Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, the man who has been leading negotiations for the White House to avoid the fiscal cliff believes a deal with Republicans will be reached so long as the GOP is willing to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans.
"The only thing standing in the way of that would be a refusal by Republicans to accept that rates are going to, have to go up on the wealthiest Americans. And I don't really see them doing that," Geithner said.
One of the main reasons Democrats charge that the Republicans won't agree to raising rates is a pledge signed by most GOP members of Congress to a group headed by anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist.
Norquist was on the roundtable this morning and alleged that President Obama was not being "reasonable" in the negotiations and for threatening to blame them if the GOP doesn't "give [the president] everything he wants."
Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) dismissed Norquist's role in the entire debate saying, "I met him for the first time this morning. Nice to meet him. But, you know, who is he?" adding that Norquist was getting more "attention" than he deserved in the process.
You can watch the entire program on our website including more from our conversation with Senator Claire McCaskill and Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) on the fiscal cliff. Plus they give their take on U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice including why Senator Corker thinks she will not be nominated to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State and how Senator McCaskill believes there is a double standard between Rice and Fmr. CIA Director David Petraeus.
We'll be back next week. If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
Leave a Comment:
Norquist is wrong; it is the House Republicans turn. The President already gave in on the fiscal cliff the last time. I say let's go over the cliff if they don't want to deal. It may cost me money, but it is going to cost the over $250K more. If they want to talk about Medicare, then do that separately. Remember the Health care vote, NOT ONE REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR IT, even though they had a hand in changing it from universal to the compromise we have. Enough with their games.
The American people voted to stop this nonsense and negotiate. Apparently, the Republicans did not take our vote to heart. Well, you boys have 2 more years before we vote you out. Republicans also do not understand the CONCEPT that Social Security is NOT AN ENTITLEMENT. This is an enhancement to retirement programs that the American public PAYS FOR every week up until the maximum is met. Most Americans do not make that cap, thus we pay 100% of it. Lift the cap on Social Security, appropriately tax the top 2% of our citizens, and work together. We don't ask for much, but be assured, we are watching you. We vote. We've proven it and we will carryout our promise to VOTE YOU OUT.
Agree strongly with Senator Claire McCaskill's statement supporting Susan Rice! She hit the nail on the head! Once again, the GOP is attacking a Democrat when their Condi Rice was guilty of much greater behavior, as quoted in "State of Denial" by Bob Woodward.
Obama needs to stand and not fold. We need a fix for Gerrymandered districts and these Congressmen would be more responsive to the people.
I think Jim Cramer was your most insightful speaker, but Grover kept interrupting him and you didn't give him enough time. Cramer makes a good point. CEOs and businesses want a tax hike on the wealthy if it saves us from the fiscal cliff. And why are the Republicans so afraid of Grover that they won't vote to save America? Dems need to start a PAC to defeat every Congressman and Senator who signed Grover's pledge.
No one elected this man...Grover Norquist. The GOP wants to keep their promise, let them pay for it. As far as we progressives are concerned, we are going with the majority. Grover needs to just follow Rove and they both need to retire from politics. Their views don't matter to the public any more. The President is right we shall jump off the cliff with him.
Totally agree!! Maybe I have the political process wrong. I guess I missed this in my history class. Maybe David G. or some of the others here can help me with this. UN-ELECTED men who have money and pseudo-power can make and force ELECTED officials to make decisions that affect the ENTIRE GLOBE. Men who have no guts to run for office can hold an ENTIRE GROUP of ANGRY-WHITE-MEN (AWM) who actually ran to serve the people of the country, to a dumb-a** pledge that makes no fiscal sense. And why did they pledge this? Because instead of coming to terms with the Bush economy F-up, they ran in the reverse by saying we can't spend without getting savings, now and right away. Oh yea, and also that our POTUS is a civil black man. Grover is this amusing extreme FAR right wing anomaly who gets MSM creds because he has mastered the art of PR. I guess he is looking for his name to be added to the history books. He may get his wish just the same.
