Senator Bob Corker Of Tennessee Report Card

Did Reagan Raise Taxes? Let GOP Candidates Answer

Tue, 01/03/2012 - 9:24pm —

Joe Conason

Politicians and their flacks lie every day, but it is unusual for someone prominent to utter a totally indefensible falsehood like the whopper that just sprang from the mouth of Eric Cantor's press secretary on national television. While interviewing the House Majority Leader, "60 Minutes" correspondent Leslie Stahl suggested that he might consider compromise because even Ronald Reagan had raised taxes several times. Cantor's flack then burst out in protest, saying he couldn't allow her remark "to stand." The premise of Stahl's perceptive question was perfectly accurate, of course. But the rude Hill staffer is scarcely alone in promoting this super-sized lie about Reagan's tax purity. And it would be worth discovering which of the Republican candidates likewise reject a fundamental truth about their party and its idol.

That video exchange is revealing for several reasons, not least because it shows Cantor trying to suggest that he was always willing to "cooperate" with President Obama and the Democrats during the current session of Congress. The public's distaste for the obstructionism spearheaded by Cantor and supported by the Tea Party faction is evident in polling data, which may well worry the ambitious Cantor, who almost openly hopes to depose Speaker John Boehner.

The argument began when Stahl asked: "What's the difference between compromise and cooperate?"

Cantor replied, "Well, I would say cooperate is let's look to where we can move things forward where we agree. Compromising principles, you don't want to ask anybody to do that. That's who they are as their core being."

Then Stahl noted, "But you know, your idol, as I've read anyway, was Ronald Reagan. And he compromised."

Cantor retorted, "He never compromised his principles." And Stahl recalled, "Well, he raised taxes and it was one of his principles not to raise taxes."

"Well, he-- he also cut taxes," bumbled Cantor, a moment before his press secretary blurted from off camera: " That just isn't true. And I don't want to let that stand."

Over a rolling image of Reagan announcing his 1982 tax increase -- sometimes described as the largest tax hike in American history -- Stahl notes, a bit mischievously: "There seemed to be some difficulty accepting the fact that even though Ronald Reagan cut taxes, he also pushed through several tax increases, including one in 1982 during a recession," as Reagan intones, "Make no mistake about it, this whole package is a compromise."

In fact, Reagan compromised on many issues, including an agreement negotiated with the late Democratic House Speaker Tip O'Neill to improve the solvency of Social Security for the past several decades. As Timothy Noah explained cogently in the New Republic (and not for the first time), Reagan repeatedly raised taxes in the years following the gigantic, budget-busting 1981 tax cut. Noah quotes former White House and Treasury official Bruce Bartlett, who served under Reagan and wrote a paper last year on "Reagan's Forgotten Tax Record," demonstrating beyond any doubt that the GOP icon raised taxes at least ten times during his two terms as president and also during his governorship of California. In that paper, Bartlett destroys the mythology of Reagan, which has been made concrete by the right-wing activist and lobbyist Grover Norquist with the "anti-tax" pledge signed by most Republican politicians.

It is understandable that Republican presidential aspirants, including the present crop, would seek to associate themselves with Reagan, a formidable leader who was often underestimated by Democrats. It is understandable, too, that they would emphasize the aspects of his career that appeal to their constituents, and elide the painful episodes of compromise and even disaster that marred his presidency. But in an election year when every Republican candidate has vowed to refuse any compromise on taxes that will reduce future deficits, the urge to erase history and distort facts must be exposed over and over again -- because the lies are so often repeated by right-wing pundits and politicians.

The real history: Reagan was forced to raise taxes because his cuts didn't "pay for" themselves, as the mythology also insists -- and he didn't raise taxes enough to avoid a legacy of deficits that only Bill Clinton's 1993 tax increase on the top tier began to remedy. The Bush tax cuts, like Reagan's, set the nation on its current fiscal path, worsened by his multi-trillion-dollar misadventure in Iraq. When the Republicans debate again, someone ought to test whether they will acknowledge those basic facts -- or whether they will insist on the "big lies" of Republican fiscal stewardship.

