CBS’s Schieffer Trumpets Coburn’s ‘Candor’ on Willingness to Hike Taxes, Rues Others Lack Such ‘Courage’
Previewing Tuesday’s Early Show town hall meeting with Republicans on the economy, CBS’s Bob Schieffer, who pushes his Face the Nation guests to agree taxes must be raised, hailed a Republican, Senator Tom Coburn, for expressing a willingness to include a tax increase in deficit negotiations.
After dismissing the Republicans CBS assembled -- Monday afternoon at the Newseum -- for how they “pretty much stuck to the Republican line: Low taxes and cutting the deficit will eventually lead to economic growth,” Schieffer championed: “But it was Coburn who may have won the prize for candor.” Viewers then heard Coburn declaring: “I’ll stand up as a conservative Republican, one of the biggest deficit hawks in Congress, and say ‘I'll negotiate on taxes’ -- because our country’s in trouble.”
A pleased Schieffer gushed: “That is not the first time we have heard someone offer that analysis but it may be the first time a Member of Congress has been willing to admit that Congress simply lacks the courage to do what everyone knows needs to be done.”
On Face the Nation in February, Schieffer implored New Jersey Governor Chris Christie: “You have a reputation as a straight talker, I think. Do you believe that the budgetary problems across this country can be resolved without raising taxes?” In April, he pressed GOP Congressman Paul Ryan: “Do you think that we can solve the deficit problem without raising taxes in some way?”
From the Monday, June 13 CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley:
BOB SCHIEFFER: After the CBS News town hall with President Obama, this was the chance to get the Republican side of things. South Carolina Governor Nickey Haley, Florida Congressman Alan West, Congressman Paul Ryan, architect of the House budget plan, and Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn pretty much stuck to the Republican line: Low taxes and cutting the deficit will eventually lead to economic growth, and that will increase jobs. Ryan said what's been tried so far just hasn't worked.
CONGRESSMAN PAUL RYAN: Remember what the stimulus was to do. It was to keep unemployment from going above 8 percent. We're at 9.1, we went as high as 9.8 percent.Story Continues Below Ad ↓SCHIEFFER: But it was Coburn who may have won the prize for candor.
SENATOR TOM COBURN: I'm convinced that Washington is, the main focus is short-term political expediency. And the reason our country’s at risk is because we think short term and about the next election rather than thinking about the future of our country. You know, the reason I'll stand up as a conservative Republican, one of the biggest deficit hawks in Congress, and say “I'll negotiate on taxes” -- because our country’s in trouble.
SCHIEFFER: Scott, that is not the first time we have heard someone offer that analysis but it may be the first time a Member of Congress has been willing to admit that Congress simply lacks the courage to do what everyone knows needs to be done. You can hear all of it on The Early Show tomorrow.
- Brent Baker's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
Anyone who thinks...
Submitted by Order270 on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 2:31am.
...taxes need to be raised should have their taxes raised. The rest of us will continue to demand spending cuts.
Obama is spending money like an idiot. And just listen to the debate. It's not about paying the debt down. It's not even about balancing the budget. It's about reducing the deficit. Are you kidding me?
Problem is
Submitted by Boudin on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 8:33am.
Those who want taxes raised, are not paying any.
Schieffer
Submitted by xraynova on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 6:51am.
SCHIEFFER: Scott, that is not the first time we have heard someone offer that analysis but it may be the first time a Member of Congress has been willing to admit that Congress simply lacks the courage to do what everyone knows needs to be done.
Did I miss some announcement that Schieffer was named head of the DNC ?
taxes
Submitted by ferv888 on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 7:06am.
Bob, did you pay more to the IRS this year than you owed, No, shut the hell up about my taxes.
Bob, did you use the long form and take all legal deductions entiltled? Yes, Shut the hell up about raising my taxes. You go first and see how you like that.
