George Will Takes on Former Obama Administration Official for Calling Tea Partiers 'Terrorists'
As NewsBusters previously reported, former Obama administration car czar Steve Rattner last month called Tea Partiers terrorists on national television.
On Sunday's "This Week," George Will took Rattner on for making such an inflammatory statement (video follows with transcript and commentary):
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, HOST: People know that you have a debt crisis and you have to deal with it. The question is, and you, I think, I don't know whether you want to say this, but you called the Congressman an economic terrorist.
STEVE RATTNER, MSNBC ECONOMIC ANALYST AND FORMER OBAMA ADMINISTRATION CAR CZAR: Not, not the Congressman personally. I did say that I thought those who essentially were trying to hold up and bring the U.S. to the brink of default without being reasonable in their compromise. Look, the President was willing to go more than halfway. He was willing to go 75 percent of the way in a package that would have both revenues…
CONGRESSMAN JASON CHAFFETZ, (R-UTAH): No, but we…
RATTNER: Wait a minute, let me finish, and spending cuts that would have achieved this $4 trillion grand bargain and would have perhaps averted this downgrade or certainly put us on a better path for fiscal responsibility. But you do have one group of people who are saying no tax increases, never, no how, when in fact the tax decreases under President Bush partly got us in this problem. If you take today’s one and a half trillion dollar deficit, a trillion of it is from excess spending. 400 billion of it is from the Bush tax cuts.
Indeed. However, if we went back to the exact same outlays called for in the 2007 budget approved by a Republican Congress, we'd actually have a $200 billion surplus in fiscal 2012 based on OMB's projected tax receipts.
If we adjusted 2007's spending for inflation, we'd only have a $43 billion deficit next year thereby totally avoiding S&P's downgrade without raising taxes one cent.
But I digress:
ROBERTS: The Standard & Poor's report, which, again, I would like to disassociate myself from, but it does say that one of the reasons that they think that the fiscal house will not be in order is because they think the Bush tax cuts will stay in forever and that they think the intransigence of Republicans on this line is one of the reasons that they have downgraded the credit rating.
GEORGE WILL: All of the people comparing the Tea Party to suicide bombers, one of whom is Steve here…
AMANPOUR: I don't think he said that, did he?
WILL: Yes.
RATTNER: No.
ROBERTS: Terrorists are suicide bombers.
WILL: I can read you the transcript from the morning show.
RATTNER: I was there. I was there.
WILL: I understand, I was watching.
And so were we. As NewsBusters reported, here's what Rattner said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on July 29:
RATTNER: You know, the problem with this is it's like a form of economic terrorism. I imagine these Tea Party guys are like strapped with dynamite, standing in the middle of Times Square at rush hour and saying, 'either you do it my way, or we're going to blow you up, ourselves up, and the whole country up with us.' So you tell me how those kinds of standoffs end.
Sounds like Will has a better grasp of what Rattner said that morning, dontcha think? But I again digress:
WILL: Anyway, what you, you do know that 95 House Democrats voted against raising the debt ceiling as compared to only 66 House Republicans. You do know that 26 Democratic Senators voted against raising the debt ceiling?
Indeed.
What liberals like Rattner have totally ignored was that if interfering with an agreement to raise the debt ceiling was an act of terrorism, Democrats in both chambers of Congress were far more guilty than Republicans.
Alas, one would have to be an impartial journalist to figure that out, and such a thing really doesn't exist anymore - certainly not on MSNBC where Rattner contributes.
- Noel Sheppard's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
Roberts (who that is. I
Submitted by buddyc on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 1:07pm.
Roberts (who that is. I assume it is that retard Coakie(sp) Roberts) is full of crap. Read the S&P report. It mentions its assumption that that congress will not repeal the Obama (not the W) Tax Cuts. S&P does not judge that action. It specifically says it takes no stance on cuts verses tax increases. So Roberts is full of $hit. It says debt needs to be reduced and it now concerned that there is not a will to do so and the parties are so polarized they cannot work together to do so.
I urge everyone to read the report and email ABC and rip Roberts because she is an ignorant LIAR!
Misquoting and
Submitted by Reaver on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 1:15pm.
Misquoting and mischaracterizing the S&P statement is going to be the new sport in the media this week, as popular as claiming that the tea party got everything they wanted was last week.
I think the Tea Partiers ought to start referring to the . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 1:18pm.
. . . Democratic big spenders as "economic rapists" and "future killers." Why not? If the Democrats are going to insists on this crap, throw it back at them.
Economic socialists.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 1:41pm.
I prefer Poverty Pimps.
Similar stuff on Fox yesterday
Submitted by StarAZ on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 1:13pm.
I saw one segment betw a female Dem operative or head of some nonprof and a male Rep strategist. The moderator said maybe the time for partisanship is over--and the Dem woman calmly said, "It's all the fault of the Republicans" or words to that effect. Didn't miss a beat--business as usual.
I saw that segment, Star,
Submitted by UpNorth on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 1:24pm.
and the host couldn't get her off her talking points, she said the same thing 3 different ways, and wouldn't address anything either the R said, or the host.
