Reuters
Geithner predicts GOP will agree to higher tax rates
President Barack Obama’s top fiscal negotiator pressed Republicans on Sunday to offer specifics on deficit reduction, and predicted they would agree to raise tax rates on the rich to secure a year-end deal to avoid possible economic doom.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said “I can’t promise” that the United States won’t go over a looming “fiscal cliff,” triggering automatic tax hikes for most Americans and deep spending cuts in early 2013. He insisted it is up to Republicans.
“That’s a decision that lies in the hands of the Republicans that are now opposing an increase in tax rates” for the wealthiest Americans, a key sticking point in negotiations for a broad deficit-reduction deal, Geithner told “Fox News Sunday.”
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Speaking of delusions…
BigGator5 on December 2, 2012 at 12:33 PM
Does anyone honestly think that the GOP won’t fold in the face of accusations that “this is proof they don’t care about poor people, only rich people?”
katiejane on December 2, 2012 at 12:34 PM
“On the rich.”
Tax the rich.
Hate the rich.
Change who the rich are then tax and hate them too.
America had a great run. Now we’re a super power with a third world mentality.
hawkdriver on December 2, 2012 at 12:37 PM
I think so to, just what will they get in return? If they stay on course, nothing.
Cindy Munford on December 2, 2012 at 12:37 PM
His talking point was “We made them an offer. They need to present their offer back to us.” The GOP needs to hold their ground and say we are not going to start talking until you make us a serious offer in good faith.
Obama’s offer is so far out in left field, and he is hoping the GOP take the bait and counters with an offer that won’t be nearly as ridiculous. If they do, the halfway point between the two will be skewed to the left of center and Obama wins. I’d like to see the GOP respond with an equally unrealistic offer and then say, “shall we try this again?”
Mallard T. Drake on December 2, 2012 at 12:39 PM
Of course the GOP will fold. That is what they do. Talk about getting punk’d.
Might as well join the parasites and looters in the party. There are no alternatives any longer.
iconoclast on December 2, 2012 at 12:45 PM
I predict the sun is going to set in the West.
Both literally and figuratively.
connertown on December 2, 2012 at 12:54 PM
So it doesn’t matter whether the same revenues can be gained through cutting/eliminations deductions; the rates must be increased.
Pure politics and nothing more.
They want to split the Republicans and cause discord and not solve these problems.
And along the way portray it as “Republicans drove the economy into the ground and increased your middle class taxes because they wouldn’t increase taxes on the wealthy.”
They’ll get away with it too.
In defense of the GOP, they’ve got a pair of threes and the White House has three aces.
SteveMG on December 2, 2012 at 12:56 PM
0bama’s singular goal, is the utter destruction of the GOP.
If it takes wrecking the economy beyond repair – even better.
Rebar on December 2, 2012 at 1:05 PM
If they go for tax hikes, they need to make the Democrats own the tax hikes. Basically say, “This is a horrible idea, this is going to wreck the economy, cause another recession, put more Americans out of work. But Obama was reelected by the people who support this horrible idea. So we’ll give you the tax increases. And in 2 years and in 4 years, we’ll be standing her, shaking our heads, saying ‘We told you so.’”
Nethicus on December 2, 2012 at 1:15 PM
Always good to have an admitted tax cheat negotiating these things.
WisCon on December 2, 2012 at 1:24 PM
He knows the stupid party well.
Schadenfreude on December 2, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Yeah but I’m afraid it will be viewed by the public (or most of it) as “Your taxes went up because the Republicans won’t raise taxes on the rich.”
That’s how the public sees it.
Until the public recognizes that we can’t maintain this spending without massive tax increases for everyone, the Democrats have the advantage. Most Americans think we can cut foreign aid and increase taxes on the top income earners and the deficit will disappear.
That’s absurd but as Churchill said, the best argument against democracy is a conversation with an average voter.
SteveMG on December 2, 2012 at 1:40 PM
Of course the GOP will… it was folly to believe this wasn’t going to happen… the GOP should have actually proposed these higher tax rates by getting behind Simpson-Boyles.
ninjapirate on December 2, 2012 at 1:57 PM
FIFY
bgibbs1000 on December 2, 2012 at 2:34 PM
Narcissist in Chief: http://www.examiner.com/article/obama-marks-rosa-parks-anniversary-with-picture-of-himself
davidk on December 2, 2012 at 3:00 PM