Mr. Boehner, the only reason he is still speaker of the house is because of the unfair re-Districting mess the GOP headed. Let them keep up with their mess and in 2 years we shall vote them ALL out. They need to get on with the American program. As our President has said, Change will not come from Washington. We The People will keep voting for the good progressive public servants until these guys stuck in the past are history. They have nothing to show for the past 4 years except voting on women's issues while pretending the most important thing was JOBS --- Work on the real reforms, pass the bills you are sitting on and help your country since you claim to love it more than others.
I'm disappointed but not surprised that David Gregory allowed Maria Bartiromo to get away with saying that Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are the drivers of our debt. Complete hogwash!
Those programs will need some adjustments in the future but have no bearing on our current debt. The chief causes of our deficit are the Bush tax cuts that were enacted without equivalent spending cuts and the two wars that were paid for with borrowed money rather than tax increases or spending cuts elsewhere.
Since taking over Meet the Press David Gregory cannot help but show his viewpoint, Republican. I think sometime he tries but since day one he has leaned to whatever Republican was / is on his program. And I agree, he should just give Grover a standing seat on his program but he better watch out or Grover will fire him and take seat one.
Enough of the unrealistic statements about what drives the National Debt. The debt is comprised of failed Bush/Republican policies, unpaid wars and irresponsible tax cuts. It is the burden of the Republicans to fix their mess and it should not be protecting the 2%. And, putting Grover Norquist on the show seriously undermined the credibility of the program.
Very correct, what is a non elected lobbyist doing on the today show, he has no standing with the voting populous. Who in there right mind would ever give him a platform to regurgitate his outdated ideas and values. We will do everything possible to defeat everyone of his TeaParty congressional members. We are now living in the 21st century and we will not go back to the 1700s.
What I want to know, David, is whether you really think Grover Norquist deserves a forum on your program. I wish Grover were over, but media heads such as yourself keep bringing him back.
Where's your avatar, guy?
I find it very hard to stomach that grover has been elevated to sit at the table with our elected officials and argue points that our elections were to have clarified. i wish the the republican elected officials would step up to being the "loyal opposition" and negotiate with the people that have been elected to move forward with what our countries needs to do to get back to ecomomic stability, and prosperity. REPUBLICANS......YOU got us into this mess with two unpaid for, tax cuts, and a drug benefit that were not paid for, time to step back and let the pros do their work.
The worst 'Meet The Press' I've watched in recent weeks. David, you were a disappointment to the party. You let these Republicans make a case which was completely false. The Middle-class voters in the Midwest were probably scratching their heads at 9:01am CST.
We had an election on November 6th. Voters chose the President's plan to move the country forward, not the Ryan plan which Norquist and Boehner are not only turning to, but have proposed to negotiate on, again.
Democrats better start towing the line or we're going to get burned again. The Democrats just simply have to propose the Clinton tax plan, close tax loopholes on the wealthy, and hold firm to that plan. If we go over the 'fiscal curb', then so be it. Social Security is off the table. We can all agree Medicare needs to be made more efficient to become more solvent.
We are building a solid coalition of voters to help defeat any candidate in future electtions who has signed the Grover Norquist tax pledge. They have outsoursed their seat in the Congress to Grover. Let's restore common sense to American visit
www.groverno.com
Who the heck is Grover Norquist and who the heck cares what he thinks!!?? Gee wiz dude where did you come from...did we vote you in? Go away!
He's like the uninvited christmas party guest...hey-"somebodies weird uncle got out"!
After Mr. Gregory had interviewed Mr. Geithner he had been told twice that the president's plan included spending cuts and what several of them were. Yet when Senator Corker and Grover Norquist claimed that the president had not done this, Mr. Gregory said nothing. This host often appears to not be deeply informed, however, in this case he had been given sufficient information to counter Republican talking points and did not do so. If he wishes his stewardship of this program to be more than false controversy he needs to step up and bring authentic information to the public when he clearly possesses it.
