Tea Party Congressman Scolds Christiane Amanpour and Media for Not Criticizing Obama More
Tea Party Congressman Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) had quite an illuminating discussion with Christiane Amanpour Sunday.
As the host of ABC's "This Week" pushed for higher taxes, Walsh correctly pointed out that Barack Obama's first 2012 budget proposed earlier in the year didn't address entitlement programs saying, "The President of the United States ought to be ashamed of himself, and I don't know why your profession hasn't gotten on him more" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, HOST: Alight, well you raised revenue problem. Let me ask you too, Congressman Walsh and Southerland. The Ryan budget does not talk about raising revenues. President Obama’s proposal does. Eliminating tax cuts on the wealthy. Can you really sustain what everybody is calling for just by cuts in public services? Doesn't there need to be revenue raising mechanism?
CONGRESSMAN STEVE SOUTHERLAND (R-FLORIDA): Go ahead, Joe.
CONGRESSMAN JOE WALSH (R-ILLINOIS): Christiane, you raise revenue by growing the economy, and everything this president has done the last two years has gone against that. You get taxes and regulations off the backs of businesses so that revenues can increase.
AMANPOUR: I know, I know that that is your position, but there's so much evidence, even going back to Ronald Reagan, where he did tax cuts and in fact the debt increase then he had to make tax increases. I mean, can you really cut public spending by that amount and just expect to balance the budget?
WALSH: But, and Steve will say this, in the '80s government revenues went up. We didn't cut spending. Revenues went up in the ’80s. Every time we’ve cut taxes revenues have gone up, the economy has grown. Look, Christiane, I've said this before. The President of the United States ought to be ashamed of himself, and I don't know why your profession hasn't gotten on him more. Two months ago he presents a budget and doesn't even talk about entitlement reform. And then all of a sudden last week he gets a redo? The Republicans are leading on this, perfectly prepared to take whatever political hits we have to take, because the crisis is so severe. I wish he’d be a part of this.
AMANPOUR: That is an interesting point you made, about taking the hits that you have to take, because, for instance, there are all sorts of ads now, going out, about Medicare, and being careful about it. You know, the Republicans actually tried to put those ads out in 2010 and did get seniors on their side. So are you not concerned that these cuts and this restructuring of Medicare is actually not going to be good for you at the voting?
SOUTHERLAND: Well, listen, great leadership understands that sometimes you’re going to take hits and you don't make this decision, you don't make decisions in the best interests of the American people and expect to be applauded for everything you do. Look, we have dug ourselves a hole, and the only way that we can dig ourselves out or climb out of this hole is to make some very difficult decisions. I've said numerous times here on the Hill, I may lose 2012, but I'm not going to lose me in this process. And so we've got to, if we care about these programs, we have to make decisions now in order to save them.
AMANPOUR: Alright, well, thank you very much indeed, all of you for joining us.
First, notice how emphatically Amanpour was pushing for tax hikes. Since Obama called for them in his new plan this week, media member after media member has been strongly advocating this. Such was quite evident on all of the political talk shows Sunday.
That said, Walsh made a fabulous point about how the press gave Obama a pass this week with his budget redo as they were mercilessly attacking Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.).
What has been totally forgotten by his devoted press is how back in February when the President offered his first 2012 budget proposal, there were many in the media that recognized how it largely ignored the recommendations of his debt commission as well as any cuts to entitlement programs.
This led Ryan to offer a proposal which did address Medicare and Medicaid, and he got lambasted by the same press that complained in February that Obama ignored such issues.
Last week, the President in his budget redo vaguely talked about Medicare fixes without naming any specifics whatsoever, and the media not only forgot about their concerns about this two months ago, but they're also now actually praising him as being bold despite his obvious cowardice.
The conclusion to be drawn is that these folks were never actually serious about wanting cuts in entitlement programs. What they desire is tax hikes on the so-called rich which they always view as the panacea for all that ails us.
Now that Obama has proposed this, their previous concerns have been withdrawn, and he's once again their hero.
Any questions?
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Comments
569 days...
Submitted by AgentAmerican on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 1:15pm.
until Election Day
Obama the Deceiver had better hope the economy does in fact turn around, the unemployment number drops to 5%, and gas goes back down to $2 per gallon or lower...or else.
You could throw Reagan's ghost against him at this point and defeat him.
My problem is that the GOP could easily screw this up.
As for Amanpour, she continues to pine for Saddam Hussein, Dead, and how snappy he looked at his war crimes trial. She could easily diffuse into Al Jazeera without making a ripple.
I'm glad that Mr. Walsh took the good fight to Obama's mouthpieces.
"My problem is that the GOP could easily screw this up."
Submitted by Dave. on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 3:50pm.
That is what has been keeping me awake nights.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Spending
Submitted by KC Mulville on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 1:16pm.
Why haven't the increases in revenue brought down the deficit? Because spending continues to increase. Most of the spending is baked-in, through the entitlement programs.
The Democrat argument is that any lessening of the entitlements amounts to a betrayal of the American Dream, and that Republicans are simply going to have to accept higher taxes as the price of that Dream.
