Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Rubio's Water Bottle Wasn't the Most Embarrassing Thing Last Night


Marco Rubio gave the Republican rebuttal to President Obama's State of the Union Address and we all saw the "Water Bottle Incident".  But what most people didn't know -- and never saw -- was the Spanish-speaking version of Rubio's speech which was given immediately afterwards.

While there was no Water Bottle Incident in the Spanish version, there was this peculiar real-time English translation of Rubio's Spanish-language speech, courtesy of ABC News. 

It kind of makes you wonder exactly what was inside Rubio's water bottle . . .

Here are Marco Rubio's words, translated from Spanish to English by ABC News. 

I think you'll agree that this is food for thought for each and every one of us:



Transcript for Marco Rubio's (Spanish Language) State of the Union Response


When an auction said Michael -- Mr. into in the field were severely dollar and authorities and its analysis thousands. Carefully to that a President Obama political -- -- assume among not.

If panel to general Norton on this week -- sort of dollar and on the home and number -- equally ethically counts. -- -- that this government umbrella title beating him to -- I'm at the body in the homeless in August to pay thugs and be -- and asked what's the Hamas you've got the April not because I was -- -- of them. I'll get paneling and soaps.

Seem fun in -- sort of students. And the postal -- Caledonia owns him but -- and wonder what about the -- democratic them psyche in the Palestinians. Have Christiane.

Olympic athlete dormant podium I think that our top bottom Scioscia system -- on the -- my -- this year but some aren't getting enough -- You don't know Hamas known couple that went -- -- -- but it was a thousand isn't exception on board -- today -- -- pick us and Oman and god alone us about us -- this Llosa. He get dole said Romano didn't that it shall dollop of deals are you out of town labels on so stunning to speak how -- the -- -- On the bottom of my adios to felony insists. The outer space.

We invited me out of marquis woke up one penny out I don't know what absolutely that's -- percent of the sequels hopelessly -- -- -- A you know what I concept but that a classmate -- me by -- -- -- under the bar man in in my -- a headache MI data. -- and editing it -- they use better than they out of the home around the mosque and what can. Now hold on the -- CME gotten swings.

-- -- -- -- -- I'm gonna hit -- on the fretting about a -- -- guys dollar meetings that I'm being economic Dodi Christiane. I thank and he -- -- And assist Palestinians. If -- -- -- the senate but Democrats have made the Al mosque -- people thought of on this thing any fuel and -- not growing illegal yet.

-- up overnight on Omnia W and on and cannot paint that he has got the bulk of the unit but -- Nicholson's. It on the -- Mexico and then Hamas special us -- -- listing the -- electricity and handle. Are you out of all of us anything -- -- -- we'll -- -- at what went to the -- Initiated -- novels but the host of the John F. Kennedy out Ronald Reagan on a policy. -- -- effect on me and an even race. Osce left wing that it of Padilla -- an -- here.

-- -- -- -- If convicted -- counsel in the department's. -- Vatican at their recent economic and socio what -- throw we have an oral nothing with those -- left on my signal on Tomas. -- -- -- -- -- -- Socialist America I think the whole premise. Is -- let -- Vietnam monument. That. And I.

They can legally in the CNC and T in the most elegant and look at you don't want to program obstinacy at the they talked also -- -- -- -- -- -- -- phone acting C Vivian in the canal up when police because it upon sovereign it's illegal yet. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Moscow Vietnam not good enough -- -- authority on and on the most -- indictment house. Michael you know not having not on possible to any obvious that we -- that out.

He Marco we have not knowing speed I don't know if you asked -- lawsuits you know what the that there are homeless or don't do. -- -- -- -- -- and market but we hadn't opened at a regular relay get complete gas killed -- an emotional -- that apartment critical needs. Organist illiteracy and what the final ruling hasn't been assessed punitive way it's often difficult to console him -- -- up aren't criminals or -- The problem somebody in my vocalists when Eileen -- -- the what the that -- -- -- You have to go watch a program that we had no discipline -- and I -- -- Democrats -- many I think the left -- and updates.

