Buffett Rule A 'Shiny Object': RNC Chairman

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus was dismissive Sunday of the Buffett Rule, calling it little more than a "shiny object" the president is trying to use to distract from his economic record.

"This is Obama's strategy. 'Look over here at this shiny object here. Don't look at the big picture, an economy on the brink that I didn't do a thing about and made things worse,'" Priebus told CNN's Candy Crowley on "State of the Union."

The Senate will vote on the change to the tax code on Monday, after a strong push from President Barack Obama. The Buffett Rule would require millionaires to pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes.

Priebus said it would be "one single tiny alteration of the tax code" that would raise only enough to fund the government for 11 hours instead of making a significant dent in the deficit.

"We're talking about 11 hours of revenue," he said. "This is where we shut down Washington, D.C., to talk about 11 hours of revenue while millions of people are out of work."

Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod, speaking on "Fox News Sunday" with Chris Wallace," said the Buffett Rule would cut the deficit by $4 trillion over the next decade.

Obama responded to criticism on his push for the rule during his weekly address on Saturday.

"I know they'll say that this is all about wanting to raise people’s taxes," Obama said. "They probably won't tell you that if you belong to a middle-class family, then I've cut your taxes each year that I've been in office, and I’ve cut taxes for small business owners 17 times."

Comments

[obama20082012]

04:06 PM on 04/20/2012

The Blunt Amendment.........a schitty object........

[gerrysue]

11:59 AM on 04/17/2012

The Republican party hold up religion as their shiny object.. That is how they get the real poor states to vote against their own interest. I guess they skipped this part in the bible.

Mark 10:25

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

I don't believe this means God is against wealth, just what you do to get it or what you do in return for the blessing.

[gerrysue]

11:17 AM on 04/17/2012

Talk about the real distraction of who got us in the mess. The Buffet Rule was walking toward a solution and you are fabricating facts to take the blame off of the administration and party that took a surplus into a deficient. RNC chairman, you are offering fools gold and a blind fold to even suggest that the President Obama has made it worse. Too bad we can't give your party truth serum before you attempt to spread your distorted facts.

[Vince Hebert]

05:29 AM on 04/17/2012

Republican Reince Priebus, you and you ilk have tried to ruin our country even BEFORE any democrat took office as president.

I'm 55. Don't you think anyone my age can see the tactics you've used? It's called poison the well. You and your crumbs saw a way of ruining our country for personal gains by forcing a huge financial mess then, holding on to any money at all till you are blue in the face to forstall a recovery like little children you are. Then blame it on the -----guy and say, God save the Republican Party! You even wrecked our credit rating instead of taking responsibility in Congress!

Well guess what! We Americans were tougher than you thought and STILL pulled off 24 straight months of economic recovery despite everything you tried and your corporate buddies holding the money and your banks refusing to lend to small businesses and gambling it on wall street at only 15% taxes!

Your "shiny thing" comment is a demeaning comment aimed at most Americans, don't you know?

Priebus, don't you know you insulted the majority of the USA? Most of the USA want a 30%Buffet rule. I'd rather have the 92% Eisenhower Tax on capital gains! Made us strong during the 1950's!?
And you say we're after shiny things...hmmm...I thought that was your expertise!

[RepublicanDepression]

10:26 PM on 04/16/2012

Hey Republicans,

Your Bush left such a mess that you really need to Reince your Priebus!

[RepublicanDepression]

10:13 PM on 04/16/2012

According to Politifact, Rencid Preibus is a massive LIAR:

True = 0
Mostly True = 0
Half True = 3
Mostly False= 1
False = 4
Pants on Fire = 1

http://www.politifact.com/personalities/reince-priebus/

LOL! The supporters of the GOP (Greedy One Percent) LOVE being lied to by their elite corporate overlords!

[madame48]

09:54 PM on 04/16/2012

How DARE anyone ask the uber-rich to pay more than half the tax rate of other professionals working for a wage...how dare they.....the rich spend that cash to buy tax loopholes and expect them to be forever, even in wartime.( but don't ask the rich to actually FIGHT in those wars)

[AMLIW Tss]

07:38 PM on 04/16/2012

Funny, when its the Buffet Rule, the 46 billion over 10 years is insignificant. When its food stamps, the 33 billion cut over 10 years is essential.

[RepublicanDepression]

10:13 PM on 04/16/2012

Brilliant!

[l78lancer]

03:42 PM on 04/16/2012

No matter how many disagreements they had, the RNC and republican party should still be beating itself up for replacing Michael Steele with this idiot.

