Obama To Shift Focus From Dismal Jobs Outlook To Raising Taxes

July 9, 2012 | Filed under 2012 Presidential Race,Barack Obama | Posted by

Hey look, when you’ve got nothing to show for over three years of effort (such that it is) on the economy, you’re pretty much left with demagoguery. That’s exactly what President Obama is going to attempt, by talking about “tax fairness.”

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is launching a push to extend tax cuts for the middle class, as he seeks to shift the election-year economic debate away from the dismal jobs market and toward the issue of tax fairness.

Mr. Obama, in an address from the White House Monday, will call on Congress to pass a one-year extension of tax cuts for people making less than $250,000 a year, a senior administration official said.

The president’s appeal to middle-class voters is aimed at drawing a contrast with Republican rival Mitt Romney and congressional Republicans. The House GOP is expected to make its own push this month for an extension of all the Bush-era tax cuts due to expire at the end of the year, including reductions on wealthier income earners. Mr. Obama opposes extending the tax cuts for higher income earners.

Mr. Obama’s re-election campaign also plans to use Washington’s tax debate to ramp up its criticism of Mr. Romney. The campaign and its Democratic allies have slammed the presumptive GOP nominee for not releasing several years of tax returns and for having some of his money in offshore bank accounts.

Of course the problem is that the tax system isn’t particularly fair, and raising taxes on the wealthy isn’t really much of an answer. And then there’s the issue of the $250,000 break point, that probably won’t really be $250,000, but some number lower.

All of this has no chance of going anywhere before the election, it’s just a campaign tactic. The Romney folks need to get out in front of Obama on this one, as they really haven’t dealt with the offshore bank account issue.

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Posted by on July 9, 2012.
Filed under 2012 Presidential Race, Barack Obama.
Doug Johnson is a news junkie and long time blog reader, turned author.

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  • http://www.wizbangblog.com Maggie Whitton

    He will use any tactic, any exploit to stay in office to continue his ruinous path for the people and country.

  • UOG

    When you run as an incumbent you run on your record, right? It seems to me that something to remind everyone of your dedication to class warfare is very appropriate for Obama.

  • herddog505

    Doug Johnson – Of course the problem is that the tax system isn’t particularly fair…

    At risk of threadjacking, this is an area where we could have some REAL change: the tax system. I think that we all agree (though, of course, for very different reasons) that it stinks: it is too complex and is ultimately unfair in that the tax burden falls too heavily on some people and too lightly (if at all) on others.

    Instead of fixing the damned thing, our politicians tinker at the edges, slightly altering already-arbitrary levels of income to determine who is “too rich” or “too poor” or “middle class” and making changes in the tax levels accordingly. It’s absurd. Why can we not have something a bit more straightforward?

    /soapbox

    As for Barry, this IS desperate. He’s facing a tough election (for the first time in his life, really), and all he can do is trot out worn out boilerplate about tinkering with the tax code??? Millions of Americans are out of work or working part-time, millions of homeowners are still underwater, we’ve wasted trillions on crap like “green energy”, we’re in hock up to our eyeballs to the Red Chinese and others, and all he can do is natter about taxing the rich? I realize that liberals are stupid enough to eat this up like candy, but I don’t think anybody else is.

    What a maroon.

  • Hank_M

    Hard to believe that someone so friggin brilliant is so bereft of original ideas.

    • jim_m

      Only idiots have ever claimed that he was brilliant. His record is absent of any proof of the claim.

  • Vagabond661

    Why not spend less?

    • herddog505

      Good heavens! What planet are you from, suggesting such a crazy thing???? ;-)

  • GarandFan

    Romney should offer to release several years of back tax returns, in exchange for Barry releasing all his court-sealed records.

    “Fair” is “Fair”, right?

    • 914

      Were talking liberals here. Fair is their way. Unfair is the right way.

    • Guest

      Romney should release several years of back tax returns because Obama already has and Romney appears to be hiding something.

      • GarandFan

        Really? And where’s the proof of that? Got any bank statements? Or is the left once again screaming DON’T THINK OF PINK ELEPHANTS?

        And BTW, isn’t this “all a distraction” from the ECONOMY, UNEMPLOYMENT and the DEFICIT?

