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Let Obama Win One…for Now!

Let Obama win one…for now

By: Herman Cain
November 14, 2010

President Obama’s defeats did not just start with the 2010 midterm election results. They started in December 2008, when President-elect Obama said “deficits don’t matter”. Well, he discovered that deficits do matter, because the American people were paying attention. They overwhelmingly rejected the runaway spending of this administration and this Democrat-controlled Congress.

President Obama suffered another loss when the nearly $1 trillion stimulus spending bill did not stimulate anything but more government jobs, while the unemployment rate went up and stayed up. The American people knew we could not spend our way to prosperity, but the president ignored that fact.

President Obama also discovered reluctantly that the American people do not like unpopular legislation shoved down their throats. Many of the members of Congress who walked the plank for Obama to pass health care deform legislation were sent into early retirement, which resulted in Republican control of the House of Representatives.

Now the big debate going into the lame duck session of Congress with spilt control of Congress is whether the existing tax rates will be extended for all, extended for no one, or extended for only those making less than $250,000 per year per couple. The latter is the position of the president.

If he prevails and the rates are set for a limited period of time, the uncertainty for private sector businesses will only be extended for that same period of time. Tax rates need to be made permanent in order to reduce economic uncertainty.

If the president agrees to make the tax rates permanent for everybody as the Republicans are proposing, he would be truly acting in the best interest of the American people for the first time in his presidency. If he does, I will be among the first to applaud his decision.

But if he chooses to let the tax rates expire for all income brackets as a political move because the Republicans will not support his tax the rich proposal, this economy will go into a further tail spin and he will blame it on the Republicans.

Fifty percent of those making over $250,000 a year are small business owners. This means the economy would stall even more and the unemployment rate would go higher. Just like the Obama Administration did not think the stimulus spending would fail, they do not believe that raising taxes on the job creators will backfire and negatively affect the economy.

Rather than sending this economy into a full scale depression if tax rates go up for everybody, I say let Obama win one! We would only have to endure these failed policies and this economic insanity for another two years. Some businesses will not be able to survive because they are barely surviving today. But many businesses would find a way to hold on until we make a change in control of the Senate and the White House.

The president’s passage of the health care bill was not a victory. It was a resounding defeat, because the majority of Americans did not agree with it and the disagreement grows stronger day by day as people discover more and more of “what’s in the bill” as Nancy Pelosi proclaimed before it was passed.

The stimulus spending bill has been a resounding failure. Just ask those members of Congress who did not mention it in their re-election defeat campaigns.

Even the president described the 2010 midtern elections as a “shellacking”. He’s right. Let’s hope he learned something. If not, let him win one on extension of the tax rates and tell the people what to expect.

We can expect more economic pain until there is a change in the White House.

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COMMENTS

  • http://www.marshell.net marshell

    well, I am sure that Obama is now tired. But I hope he will not confused. He is now suffering, maybe, but I hope he can show me something next two years.

    • http://www.gmsplace.com/ civil_truth

      However, I cannot agree with you recommendation.

      The issue simply is not whether we let Obama “win” or “lose’ one, but rather standing up for what is right.

      Nor should we worry about whether the Obama/Democrats will blame the Republicans for a bad economy if they don’t agree to the president’s tax request.

      The point is that no matter what Republicans do, Obama/Democrats will blame us – and the press will be the Greek chorus to the effort.

      As you note, we are right in advocating permanent extension of the tax cuts.

      So if we’re going to get blamed regardless by our opponents, let’s at least stand up and do what is right – and then defend and explain out position.

      It’s much easier and effective to defend what you believe in – and to rally the base to support you, than to act “tactically” try to defend something that contradicts your principals. Those acrobatics are what turns the base off and leave you even more vulnerable to attacks because your arguments are weaker.

      We’ve been down this path too many times already and lost Congress at least twice as a result.

      Let’s not overthink matters to justify compromising principals – it’s much healthier and better to advocate what you believe in and rally people around that. That promise is what is stimulating and motivating the current Tea Party/Republican/conservative revival.

      • BA Cyclone

        But the ‘offing your nose to spite your face’ comes to mind.