Mr. President Barack Obama I strongly request that you bring the Republicans in the House and Senate to the public and make them discuss detail specifics in layman’s terms of what they offer to the citizens of the United States. I strongly request that you do the following and I think that the major majority of the United States of America would agree. Please,
Because STARTING march 09, 2009 forward, Tennessee Republicans blocked and are blocking 2200 jobs in East Tennessee that were brought to the state by me via a cartel of auto manufacturers through the Obama Reinvestment Act for an EV battery cell manufacturing facility and a rare earth materials refining facility these Republicans bankrupted me and I now seek work. Pass Forward. @rathbonr
House Ethics:
Pledge signers should be charged with a violation of the Code of Ethics for Government service, which states “Make no private promises of any kind binding upon the duties of office …” House Concurrent Resolution No. 175, July 11, 1958, 72 Stat. B12, provided for a Code of Ethics for all Government employees, including officeholders.
The House Ethics Manual at Page 20 (w.ethics.house.gov) states in part “The Code of Ethics for Government Service was adopted as a concurrent resolution expressing the “sense of Congress,” rather than as a statute. This Committee has concluded, however, that the ethical precepts set forth in this code “represent continuing traditional standards of ethical conduct to be observed by Members of the House at all times…Formal charges may be brought against Members of the House for violating this Code."
The Senate Ethics Manual at Page 436 (w.ethics.senate.gov) states in part “The Code of Ethics for Government Service, passed by Concurrent Resolution on July 11, 1958, is also specifically listed in the Committee’s Rules as a source of jurisdiction for the Committee under S. Res. 338. It sets out ten broadly worded standards that should be adhered to by all government employees, including officeholders…A violation of this code has not, to date, been used as a basis for Senate disciplinary action, although the House has disciplined its Members for violations of the code on several occasions."
Articulate here means spin a more believable lie because the majority, Democrats, Independents, and NON-Extremist Republicans, are so stupid we, Extremist Republicans, can sucker them IF as Republicans we are more articulate. Pass Forward. @rathbonr
Elected President Obama, these evil doers have hurt us for almost 4 years. DO NOT BUDGE ONE INCH, MOVE FORWARD AND RUN THEM OVER FREEING ALL DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS, AND TRUE REPUBLICANS! Pass Forward. @rathbonr
Death Race 2000 or 2012? Grover Norguist must have been council on Death Race 2000. And the Republicans signing this Pact of Treason, lead by Boehner, must have been driving the cars that run down the elderly for Prize Points / Money.
1. These Extremist continue to call Social Security and other services that are PAID into through payroll deductions, Entitlements. WRONG.
2. These Extremist want to keep their millions, more then likely stolen, and take away paid into Social Security and Medicare / Medicaid for the Elderly, Poor, and Disadvantaged. DEATH by ATTRITION. Republican Response - Problem Solved and we in the 1% get money owed to others through their paid in payroll deductions.
3. They including Alexander and Corker intentionally blocked jobs to make the sitting President look bad. Pass Forward. @rathbonr
The average salary in my home town, Cocke County, TN, (Bob Corkers Territory), is between 16K and 20K per annum and there is EXTREME contempt for education by very oppressed people, oppressed by the more wealthy in that area so these people have waiters and maids for their tourist industry. In many cases the workers are helpless and are basically indentured slaves as discussed by Ted Kennedy. THey do not understand what Bob Corker is telling them and really have had no other options since Harold Ford, Jr. Harold Ford Jr., had an 80% lead until two weeks before the election when the RNC posted a TV ad across the state that was a TOTAL fabrication. In the last two weeks before the election Bob Corker went from 20% to 80% and won the election. Norguist Money/
The oppressed people in East TN are still smart enough that if they were making say even 75K per annum they would not be so wasteful or need to show extreme greed hurting the children more. When I was advised the average salary of the bus drivers and teachers in Chicago I was disgusted at them. It is nature for us all to want more. Greed is greed, There are very hard working people here who cannot even comprehend that kind of income and will argue that people do not make that kind of money. People in most states without jobs or home would be glad to have those paychecks. Pass Forward. @rathbonr
The Truth about Who has really blocked jobs and destroyed our economy over the last four years Nationwide. 2200 Jobs BLOCKED! This is a real time fight by a real person who has lost his life savings trying to bring 2200 Jobs to Tennessee. Not 5th person hear say. I am independent voting Democrat. Anyone who wants to argue against my real time experience with these partisan politicians has the same mindset that argues a ton of iron weighs more than a ton of feathers. Not enough character spaces for detail.