What a handle that Ramo obamacare but also what they did out of percent of the classic mania Upton and -- will make. But our ugly episode I -- the end of supply and of the subtle. Yak obamacare and Opel also picked EC opponent but -- -- modesty when dampen -- our troubled southern but it's not on the ground.

Yet bonus and also if found to be the end -- -- on the ballot people -- -- What the holiday that people -- I don't I'll have to significant on puppet and he -- about -- -- we have -- -- -- Seek and topic instead of preparedness. Ethical been laughing philosopher said sociopath that we got fined them -- vehicle that I William -- But -- as a puppet the only -- -- with an acoustical ceiling. In -- -- yet I don't know whether completes a popular things yet.

On the noticed some length. I just on a body that Arafat but local bottles but it blog in the preceding the product -- -- -- But Obama won an assault with -- and a pristine into. An excellent Seattle's Farmington upon -- -- don't know the rules.

She's anything I can be bought back want -- -- apple almost literally had no way to combat it -- And heartless I think it'd I want Scioscia I'd associate. She's a ready market what they're almost without exception of the program that politics and Scioscia on the -- flexing -- -- -- -- us -- money heartless. And the couple's dedicated to how to -- Sotomayor and -- in pick up off the balance artistically and what he needs.

Yet an auction. In death penalty people what they gotten a Sausalito and West Coast but every -- -- percent of its fourth of Hamas that put us and we multiples. And committed to act.

Let us -- authority to attack -- you can up -- sorting them -- -- on local -- or vehicles. And empathy and they -- to ideally wanted to meet with seemed ideal Democrats that are -- democracy. He received some -- Some -- -- -- and have been on the Social Security Medicare.

Some are how to get in and get it on that's at them but I don't -- and I eat up our hot product by adults when that's. -- -- on days giving it a marquee market downpayment that money -- this'll needles and apple would accept. And the price is on the -- we have -- me now on economy.

Looking weapon he got to that principle that -- Lucky that I'm not a dollar followed us Democrats and India -- to somebody out so -- a -- just it out basically social what the that the -- Electing not out of -- -- order book in Austin -- that part of some about a Medicare or Social Security. And processing empathy and pick them -- on the supply and -- get a proper animal fecal. Up on the supply.

Forget about the -- haven't seen -- Up what's on the way you can assist you and I'm product are considerably -- -- -- give him one Catholic and exit affect us and -- It could seeming to put on the way out when he got automatic -- body Atticus had like -- The support and I mean an attack on the ethic and I hold the gun battle in the payment to the -- -- But a simply animosity panic on the activists you don't want to seem to what -- -- Second daddy and me and him -- are fascinating. Yet the -- statements of deficit and -- while the opening unit dollars on an approximately. Knowing -- moment to think what -- -- automatics.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Get whatever the student at look past that while the -- to be -- abilities. If -- that's on Iraq what -- That put us in -- -- slopes this young dumb and Donovan whipple's. If I had the muscles.

I don't know -- if the people -- missing in the island with the economy. -- I don't matter much happier and diploma from the -- to pissing in the capital and in due to -- and -- here. That'd be a somebody -- that -- that by the that in effect that they here.

But of the -- -- -- took -- political so not too obvious includes a bone if it only got -- done. Investigated but DC under the -- and completely and ineptly out of combined yes Ambon capital are on the Solyndra. -- somebody -- the other thing that I despite explode out of my sanity informants -- live -- -- He can be and then we'll have about a real possibilities but Pakistan that's when out -- the esophagus and beautiful -- It's like that acted out Mandelson and partisan mails but are fascinating and independent -- -- got.

It died out in -- capital shouldn't have to down into Iraq from chain. Secret to come on with their political -- -- -- of them being none of that -- national -- -- mark -- idea I'm -- Lamas and see you. And after picking us impetus that's it will come on I don't know -- to him -- house.

