Mr. President, Eat Your Own Darn Peas!

The deadline for Congressional leaders to finalize a deal on the 2012 budget and the debt limit approaching fast, but a battle line has been drawn on the issue of taxes.  Democrats want to raise them and Republicans are saying that is a crazy idea given the fragile state of the economy.  Who will cross the line first?

So far President Obama is attempting to hijack an issue that Republicans have controlled for months.  Obama and Democrats are agreeing to the Republican plan that cuts $4 trillion dollars from the federal budget over the next decade in exchange for increasing the debt ceiling and closing tax loopholes for the so-called rich.  (Tax loopholes are legal tax deductions or credits that millions of Americans take advantage of every year.)

The president said today he would not accept a smaller, short-term deal. “We might as well do it now,” he said. “Pull off the band aid. Eat our peas.”

Mr. Obama said leaders have already agreed to a series of spending cuts that will make the government “leaner, meaner, more effective, more efficient, and give taxpayers a greater bang for their buck.” Those include cuts to defense and health spending, he said.

He added that both parties must now be willing to take on their “sacred cows.” For Democrats that means modifying programs like Social Security. For Republicans, that means bringing in new tax revenues.

Members of the GOP have complained that “bringing in revenues” refers to raising taxes on Americans and job-creating businesses. However, Mr. Obama emphasized today that he was simply asking Republicans to agree to closing some tax loopholes some years down the road…

Mr. Obama said Republicans must agree to raise revenues.

“I do not see a path to a deal if they don’t budge, period,” he said.

Vice-President Biden jumped into the intense tax debate yesterday:

During another exchange, Republicans were going through proposed tax increases as bad for jobs.

“C’mon, man!” Vice President Biden exclaimed, “let’s get real!”

The Vice President argued that their opposition isn’t economic, it’s ideological, that no real economist thinks they’re “job killers.”

Yet, despite the Democrats’ begging for tax increases Republicans are saying “No deal!”  Republicans seem to have agreed to increase the debt ceiling in exchange for budget cuts, but House Speaker John Boeher has firmly stated that tax increases are completely off the table!  Boehner elaborated in his response to Obama’s “Deal or No Deal” ultimatum by firmly stating that “tax hikes destroy jobs” and that it does nothing to solve the government’s spending problem:

While is slightly encouraging to see Republicans sticking to their guns about their no new taxes pledge they need to take it a step further and prevent any increase to the debt ceiling.  The argument against raising taxes is obvious as Boehner summarized when he spoke about the audacity of “raising taxes on the very people we’re asking to create jobs.”    Still, when it comes to the debt ceiling why in the world are Republicans consider giving a government that is addicted to spending more money to spend?  That makes absolutely no sense.  The government has maxed out every single credit card they have been given.  Logic tells you that they are never going to stop spending until their credit cards are forcefully removed from their greedy hands! 

Republicans absolutely must stick to their guns on the tax issue.  If they fail on their no taxes pledge the voters will make them pay dearly at the polls and it will completely remove an argument they own when campaign season hits full swing.  That being said Republicans are foolish to trade an increase in the debt ceiling for what really amounts to cheap budget cuts.  While $4 trillion in cuts is a great start let’s face it – we need do triple down on that pledge to make a dent on our debt problems.  Controlling the debt ceiling is the only surefire way to make that happen.  America will not go into default.  All debts must be paid first.  Although it may be painful for those people who receive government checks, it will be even more painful down the road if we do not do what is necessary now.  Republicans – seize the opportunity that is in front of you.  Democrats have no problem seizing the moment when they can.  Now it’s your turn except that this time it is for the benefit of the country – not at its expense.  Tell Obama and the Democrats to eat their own peas and leave taxes alone!

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