We have been waiting for Obama to say his bottom line on a whole host of things from health care to tax cuts. We have all watched Obama and the Democrats getting pushed around, battered, out-played and out-maneuvered by Republicans that many have lost hope.
Well finally Obama has drawn a line in the sand on a tax cut compromise.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Obama has told the Democratic leaders on the Hill this afternoon that he is willing to compromise on tax cuts but where he draws the line is that any compromise where tax cuts for the rich gets extended for a period of time MUST include an extension of unemployment benefits and other tax benefits for the middle class and businesses for hiring.
At a meeting at the White House with Democratic congressional leadership Saturday afternoon, President Obama said he would oppose any compromise deal on the expiring Bush tax cuts if it lacked help for the unemployed and other provisions designed to aid the middle class.
The president met with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid and told them this afternoon:
"The President told Democratic Congressional leaders today that he was open to compromise, but he would oppose even a temporary extension of the Bush tax cuts if it did not include an extension of benefits for the unemployed and extensions of the other tax cuts that benefit middle class families," a White House official told the Huffington Post. "Without them, taxes would still rise for 95 percent of Americans."
In otherwords if the tax cuts compromise doesn't include unemployment benefits, "making work pay" tax cuts, and other provisions then Obama is willing to let tax cuts RISE for every American.
I think that Obama has finally had it with the Republicans.
The remarks are, nevertheless, one of the clearest signs that the president is not only done ceding any more policy turf to the GOP with respect to tax cut negotiations but willing to let rates expire if Republican don't temper their demands.
Said one person with knowledge of what was discussed: "This was the kind of signal that the Hill has been looking for." The question, the person added, is "when is the president going to make this announcement and how is he going to do it."
A possible compromise that is being worked out:
In exchange for a temporary extension of Bush tax cuts, Democrats will secure an extension of unemployment benefits, a few more tax cut proposals, and a vote on the START Treaty.