Yes I'm an awkward that the proceeded to get available that can seat and threatened with what the fact -- -- and a -- out of them on the Vatican at their combined yapping Hamas and Cindy will -- that actually don't you support to the problems hockey that it earned him. I -- I'm a play -- second with an economic activity there. -- Hamilton see him of the need to assume they gotten enough but -- out but I development hornets in my body on the professor and out of him on the yes in Latin upon to -- -- Mrs. O'Donnell -- assumed. Upon silently eappen mining but -- Primakov anarchy and a government. But nobody -- opening -- -- -- compliments on that bus oh deficit would have a microphone that -- yet gotten to place.

-- -- -- -- their muscles -- company located at a hinted that obviously out with a Palestinian just and it's a seat on. Battle to allow that -- proximity of Deloitte U -- It hooked up for market will implement that -- -- into -- across an area. Mr. Obama -- of the people like a lot of products -- to comport sentencing -- somehow on south equal mocked for mosque in professor Canadiens and I mean the product efforts. They -- opposite -- all the pundits that this young -- developed by the lending opponents this the other to see on it. The outlook and he had been be out of the sequels.

When -- only -- opening about that's when -- People get them out to be put on you would -- Saudi occupancy of about becoming. An in the -- on the have a -- market -- -- one -- the questions will be. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- You don't WW don't receive nothing -- you better luck with the home that the Bernama Nestle RF that might mean it isn't -- gotten us in one of these items.

Of course I want out of -- -- -- -- don't know enough about -- and a group company was the single box out. The felonies and they'll wait postal facilities -- trying. Some of it that I -- the latest on the target.

Some apologists what they don't get a seat in the -- -- -- -- Ecstasy but I have to somebody -- and he -- looked on how to count but it deals and sales in dollar bet on in Ecstasy -- and house. If you're bound for you after the upbeat economic community developer I'm a little bit ended abruptly on in my -- without. On local zoning -- to connect all program that it on today to put -- -- -- thought -- -- On the opening -- into the video Mattison in new -- or not like it didn't have passed -- don't romances.

Boy multi episode and putting them in a Manila but if -- -- demand dealers. And in the -- month I don't know -- -- admit -- to the after the -- -- -- -- Sort of of course the human feces -- -- predicament to we have been championed the -- let them many are you aren't significant effect on me. I don't know quoted most of them are -- -- -- even on the scene noticeably and with rather than -- and god will let him go we have not come up without it he'd had enough time today on the port that the awful sitting but the -- but -- He -- that doom but it alsop another it was a it would that's what we're not one will -- him but if that's northbound on the -- don't know him -- At but it hint that it will -- -- Lockwood possibly lot of leprosy and the bush.

But appreciated the lombok at a mosque building block the lines -- -- the bush -- -- shall. The evidence that act outside and without that it can go yet not southbound or entity on the hottest months the -- -- -- what the kind. Put missiles and assisted on the winning in that product and people see don't get -- you don't -- support -- -- In -- armed but that the -- with that says an -- around us on Apple's want to a lot of Portland me.

We'll know that don't make it in this gunman people on the -- Reports an army about it we -- and it's just about our market accounts. In leaping and stops here Monique on the news. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Young couple Indian economy can't god and a persona my article on the commodity -- and went and act on main thing that program.

But oh what -- -- picked -- followed the how to may get its act coming that a photo -- and rocket powered. I followed the -- capital. Notably -- -- -- for assume pundit buyout entity and it but I got us about it may -- seeing after that out of without knowing.

And -- -- that would hopefully people committee get on the bus in the office -- so -- but that's about it. And naturally assume one moment -- opposite. Well we haven't infant some sort of victims.

-- some people who devote about privacy and the that -- Canadian Connecticut. This is -- -- the other arguments and the price. But of this and a million little that it took them to -- -- that a felony and so on until nine in the -- Obama at a certain.

In an -- NATO but it also -- see if indeed it in Saudi. Out of him it's how to make them and not pass property. -- -- -- -- the that it just months.

In London office balcony -- Palestinians are priced MacBook models but not little cities in the -- -- -- -- -- -- note that immigrant Columbia and he. Analysts on nuclear power in Washington now enough without a month. It -- locals found that if -- the hopes units and -- important vehicle hit.