        The winds seem to be easily blowing towards at least a 2-yr extension on all “Bush tax cuts”. The minimum compromise I’d support is permanent on the bottom tiers and 3-years on the top tier.

        I don’t think the looming tax hikes have been what has stalled the “recovery”, it’s the Dem Congress and the 0bama administration…more recently health care “tax hikes” via vast unspecified future regulations. Tax hikes would merely be cowpie frosting on the shingle cake.

        Extensions would be keeping the status quo, which frankly isn’t that great. The GOP can run on a further tax cut, or better tax simplification system in 2012.

        • izoneguy

          Not compromise….

          Why???

          What on earth do we gain by compromising with thieves and thugs.

          Don’t let Obama win anything – ever again. He is a loser and must be cut down to size. The world now knows what a failure he is.

          No quarter will be given, release the hounds.

          • pilgrim

            In this lame duck session the majority in the House are Ds. There can be a filibuster to stop a bill. We can stop a bill with a Senate filibuster, and then everyone will see a tax increase next year. What I believe Mr. Cain is saying is that even if Obama wins one battle with getting taxes raised he will lose this class war in 2 years. E Pluribus Unum. All of us no matter what our class must come together as one. No class warfare. Not here. Not now or ever.

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

            the Lame Duck, with the promise that if it is the latter, the GOP House would make one of their first acts in January be to send a bill to the Senate to make them all permanent.

            But I can’t quibble with Cain too much given that one of my general rules is to accept any tax cut any time. I think Cain is representing that view and it is a reasonable one especially given the economic suffering of middle class tax payers. And he is right that the suffering should only be for only 2 more years.

            More later on this in a column I have in the works re How to make tax cuts impotent thru temporization…

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

            See my other comment below and upcoming column on how the temporizing of tax cuts in the past nine years did reduce greatly the investment incentive impact of same…but it is also true that the other impact of a tax cut is to leave more money in the hands of those that earned it and that is also a very good and conservative result and so, Cain’s position is defendable. I just did! smile

            more later

        • ademintconservative

          or get out of the way!

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine
          • http://www.gmsplace.com/ civil_truth

            I may be in disagreement with Mr. Cain on this issue, but his views are worth hearing, and Mike has at least enabled me to consider the merits of Mr. Cain’s position.

            Mr. Cain is a most accomplished man who does not merit such disrepect from would-be “conservative” Jacobians (an oxymoron if there ever were one) who are quick to employ the tactics of tyranny to deal with those they disagree with.

            He who lives by the tumbril (wagonl) dies by the tumbril.

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

            regularly de-construct some of gamecock’s arguments with impeccable logic…dammit!

            smile

          • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

            If you start spamming the site with single-issue posting for your sole cause, I will just ban you out of annoyance.

            Be warned.

            I’m not going to put up with this idiocy from now to June 2012.

          • chbroussard
          • chbroussard

            But my problem with this is that we would have to endure Obama’s policy for only two more years, as stated by Mr. Cain. Considering what we’ve had to endure the last two years, I don’t see how this country can afford to give Mr. Obama ANY wins. Two more years is a lifetime of bad policy and I think we’re going to have our hands full just trying to undo what Obama has done to us over the last two years. I don’t see where we have the luxury of giving him four years to do his damage.

      • pilgrim

        I read Herman Cain saying Obama will most definitely seal his fate to being a one-term President if he wins getting a tax increase bill passed in the lame duck session.

        Many people think that a tax increase will not happen while we are in the middle of bad economic times, but some of those same people also thought Obamacare would not get passed. I do not know the future, but I respect Mr. Cain’s analysis with respect to what the reaction by the majority of voters will be, and the reaction of investors will be.

        • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

          have been for years and while I want permanent tax cuts for investment effects, the lower income folks need the tax cuts for necessities, ie food and gas. So if the alternative is tax hikes for all or Obama getting his way, which is all Cain is saying, then yes, I would let middle class and below taxpayers and Obama “win” for now.

          Cain doesn’t really discuss all of the possible outcomes and strategies. Some here assume that he opposes same and I think they are wrong. Given the limitationsof what Cain does discuss, I agree with him..