        Barry’s always about avoiding distractions, isn’t he?

        And WHAT IS BARRY HIDING in those court-sealed records?

        Seems that just like your OUTRAGE, your CURIOSITY is also highly selective.

        • Guest

          Investigative reporting has uncovered some of Romney’s tax-dodging efforts – and where there are some there are probably more. Apparently they aren’t reporting that on Fox News — imagine that.

          All Mitt has to do is the same that every other presidential candidate has done — release copies of his recent tax returns – releasing the same years that Obama has.

          The fact that Romney is refusing to do so shows he’s hiding something.

          The pressure will be kept up until he releases them. He’d be better off doing so now rather than fighting to keep this information hidden from the American public. It’s going to come out sooner or later — why not now?

          • Hank_M

            Again, this is too much!

            Mitt should refuse to release anything more until Barry Obama releases his college transcripts, medical records, passport records, and everything else he’s keeping under wraps.

            With any luck, that’ll be Romney’s answer if the press goes after him on this.

          • GarandFan

            “Investigative reporting”? By who. And once again, where’s the PROOF?

            All I’ve seen are ALLEGATIONS. Care to provide some links?

            And when is your Obamassiah going to release his health records LIKE PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS? Inside of a paragraph on a piece of paper saying ‘The President is in good health.’

            Is Barry HIDING something?

          • jim_m

            And once again, where’s the PROOF?

            The left isn’t interested in proof. They are all about he innuendo. http://www.chequerboard.org/2012/07/lets-play-a-game/

            Grumpy will say that “Nobody knows if Romney violated any tax laws.”

            We can respond that nobody knows if Grumpy is a NAMBLA member. Until he shows us we have to assume that he’s hiding something,.

          • GarandFan

            All I’ve seen have been “demands” by un-named liberals “demanding” to see Romney’s bank accounts. Then, of course, there was Chuck You Schumer repeating the same allegations on Sunday.

          • TomInCali

            The left isn’t interested in proof. They are all about he innuendo.

            OMG, are you freakin’ for real? Birth certificate, college transcripts, health records, secret gun control plans, Kerry’s discharge papers… all the right is about is innuendo without proof! And now you suddenly find that offensive?

          • jim_m

            You are going to have to look really hard to find me complaining about his birth certificate. And you will have to look hard to find me complaining about his transcripts etc too, excepting that I have raised the latter in this instance as a response to the left wing BS about transparency. 0bama is about as transparent as a block of lead.

            And I do not think that complaining about the Fast & Furious scandal is innuendo. You think that a congressional investigation and holding the AG in contempt of congress is all about innuendo?

            You’re a bigger fool than you’ve shown yourself to be previously.

          • TomInCali

            All I’ve seen are ALLEGATIONS. Care to provide some links?

            Suddenly allegations aren’t enough for you? Two words: “birth certificate”.

          • GarandFan

            You’re looking at the wrong guy. Or do you think everyone who is conservative thinks the birthers were on the right track. Or are you one of those small minded liberals who thinks “all conservatives think alike.”

            Oh, and do you have to have a link to one of those “investigative reports”? Or are you going to regurgitate the Kool Aid as well?

          • GarandFan

            “The pressure will be kept up until he releases them. He’d be better off
            doing so now rather than fighting to keep this information hidden from
            the American public. It’s going to come out sooner or later — why not
            now?”

            Funny, I said something along the same lines in reference to Fast and Furious. What’s Barry HIDING?

          • Guest

            Way to change the subject.

            But there’s obvious reason for Republicans to change the subject.

            In the battle of the haves and the have nots — the leader of the opposition party (the party of the haves) doesn’t want voters to know what he has and what lengths he’ll go to avoid paying his fair share of taxes.

            You lower the tax rate for millionaires like Romney and what does Romney do? He hides his millions to avoid having to pay taxes.

            Big mistake, Mitt. Come clean, and show us your tax returns. What are you afraid of Mitt??

          • GarandFan

            CHANGE THE TOPIC? Far from it!! WHERE’S THE PROOF BULLSHITTER!

          • jim_m

            Nobody knows if Grumpy borrows his neighbor’s lawn tools and refuses to return them.

            Come clean, Grumpy and show us your garage! What are you afraid of?”