Here meme was that if we can get rid of Republicans, then we can move on to bipartisanship. If not, then it's all the R's fault that nothing gets done. She had the same brain-dead, vacuous expression on her face that Debbie Where'smybrain Schultz has.
Yup--that's the one
Submitted by StarAZ on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 1:56pm.
It was almost comical. She was not even listening...at ALL! On that subject, it sort of irritates me also when a guest gives a long answer...and the preprogrammed host does not even nod, say uh-huh or ANYTHING, just turns to the next person like the guest who had just spoken was invisible ... I also sit here in my stupid family room in the desert in Arizona screaming, "He answered that--listen, listen!" My kid sticks her head in and says, "Mom, blood pressure."
Tell that to the investors of the old GM.
Submitted by NeoKong on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 1:14pm.
That would be the same GM that was stolen from the private investors and given to the UAW and then briefly run by Rattner who then had to step down as he almost went to jail for pension fund fraud.
Both Rattner and Cuomo had dug in their heels over the pension-kickback charges. Rattner said in a TV interview that the attorney general’s conduct in the case was “close to extortion.” Cuomo had been seeking Rattner’s lifetime ban from the securities industry in New York, a penalty Cuomo said was justified by the “fact that Rattner engaged in fraud and refused to answer 68 questions based on his fifth amendment privilege.”
http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2010/12/30/steve-rattner-agrees-to-10-million...
Obama's czars are all loony Marxist totalitarians.
Submitted by Thalpy on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 6:09pm.
I doubt that one of these liars could pass a security screening.
"Obama's czars are all loony Marxist totalitarians"
Submitted by Dave. on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 6:13pm.
What a coincidence.
So is Obama.
And I'm pretty sure he would never make it through a security screening, either.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Rattner has an interesting past.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 1:17pm.
He's not a terrorist, but...
"SEC Settles With Steven Rattner Over Kickbacks; Cuomo Files New Lawsuits"
"Steven Rattner, the former head of Quadrangle Group LLC, will pay $6.2 million and accept a two- year ban from associating with broker-dealers or investment advisers to resolve a Securities and Exchange Commission probe of kickbacks in connection with the New York state pension fund." http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-18/sec-sues-steven-rattner-in-new-...
He puts the RAT in "Rattner"
Submitted by Galvanic on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 1:34pm.
Ahother former Obama 'czar' with a disturbing history.
Rattner was a good little Demobot
Submitted by spepper on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 1:29pm.
Rattner was simply being a "good little Demobot" by tossing the verbal hand grenade "GOP=terrorist" line out there-- as if it were ONLY GOP members voting against raising the debt ceiling (WRONG!). He was simply following instructions as passed along by his handlers as given to them by the Soros-controlled media types.
you can read a person by their persona
Submitted by no you cant on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 1:32pm.
THAT Former Obama Administration Official seems so much like the NAZI from the intro to the raiders of the lost arc movie, the one who burnt his hand. snake.
The Liberal Lexicon
Submitted by BoilerFan on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 1:58pm.
The Liberal Lexicon:
Since liberals are always see themselves as being on the side of the angels, "partisanship" is only a behavior that can be attributed to conservatives. When liberal Democrats fight hard for what they believe in, they're not engaging in "partisanship," they're fighting for "the little guy," for "social justice" and "fairness," for "racial justice," for "the poor" or "the elderly." Their political behavior is always portrayed as being for some noble, higher purpose. Therefore, the ends justify the means for liberals, regardless of the issue. Conservative Republicans are NEVER given the benefit of the doubt. Instead, dark, sinister motives are always assumed when assessing the political behavior of conservatives.
This same double-standard applies when it comes to heated political rhetoric. Conservatives can have all sorts of nasty labels slapped on their foreheads (e.g., "racists," "bigots," "xenophobes," "jihadists," "terrorists," etc.), and that's perfectly acceptable to the supposedly tolerant and open-minded liberals. But when conservatives do anything remotely similar to liberals, they're immediately denounced for spewing "hate speech" and for "poisoning" the nation's political discourse.
I've been aware of this double-standard for years, thanks in no small part to the hard work performed by the good folks at the Media Research Center. Thank you to everyone at MRC for regularly exposing the double standards of liberalism, in general, as well as the liberal bias of the so-called "mainstream" media, specifically.
rattner
Submitted by D'saredumbpeople on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 2:46pm.
rattner is like that little kid in school that everyone kicked his ass all the time......all he can resort to is calling other people names.....what a wimp
I will not be PC here on this so here goes:
Submitted by djwolf12 on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 2:49pm.
RATtner and his cohorts in the media are shitheads that need to be flushed down to the sewer from which they came from.
Why
Submitted by grammajane on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 3:01pm.
Why is it when libs say someting extremely stupid and hateful, they always deny it. Are they so ignorant to realize cameras and mics are there filming every lie and hateful statement they make? A bunch of "smarties" with zero brain-power
Everyone knows it's Obama
Submitted by Barack Must Go on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 4:05pm.
