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As the debate over extending the payroll tax break shifts on Capitol Hill, reader F.B. flags an amusing moment from MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” earlier today.
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Host Joe Scarborough, a former Republican member of Congress, noted that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said he would block the extension of the tax break unless it’s fully paid for. And that’s when the mockery began: “[I]f Mitch McConnell is saying that, and it looks like he is saying that, he would appear to be the first Republican in the history of Washington D.C. to say they don’t want a tax cut unless it is ‘paid for,’ because we Republicans generally believe that tax cuts pay for themselves. The economy grows; daisies bloom in the backyard; male-pattern baldness is reversed.”
For the record, if tax cuts cured baldness, I would have to reevaluate my commitment to my political/policy beliefs.
As for the substantive point, Scarborough’s sarcasm is more than fair. Republicans never met a tax they didn’t want to cut — until now, that is — and have argued repeatedly that even trying to pay for tax cuts is a mistake. And yet, now GOP officials have not only argued against a tax break for American workers, Republicans have even given up the “tax fairy” belief about cuts paying for themselves.
It’s almost as if GOP leaders aren’t principled at all, and will oppose Democratic efforts to help the economy just for the sake of doing so.
For the record, at least one Republican yesterday raised the prospect of simply giving up on financing. Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) said of extending the payroll cut, “It wasn’t paid for before, so why is it paid for now? Through economic activity, it will pay for itself.”
Brown’s understanding of economics is wrong, but if the GOP decided to simply skip trying to pay for the extension, I suspect Democrats would go along.
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Gus on November 30, 2011 11:30 AM:
Nobody could possibly see this coming: we have to pay for the tax cut with discretionary budget cuts. Duh!
c u n d gulag on November 30, 2011 11:31 AM:
Never mind male-pattern baldness -
the reason I thought Conservatives flocked to tax cuts was that it gave them erections, and they preferred them to Viagra as their 'quicker-pecker-upper' of choice!
And leave it to Republicans to be wrong for the right reasons, and right for the wrong reasons.
Sum game = always wrong.
DAY on November 30, 2011 11:32 AM:
On my morning walk today I saw a much dented and rusted tin can in my path.
I pretended I was a congressman, and kicked it down the road. . .
r on November 30, 2011 11:32 AM:
Why pay for it? How else to screw those who won't vote R?
Jason on November 30, 2011 11:34 AM:
Republicans only use that argument to justify tax cuts that go to the right people (i.e. the rich). If a tax cut is going to primarily benefit the lower and middle classes, then it does not "pay for itself" or stimulate the economy. Besides, I believe the Dem bill will pay for the cut with a surtax, so watch for McConnell to work to block the cut even though it will be fully paid for.
stormskies on November 30, 2011 11:41 AM:
McConnell reminds as some kind of insect who has had it's insides sucked out by another insect. He in nothing but a physical form that is like a robot being controlled by his Corporate pay masters.
kevo on November 30, 2011 11:45 AM:
For those who've been paying attention, it is easily discernable the Republicans are Hollow Men! -Kevo
i love c u n d gulag on November 30, 2011 11:54 AM:
LOL @ 'quicker-pecker-upper'. I hope you write for a living gulag!
citizen_pain on November 30, 2011 12:16 PM:
The GOP does not want to extend the payroll tax cut because it will stimulate demand, allow for business' to hire, which would kick start the economy just in time for the election season.
Pure sabotage, plain and simple.
rrk1 on November 30, 2011 12:23 PM:
It’s almost as if GOP leaders aren’t principled at all, and will oppose Democratic efforts to help the economy just for the sake of doing so.
Rethugs unprincipled? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Steve, you must have taken two naive pills today.
Roger Ailes on November 30, 2011 12:25 PM:
If amnesty cured baldness, Mickey Kaus would have to blow his brains out.
T2 on November 30, 2011 12:27 PM:
now Boner has joined McConnell in saying no tax extension without cuts...no tax increase on the Rich. The GOP is playing a game they've won many times in the past..but with the public solidly on the side of Obama and the Dems relative to Taxing the RIch, I wonder if they actually plan to carry this all the way to defeat?
Eric on November 30, 2011 1:17 PM:
We are focusing on what Republican politicians believe, which is asking the wrong question. Don't pay attention to the puppets; it is the puppet masters that matter. What to they believe? What to they want? It seems to me that the wealthy cabal that control the GOP want their taxes to be unchanged, and if some of us peasants are harmed in the process and made less secure in our lives, so much the better.
Linkmeister on November 30, 2011 1:29 PM:
Steve Benen: "For the record, if tax cuts cured baldness, I would have to reevaluate my commitment to my political/policy beliefs."
Sellout.
Even if that were the case I couldn't switch to the other side. My price is much higher than that. Of course, I'm older than Steve, so I've had more time to get used to that male-pattern baldness he's facing.
Bob/SoCal on November 30, 2011 1:49 PM:
What Citizen_Pain said..
I think Obama should let the Bush tax cuts expire as scheduled. We'd have to suck it up until next fall...Then Obama could point to the increase in revenue after the taxes sunset...Show the voters just how wrong the Repubs thinking has been...Get re-elected, hopefully accompanied by many more Dems in House and Senate..and then proceed to kick some Republican A$$ with tax breaks for lower and middle classes.