          • Sky__Captain

            It’s obvious that 0bama supporters must change the subject from Barack’s record, both as President and before.

            He sucks.
            So do Goofy’s arguments.

          • http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves

            DERP! DERP! DERP! DERP!

          • http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves

            DERP! DERP! DERP!

      • 914

        DERP^2!!! DERP^3!!!

  • Guest

    The Republicans are running a candidate who banks offshore as a tax dodge.

    It couldn’t be more transparent.

    • jim_m

      And the dems have actually run candidate (Rangel) and appointed Cabinet members (Geithner) that have cheated on their taxes. Romney has only taken advantage of what he is allowed to do under the law.

      Your Point?

      • GarandFan

        The echo chamber really doesn’t have one.

      • SCSIwuzzy

        His point, I believe, was
        DERP

    • GarandFan

      Hmmmmmm………just curious as to how Democrats know about these bank accounts. Ya think I can walk into your bank and discuss YOUR account with the bank manager?

      Oh and Grump, “tax avoidance” is legal. Just ask Warren Buffett. Or John Kerry.

      And I’d much rather talk about the STATE OF THE ECONOMY AND UNEMPLOYMENT than someone elses bank account.

      So when is Barry going to run on his record?

      • 914

        Short answer: Never

      • Guest

        When is Romney going to release the tax returns for the same years Obama released his?

        Barry’s record is public information.

        We now know that Romney is hiding assets in offshore banks as a tax dodge.

        When is Romney going to come clean and reveal his hidden, tax-dodging schemes?

        • http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves

          DERP!

        • emrengineer

          “We now know that Romney is hiding assets in offshore banks as a tax dodge.”
          You’re right! Because he is ‘hiding’ something, he is automatically guilty!
          So, by that logic, Obamais hiding his guilt in Fast And Furious by evoking executive privilege.
          Thanks!

          • 914

            Nuanced DERP!!

          • GarandFan

            If he was “hiding assets” how were they ‘discovered’, and what is the “evidence”.

            Oh, that’s right. Barry and Company never worry about proof.

        • Sky__Captain

          Uh, Goofy – “Barry’s record is public information. ”
          Please cite links to Barack Hussein 0bama’s college transcripts, medical records, and passport records immediately or be branded a liar.
          Oh wait…

          • Guest

            talking about tax records.

            I hate it when morons can’t read and you have to hand-hold them and give theme xtra-special attention….

          • Sky__Captain

            Ah, yes – personal attacks. The last refuge of the liberal when he loses the debate.

            Nice try, Goofy, but without the links you’re still a liar. Now where are the links for Barack’s record?
            If you mean his record as President, you just proved he’s the weakest candidate in 2012.

          • http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves

            DERP! DERP! DERP!

          • jim_m

            I hate it when morons can’t read and you have to hand-hold them and give theme xtra-special attention….

            Now you know how we feel when responding to you.

          • http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves

            Second the motion and call for the vote!

          • Sky__Captain

            I vote in favor!

          • retired.military

            Like you Mr Chickenshit.

        • retired.military

          HOw many years of tax returns did Obama release prior to being president? Umm I think that number is zero Mr chickenshit. And want to talk about Tax dodges how about Kerry’s Yacht which he still hasnt paid Mass taxes on

          • 914

            Tax dodgers?

            Holder? Geitner? The Obama administration? Oh, wait! Those are tax cheats!!

    • Vagabond661

      As the saying goes, I am less worried about where Romeny keeps or gets his money and more worried about how Obama wanting more of mine.

    • 914

      If I had millions, I’d bank offshore to, to avoid this thieving crooked greedy SOB in the White House.

      DERP!!

  • GarandFan

    “Obama To Shift Focus From Dismal Jobs Outlook To Raising Taxes”

    But….but….but I thought Barry was ‘focused laser-like on jobs’. It’s working locally. Just saw where a “Dollar Tree” was opening up. And they are HIRING! At the bottom of the announcement was “Please Bring Photo-ID”.

    Isn’t that illegal? I mean, if you’re looking for a job, doesn’t that mean you’re probably poor? And when do you have time to get photo ID when you’re poor and not working?