Everyone knows it's Obama that's the terrorist in our midst.It's just that most still won't say so out loud for fear of being labeled a racist.
Can they be more out-of-touch?
Submitted by pbthinker on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 4:15pm.
I don't believe I've seen a group of people more out of touch with reality than the Democratic Party. Of all the important issues on the planet the could have dealt with, they chose to pass a stimulus package that allowed states to keep making the decisions that were going to have them joining the country, rather than restructuring. Then, once they threw that money down the hole, they passed a $trillion plus health care legislation to give less that 15% of the population access to health care they already had and to take people, who are happy with their health care, a downgrade and more costs. Finally, now that, that wasn't good enough, they got some monetary legislation through that have banks holding on to more money but failed to deal with the major problem in the whole system, Fanny and Freddie.
Watching their coordinated attack on the tea party has been amazing. If you didn't believe in the Democrats Messaging Machine before, you should be paying attention now. I'll bet every one of the morning shows had numerous mentions of the tea party and terrorists by the Democrats. I'll bet every show had a Democrat saying this was a tea party downgrade. I'll also bet that no show host ever called them on it.
Rattner is small cheese
Submitted by Samshile on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 4:26pm.
The real criminal, allegedly, is Cuomo. He was involved deeply with the housing crisis and the Dodd- Frank Regulations! with FHA, Fannie Mae, Big Banks.
"Atty. Gen Coumo launched an investigation of wrongdoings by AMC,
e-Apprazit (A FARES co.), then within 1 year mandated that only AMC's can order appraisals and
mortgage brokers could not through this HVCC agreement. The fox was hired to guard the henhouse. As
one appraiser stated, it is like hiring a pedophile to run the daycare"
Conservatives are SO MUCH
Submitted by fatboy on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 5:54pm.
Conservatives are SO MUCH SMARTER than libs...proved weekly by Charles K. and George W. Good job guys!!
fatboy....I agree. That is why Liberals use the
Submitted by Rush Fan on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 3:11am.
Internet Explorer web browser. :-)
Economic Power
Submitted by Kuso Jiji on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 6:15pm.
Except for day to day expenses, I have put off any major purchases, eating out, expensive trips or home improvement projects until its clear the Democrats who are dismantling this country brick by brick are removed from power. I will live as frugal as possible until the votes of the next election are tallied. If economically conservative members are put into power, I will inject my money back into the economy. If we get more of the same, I'm retiring early and moving some place warm where a lot of English is not spoken.
Kuso Jiji---
Submitted by matthewdean on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 6:38pm.
'Some place warm where a lot of English is not spoken.'
That would be Los Angeles, CA. :o)
MD
Economic Power
Submitted by Kuso Jiji on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 6:15pm.
Except for day to day expenses, I have put off any major purchases, eating out, expensive trips or home improvement projects until its clear the Democrats who are dismantling this country brick by brick are removed from power. I will live as frugal as possible until the votes of the next election are tallied. If economically conservative members are put into power, I will inject my money back into the economy. If we get more of the same, I'm retiring early and moving some place warm where a lot of English is not spoken.
Democrats have the worst case of Buyer's Remorse....
Submitted by drsamherman on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 6:15pm.
....with O'batears and now they are stuck with all of the hope(lessness) and change (negative) they claim they did not bargain for in his election. That's what happens when the media provides nothing but free advertising to them 24/7/365. They have the community organizer in chief, with zero management credentials or capability, and now in two short years we are in the worst economic quagmire since Jimmuh (another extreme alternative with no ability to govern).
At the very minimum, you can see his base crumbling. Exactly as could be predicted with the Obamabotron, he is focusing solely on his reelection in an attempt for apotheosis. The detachment and isolation for the malignant narcissist and his gang of enablers and codependents will get far worse as we proceed into autumn.
What a difference preparation makes in the exchange of ideas.
Submitted by Rush Fan on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 3:00am.
George Will's grasp of the facts (95 Dems voting against raising the debt ceiling) was a very effective response to deceptive Rattner blaming Republicans and the Tea party. That is because George Will comes to work prepared to battle the lies and hypocrisy.of the Left. He is the type of spokesperson that we need to represent us in the Leftist media.
This is in contrast to a "Republican Strategist" who, to my dismay as I posted HERE, was completely unprepared to handle Rachel Maddow's lies on Meet the Press today.
They say that child molesters can't be rehabilitated. So it is for hardcore Leftists.
Rattner and the communist left are the real terrorists here
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 7:06am.
They encourage and thus support the federal government using its police powers to forcibly confiscate portions of the American people's income in order to shore up their now miserably failing welfare state.
If you do not pay, under the direction of the communists, the government will send their agents to your residence and/or your business with guns.
If they decide you are resisting unduly, they will pull out those guns and shoot you with them.
If you don't believe me, just try resisting the government's theft of your money, and see what happens next.
Sad, but that is the sort of nation this once free republic has now become.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
WTG George!!! That weasel
Submitted by amyshulk on Mon, 08/08/2011 - 10:25am.
WTG George!!! That weasel didn't have his cooing fans on MJ to back him up this time!!!
Ronald Reagan