Krauthammer Corrects Newsweek's Thomas on Budget: 'Republicans Have Stepped Up' - 'Democrats Aren't Offering Anything'
Newsweek's Evan Thomas on Friday tried to float the typical media meme that neither Party is doing anything to solve our nation's budget crisis.
Unfortunately for him, fellow "Inside Washington" panelist Charles Krauthammer accurately noted that the Republicans have offered a proposal to cut $6.6 trillion in the next ten years, "but the Democrats have done nothing except to demagogue the plan and to destroy it" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: But look, Evan is saying the politicians are not offering anything, and that’s not true. The Democrats aren’t offering anything. The President has given us a $1.5 trillion deficit. He hasn’t done anything on entitlements. The Republicans have stepped up and offered a plan. You can have a critique of it.
EVAN THOMAS, NEWSWEEK: Here’s a critique..
KRAUTHAMMER: The Medicare plan is essentially what was recommended by a Democratic commission in 1999 headed by Alice Rivlin.
NINA TOTENBERG, NPR: Not quite.
KRAUTHAMMER: Not exactly radical right-wing stuff as Gingrich himself would say.
THOMAS: It is completely unrealistic to think that you’re going to deal with this problem without tax increases. Completely Mars, other universe…
KRAUTHAMMER: The Democrats have not offered…
THOMAS: Republicans are absolutely determined not to raise taxes.
KRAUTHAMMER: You said the politicians are not looking at the problem of debt. The Republicans have offered to cut $6.6 trillion. Now, in the end, it would obviously have to be a deal in which taxes are included, but the Democrats have done nothing except to demagogue the plan and to destroy it, leaving us with what? With the Bush, with the Obama administration budget which was defeated 97-0 in the Senate because it is so embarrassing.
THOMAS: So you’re admitted, you’re saying here the Republicans are going to face up to reality and raise taxes?
KRAUTHAMMER: The Republicans are opening the debate by saying we start by cutting completely out of control spending way above…
THOMAS: But you endorse, Charles, you are endorsing higher taxes?
KRAUTHAMMER: Of course I am endorsing higher taxes. I’ve done it in print for years, and I’ve done it a month ago. The problem is you start with spending because we are historically much higher than we were for the last 50 years. We’re at 25 percent of GDP. The historic average is 19. You have to start there. In the end, of course you’re going to have tax reform, which will include the raising of revenue.
It really is a darned shame the Obama-loving media can't be honest about this issue.
America is facing likely its worst fiscal crisis in its history requiring bold action by political leaders. Instead of assisting the process by accurately reporting the goings on, so-called journalists have opted to take sides and present the Democrat argument at every turn.
As Krauthammer accurately noted, there are currently only two plans on the table and the one offered by the President got absolutely zero votes in the Senate.
For their part, Democrats in both chambers not only voted against Congressman Paul Ryan's (R-Wisc.) bill, they have also opted not to offer a plan of their own having actually not proposed a budget now for over two years.
That our media choose to not castigate Democrats for this disgraceful abdication of their responsibility is deplorable. Much like Thomas, their goal is just to get taxes raised.
But as Krauthammer correctly pointed out, the first step in this process has to be reining in spending. Once that is accomplished, tax reform should follow to simplify the current code while likely increasing total revenues much as Reagan accomplished in his second term.
If the press continue to push exclusively for tax hikes, the Democrats will never feel they need to come to the spending reduction table thereby preventing any chance for serious budget discussions.
Ironically, so-called journalists often question where the adult is in these negotiations.
Maybe they should be asking that of themselves, for as long as they act like children, the Party they support will be similarly able to do so.
- Noel Sheppard's blog
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Comments
It never ends
Submitted by Jamson64 on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 3:05pm.
Krauthammer calls Thomas a liar to his face and Thomas comes back with his comment about the GOP not raising taxes. Thomas is good for one dishonest comment after another. Who pays him anyway?
It Drives A Sane Man Bonkers
Submitted by Bourbeau on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 3:38pm.
When you read an exchange, such as this, it does nothing to instill any confidence whatsoever that the liberal media can offer any semblance of balanced reporting. They are unequivocally incapable of it. Evan Thomas should be ashamed of himself. He makes a bogus statement to begin the conversation; it's put in his place, quite correctly, by Charles Krauthammer; then without skipping a beat, acts like he caught Charles with his pants down on the tax issue. Here's a memo to Evan Thomas - you're a dishonest idiot and you should be admonished for your stupidity, not that you were being deceptiive, but that you thought no one would see through this exchange for what it was - liberal nonsense.
I suggest
Submitted by HockeyKid on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 4:19pm.
Mr. Thomas go back to worshiping his god--Obysmal. He's not so good at the reporter gig.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
In watching the continuing
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 4:20pm.
