Well, this is typical. CNBC had a debate going in which our side is outnumbered four to one (three of four being CNBC hosts) at the start of Larry Kudlow's morning show yesterday. I don't know if anyone saw it, but I did and practically threw up in my mouth. The subject was "Should tax cuts expire for those making over $1 million or more?" (Never mind the $250,000 figure anymore on the rightwing corporatist show Kudlow hosts...they think they've won that extension, at least to $1 million).
The debate got a bit heated, and Kudlow promptly cut off the guest that was evicerating the corporatist guest and CNBC's on-air talent flanking Kudlow. It was a sight to behold, if you'll join me after the jump...
The guests were CNBC regular contributor, James Pethokoukis, and a new guest I've never seen on the network, Erica Payne of the Agenda Project. She has organized 100 millionaires who advocate ending the tax cuts at over $1 million.
The video link of this astonishing exhibition of rightwing corporatist arrogance follows:
Wealthy ARROGANCE on display on CNBC
Personally, I am amazed at Erica's performance as a first time guest with Kudlow. She was talking about the moral problem as well as the economic irresponsibilty of extending those tax cuts. This seemed to get under the skin of "Jimmy P" and Trish Regan, one of Kudlow's sidekicks. Melissa Francis, the other conservative sidekick, also chimed in, complaining that this is taxing "WORK", for goodness sakes. The thought of those hard-earned salaries and bonuses ABOVE $1 million being taxed an additional 4% must be abhorrent to Ms. Francis!
At about the 2:30 mark, Trish Regan rudely interrupts Payne, to rhetorically ask her if she wants to raise tax rates to the 91% level that Payne mentioned was in place in 1954. Payne, of course, said all she wants is the return of the 39.6% rate that existed prior to the Bush tax cuts.
But that's not the end of the rudeness. Jimmy P. interrupts her at the 3:30 mark, and it devolves from there. At the end, Kudlow said to Payne, "Maybe we'll see you again, maybe we won't".
What Kudlow really means is that Erica Payne totally destroys Kudlow's and Pethokoukis' rationale for extending tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy. Kudlow's hench-women and Jimmy P. just interrupt and distract her in order to distract the audience away from the fact that she won the debate, hands-down.
Maybe Kudlow won't invite Payne back because she exposes Kudlow for the elitist tool that he is.