    • jim_m

      No you have to have an ID to get a job,(that’s a federal law), you have to have an ID to enter a federal building, you have to have an ID to get into an obama fundraiser, you need an ID to drive a car, buy cigarettes or buy alcohol. Those are all OK and somehow none of them infringe on the rights of the poor, uneducated or minorities.

      It is only when you are asked for an ID to demonstrate that you are eligible to vote that it is racist and therefore illegal.

  • Pingback: Was I Mistaken? | Daily Pundit

  • Guest

    Letting the bush tax cuts expire is not “raising taxes”.

    Amazing how simple concepts escape some people.

    • http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves

      DERP! DERP!

    • Idahoser

      how about the Reagan tax cuts, or the Kennedy tax cuts. Would repealing those be raising taxes? How long is a tax allowed to be gone before we don’t consider it raising taxes to bring it back?

    • Sky__Captain

      You know, when the tax rates go UP, intelligent people would see that as “raising taxes”.

      I’m beginning to think that Goofy is an “affirmative action” poster. He certainly has proven his lack of intelligence…

      • herddog505

        Sky_Captain – [W]hen the tax rates go UP, intelligent people would see that as “raising taxes”.

        Yeah, pretty much. Claims to the contrary would have Mr. Orwell banging his head on a table while screaming, “It’s a cautionary novel, NOT a ‘how-to’ guide!”

        But that’s how libs (well, politicians generally, I suppose) operate:

        — Your taxes aren’t being raised; the cuts are merely being allowed to expire.

        — You aren’t unemployed; you merely have unlimited opportunities to pursue a life of personal fulfillment.

        — It isn’t a lopsided, regressive tax system; it’s merely making the rich pay their fair share.

        Etc.

    • LiberalNitemare

      >>Amazing how simple concepts escape some people.

      Damn. Melted my irony filter again.

    • jim_m

      Letting the bush tax cuts expire is not “raising taxes”.

      Really? So taxes will go down then? Because if taxes aren’t going to be raised they sure as hell will be doing something after the cuts expire.

      For most people when you increase their taxes it is raising taxes. How you manage to put that tax increase into law doesn’t really matter,

      Your word games may make you feel justified, the rest of us find them “taxing”.

      • 914

        I find them suspect and derpish in nature..

  • Sky__Captain

    Of course, the resident turd-for-brains liberal (I’m talking about you, Goofy) can’t wrap their small heads around this concept:

    –The “wealthy” being referred to don’t have nearly enough money to offset 0bama’s obscene spending binge.

    This means this is merely to distract from 0bama’s job performance, as usual.

    • Guest

      Every presidential candidate – EVERY presidential candidate releases past tax returns.

      Except MItt.

      Investigative reporters have uncovered previously undisclosed assets controlled by Mitt. He didn’t list this on disclosure forms — apparently intentionally – in an effort to hide them.

      Shameful — EVERY presidential candidate provides their tax returns.

      Except Mitt.

      He will eventually succumb to pressure and be forced to disclose everything.

      Why on earth would he drag it out and wait until he “has” to?

      Bad move, MItt. Bad move…

      • jim_m

        And if he was shown to have made an error on his taxes you’ll give him the same pass as you did for Geithner right? And if he evaded his taxes like Rangle did you’ll give him the same pass for that too right?

        Smells like hypocrisy from here.

        Meanwhile, nobody knows if Grumpy is still stalking his neighbor’s wife. Until he comes clean with his whereabouts we have no way of knowing. What is Grumpy trying to hide?

        • 914

          This is the original Grumps! Not the sub par sock puppet here on Tuesdays and Fridays.

          As ignorant as they come.

      • Sky__Captain

        Goofy, you are so far off-topic, “DERP!” doesn’t even begin to cover it.

        I’m not talking about Mitt Romney, but 0bama’s spending binge.
        And truth that no amount of tax increases will ever begin to pay for it.

        And thank you for proving my point that you can’t wrap your small head around this concept.
        Are you paid to be this stupid, or is it natural?

      • http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves

        DERP! DERP!

      • 914

        DERP^4!

      • retired.military

        Every President for as long as I can remember it being an issue released their grades from College Obama hasnt.

        Guess he is as much of a chickenshit as you are

        “Why on earth would he drag it out and wait until he “has” to?”