In watching the continuing budget debate play out in DC and on TV, I feel we are going down big time while the politicians and their sympathizers crow victory. And I mean on both sides of the isle. We are addicts and cannot stop ourselves.
I have no confidence in Rep
Submitted by ricklail on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 4:39pm.
I have no confidence in Rep Bonehead and his pals. They will wilt just like always. 2012 ain't going to matter. We will be in the same shape Greece is in well before then.
This is why I say it's more
Submitted by amyshulk on Sun, 06/19/2011 - 1:57am.
This is why I say it's more important to get conservatives in the House/Senate than try to take down Pres. Obama. Don't get me wrong, I think he's an unmitigated disaster, unable/unwilling to accept he's NOT the smartest guy in the room.
I had this argument with my sis soon after I saw that Pres. Obama would talk the talk, but not walk the walk.
Once he's got nobody to hand off to {ala stimulus/financial bill/etc.} and actually has to lead, then we'll see if he's just been delegating because he has no real answers.
Ronald Reagan
→ You're right, of course
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sun, 06/19/2011 - 2:02am.
But keep in mind, nine Justices are capable of more activist legislation in a week than Congress is capable of agreeing on in 4 years.
I disappointed in Charles.
Submitted by danbo on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 4:51pm.
I disappointed in Charles. Why should we trust them with higher taxes. All they're going to do is spend more money and get us deeper in debt.
They've failed to live within their means and demand that those of us who do bail them out.
And Obama is still throwing away our money.
They can't be trusted with more money
"You lie!" Rep. Joe Wilson R-(SC)
I wonder what kind of "deal" Boehner the Useless is ironing out
Submitted by Dave. on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 5:16pm.
...with Obama the Worthless out on the golf course today?
I bet we're going to see yet another hike in the debt ceiling, which we will probably hit about three weeks after it passes.
While the back room deals are under way deep in the bowels of the congressional office buildings, we'll start hearing sound bites coming from the repubs that are going to say that this is absolutely, positively, 100% going to be the very last time they will go along with an increase.
When the vote to send us swirling even deeper in the financial loo is over, they will then line up in front of the TV cameras, beaming, and promise, cross-their-hearts, hope-to-die, stick-a-needle-in-their-eye, if they're lyin' their dyin,' that they will never, e-v-e-r go along with another debt ceiling increase again.
I'm sure they will once again assure us that they are talking really seriously about some massive spending cuts that they will start working on immediately, if not sooner, sometime in the future, once they get their differences ironed out.
They will say they are really serious this time. Honest injun.
Right.
These idiots will spend $40 billion to "save" $20 billion, and then claim it's a budget "victory" while maintaining a straight face.
Then, a few weeks down the road, the whole sorry process will start all over again.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Dave, I'm not sure the freshman class will play
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 7:00pm.
I don't believe Allen West will....and I suspect there are about half of the other nOObs who won't, either. And that will doom any deal John Boehner "cuts" with the democrats.
Besides, he's already doubled down on the Ryan plan.
I know, I can't help it, I'm a glass half full type of girl.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
J,
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 06/20/2011 - 10:24am.
I'm sure that Rep. West and a handful of freshmen TEA Party types will hold the line, but it won't be enough to prevent the inevitable.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Democratic Picked Republicans Stuck On Stupid.
Submitted by Avitar on Sun, 06/19/2011 - 3:57am.
At least twenty times in my life the Democrats have offered the Republicans a deal of Spending Cuts for Tax Increases. The number of times they came through with the spending cuts...Zero '0'!
Never!
When they offered Reagan two dollars of spending cuts for one dollar of tax increase the delivered three dollars of spending increases.
We all know that we are well down the right side of the Laffer Curve and a dollar worth of tax cuts will produce between three and ten dollars of economic activity but knowing this the Democrats demand "Fairness." If the money isn't forced into the hands of their cronies they do not want it in the economy. They do not just want to make their partisans richer they passionately want to make Republicans poorer.
I've got an idea...
Submitted by apf2 on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 5:22pm.
Why don't we roll spending back to the 2008 numbers without the stimulus or bailouts. That would immediately reduce the deficit to almost manageable quantities. After all, weren't all those increases the Affirmative Action President and his progressive cohorts pushed through supposed to be temporary? Well let's roll them back, NOW!
Krauthammer is not a supply-sider
Submitted by Tenebrous on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 7:14pm.
And that's another way of saying that he doesn't understand how economics works. Raising taxes reduces the income the government gets because people don't want to work to feed the parasite class, ya doofus!
Visions and Principles blog
He kind of backed up on the raise taxes and stated it
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 11:09pm.
as tax reform. This can include level taxes, lower corp tax rates and cutting the tax loopholes like GM netting billions and paying ZERO taxes.
Doing all these things would increase money going to the Feds. Including, if people can get a handle on it, lowering taxes all around so people have more to spend and thus more tax revenue derived from the increases across the board sales.
