Bill Clinton implores Democrats to back tax deal

USA to support the top 2% of the population instead of 15 million unemployed. Notice how Japan is taking the exact opposite approach by contemplating a tax on the rich. At least in Japan, there is an expectation that money isn't the only reason to be a citizen. I'm glad to see some responsible government at work.

If as well worldwide taxes go up for the rich, then they'd have to pay or flee to dictatorships. I think not, they like their yachts and quiet lives. The disparity of making 40x to 100x what your employee makes is disgusting and has no place in a modern world. Until such laws are passed internationally the middle class will continue to fade.

The longer America insists on its fiscal irresponsibility the deeper its downfall. America could learn a thing or two from its allies, including Japan

Our debts are going to catch up with us eventually. We need to tax the obscenely wealthy more while reducing the size of government at the same time. If not we might well find ourselves at war with China, and I do mean "we", not the corporate and government fat cats. They and their children, the American Barons, Counts, Dukes and Kings, will sit on the side-lines as usual.

Of course, some people are going to come on and say that the obscenely wealthy deserve all those company profits, year after year, simply by means of ownership, and have no duty to the country. Meanwhile they will suggest the people who actually go to work every weekday, deserve their paltry wage and none of the profit. Plus those workers should be taxed more on that low wage. Simply incredible! They are either insane or paid to say such things.

We should be taxing the extremely wealthy at the rate due at expiration of the Bush tax cuts. Having said that I recognize that it cannot be done along with giving the lower tax brackets the tax cuts. I am a very committed Democrat, who makes no apologies for being such. I am however also a realist and know the Republicans had won this one because they would have not passed the unemployment insurance extension. The clock was ticking in favor of the Republicans who would not mind seeing the unemployed suffer during the holiday season. I do think Obama should have held out for a promise not to block the START and not block the gays in the military bill's vote. I am not asking the Republicans to promise a vote one way or another; simply not to filibuster the voting on such bill's and treaties.

Time was the enemy of the Democrats and rather than trying to work together the Republicans will continue to be the enemy of the American people. I just hope the people will one day wake up.

Thanks to Bill Clinton for trying to help our fellow Democrats swallow a bitter pill.

The people who need to be taxed are the 50% of the American population who pay NO federal income taxes. Many of them actually get money from the Federal government for doing nothing. Not only should there be a maximum tax, but also a minimum tax. Let's say, $2,000/year. On an income of $20,000, that's just 10%. Pretty fair. And then, these former parasites will have a stake in system other than as financial leeches. Rather than buying a color television or movie tickets or tattoos, they'll be paying for stuff like free school lunches for poor children. Which is a more noble use of these parasites' money?

I guess now that Clinton makes millions a year, the shoe is on the other foot.

The people who need to be taxed are the 50% of the American population who pay NO federal income taxes." Why don't more people get this fact?

skipthesong

yeah it's weird. It would seem the concept of taxes as having a useful purpose is lost in the rhetoric. Such as: not maintaining the largest debtor nation in the world status would be a start. If Americans worked together and got themselves out of that hole, or at least stopped the bleeding it would help much with local jobs, resilience and a sense of worth in their nation. A happier America is a stronger America, in my view.

Obama ducked out of his own press confernece. Absolutely bizarre. Who is this guy? He is incapable of true leadership. The press were adressing Clinton as Mr President.

Hottomale - is this meant to be taken seriously ?

If not we might well find ourselves at war with China, and I do mean "we", not the corporate and government fat cats. They and their children, the American Barons, Counts, Dukes and Kings, will sit on the side-lines as usual.

As an American I am very, very interested in knowing who these barons, counts, dukes and kings are.

Can you tell me? Because I think you have made this up.

So, Clinton is going to try to convince the House democrats this is a good deal? Heh, wasn't it Clinton who came to Washington and explained to the democrats if they didn't pass the Barack Hussein Obama Memorial Health Care Scam Bill they'd will lose the mid-terms?

RR

Well Obama could've done worse than having Clinton endorse extending the Bush tax cuts, he could had the man GWB invited over for a little ex=president confab action and then trot him out and let him do instead of Clinton.

bring back clinton

The voluble former president took it away, and Obama left part-way through his remarks, saying he had holiday parties to attend.

Heh, Obama once again shows the world he has his priorities in order.

RR

Obama said it was a “terrific meeting” and then turned the podium over to Clinton.

Just look at how the media carries water for this miserable failure. Clinton bailed him out and upstaged him at the same time. Obama mutters something about having kept the first lady waiting.Gonna punt on this one too. "To my base - let me just say it was good fun playin ya. Fools." What a pushover. The whole country knows who wears the pants in the WH. And it aint Barack Obama.

This is a bit surreal. The one asked to endorse the new tax deal, former President Bill Clinton, was the one who presided during America's best economic growth in modern times while taxing the rich!