-- market -- in the present with an option. An empirical laid into him but we had no Sunday when -- and the impetus that's. In Atlanta this innocent Donaldson who had -- in the battle but -- -- -- get but it -- -- -- and yes you know him but it's tough it out and -- product -- And and focus Toledo with a spot maybe battle that left out on the -- than a fourth of Hamas.

But it McDonald's -- hop along Blunkett and blast at the record it's going to format upon somberness. Are unacceptable to support to open an optical head and today in what Hamas outposts on they gotten and a persona value of that and it's a seat on the -- yet. And whether they -- Obama hop and we did -- -- academic.

But I can stomach an envelope continually and been -- though he went to keep Vatican until we have no way I think you -- you down though I don't condemning the necessity and -- -- I would doubt it -- don't assault a permanent development to put enough not what is the solution -- -- We'll just don't docile -- on a global system what I did and their associate that he left. It went back to this fields. And went -- economy enough to -- -- in without -- -- Went to putting people's.

I've decided in -- -- fascia you'll -- capital Tripoli got rid of them -- -- ominous I had to place. That these audio -- mostly in the south that's a bit of department's. Broken hopes gonna happen sort of -- -- -- -- -- performed.

-- -- that connect economy act economic. Not a -- -- -- Inca spirit donating some broke. -- in Austin.

And -- and also the sympathetic -- -- -- -- -- -- -- grip on Saturday but it had died in the cuttings. And thousands. In the moment -- unaccompanied pickup.

In many upon -- in the Austin capital on the infant coming into the Russell took an animal but -- -- -- -- apostle. Gas simple -- now that's over and -- open side apartment house. Are -- -- operate in some capacity at the minorities in corporate there.

America for the palace and avenue across from our public -- -- Our newseum. -- report. Well don't mean what light amity.

That if the Indians team up and swing it doesn't -- the power have to. Not us that video than -- -- -- -- Marquis said it would on the second getting -- I don't see impotency that'll -- you look at the audience from cut from the doctor outside an exit the camps about it -- -- -- an option to let the -- IPod as Arafat on efficacy potency and not see that the human race. I'm -- are -- and oddly enough that you I mean a premium now.

He felt pharmaceutical stocks Afghan and on dollar face in the cup back. To suffer implement the Obama had noticed -- -- coming. He fastened my whole life depends -- an -- but it -- -- -- deceitful way software -- took him.

With an auction. On the immediate -- this -- -- operates. So either from -- -- him.

What can -- whistles went on welcomed by the -- -- the -- You know consumed by the government to. But -- told -- that there are things when you from -- artist -- and arresting me. If the -- They'll not yet know what passes sequels it -- but I thought about it and -- practice.

Multiple people Markey you've -- but you don't but to him on the -- it to supplement victim go Vietnam and -- that way to accept the idea that the swing. But in the sort of -- -- a -- Arctic. -- from the team.

-- -- Fiat money without economic. He put us. A bit of vocal learning and -- On that the swings.

I don't thin and toppled and that everything's. However economic and asked him nine for -- dollar and on the vehicles. Mr. ban on -- on -- -- not some national news. -- To -- look at that announcement when -- bombing. But episode battle with the -- -- people.  

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate. !

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/marco-rubios-state-union-response-spanish-language-version-18482403                   http://pastebin.com/ZDLg5yEd  

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Parting Shot


airplane banner reads:
         "Hey Mitt! Worried about us now? -- the 47%"


    















courtesy of MoveOn.org


Sunday, October 28, 2012

Employees' Jobs Threatened if they Vote for Obama, Romney Encourages It

With encouragement from Mitt Romney, a number of employers have told their employees that, if they vote for President Obama on November 6th, it will cost them dearly.  They have been informed that if they vote for Obama, they may have their hours cut back . . . lose their insurance . . . or lose their jobs.

This is not a joke.  I wish it were.

As illegal as this tactic sounds, I was shocked to learn that the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United ruling makes this sort of employee intimidation and coercion completely legal!

If there was any doubt in your mind that next week's election has far-reaching consequences -- well beyond who occupies the White House for the next 4 years -- this ought to put your doubt to rest.

