How the Left Views the “Cliff” Deal

Conservatives are generally unhappy with the deal that Mitch McConnell agreed to last night. But it never hurts to put yourself in the other guy’s shoes, and it turns out that the left isn’t very happy with the outcome of the “cliff” negotiations, either. I am on lots of the Democratic Party email lists, including MoveOn’s. This is the hysterical email I got from them today:

From: “Ilya Sheyman, MoveOn.org Civic Action” >
Date: January 1, 2013, 4:20:13 PM CST
To: “Hinderaker, John H.”
Subject: Call Rep. Ellison: Vote NO on permanent Bush tax breaks for the wealthy!

Dear MoveOn member,

Call Rep. Ellison and tell him to vote no on the fiscal deal, which makes the Bush tax breaks for the rich permanent on earnings up to $450,000.

Representative Keith Ellison
Phone: (202) 225-4755

[http://www.moveon.org/images/buttons/button_red_reportcall.gif] I called Congress

Breaking news: At 2 a.m. this morning, the Senate passed legislation on the fiscal showdown that permanently extends the Bush tax breaks on earnings up to $450,000 a year and permanently ends the Bush tax breaks for those who earn more.

The bill also sets up yet another fiscal showdown by delaying for only two months the so-called “sequester”—a package of cuts in military and domestic spending opposed by both parties. And the GOP will likely demand cuts in Social Security and Medicare when we reach the February deadline.

On the good side, the bill extends unemployment insurance for one year and the Earned Income Tax Credit for the poor for five years. Still, economist Robert Reich called the deal “lousy.”

Now the bill goes to the House, where its fate is uncertain. The House should reject this deal and instead introduce and pass a tax cut for 98% of Americans on the first day of the new Congress.

Can you call Representative Keith Ellison right now? Tell him: “Vote no on the Senate tax bill. Do not extend the Bush tax breaks for people making more than $250,000 a year.”

Here’s where to call:

Representative Keith Ellison
Phone: (202) 225-4755

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://civ.moveon.org/call?tg=FHMN_05&cp_id=1875&id=60234-24210856-OettjOx&t=2

MoveOn members have had two clear, simple lines throughout the fiscal negotiations: Tax rates on those making more than $250,000 a year must return to Clinton-era levels. No benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. When Republicans tried to cut Social Security, MoveOn members responded immediately and loudly, and those cuts came off the table. We can’t let up now, and neither should Democrats in Congress.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ilya, Joan, Mark, Anna, and the rest of the team

So the Left is hysterical over the prospect that households who earn between $250,000 and $450,000 annually will only have deductions disallowed, and not see their marginal rates increase. The $250,000 level is purely arbitrary, of course. If the government robbed taxpayers down to that level, MoveOn would move the goalposts to $150,000. Or $100,000. Or $75,000. If you work for a living, they are coming after you; that’s the bottom line.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

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