We conservatives don't see the American Dream as government handouts. The compassion for the poor is certainly part of the American character, but hardly defines us. The American Dream, for us, is far more than any one quality. What we strive for, as Americans, includes individual freedom, entrepreneurship, initiative, and the exploration of the future.
That's why it was so significant when Obama proclaimed that the greatness of America depended on government subsidy. It showed how narrow his "vision" was. It showed how little the rest of it mattered to him. When Obama sees America, he sees a lawyer and a politician handing out checks to poor people, and basking in the gratitude. The fact that he's handing out other people's money doesn't register on him.
The vote to increase
Submitted by jon_torlin on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 1:47pm.
What I'm not a little concerned is how Little Timmy could get on the Sunday shows and proclaim that Congress is going to vote for raising the debt ceiling instead of against it. With the Republican majority, is there a chance that it could happen? After the so-called budget battle, I don't know anymore. Could the Chairman somehow deem it or Exec-Order it to happen if they vote against it?
Everything and I mean EVERYTHING that's happened in the last two years that the Chairman has been for has been detrimental(at best) for this country. This idea of raising the debt ceiling is no better. So we know this would be yet another step towards killing this country economically.
Quite frankly, I'm surprised we haven't gone over the edge into the abyss. I keep expecting that to happen any day now. Not weeks, not months, but any day. That would explain why many individual states are going back to the gold/silver standard, some as early as May.
Utah gold standard
What's next to come?
-Jon
Jon,
Submitted by Dave. on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 5:44pm.
I, too, am surprised we haven't tipped over yet.
I heard one of those educated-beyond-their-intelligence goobers (I'm pretty sure it was Turbo Tax Timmy) saying that he wasn't at all concerned that the Japanese might stop buying parts of our debt.
Given what just happened over there, I am guessing it will take their already anemic economy at least ten years to recover - if it ever really does.
And they are still having some pretty intense seismic events, too, so they may be in for even more.
I don't know exactly what Timmy thinks they are going to buy our debt with. I guess he thinks they'll crank up the printing presses like we are doing here.
One thing is for sure, the Japanese and the Chinese aren't going to keep this up forever.
And how we ever allowed things to get to this sorry point is beyond me.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
MRS. RUBIN PONTIFICATES
Submitted by Herbster on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 1:34pm.
Mrs. Rubin continues (Surprise) to carry the water for the administration. Send her the talking points and she, and the balance of the syncophants in the "Media," will regurgitate them as instructed. We do not have a "Media" in this country any longer. What we have are propagandists claiming to be "Journalists." Goebbels would be proud of them.
Can anyone seriously consider Mrs. Greenspan, Brewer, Witt, Mika, Schultz, Cenk, Matthews, etc., "Journalists?" How far we have fallen.
I will give Sean Hannity a hat tip on this point.
Submitted by Ashrak on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 1:34pm.
Sean is the only one I ever see asking the question directly in this way and actually be persistent about it.
How many cents of every dollar a person earns should government take away.
That is almost exactly how this taxation debate should be framed and within that frame it must be pointed out that EVERYONE must pay taxes, uniformly. It's an EQUALITY thing.
It should be how many cents of every dollar a person spends belongs to "We The People" with government being the conduit of it being spent on behalf of promoting the general welfare.
We have to stop the Marxist communism like that which Obama presented to this country this last week with his "the rich can afford to pay more" and we have to Restore our Constitution on the equality front. When we reform the way in which taxation is done, the class warfare ends and those who operate government will no longer be able to play both "ends" against the middle. When everyone feels the pinch of open and above the board taxation, and the spending done in our name as a result, then, and only then, will government be put back into the box our Constitution put it in to begin with.
The 16th and 17th Amendments, along with a few key Supreme Court "rulings", have all but destroyed the republican form of government itself. We must save our republican form of government, before it is too late to do so.
This guy is good.
Submitted by Texndoc on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 1:40pm.
What's this. Maybe the third liberal shill I've seen him directly smack-down? Add him to my "hero" list. As opposed to a Mitt Romney who would high pitched "mmmm-mmmm-mmmm" like a little puppy.
The Media Wing of the Democratic Party
Submitted by Comrade Jim on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 1:45pm.
Will never criticize the political wing of the democratic party. Walsh no doubt knows this. He was presumably asking Amanpour as a way to explain to the TV audience that that the media is biased. But what are the chances that anyone in the Amanpour audience doesn't know Amanpour is a hard core lefty who is wedded to defending the party.
What tax rate would stop
Submitted by Tjexcite on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 2:05pm.
What tax rate would stop the 10,000 dollars per seconds that the government adds to the national debt. During that 2 min clip it went up by 1.2 million dollars. And when 50% does not pay taxes even 100% would not be enough
Of course Obama ignored his
Submitted by motherbelt on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 2:14pm.
Of course Obama ignored his own debt commission in his first budget.
Now that the Republicans have come up with a budget, what does he do in his do-over?
He calls for a another debt commission under another name; I forget what he's calling in this time!
He really thinks "studying" a problem to death is a solution.
His solution is to think about looking into the possibility of considering the idea of coming up with some options about brainstorming some possible solutions.....
motherbelt
Submitted by Blonde on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 2:19pm.