        Oh you mean like Obama on umm just about everything from his past. his birth certificate, college grades, etc etc. Like John Kerry with his military records? and the list goes on.

        • jim_m

          Kerry wouldn’t release his grades because they apparently revealed that he was not as smart as he was arrogant.

          • 914

            Hahhahaahahaa

          • Jwb10001

            There is not enough smart on the planet to off set that jerks arrogance.

          • http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves

            Indeed not.

          • http://wizbangblog.com/author/rodney-graves/ Rodney G. Graves

            Indeed not. And we (to this day) have (still) not seen John Francois Kerry’s original discharge.

        • Sky__Captain

          A point of order:
          IIRC, the college records for GW Bush were “obtained” by a reporter and leaked to the media. GWB did not release them.

          Also note that this has not happened by the media in the case of their “Dear Leader”.

      • retired.military

        ”
        nvestigative reporters have uncovered previously undisclosed assets controlled by Mitt”

        hey Chickenshit Grumpy

        I saw today where investihators arrested 2 men for forging Obama’s birth certificate. It was in the Globe You know like the National enquiror which has proven it self somewhat more reliable than the NY Times in the area of politics.

      • 914

        Y’know, repeating Obama’s lies over and over doesn’t make you or him any more believable.

        Just shows you both suffer from liberal projection.

        Seek help, or just seek something else.

  • LiberalNitemare

    Go with your strengths.

    If there is one thing this guy is good at, its raising taxes.

  • Vagabond661

    Grumpy, here are Romney’s tax returns for 2010 and 2011. Now produce the college transcripts for President Obama. http://www.mittromney.com/learn/mitt/tax-return/main

    • Vagabond661

      Pick any year.

      • 914

        He has to find a Xerox copier and do a little photo shopping first..

      • Sky__Captain

        Goofy won’t.
        He’s lost the debate and knows it.

        To top it off, Goofy went far off-topic to distract from his Choom-Messiah’s failures.

    • Guest

      In recent years candidates have released tax returns for many more years, 12 years in most instances.

      Clearly Romney has something to hide in his earlier returns, those he filed before he started running for President.

      Yes, — Romney is only releasing the returns for the last two years.

      He’s hiding the previous years. And we’re starting to discover why. He has millions he’s hidden in the Cayman islands – portions of over 180 previously unknown and undiscovered funds which are tied to Bain Capital.

      The man who hired illegal aliens to mow his lawn doesn’t want American voters to know his complete financial history.

      Obama released his tax returns – and his birth certificate too – apparently Mitt Romney has a very good reason to keep information away from voters.

      We will find out – and the fact that Romney worked so hard to hide this information is going to make things even worse for him.

      • Mycroft

        You mean the FAKE birth certificates? I examined the ones released (pulled them from Whitehouse.gov) and brought them up under Photoshop. The serial numbers have been altered. That makes the Birth certificates FAKES. My credentials with Photoshop go back over 20 YEARS of working with the software and working with other software for a living for over 30 years. If I say they are fake, take it to the bank.
        Goofball Obama’s tax returns are FRAUDS as well, since he is also using a stolen SSN.
        So whom is hiding information here? Not Romney.

        • Sky__Captain

          Anybody with intelligence and a passing familiarity with editing media knows they’re fakes.

          I would love to see a legal opinion on the “document” – even entered in court as evidence as proof of 0bama’s birth.
          The resulting legal fireworks would be entertaining…

      • Vagabond661

        transcript? Or more cut and paste?

      • jim_m

        Since it took nearly 3 years for 0bama to release his birth certificate I think you should just quit complaining and be patient. Until Romney has stonewalled you on this meaningless bit of paper for 3 years you have little to complain about.

      • Sky__Captain

        DERP!

  • Sky__Captain

    It does look like Grumpy’s Choom-Messiah is every bit as clueless as Grumpy is:
    http://hotair.com/archives/2012/07/09/video-romney-needs-to-be-an-open-book-if-hes-going-to-run-for-president-says-obama/
    The hypocrisy is absolutely stunning.

  • 914

    “Obama To Shift Focus From Dismal Jobs Outlook To Raising Taxes”

    This is an insult to Dismal job outlooks every-wheres!