This is all the more reason why we need to do everything we can to encourage everyone we know to vote on November 6th.


Because, if we don't -- they will.


Please share this information with your friends.  It's not just our country, but our entire Democracy that is at stake.


Here's a few quotes from the articles (links to articles follow below):

"Terry McTaggart, the president of a Michigan convenience store, liquor and home heating conglomerate, sent his employees a letter this month suggesting they vote for GOP nominee Mitt Romney and threatening to cut their hours in order to save money under President Barack Obama's health care reform law.

McTaggart joins a handful of CEOs who have urged their employees to oppose Obama, including Westgate Resorts founder David Siegel and the Koch Brothers. Corporations were banned from pressuring their employees on voting for decades, but the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision freed employers to campaign among their workers as a form of free speech.

Romney has encouraged employers to pass their views along to their employees. The National Federation of Independent Business, which almost exclusively backs GOP candidates, will host an event this week to educate bosses on how best to pressure their workers come Election Day."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/17/mitt-romney-employees-voting_n_1975636.html


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/28/terry-mctaggart-forward-corporation-obamacare_n_2034907.html?ref=topbar


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/27/us/politics/bosses-offering-timely-advice-how-to-vote.html?pagewanted=all


http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/10/can-your-boss-threaten-to-fire-you-if-you-dont-vote-for-romney/263709/
   
 

Friday, October 19, 2012

Romnesia Alert Issued



  


WARNING: U.S. Health Alert Issued Earlier Today


The Federal Center for Disease Control issued a warning earlier today that an outbreak of Romnesia has been identified in several states and is spreading rapidly. All Americans are advised to remain calm, but to be alert for common symptoms, which include:

Rapidly shifting statements of your positions and beliefs
Shortness of memory
Discomfort with 47% of Americans
Absence of self-awareness


Additional Romnesia symptoms may include:
believing women dwell in binders;  mistaking corporations for actual people;  confusing your dog with your luggage;  eagerness to randomly and casually make $10,000 bets;  not knowing which of your houses your key unlocks;  and believing $200,000 to $250,000 is middle-class income


At risk groups include:
women, seniors, students, the working class, immigrants, gays and lesbians, scientists and researchers, and the easily deceived

The risk to your health remains high.


This afternoon, President Obama issued an urgent statement to all Americans regarding Romnesia:  (it's pretty funny!)



The FCDC reminds you to take all necessary precautions when you vote on Tuesday, November 6th in order to prevent Romnesia from reaching epidemic proportions.



If you found this announcement helpful, you may also like:  
37 Reasons You Might Want to Vote Republican:
http://johnsvor.blogspot.com/2012/10/37-reasons-you-might-want-to-vote.html 



Monday, October 15, 2012

FDR's Post-Crash 1936 Speech Provides Surprising Parallel to 2012 Election


The parallels between the recovery in 1936 and in 2012 are unexpectedly surprising. In many ways, FDR could have been describing the circumstances of the past 4 years and the current political climate . . .



[note: the following introduction is taken from David Remnick's 10/13/12 New Yorker blog]:

In 1936, Franklin Roosevelt was faced with a vicious reelection campaign. He was vilified for the New Deal reforms. The word “boondoggle” was popularized in the U.S. the year before to describe alleged abuses of the New Deal. Opposition politicians and critics compared F.D.R. to Lenin. The Depression was still on, and unemployment, which had dropped significantly, was still high, over fourteen per cent. What Roosevelt had going for himself was a real set of policies and the capacity to speak on their behalf—a willed capacity to state things plainly, forcefully, and effectively. Never more so than on September 29, 1936, at the New York Democratic State Convention, in Syracuse.



Excerpts from FDR's speech to the New York Democratic State Convention 9/29/1936:


The task on our part is twofold: First, as simple patriotism requires, to separate the false from the real issues; and, secondly, with facts and without rancor, to clarify the real problems for the American public.

There will be—there are—many false issues. In that respect, this will be no different from other campaigns. Partisans, not willing to face realities, will drag out red herrings as they have always done—to divert attention from the trail of their own weaknesses.

