Alert icon
We're changing our privacy policy. This stuff matters.  Learn more  Dismiss

Slap In The Face Of The Middle Class - Deficit Commission Proposal

Loading...

Sign in or sign up now!
Alert icon
Upgrade to the latest Flash Player for improved playback performance. Upgrade now or more info.
34,762
Loading...
Alert icon
Sign in or sign up now!
Alert icon
There is no Interactive Transcript.

Uploaded by on Dec 2, 2010

Cenk Uygur (host of The Young Turks) breaks down the official proposal of the Deficit Commission and concludes that it helps the rich and corporations while screwing the average middle class American.

New TYT Network channels: http://www.youtube.com/user/tytsports

http://www.youtube.com/user/thetopvlog

New TYT Facebook Page(!): http://www.facebook.com/tytnation

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/theyoungturks

http://www.theyoungturks.com/membership

DISCOUNTS: http://www.theyoungturks.com/godaddy

FREE Movies(!): http://www.netflix.com/tyt

Note: The above two links are for TYT sponsors.

Read Ana's blog and subscribe at:

http://www.examiner.com/x-5445-Politics-in-Education-Examiner

TYT Network (new WTF?! channel): http://www.youtube.com/user/whattheflickshow

Check Out TYT Interviews http://www.youtube.com

Reporting from Washington — Sen. Richard J. Durbin, the Senate's second-ranking Democrat and a close ally of President Obama, will vote Friday to support the final recommendations of the bipartisan deficit commission, arguing that the nation's growing debt requires lawmakers to make difficult choices.

Durbin announced his decision in an op-ed that will be published in Friday's Chicago Tribune.

"If we don't act now — if we pass this issue on to another Congress, another generation — the tough choices we face now only get tougher," he writes.

Illinois' senior senator acknowledges that many, particularly on the left, vehemently oppose several of the commission's recommendations. But he says both parties need to be candid about the precarious state of the nation's finances, and that when the hard choices are made, "I want progressive voices at the table."

"I disagree with many provisions, but I certainly agree that this is the moment of truth," Durbin said in an interview with the Tribune Washington Bureau.

Though he'll vote to support the final report Friday, Durbin said further negotiations need to take place for him to be in a position to vote for them on the Senate floor.

"I wouldn't vote for it. We need to have some debate, and some amendments," he said. But, "we can't avoid this debate. And this is an excellent, honest starting point."

The final vote of the full commission remains unclear. But four of the panel's 18 members have already come out publicly to say they would reject the proposals, including another Illinois Democrat, Rep. Jan Schakowsky. Under the executive order President Obama issued creating the panel in February, 14 votes are required for the recommendations to move to the Senate for consideration.

Durbin's vote is, however, the 10th public commitment in favor of it, ensuring a majority of members will endorse the plan. In the interview, Durbin said the work of the commission will remain front and center in the new Congress.

"There will be at least three Democrats and three Republican elected officials voting for it. That's a breakthrough. That's never happened before," he said.

That support could help Durbin lobby his colleagues to show the political courage that may be needed to enact the proposals. Fresh off a tumultuous campaign, lawmakers may not have the appetite to do so.

"I know that voting for this creates another opportunity for negative ads. But if you're going to turn tail, cut and run every time someone threatens a 30-second ad, you ought to get out of this business," he said. "You've got to stand up every once and while — even if it's unpopular — and do what you think is right. And that's what I'm doing."

Friday's vote comes as lawmakers work with the White House to reach a compromise on extending tax cuts due to expire at year's end. The House voted Thursday to extend lower rates for households making less than $250,000, despite opposition from Republicans who want lower rates extended across the board.

Democrats argue that the nation can't afford that additional extension, and Durbin noted the contrast between those deliberations and those of the deficit commission.

"So we have the reality in the commission room and the lack of reality in the Capitol," he said.

Durbin said he has not discussed the proposals in detail with Obama. The White House has said it would wait until Friday's vote to comment.

"I think he's likely to say what I'm going to say: I don't agree with everything in it, but I salute the commission for an honest analysis of our fiscal crisis, and an honest approach to solving it," Durbin said.

Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/sc-dc-durbin-vote-20101203,0,467982.story

  • likes, 20 dislikes

Link to this comment:

Share to:
see all

All Comments (885)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • @dreamcattcher1 OK, but what about the case, for example when Good has the power, for example, the house republicans have the power to force Obama into making real cuts in the budget. In this case, the repubs in the house MUST force Obama to do the right thing and save the countrys economy. In my opinion, Obama doesnt want a free market capitalist economy, he wants a quasi-socialist economy, as proven by his take over of GM and student loans, and the health insurance, and everthing else he could

  • @intrepidorator Thing is, in your analogy, if the Marshal fails in their efforts to stop the killer (eg they're killed), then everyone in the town dies, wheras only half the town is killed if compromised. Good did gain something. Agreed that in this scenario the Marshal should make a stand, but it is not as clear-cut as saying evil always profits in compromise. If good doesn't have the strength to enforce, then a compromise maybe the only option.

  • I'm fired up too! Bastards!

  • @johndebbra When good and evil compromise, only evil profits. Ayn Rand said this many decades ago.

    Let me provide an anology to explain my point.

    A town marshal wants to protect everyone in his town, but a killer wants to kill everyone. Does the Marshal compromise and allow the killer to kill half of the people or does he draw a line in the sand and prevent any killing. This is an extreme example, but it illustrates the point clearly. When good compromises with evil, only evil profits.

  • Cenk is a fool, this video wasted 5 minutes of my valuable time.

  • @octaviaaugustus1950 The reason that most tax cuts help the wealthy is because the wealthy pay most of the taxes. How can the bottom 50% of the population get a tax cut when they pay $0 in taxes. Of course the top 15% get the biggest tax break they pay more than 80% of the taxes. Tax breaks free up money for the free market, taxes gather money to the govt, The free market creates jobs, the govt creates welfare recipients. Clinton and a repub congress reformed welfare and this created a surplus.

  • @dongwlim Ill try to explain it to you. (1) do the poor provide jobs? no. (2) Can the wealthy provide jobs if the govt takes all of the money from the wealthy? no (3) The democrats want you to rely on govt for your needs so they can count on your vote. People vote for their own best interest, therefore those that rely on welfare vote for the party that has enslaved them with welfare. (4) Some vote Republican because of religion,Dems support killing babies but not murderers. Reverse that for Reps

  • Someone needs to speak up and stand up for the middle class. And I don't understand Republicans. Their very idea is for the riches.

Loading...

Alert icon
0 / 00Unsaved Playlist Return to active list
    1. Your queue is empty. Add videos to your queue using this button:
      or sign in to load a different list.
    Loading...Loading...Saving...
    • Clear all videos from this list
    • Learn more