I read this here in the Trascript Editors diary, and thought it was important. Since a few folks follow me, they might see it here more than in that diary.
Q Jay, is the President's vow not to ever extend the Bush-era tax cuts on the wealthy again extend to a temporary extension aimed at getting some comprehensive agreement?
MR. CARNEY: President Obama has been clear about his position and it has not changed: We should not extend and he will not extend the tax cuts -- the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent of the American people. It's bad policy. It's bad for the economy, bad for our --
Q Even temporary?
MR. CARNEY: I would just point you to what the President has said and his position has not changed.
Q It sounds like you're leaving room --
MR. CARNEY: No, I'm not. I'm citing the President of the United States.
Q I just want to be clear, though -- so even temporarily he would not extend the Bush tax cuts?
MR. CARNEY: The President's position is that we absolutely should extend the tax cuts for the middle class; we should not extend and he will not extend tax cuts for the highest-income Americans.
Press gaggle by Press Secretary Jay Carney, aboard Air Force One to CA, June 6, 2012
For me, that position alone is worth re-electing this President, although there are many other reasons.
The Wisconsin defeat reminded me of how difficult it is in this nation, the global center of world capitalism and policeman for it, even to elect left-of-center, reform capitalists. Getting a socialist elected is truly rare. There's Bernie and a few others, but most liberals are not socialists.
We got our asses truly kicked in Wisconsin. The fight was worth it, because there are things worse than a good ass kicking, such as quitting before the fight. Dems and labor could have surrendered, but they did not. They tried.
Since 1968, after the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act, which is 44 years ago, three Democratic Presidents have been elected.
Carter in 1976, Clinton in 92 and 96, and Obama in 08. That's it. During that time, workers have continually fallen behind, and class stratification has taken off to 3rd World levels. The inequality today is as great as in the 1920s, maybe the 1890s.
And yet many workers vote Republican. This stuff is deep in our culture. Go back to 1896 when McKinley won over Bryan, the failed Populist Moment. Unlike Europe, Socialist parties never got off the ground here. Debs got some votes in the 1912 and thereafter, but their impact was felt through progressive Republicans like LaFollette and progressive Dems like FDR.
I support the re-election of Barack Obama and I will vote a straight Democratic ticket this year.
Any victory that can ameliorate the pain of people is worthwhile.
Ending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy in itself won't do a lot, but it is important both symbolically and, to a lesser degree, with respect to the defict.
I'm all in for Barack Obama. Fuck the loss in Wisconsin. It's time to be fired up and ready to go forward.
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