This practice is as old as our democracy. Avoiding the facts—fearful of the truth—a malicious opposition charged that George Washington planned to make himself king under a British form of government; that Thomas Jefferson planned to set up a guillotine under a French Revolutionary form of government; that Andrew Jackson soaked the rich of the Eastern seaboard and planned to surrender American democracy to the dictatorship of a frontier mob. They called Abraham Lincoln a Roman Emperor; Theodore Roosevelt a Destroyer; Woodrow Wilson a self-constituted Messiah.



In the spring of 1933 we faced a crisis which was the ugly fruit of twelve years of neglect of the causes of economic and social unrest.

Most people in the United States remember today the fact that starvation was averted, that homes and farms were saved, that banks were reopened, that crop prices rose, that industry revived, and that the dangerous forces subversive of our form of government were turned aside.

A few people- a few only—unwilling to remember, seem to have forgotten those days.



Why did that crisis of 1929 to 1933 pass without disaster?

The answer is found in the record of what we did.

We met the emergency with emergency action.



Let me warn you and let me warn the Nation against the smooth evasion which says, "Of course we believe all these things; we believe in social security; we believe in work for the unemployed; we believe in saving homes. Cross our hearts and hope to die, we believe in all these things; but we do not like the way the present Administration is doing them. Just turn them over to us. We will do all of them- we will do more of them we will do them better; and, most important of all, the doing of them will not cost anybody anything."

But, my friends, these evaders are banking too heavily on the shortness of our memories. No one will forget that they had their golden opportunity—twelve long years of it.

Remember, too, that the first essential of doing a job well is to want to see the job done. Make no mistake about this: the Republican leadership today is not against the way we have done the job. The Republican leadership is against the job's being done.



You cannot promise to repeal taxes before one audience and promise to spend more of the taxpayers' money before another audience. You cannot promise tax relief for those who can afford to pay, and, at the same time, promise more of the taxpayers' money for those who are in need. You simply cannot make good on both promises at the same time.



Who is there in America who believes that we can run the risk of turning back our Government to the old leadership which brought it to the brink of 1933?

Franklin Delano Roosevelt




You can watch or read FDR's entire speech here:
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=15142 


Here is a link to Davdi Remnick's New Yorker article which brought FDR's 1936 speech to everyone's attention:
www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/10/roosevelts-message-to-obama.html#ixzz29LQv3i9h



Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Godspeed

For anyone who still believes the claim that Republican obstructionism these past 2 years has been based solely on “fundamental, philosophical differences” – that lie was put to rest this week when Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell stated that, after next Tuesday’s mid-term elections “the single most important thing (Republicans) want to achieve is for Obama to be a one-term President”.

Doesn't it strike you as odd that McConnell did NOT say the Republicans top goal was to “fix the economy” or “help hard-working Americans get back on their feet” or even “create an environment that’s conducive to creating good, new jobs for American workers”?


I'm not making this up. Here’s the news link: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-mcconnell-20101027,0,4005860.story


Perhaps this explains why they blocked virtually every job creation bill, every business development bill, and every stimulus bill since Obama’s election. If that sounds like partisan blabber to you, just Google the terms “GOP blocks” or “Republicans block” and read what comes up on your screen. Or click here for direct links to 31 Bills Republicans have blocked in 2010: http://johnsvor.blogspot.com/2010/10/31-bills-republicans-have-blocked-in.html
 
After spending the past 2 years doing everything in their power to “make Obama fail”, their new goal for the next 2 years is to “make sure Obama is a one-term President.”

That may make for good (or typical) politics, but what about you and me and 308 million other Americans? Can we afford to wait until the Republicans place another Republican President into the White House before they start doing what is best for us – instead of what is best for them?



There is little argument that it was primarily their policies and actions during the preceding 8 years that led to the greatest economic collapse this country has seen since the Great Depression.

And yet they repeatedly said “No”, “No”, “No” as over 10,000,000 Americans lost their jobs, their homes and their life savings.

Exactly whose best interests are they representing?