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine
      • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

        Cain and CT make defensible arguments for their respective positions

        Those who get tax cuts also win, not just Obama – Cain understands that too

        See my other comment below and upcoming column on how the temporizing of tax cuts in the past nine years did reduce greatly the investment incentive impact of same…but it is also true that the other impact of a tax cut is to leave more money in the hands of those that earned it and that is also a very good and conservative result and so, Cain’s position is defendable. I just did! smile

        more later on the other options re tax cuts in Lame Duck Session, January and the next two years.

  • Jim Tomasik

    could mean a lot of people will lose their jobs. He may win it but I hope it is not because anyone let him win without a fight.

    Please run for POTUS.

    • speciallist

      sorry, this one doesn’t make any sense

      • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

        if we have to after fighting for more or all. Some tax cuts do leave more of some folks money in their pockets and that is a good conservative thing. I think we can do better than the bare minimum that Cain discusses, but if came down to that alternative, yes, I would take all the tax cuts I could get from the Dem congress and then keep trying for more. see my other comments above and below and upcoming column on this issue

        • Scope

          I understand that standing on principle is very important to many, however, when you stand on principle, and cause economic pain for everyone, even temporarily, it is a losing proposition.

          I can see Mr. Cain’s point. If the Republicans insist on all or nothing, they will in fact lose many voters. Isn’t there some kind of saying about voters vote with their pocketbooks? The Republicans will be seen as inflicting great economic pain on many.

          I have never, and I mean ever, agreed with anything Chuck U Schumer has ever said or done, but, I saw an article today where he suggested allowing the Bush tax rates to remain for everyone earning under $1 million annually.

          Wouldn’t we be better to insist on the very best we can do this year, and, in 2012 when we gain the Senate, and the WH, go back to all of the Bush tax rates, and make it permanent?

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

            of the needs that lower income folks have for the extra dough, among the usual reasons incl that its always best that more people have liberty, ie more of their personal private property ie their own money!

        • speciallist

          and too many assumptions about who will win what in 2012, and you know what they say…..

          for now, All or nothing … and if the pain comes, people need to feel it……and then, the Dems fate the next two years will be secured

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

            I had toyed with a position that would have insisted on making all permanent in the Lame Duck with the promise that the GOP House would correct the raising of all rates in January, after only one month of raised rates, albeit retroactively.

            Been working on a column that I am now tweaking to respond to all the comments here and Cain’s position as I do share Cain’s and your aversion to the sun-setting of tax cuts due to the way that diminishes the investment incentive effect.

            But, it seems though that the DeMint proposal may have a better chance which would compromise with all rates staying put for 3 more years. And l do agree with Cain that it would be a tragedy for middle class taxes to be raised for two years due to the hardship on the families in the buying of necessities.

            I’m not so worried about the effect on the voters. i think they are awake now with caffeinated tea, but still, it does give me pause.

            I certainly would not want to filibuster any tax cuts. That all tax cuts are good is axiomatic! and so I certainly could not, after much thought before the issue was raised by you and others here, adopt an all or nothing approach due to the hardship on lower income people.

            In any event, I do think, and suspect Cain does as well, support all efforts to get the best deal we can. But i would be careful in trying to infer unstated assumptions that you think are implied by Cain.

            I guess I don’t fear what the press would spin as much as Cain, but my bottom line is the same as Cain’s. But I infer from his column here and from hearing him on the radio in Atlanta, that he would probably support DeMint’s proposed 3 yr extension.

            Would you?

            But I can’t be for inflicting more pain on the economically suffering for n all or nothing proposition. Maybe you are making some assumptions on that, that the suffering is not so bad?

            It is for many. It is very bad, even life threatening where even a little extra cash could mean eating or not, having gas to get to work or not, especially for those with pride that keeps them out of welfare and food stamp offices. I want them to keep all the cash they can.

            Maybe the author of this comment knows these facts only too well? could be

            Would you support a filibuster in the Lame Duck for all or nothing?

            Would you support a follow-up bill for a partial extension of income applied and/or term or nothing after an Obama veto?

            I think these issues are all implicated but not filly addressed by Cain.

            But I think the main problem with Cain’s article is….more later in kowalski headline below!

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

            what is more important in keeping at least the tax cuts for lower income taxpayers from rising is not that Obama wins, but that those lower income taxpayers win, and I think Cain makes that plain in the text of the article.

