Boehner Acts Clueless on the "Fiscal Cliff"

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright Dec. 3, 2012
All Rights Reserved.                                         

       Showing that he’s living on a different planet, 63-year-old House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) acted clueless about President Barack Obama’s insistence on raising rates for taxpayers earning over $250,000.  With the “fiscal cliff”—expiring Bush-era tax cuts and mandatory spending cuts—going into effect Jan. 1, the president insists on small tax hikes on the wealthy.  For Republicans controlled by Party boss Grover Norquist’s “No Tax Pledge,” tax hikes are like betraying the religion.  Obama simply asks Congress to get real and stop the madness of Norquist’s “No Tax Pledge.”  Former President George H.W. Bush, still hospitalized for bronchitis, begged the GOP to show more flexibility on taxes.  When H.W. Bush was president [1989-1993], he raised taxes, prompting Norquist to hound him out of office.   Norquist likes to take the credit but Texas billionaire H.Ross Perot was the real reason for Bush’s defeat.

            Faced with the very real prospects of a double-dip recession in 2013, dealing with the “fiscal cliff” becomes a really big deal.  “Those rates are going to have to go up,” Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner told ABC’s “This Week” host George Stephanopolous Dec. 2.  “There’s no responsible way we can govern this country at a time of enormous threat, and risk, and challenge . . . with those rates in place for future generations.”  When GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney lost the election in a landslide Nov. 6, voters rejected Mitt’s plan to slash government spending.  Romney and his running mate Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) offered voters their plan of low tax rates and cut government spending.  When voters spoke clearly Nov. 6, the GOP continues its post-election campaign.  Boehner often talks of what the American people want:  They don’t want his stubbornness on tax hikes for the rich.

            National polling clearly shows upwards of 60% of Democrats, Republicans and independents approve of raising taxes on the wealthy.  “I was flabbergasted.  I looked at him and said, ‘You can’t be serious,’” said Boehner, showing he’s in some kind of bubble since the “fiscal cliff” discussions began.  “The president’s idea of negotiation is:  Roll over and do what I ask,” said Boehner.  With a defensive attitude like that, Boehner can’t possibly get the job done.  When voters elected Obama by a landslide Nov. 6, they didn’t vote for Boehner to fix the U.S. economy.  Instead of giving the president his due, the House Speaker acts like Republicans, Democrats and independents aren’t part of the polling sample that shows 60% of Americans favor increasing taxes on the rich.  What exactly doesn’t Boehner get?  He’s flabbergasted that Obama is trying to exercise the will of American voters.

            Boehner acts like Obama has pulled the rug out from underneath him, drawing a line in the sand on tax increases for the rich.  If the House Speaker is really worried about self-employed, small business owners, he needs to ask the White House to exempt this group from expected tax hikes.  Instead of dealing with the “fiscal cliff,” Boehner has tried to turn the discussions into entitlement reform.  Romney and Ryan lost the election expecting voters to buy into cuts in Medicare and Social Security.  When Mitt picked Ryan Aug. 12, Ryan immediately said he welcomed the chance to take on entitlement reform.  By the time Paul was muzzled by the Romney campaign, the damage had already been done.  If Boehner’s GOP anti-tax caucus refuses any tax increase, the House no longer represents the will of the people.  Norquist’s band of anti-tax fanatics have hijacked the GOP House.

            Obama asks Boehner to do nothing more than acknowledge the will of voters Nov. 6.  Whether his Tea Party troops accept the verdict or not, shouldn’t confuse that ordinary Republicans, Democrats and independents voted to have taxes raised on wealthy tax payers.  If Boehner wishes exceptions for self-employed, small businesses he should ask for them.  “The have come to us and tell us what they need.  What we can’t do is keep guessing,” said Geithner.  Boehner’s confused as to the role of the House of Representatives in the “fiscal cliff” discussions.  Now that the American people spoke on Nov. 6, the House should mirror the will of voters.  Insisting that the voters oppose tax increases on the rich isn’t supported by national polls.  It’s just not fair for Boehner’s Tea Party backers to impose their will on mainstream voters.  Congress must reflect the will of Nov. 6 Election.

            Refusing to cave in on taxes, Boehner admits that his band to anti-Tax Tea Party lawmakers have hijacked the U.S. House of Representatives.  “Congress is not going to give up this power,” said Boehner.  “It’s the only way to leverage the political process to produce more change than what it would if left alone,” rejecting the Nov. 6. Election. Boehner knows that Congress’ power comes from the people.  Voter spoke loudly to Congress on Nov. 6.  National polls showing support of for raising taxes on the rich by Republicans, Democrats and independents also spoke loudly.  Boehner’s power play reflects minority rule by a renegade group of anti-tax Republicans, imposing their will on the electorate.  Boehner can’t argue that the people want his fix to the “fiscal cliff” or management of the U.S. economy.  Voters spoke loudly on Nov. 6 and expect the GOP’s anti-tax fanatics to get out of the way.

 John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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