Senator Bob Corker talks out of both sides of his mouth, he has voted on every bill that took away the rights of the American people. He voted on the defence bill that Gave Obama and the next president the authority to send the military on America soil to arrest Americans and imprison them with out a lawyer or hearing.Congress has no authority because of corker and others who breached their oath of office.



Comments Biggest sham foisted on the Public so far, more to come. PermalinkSubmitted by Nicholas Rudolph on Wed, 01/04/2012 - 8:50am

This speaks more to the veracity and choice of staff of Eric Cantor than to the depth of their message. Reagan raised taxes several times during his time in office and there is no excuse for a staffer to attempt to dispute that, except that he is trying to give the Rethuglican lies some sort of credibility. For Cantor to allow, indeed sanction, such outright deception speaks a lot to his character. Time to clean out the den of deceivers in Washington and start fresh.

Senator Corker and Alexander of Tennessee voted to take away your fourth admin rights.

This video is only half truth or it is a cover up to keep you from learning the truth. Corker has voted for to many bills that violate our constitutional rights. This is just one and if it was the truth Senator McCain and the other Senator would not have added it to the defense bill in secret with out a vote from the committee.This bill gives the president authority to use the military against Americans, to arrest anyone who speak out against him or members of his administration, it prevents you from a trial and can keep you in prison for life. Corker lied in this video thinking you would believe anything he has to say.



Senator Corker and Alexander voted to give the President power to send the army to you home and arrest you with out cause. In other world they voted to take away your constitutional rights as a free American.



President Obama wants to put America under the control of the UN and the UN gun ban. A treaty is in the senate to be ratified, This is unconstitutional and will take away your right to protect your self and family. The UN will have the power to kick your door down and search your home also arrest you. It would put Americans under International law and the UN constitution.

Americans and the voters of Tennessee can not trust Corker and Alexander to up hold their legal sworn oath of office to protect the constitution and America.



This is the first time in history that America has exported more oil them they imported from foreign countries.Why are we exporting American oil and keeping gas prices high? If we are exporting more then we import then we do not need foreign oil. Corker and Alexander know this and also the President, the word is to force gas prices to over $5.00 a gallon to force the Americans to buy small cars. Also to raise American gas prices as high as the rest of the world.

Corker is on the banking committee who approved giving foreign banks over three trillion dollars bail out money, what did the banks do with the money because they say they are broke?

Now Corker and the Federal Reserve are going to give trillions more to bail out Europe. Americans will have to pay.

The GOP and Corker wants to privatize Social security and Medicare while 25 foreign countries draw social security and medicare, they can draw full retirement at age 62. The GOP and Corker want to raise the age so most Americans will die before they can draw the money they paid into all of their life.

The attack is on the American people by the President and members of congress, Republicans and democrats alike.

Now it is a bill in congress to give the President power to shut down web sites. Violation of the first admin. You can be sure that Corker and Alexander will vote to undermine the constitution.

America Wake Up we are paying people we elect to take away our freedom and to undermine the constitution, it is illegal and is ground to impeach also charge them with breaking the laws that protect the constitution.

The GOP and the Democrats keep spending trillion on foreign countries and taking away our rights as a free people.hen attack the elderly and the American people

How our so called allies voted in the United Nations:

Below are the actual voting records of various Arabic/Islamic States.

Their voting record is recorded by the US State Dept. and United Nations records:

Kuwait votes against the United States 67% of the time Qatar votes against the United States 67% of the time Morocco votes against the United States 70% of the time United Arab Emirates votes against the U.S. 70% of the time. Jordan votes against the United States 71% of the time. Tunisia votes against the United States 71% of the time. Saudi Arabia votes against the United States 73% of the time. Yemen votes against the United States 74% of the time. Algeria votes against the United States 74% of the time. Oman votes against the United States 74% of the time. Sudan votes against the United States 75% of the time. Pakistan votes against the United States 75% of the time. Libya votes against the United States 76% of the time. Egypt votes against the United States 79% of the time. Lebanon votes against the United States 80% of the time. India votes against the United States 81% of the time. Syria votes against the United States 84% of the time. Mauritania votes against the United States 87% of the time.