I think we need to bid on the duct-tape and giant post-it pads for these brainstorming-to-consider-options-for-potential-solution meetings.
At the rate Obama is going, that is all that will be accomplished, but just think of it....a zillion giant post-it pads will be used, and of course, duct tape will be necessary for those listening to the One's resultant speech regarding the bad outcomes of the possibility committee's potential solutions for continued spending, or in plain English....punting it down the road AGAIN.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Forget the duct tape for the sham meetings
Submitted by Blonde on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 2:30pm.
I need it now....EMERGENCY DELIVERY please!
I'm listening to Van Holland on Chris Wallace's show, what a freakin' liar this man is. If I hear these lies one more time, you'll hear my head explode. "All economists agree with Ben Bernanke"....that's the one that made me shout bad words.
All of these liars need to go. Every single one of them.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
On the way, B.... look for my
Submitted by motherbelt on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 2:51pm.
On the way, B.... look for my private plane delivery service to drop a shipment in your front yard!
Go read Eat the Rich by Walter E Williams
Submitted by TheHistorian on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 2:38pm.
Dr. Williams posts here on Newsbusters.org. He tells you how much the tax rate has to be in order to stop the deficit. In his article, he takes away ALL of the rich's wealth (100% death tax and we kill them now) and tax at 100% ALL of the income above $250K plus the fortune 500 corporations and we make it to AUGUST!
Shows you why Paul Krugman et al keep calling for MORE deficit spending. They are knowledgable enough to KNOW that we cannot raise the tax rate to any rate (even 100%) for the "rich" and come even close to covering the deficit. At that point, the lieberals would be out of office because not only did they kill the economy, but they couldn't balance the budget.
These facts should be stuck up the nose of EVERY lieberal interviewer every time a conservative is on TV. It will serve two results; it will set the lieberals back on their heels for a while, and will also then get them disinvited from the talk shows. Both are worthy causes.
Dennis Prager
Completely dodged the point
Submitted by Model850 on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 2:46pm.
I was struck by how Amanpour totally side-stepped the point Rep. Walsh made about the media not "getting on" Obama.
Instead of addressing it she says, "That is an interesting point you made, about taking the hits that you have to take. . .," turning the conversation around to the risks Republicans are taking by actually confronting the budget problems instead of, um um um um um um, "studying" them some more.
I wish Walsh had pressed her for an explanation.
Obama could toss day-old bread to the media
Submitted by ekslib on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 2:51pm.
and they would say he served them a feast.
If you look up "dumb broad"
Submitted by ricklail on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 2:51pm.
If you look up "dumb broad" in the dictionary you'd find a picture of Christine right beside of it.
What amazes me isn't Amanpour's stoopidity...
Submitted by Dave. on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 4:01pm.
...as that comes with the territory, but how many Americans still believe Obama is the least bit interested in deficit reduction.
You can't, after all, bankrupt a nation by reducing the deficit.
Which is why Obama is incresing it as fast as he possibly can.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Every GOP politician
Submitted by sherlock1 on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 5:58pm.
... needs to ask the question of the media that Walsh did, and then demand an answer. "Why are you defending Obama instead of asking him the tough questions just like you ask me?"
And for a change of pace: "What happened to all those grim milestones you people were announcing every few weeks only a few years ago?" Or "How come nobody in the media screams when Obama does the very things the media screamed at Bush for doing?"
If we don't expose the media as the propaganda tool for leftists that it has become, it is going to keep foisting class-warfare demagogues on us until finally one of them destroys this country.
Here's Something Interesting...
Submitted by Tenebrous on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 6:09pm.
Has the media wing of the Demons given up their blockade of staunch conservatives? Or is that there are now so many in the House that they can't be ignored? Or is that we have people who are willing to bring the fight to the libtards? Any which one you choose, it shows that...wait for it...that the Tea Party is having an impact.
Now if only the Demons would continue to ignore the Tea Party and trot out the old standards of class warfare and hating people whose incomes exceed (random amount depending on the situation)! Ignoring the enemy means one thing consistently -- you lose.
It seems that the Demons are on their way to give us both the Senate and the presidency in 2012 at this rate.
Visions and Principles blog
May as well, Tenebrous
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 6:29pm.
In fact, Hillary Clinton is now in agreement with Glenn Beck! Is that far-fetched, or what?
But it's true. Drudge is reporting that Ms. Clinton has announced that Iran is trying to hijack the uprisings in the Middle East for their own purposes.
I don't see any other Liberals admitting to it, but clearly the White House was consummately stupid if they thought all that was nothing more than a youth movement.
I was surprised to see these
Submitted by amyshulk on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 8:19am.
I was surprised to see these guys anywhere but on FOX too. And she set that up for him to knock it out of the park, and clearly define the difference in "vision"
Ronald Reagan
You notice how the press never engages on that issue.
Submitted by pbthinker on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 10:24pm.
You tell the press they're not doing their job and they never defend it or attack you for saying it, they change the subject. They are soooooooooooooooooooo in the tank for this guy and they have no credibility with the public because of it, I have no idea how they'll ever get it back.