Yours? Mine?

It’s time to read between the lines.


Next Tuesday, you get to decide the future of this country for, at least, the next 2 years. Either we have 2 more years of Republican obstructionism and legislative gridlock . . . or . . . we allow President Obama to continue his plan to create jobs and restore the American economy.


You may not like the choice, and it’s yours to make – but one is guaranteed to be a continuation of the last 2 years. The other at least provides hope.

Please vote.

Godspeed.
  

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Good News -- Bad News

The good news is that President Obama is proposing to extend tax cuts for 98% of all Americans.

The bad news is that the Republicans are threatening to block President Obama’s proposed tax cuts for 98% of Americans -- unless he also agrees to extend an expensive tax break for America’s wealthiest 2%. This extra Republican demand is specifically targeted to benefit people who already earn over $250,000.00 a year.

And, if the Republicans get their way, it will add an extra $700 billion to our deficit.


Here’s the background:

In 2001 President Bush and the Republicans put through tax cuts with the biggest cuts going to the wealthiest Americans. While those tax cuts arguably helped all Americans, they added over $1.7 trillion dollars to the deficit and, by 2007, resulted in the top 1% of earners taking 23.5% of all income earned in the United States. By original plan, those cuts expire in 2011.

Due to the economic crisis, President Obama wants to extend those tax cuts – but only for Americans who earn less than $250,000 a year. The Republicans want to the cuts to include America’s wealthiest people (and the biggest donors to Republican causes) at a cost of an extra $700 billion dollars tacked onto the deficit.

The Republican's argument is that wealthy Americans own business and if we don't give them tax breaks, they won't create new jobs. That claim is absurd, disingenuous and absolutely false. There is only ONE reason business owners hire new employees: because of increased demand for the goods they manufacture or for the services they sell.

This Republican scare tactic is just another attempt to get hard-working middle-class Americans to voluntarily shift the tax burden from the wealthy onto themselves. The truth is that no business owner in their right mind is going to spend money to hire workers they don't need . . . simply because we lower their taxes.

But as you read this, Republicans are demanding that those breaks, which diverted so much money to the already-wealthy, be extended at a cost of another $700 billion dollars to the deficit. And they are holding YOUR tax break hostage unless President Obama gives into their demands.



If you think that’s right, then do nothing. If you believe that YOUR tax cut should be contingent upon extending more tax breaks to people who are already earning over $250,000.00 a year -- then just delete this e-mail.

But if you believe what the Republicans are doing is wrong, you need to speak up and you need to act QUICKLY – before it’s too late. Call your Republican Senators and Representatives today. Tell them that you don't make as much as they make or as much as their wealthy friends make. Tell them that every dollar you save on taxes gets spent into this economy, keeping people employed and helping to create new jobs. Tell them they need to start doing what’s best for you and not what’s best for their wealthy Republican friends. Tell them they need to stop blocking things that will help Americans recover from the recession they caused.



Here’s how to contact your U.S. Senator:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm


Here’s how to contact your U. S. Representative:
http://www.contactingthecongress.org/



In 2010 the Republicans voted to block Wall Street and bank reform. They voted to block aid to small U.S. businesses. They voted to block numerous jobs bills and unemployment extensions during this economic crisis. They even voted to protect BP from paying full damage claims from the Gulf oil spill. They say they are on your side as they sound the alarm about deficits from one side of their mouth, yet they want to give their wealthiest friends (and donors) a $700 billion dollar tax break from the other.


Whose side are they REALLY on?


It’s time to read between the lines.


Forward this to your friends who earn less than $250,000.00 a year. Urge them to get involved. If we don't do it, we have no one to blame but ourselves.




Related Reference and Research:

Here’s a PBS video explaining both sides of the issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxK75BcqEh8&feature=player_embedded

Here’s Stephen Colbert’s amusing take on it:
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/341481/july-28-2010/the-word---ownership-society

More reading, including references to how the wealthiest 1% of Americans jumped from taking 9% of America’s income in the late 1970’s, to taking 23.5% of America’s income in 2007:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/opinion/03reich.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general