Axelrod To TPM: It's The GOP's Fault Dems Punted On Tax Cuts Vote

[cal04]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/09/axelrod-to-tpm-its-the-gops-fault-dems-punted-on-tax-cuts-vote.php?ref=fpblg

President Obama's senior adviser David Axelrod today dismissed the political "symbolism" of holding a vote to extend tax cuts for the middle class, telling TPM the Democrats' decision to punt on putting the matter to a vote before the election was the Republicans' fault.

"Our goal is to get these tax cuts passed. If we can't get it done before the election we're going to insist on it after," Axelrod said in response to a TPM question on a White House call arranged for reporters, bloggers and progressive political activists.

As the reporters on the call pressured him further, Axelrod didn't let up or lay any blame on Democratic leaders who bowed to concerns from members in tough reelection fights.

"I don't think anybody in America at this point doubts where the president is, where we are, and where the Republican party is. We'll repeat it every day," Axelrod said on the call. "The Republican Party is holding hostage tax cuts for the middle class."


(snip)

But Axelrod said Obama won't let up, even without a vote, citing GOP obstructionism on even minor issues since the president took office. "We're going to make it clear every day that those aren't passed who is blocking them and why," Axelrod said.

He added, "I don't think there is going to be any ambiguity about where we stand and where they stand and I am very very confident we will ultimately win this fight because I don't think American people are going to sit still and allow the Republicans to inflict a tax increase on them in order to facilitate additional tax relief for millionaires and billionaires."

[geek tragedy]

1. weak. nt

[joeybee12]

2. Yeah...defintely weak...n/t

[Autumn]

3. A poor excuse is better than none.

kind of sad though,when you realize you can't even trust what they say anymore.

[gratuitous]

4. Gosh, if only Democrats were the majority; then we could get things done

Oh well.

[prolesunited]

5. Well, I guess the best solution is to let the GOP win

[gratuitous]

6. Wait; didn't the GOP just get its way?

See, I consider that a "win" for the GOP when they get their way. Maybe it's a cock-eyed way of looking at things, but when the Democrats are thwarted at every turn, in spite of controlling both houses of Congress, I begin to wonder what is the point of holding most of the seats if the party isn't going to act.

[foxfeet]

7. If they're going to take on the Repubes' obstructionism,

they need to do it louder, more consistently and eighteen months ago. I'm happy they're doing it at all, but we need to use this issue as a jackhammer.

[depakid]

8. OMG I can't believe that he actually said that

Subtext of the message:

"We (with our huge majority) are weak- and Republicans with their minority are strong enough to control our agenda."

Way to reinforce the recurrent narrative of the past 20 months.