            If Cain is elected president, Gamecock will be writing the titles to the initiatives!

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine
          • speciallist

            Republicans will be in charge of either house or senate or the presidency…

            we must get what we can accomplished Today and not delay or wait for a situation that may never occur

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

            of any tax cut bill in the Lame Duck that does not extend all Bush tax cuts permanently? Would you filibuster an extension of all the Bush tax cuts for 1 yr? 2 yrs? 3 yrs?

            Or would you only filibuster a bill that only extended the tax cuts for the middle class?

            These are the options of all or nothing in Lame Duck.

            Obviously we in the House in January can and should pass a bill extendimng all the tax cuts permanently.

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

            then move forward in January on “all”. I am more optimistic than Cain that we can do better in the Lame Duck than merely getting the middle class tax cuts extended, but I am with Cain that if that is all we can get, i would do so given the problem of retroactivity and that there is no assurance that we can get any bill thru senate and to override a veto.

            But i do think that we have a good shot at enough Dem votes in January for a better extension bill given all the Dems up for election in 2012.

          • speciallist

            no compromise……did they compromise with us? heck no

            All cuts extended permanently in the lameduck or deals off (and Obama gets his tax hike and his Doom)

            Dems won’t do it, so…… All cuts extended permanently in January….that’s what the people want, make the Dems defend their decision not to give it to us

            hardball, we should be putting them on the defensive Everyday…make them defend the Rubbish they’ve been shoving down our throat… everyday

            do I think Repub leadership will actually do that? no

            I can dream, can’t I?

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine
          • speciallist

            word on the street is they want to extend the cuts but now the ‘name’ of the tax cuts is all wrong…LOL

            too late you silly Dems….they will always be the BUSH tax cuts….too funny!

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

            was the cause of the pending tax hike on the middle class, when it was Obama and the Dems that threatened filibusters if they were made permanent, TWICE!

            And you are in good company in your position (although I’m not sure of Hewitt’s position on whether the GOP should filibuster in the Lame Duck, as Hugh Hewitt wants to insist on permanent tax cuts.

            http://www.hughhewitt.com/blog/g/e881b96a-5750-429f-9bda-32d51aff3b6d

          • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine
    • http://beaglescout.wordpress.com Beaglescout

      I would favor demanding we cut all taxes to a maximum of 20% and removing corporate taxes entirely (because corporate taxes barely raise any money at all, and all they do is put people out of work) and make the Bush tax rates our fall-back.

  • Wine Country Dog

    Elections have consequences, and the recent election was very clear. Republicans did not win, the Democrats lost and we are given a chance to show that our policies work, not 0bama’s. This time 0bama has to bend. Otherwise, once he wins he will use that on us again and again. 0bama and his policies are too dangerous to be voluntarily given a win like that.

  • http://teapartisan.wordpress.com Socrates

    Whatever we give the statists becomes the new normal.

    And we’d have two years of the harm to economy that increased taxation would cause in order for the Republicans to profit at the polls.

    This kind of backwards thinking is not what we need.

    Slash spending. Slash government to 2004 levels. Free Americans to prosper.

    And defeat Marxism in all its forms.

    • traversecityconservative

      I submit to you, what proof do we have that this is really Herman Cain posting? Until I see some kind of verification of his identity, I will reserve judgment on the post.

      • http://www.thehermanatorpac.com Herman Cain

        My weekly commentary also gets posted on my home page at www.hermancain.com and is posted on my PAC site at www.thehermanatorpac.com.

        • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

          I don’t regret it and hope you also run for President. I do think we should try and get all the tax cuts made permanent in the Lame Duck and in January with the new GOP House and hope we can get the Senate to pass the bill given the concentrated minds of democrats running in 2012. I agree that the temporary tax cuts for the last 9 yrs have reduced the investment incentive effect of tax cuts. But, like you, I am for any tax cuts any time as it does leave more money in peoples’ pockets and that is always a good thing.

          God bless and welcome to Redstate. I live in Stone Mountain and have lived in GA since 2001. I am from Spartanburg, Sc originally. We met at GOP HQ in GA in 2004.

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