[shewolf2002]

06:40 PM on 04/16/2012

Hey, I love this guy. His name alone lends itself to hours of fun. Rinse Pubis, Rains Priapist, ....see? I could go on all day. Michael Steele always seemed to me to have too much charm, courtesy and class to be a real Republican.

[RepublicanDepression]

10:18 PM on 04/16/2012

That's why the Greedy One Percent had to kick him out.

They rewarded Steel's success in the mid-term elections by kicking him out and replacing him with this insignificant little Priebus.

[RepublicanDepression]

10:16 PM on 04/16/2012

The only thing Steele didn't do that the RNC asked of him was to go away.

[l78lancer]

10:36 PM on 04/16/2012

(chuckling...) And I suspect Steele hung around so that his presence could constantly remind the RNC, "ha! Told ya so!"

[PostRationalDissonance]

02:41 PM on 04/16/2012

Yes the Buffett rule is a shiny object. Then again so is the constant fear mongering and vilification of homosexuals, immigrants, muslims, evolution, contraception, abortions, gun control, climate science, environmental protection, labor protection, teachers, women's equality, unions, and anyone else who likely will not vote for a candidate that panders to radical conservatives.

[captjoe20]

01:42 PM on 04/16/2012

What a joke, Obama making this a big deal. Buffet rule will bring in 47 billion over 10 years, we borrow 4 billion a day, that is 12 days of deficet spending. Obama will add over 9 trillion more over the next 10 years, why can't everyone inclucing liberals see that this can not be sustained and we are heading toward civil unrest if we start austariy programs like in Europe. The poor will get hit the hardest.

[madame48]

09:56 PM on 04/16/2012

it is about fairness. there is NO WAY that rich guys like Mitt get to buy tax loopholes that allow them to pay less than HALF the tax rate of wage earner professionals. THAT is wrong and unChristian

[clark8642]

10:09 PM on 04/16/2012

You do not understand. The rich job creators can get cranky if asked to pay taxes, and when they get cranky they cannot do their normal great work of creating jobs for all of us. So please do not do anythingto make them cranky.

[RepublicanDepression]

10:23 PM on 04/16/2012

Funny, when its the Buffet Rule, the 46 billion over 10 years is insignificant. When its food stamps, the 33 billion cut over 10 years is essential.

LOL! captjoe20 GOP (Greedy One Percent) talking point FAIL!

Also, the current deficit is mostly programs initiated from the mess of your Bush.

LOL!

[oldwhitefemdem]

01:23 PM on 04/16/2012

The Buffett rule would provide, at a minimum, $50B. Or $5B/yr. Since people spent $700M on the latest lottery, how worthless is $5B? I'll take it.

[l78lancer]

03:44 PM on 04/16/2012

Heeheehee...

[veroradu]

01:17 PM on 04/16/2012

Rather a shiny coin, than one tinted with rust, like the ones the Republicans are doling out, instead of trying to tackle the problem, the Republicans seem to be more concern with the plight of the wealthy, those misunderstood wealthy people who are so burden that they cannot make ends meet. Instead the Republicans attack stay at home moms (only those who are poor), the rightsof women and of course those evil union members. Give me Obama anyday! Obama 2012

[lisalulu]

12:58 PM on 04/16/2012

Let's grow up: we need long term investment in key sectors, specific and strategic cuts and revenue; and TIME to heal the domestic neglect of thirty years.

[Comfy]

12:31 PM on 04/16/2012

tax and distract - Obama has admitted this increase will not make a dent in the debt - he's pandering to people who are hurting in this economy. How with this tax increase create jobs ... that's what we need.
google "Buffett Rule is Bogus" by Andrew Moylan Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Taxpayers Union

[clark8642]

01:13 PM on 04/16/2012

Just let the Bush tax cuts expire for all of us. That requires no action by Congress, which is what they do best. Everyone shares in the sacrifice and we reduce the deficit. Thus we redistribute less of our grandchildren's wealth. With the tax cuts gone I am sure the electorate will push a little harder for spending cuts which would also be great. Maybe we might even start paying our own bills.

[madame48]

09:58 PM on 04/16/2012

FAIRNESS...no rich guy should be able to purchase a tax rate half what other professional WAge EARNERS GET. Mitt's Bain was involved in lobbying for this sweetheart deal.

[Comfy]

10:16 PM on 04/16/2012

Mitt's isn't paying for 'earned' money he's paying for returns on investments. I don't begrudge rich folks their $$. I am disgusted, however, that this country is being divided based on income. Thanks Obama.