U S Foreign Aid to those that hate us:

Egypt for example, after voting 79% of the time against the United States, still receives $2 billion annually in US Foreign Aid.

Jordan votes 71% against the United States and receives $192,814,000 annually in US Foreign Aid.

Pakistan votes 75% against the United States and receives $6,721,000,000 annually in US Foreign Aid.

India votes 81% against the United States and receives $143,699,000 annually.

OUR GOVERNMENT IS WILLING TO SEND MONEY TO THESE COUNTRIES EVEN THOUGH THEY DO NOT VOTE WITH US.

THEY’LL CUTTING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE FOR OUR OWN SENIORS AND GIVE THE MONEY TO THOSE WHO DO NOTHING FOR IT!!!

Perhaps it is time to get out of the UN and give the tax savings back to the American workers who skimp and sacrifice to pay their taxes.

Senator Corker does nothing except rob the social security trust fund that Americans paid into all of their life!

America and the voters of Tennessee had better open their eyes and get rid of Corker!

Senator Corker spent our money flying around the world giving foreign banks bail out money which amounted to over , 3 trillion dollars, now the banks in the foreign countries say they are broke and need more bail out money?





The staff of Corker attitude toward Tea Party reflects Corkers attitude. If you go to a town hall meeting and ask Corker the wrong questions he will have you arrested!

Senator Corker continued to voice his strong opposition to S.1619, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act, sponsored by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). On Thursday, the Senate voted 62-38 to position the “China currency bill” for a final vote. Corker opposed the measure.



“There’s no question that China manipulates its currency, but I don’t believe this bill would bring any production to the U.S. or create one job here in America. This approach is a typical Washington, cut-your-nose-off-to-spite-your-face response that would prove counterproductive,” said Corker. “We’ve seen this play out before. In 1930, in a moment of populism, Congress reached for simple answers to complex problems and passed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. The result was a deeper depression and a decade of increased joblessness.

“If we want to do something productive regarding China, we should focus on pushing the Chinese to end preferential procurement policies, addressing China’s disregard for intellectual property rights, encouraging the Chinese to make investments in manufacturing plants in the U.S., and ensuring that America maintains access to the 1.3 billion Chinese consumers. These are the right policy responses toward Beijing. Unfortunately the bill currently on the Senate floor does none of this, but instead would be the opening salvo in a new dynamic of hostile relations.

“To me, one of the most shocking aspects of this debate has been the Home Alone syndrome at the White House – a total lack of leadership from this administration on an issue of great international importance.”

Providing Americans with More Information about Medicare

Senator Corker introduced legislation to add Medicare information to annual Social Security statements so Americans are better informed about their lifetime contributions and benefits. The Medinfo Act, previously introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., and Paul Ryan, R-Wis., will provide every eligible taxpayer and Medicare beneficiary age 25 and older with a detailed summary of their total lifetime contributions and benefits.

“One of the most significant long-term challenges for our country is restoring the solvency of the Medicare system, which holds $38 trillion in unfunded liabilities and runs out of money to pay full benefits in 2024. Reforming the system will require all Americans to better understand what’s at stake, and this new statement will help,” Corker said. Read more: http://bit.ly/pyVK4w

Nooga.com: Corker introduces bill to bring transparency to Medicare Tennessean: Sen. Bob Corker wants Medicare payments detailed for taxpayers

Keith Olbermann talks about the debt ceiling debate fraud and how corrupt and illegitimate the Federal Government is. He says the super congress is unconstitutional. He also says that the media is not doing its job exposing the Government corruption. Olbermann also slams the tea party for picking and choosing whats constitutional.

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