Only the super rich and the super poor can afford to be liberal. When you cannot spend all that you make, it is easy to call for more taxes, you just pull it out of the bank. There are those of us who want to put a little in the bank, but have been raising families, sometimes again when a child loses their job, trying to pay for college, and a house. Give it a rest, cut the budget and then let's see where we are. Any money flowing to Washington is going to come out as a new spending program.
FERV888
Very powerful last sentence
Submitted by octavioj on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 7:37am.
You are completely correct FERV. I have never heard of a tax increase that did not become new spending. That is the problem with tax increases.
raising taxes
Submitted by cats1cowboy on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 7:32am.
I'm all for Bob Scheiffer paying more taxes.
150% of his earnings.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 7:44am.
.
The protectors are the enemy of freedom
Submitted by Don L on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 7:46am.
It is telling that the media - the very folks charged with the constitutional responsibility to protect us from dangers to the republic are instead, the very source of danger themselves.
The "Get Palin" droolfest by the inept media sharks was only super-ceded in moral corruption by the silent approval from the inner circle GOP gatekeepers - who sat the entire thing out with barely a bold," tsk, tsk," - with their Pontious Pilate engraved "not us" washbowls at the ready.
Every time the Libs start
Submitted by Van Halen on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 7:54am.
Every time the Libs start with the tax raising crap, we need a chorus of voices to respond - "YOU FIRST!"
correction, Bobby
Submitted by spepper on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 7:58am.
they “pretty much stuck to the Republican line: Low taxes and cutting the deficit will eventually lead to economic growth,” --Schieffer
Once again, libtard dinosaurs like Schieffer get it WRONG-- but willingly use it as propaganda anyway, in pursuit of THEIR agenda--
Here's the correction, for the millionth time, Bobby: low taxes and cutting FED SPENDING will lead to economic growth, which THEN shrinks the deficit from increased revenue. It happens every time it's tried.
Raise taxes?
Submitted by NVRAT on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 8:33am.
No Bob Schieffer what takes courage is cutting taxes and stop spending. The problem in DC today is that the congress has taken the easy way out of every crisis by raising taxes to solve a spending problem. Look at the big business in the US that have taken jobs overseas because of the high tax rate here and the unions that demand such high cost benefits. In addition much of the high cost of doing business in the US are Lawyers that sue for such large sums and get the settlements through the judicial activists and dumb jurors that let it happen. That is why the confidence level of the US Congress is at 26% or lower. With any luck the next voting cycle will install more conservatives in congress and take the spending and elite establishment to task, without this happening America has no future.
Schieffer has no jouralistic courage. . .
Submitted by Gary Hall on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 12:11pm.
No. Actually Bob, many Members of Congress have been standing up and showing the courage in insisting that we do what must be done: Slash spending.
You, Bob Schieffer, are the one who has not had the courage to go to Democrats and demand of them why they are not listening to the large majority of Americans who have clearly expressed (see your own CBS polls) that they want a smaller government, spending less and providing fewer services.
Next time you have a Democrat on, why not ask them why they won't listen to the voters.
We have a country to save, Bob, ask the questions based upon the populist view.
Here's another one, Bob. The liberal Pew Center poll found that only 25%, nationally, support Obama's immigration agenda. Ask the Obama administration, and the Democrats, why they are not listening to the heart felt views of the American citizens.
(;~/ gary
From the land, where according to a current GAO report, there were 102,795 criminal aliens incarcerated in California's prisons at the end of 2009 - and increasing in number.
Be Brave Bobby!!!
Submitted by bigdaddy on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 1:42pm.
Go on ahead and pull out your checkbook and write a big check and send it to Barry so he can bail out Greece.
You Freakin' Jacka$$!!!
Baloney Salesman
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 2:22pm.
Shieffer is still trying to sell his leftist baloney. Taxes above and beyond providing essential government services is confiscation.
__________________________________________________________________________
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read “Leftism As Psychopathy” by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
http://jonjayray.tripod.com/psycho.html