Tennessee Republican Politicians Intentionally Blocked 2200 + Jobs Through the Obama Reinvestment Act by Refusing to Go as My Advocate before the Committee In DC and Petition for those Jobs! This is well documented and their covert actions to block Elected President Obama Job efforts in every Republican held state; financial treason, terrorism, and an active conspiracy.
March 19, 2009. I was picked by a cartel of auto manufacturers for these two grants totaling one billion dollars!
Help assist the Nation in this 2012 State and Presidential election with my real time information in 5 PDF files I would like you to see. If I had room to post here You would understand the importance to Citizen USA and the middle class in the 2012 Election.
Summary of Republicans Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker, Phil Rowe, and Steve Southerland: They effectively blocked greater than 2200 initial jobs to East Tennessee and the region. I do not have the character spaces to print here the individual actions of the following politicians. A Summarized Semi-Quote Paraphrased derived from comments out of the four offices or individuals: We are a Republican State. We will always be a Republican state. We intend to vote him out of office in the 2012 election and we are not about to allow that Black Muslim Democrat to receive credit for 2200 jobs in Tennessee. Make a difference, Pass forward. @rathbonr
When the Corker office was recently asked about this and the 2200 jobs by an under cover investigative reporter the comment was that the grant Funds delivered to me did not fit their idea of what the 2010 Federal budget should be. This started on March 19, 2009. In 2010 I met with a Bob Corker Representative for almost 4 hours. I pointed out that they were in talks over the 2010 budget and to ask Elected President Obama to Resubmit the Reinvestment Act and make sure I was at the top of the line for those grants. Two weeks later I saw him and other TN Republicans along with many other Republicans saying to President Obama, Where are those jobs you promised? Latter I learned of the Republican Pact to make every effort to block jobs and economic growth under President Obama so their partisan party might gain stronger control of the nation. So, Tennessean, take that and think about the job you do not have. Take that and consider what one billion dollars of infusion into the region would have done for the regional economy. Make a difference, Pass forward. @rathbonr
You are a total lunatic.
You are a liberal hack, whining about job loses that affect YOU and failure to waste tax dollars on electric cars(how about asking for investigations into the lost jobs due to Keystone being shot down, try 10's of thousands of lost jobs, and lowering fuel costs). It is not the Governments job to "hand pick" winners and losers. There are 100's of "start up" GREEN jobs, and billions of wasted taxpayer dollars, GONE(solyndra, fisker,ect.). Do what other LEGIT companies have done, have a REAL product, that can compete on the market, convince private investors to back and invest in your product. Sadly America has already WASTED billions on technology, that can FAIRLY compete without subsidies. Take BIO-FUELS for example, these fuels and additives would NEVER "pencil out", and would cost MORE than conventional fuels with out subsidies(tax dollars). The WHEEL, succeeded through out history, on its own merit(the technology was "legit". It WORKS simply because it ACTUALLY WORKS.
sorry.........cannot fairly compete without subsidies(tax dollars).
Maria Bartiromo said that the dividend tax would hurt 401K's and Pension Plans. I don't know about Pensions, but 401K's pay tax at the ordinary tax rate and only when the money is withdrawn. Sure, there might be a secondary effect if lots of folks decide to sell their dividend paying taxes (at the right price I'll buy them in my 401K), but she is wrong that increasing the dividend tax would directly hurt 401k's. And no-one called her on it. I sometimes wonder how deeply the talking heads really understand things.
According to Poltifact nearly 1/3 of those with incomes of $200,000 and up pay between 15-20% and another 1/3 pay between 20-25%. Who cares what the nominal rate is, it's the actual rate paid that matters. It seems that the debate about nominal rates just sounds like another talking point to rile up the uninformed. What am I missing?
David Gregory is a JOKE get rid of him he obviously does not know what he is doing. If you were to look up in over your head it would be a picture of David Gregory. NBC, the show has no credibilty with him on it get a real journalist to do meet the press. I am quite sure Tim Russert is rolling in his grave!
Get rid of David Gregory he is in over his head, it's almost as bad as listening to the moron president bush. NBC, show some integrity and get a real journalist for meet the press. I would like to see someone that doesn't bend over and really questions politicians instead of kissing their asses.