with this reality, the sooner we can forge an agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff and prevent a tax hike on middle class Americans,” Reid said in a statement an hour ago, after President Obama announced he’d have congressional leaders at the White House next week for fiscal cliff talks.
“The Senate passed a bill to cut taxes for Americans making less than $250,000, and the House should pass it immediately. Our bill cuts taxes for small businesses,” he continued. “When Republicans talk about small businesses, they are really trying to protect millionaires like Donald Trump.”
Then he added, “It is time for us to put politics aside and give the American people the balanced approach they are demanding. I am optimistic that we can meet this challenge before the end of the year.”
Yesterday, Senate Democrats released a list of stories and soundbites they said proves Americans want to raise taxes on the wealthy.
Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), though, said he wants to see Obama’s compromise plan in the form of a bill, as “speeches and talking points do not solve problems.”
“As Speaker Boehner has said, House Republicans were not reelected to raise taxes. Higher taxes will hurt our economy, making it harder to defeat the debt,” Jordan said. “Pro-growth tax reform and entitlement reform are what America needs.”
Trump, meanwhile, tweeted his faith in the speaker.
“I got to know @johnboehner very well—he is a great guy who will do the right thing for the country!” Trump tweeted.
Yesterday, The Donald was tweeting things such as: “Romney campaign used me in 6 primary states and won every one- they should have used me in Florida and Ohio & he would be President.”
Duh? That’s right from the playbook: Claim to want to put aside partisanship, then declare you view is The Truth and anyone else is extreme partisans. Reid it just so hate filled he just spews it without sugar coating.
– your returns, Reid.
Ole Harry is a long time Mormon convert who is well off but certainly not Romney wealthy. According to some common folks I know who have known him for his entire life, they say he is a very frugal and like Romney is a faithful tither to his churches many tithing programs in additional to a real sense for other charitable giving. A real soft spoken family man with lovely and successful children. I suspect most folks would find his tax return realtively short and rather boring though, I certainly have never seen any of them. That said, my brain spasms and I grit my teeth uncontrollably when I see and listen to him in his political capacity.
The Republicans are approaching this all wrong (stupid party – remember?). When the Democrats are calling for more rope (to hang themselves with) you pay out more rope – not less. Let them hang themselves – after all its been the Republicans that have been the stop-gap these past 2 years – and gotten the blame for it all.
Want more taxes on the rich? Hell yeah – and a side of fries too. Why not? BUT – remind EVERYONE at every opportunity that you just gave them what they asked for. By 2014 the American people will have had enough of the tax and spend party – at least the ones with half a brain.
And God help us it better be at least 50.1% of the voting public in each of the many congressional districts in this (once) great nation.
So give Harry what he thinks he wants. More rope please!
If not it won’t really matter anyway – will it?
God bless ole harry! He, like myself, often times has trouble speaking in proper context. Now I know Harry didn’t mean to say “…when republicans come to grips with reality…” He actually meant to say “when the Tea Party comes to grips with reality…” To bad that the initial Tea Party founders couldn’t maintain control of their centerpiece agenda of a constitutional small government and leave all the social re-engineering alone in the face of an economic crisis. These are the folks ole harry is have the real battle with.
Harry Reid, Nov. 2: “Mitt Romney’s fantasy that Senate Democrats will work with him to pass his ‘severely conservative’ agenda is laughable.”
Mr. Reid, you are a totally despicable liar and hypocrite. Go to hell.