- Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Although you may be looking at the sun shining in the sky, that does not mean it’s day time. Because the sun usually shines. Calling sunshine daytime, is as wrong as assuming that the darkness of night means it’s nighttime.
As stupid as that logic sounds, it is something Michele Bachmann would buy into and promote as truth. Her most recent explanation as to why tax cuts for the rich are not to be considered as adding to the deficit points to the same logic, the same way of thinking, you know – the sun shining brightly does not mean it is day time.
Appearing with John Roberts on CNN, Bachmann tried explaining her understanding of what increases the deficit. The conversation went like this;
BACHMANN: And remember it’s a deficit to government but it’s not a deficit to people who get to keep their money. So it’s how you frame it. I don’t think letting people keep their own money should be considered a deficit.
ROBERTS: But it is, though, because it adds to the federal deficit.
BACHMANN: No, you’re right about that, John, that it is to the government, but remember what we could also be doing right now: Cutting back on spending. We’ve had the biggest increase in spending in the last two years that anyone can remember in modern times. We can also cut back spending to that level and that’s not on the table right now.
In April 11th, 2004, John McCain appeared on Meet The Press and clearly stated his disapproval for providing tax cuts to the wealthy. His reasoning then, was that these tax cuts do nothing but add to the deficit. McCain said;
“I voted against the tax cuts because of the disproportional amount that went to the wealthiest Americans. I would clearly support not extending those tax cuts in order to help address the deficit.”
Of course, McCain has since changed his mind and is now in strong support of increasing the deficit in order to provide tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires. And although his flip flop on this issue makes for good political carnival, it’s far from the truth.
A piece by William A. Niskanen of the Cato Institute called“Starve the Beast” Just Does Not Work, deals with this concept, that “the best way to control federal spending is to ‘Starve the Beast’ by reducing federal tax revenue. Niskansen said;
“An increased belief in the “Starve the Beast” assertion has substantially reduced the traditional Republican concern for fiscal responsibility – leading to a pattern of tax cuts, increased spending, and increased deficits. This pattern has been strongest during the current Bush administration.”
But don’t let the facts get in the way of these Republicans talking points. There’s an entire group of Americans to fool, and the Republicans are on the job!
Related articles
- Video: Michele Bachmann Says Obama “Flat Out Lied” (nicedeb.wordpress.com)
- Michelle Bachmann: House GOP Could Torpedo Tax Deal (outsidethebeltway.com)
- Bachmann: GOP could scuttle tax deal tied to extending jobless aid (thehill.com)
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