It's not deplorable, it's a crime
Submitted by russedav on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 8:45pm.
As usual the media Dem w hores's double standard is in full operation; if the GOP had gone without a budget for 2 years like the Dems it would be trumpeted by every so-called "journalist" from the rooftops, but of course when the Dems for whom they w hore do it it gets a pass. These scum should be jailed as accomplices in grand larceny with the rest of their party, at their own expense. Since the lawless immoral degenerate fascist criminal Nazi Pelosi increased her net worth by 60% it would make at least a down payment on jail time for her party, not to mention who knows how big her entitlements are.
Interesting how after being
Submitted by Snappy on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 9:04pm.
Interesting how after being shot down and refuted the fall back "Gotcha" that is pressed is to get a --non-liberal-- to go "on record" about raising taxes (later re-phrased as tax reform). Completely bypassing and throwing his earlier argument under the rug.
Unapologetically childish, AH HA!!! you said raise taxes!! I win, you lose.
Why I don't subscribe
Submitted by NotFondOfLibs on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 11:17pm.
Evan Thomas is the reason I don't subscribe to a piece of trash publication like Newsweek. Time and Newsweek are nothing more than mouthpieces for the democrat party. They both deserve the financial ruin they will eventually meet.
It instills no confidence at all in a taxpayer like me
Submitted by Scout Finch on Sun, 06/19/2011 - 12:41am.
If our politicians on both sides in Washington won't dedicate themselves to deep budget cuts FIRST, they don't have my trust to raise my taxes at all. After you have proven to the taxpaying public that you are fiscally responsible, we can negotiate some sort of tax review if it is still necessary. But make no mistake, Washington must prove itself worthy by cutting spending first, then tax revenues last.
Tax reform - didn't we
Submitted by amyshulk on Sun, 06/19/2011 - 2:05am.
Tax reform - didn't we already do that in the 80's? What we need is a lock on the dang door so they can't monkey around and bring us to the brink again!!! No more short term bs
I was in the USN for 11 years, and while stationed in GITMO, we had the CO do a "call in with your ideas" on tv. I suggested Reverse Osmosis for a replacement for our decrepit desalinization plant. I was laughed at "Too costly/takes too much time" etc. Months {a year?} later, RO was ALL the buzz, with the CO acting like it was his big idea.
My point? Plant the seeds. Who cares who gets the credit. We need to drastically change the way we do things - with the tech we no longer need to trap children n classrooms, where they are forced to learn at the median level. Let the smart ones excel - they are usually the disrupters and freeing them to actually learn would improve things for all!!!
Ronald Reagan
Tax Reform does not necessarily denote Tax Increases.
Submitted by Rush Fan on Sun, 06/19/2011 - 2:48am.
One of Milton Friedman's famous quotes was: "I am favor of cutting taxes under any circumstances and for any excuse, for any reason, whenever it's possible." Friedman believed that a reduction in taxes would lead to economic growth, and consequently increased revenue for both business and government.
Every time
Submitted by American Infidel on Sun, 06/19/2011 - 9:23am.
taxes are cut revenues go up because of increased economic activity and every time taxes are raised revenues go down because of decreased economic activity. So, I ask, why do people want to raise taxes?
You can't let the increased
Submitted by Hunter12 on Sun, 06/19/2011 - 9:44am.
You can't let the increased revenues just come into the General Fund. You have to create a tax and earmark it to a specific group so they can see what you are doing for them and will vote accordingly. Do you think the Democrats really care about the country? None of the policies they've instituted in the past few years do anything beyond creating a dependent class of voters. We've gotten Healthcare Reform that doesn't reform healthcare, a policy to reduce a fabricated world-wide crisis that does nothing to reduce the risk of their fabrication beyond making a group of men at the top trading a made-up commodity. We have no policy on border protection becasue they are trying to create a new demographic with the Hispanic illegals, believing that they will vote for the Democrats. Any intelligent Latino just has to look at what they've done for the Blacks in this country and know that they don't want to go that route. 45 years of policies that have done nothing to improve anything for a group that consistently votes for them.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
taxes
Submitted by jessieH on Sun, 06/19/2011 - 11:13am.
Here's the bottom line on raising taxes. No. Get rid of the waste, arrest the frauds and stop the corruption in Washington. Then we will considder raising taxes. Otherwise, the money will keep disapearing. If we paid 100% in taxes, it would still be stolen by the crooks in Congress & the WH. And stop giving money to Pakistan. They are not our friends, they are the enemy.
Reality
Submitted by Student1776 on Sun, 06/19/2011 - 6:58pm.
Revenues have risen in 35 of the last 37 years but we have run deficits in 34 of the last 37 years. The issue is not revenues. Revenues have risen and deficits increase anyway. The issue is spending. There is no revenue level so high, no taxation level so high that it cannot be swamped by out of control spending. Until spending is cut back to 2007 levels, no taxes.