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Obama to House: 'This Is About People'

President raises pressure for payroll tax cut

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 22, 2011 1:33 PM CST

(Newser) – President Obama tried to turn the screws a little tighter on House Republicans today by showcasing people who said they'd be hurt if the payroll tax cut fails to go through. He again used the $40 argument, the average amount people would lose from their paychecks, reports the AP. "Now there may be some folks in the House who refuse to vote for this compromise because they don't think 40 bucks is a lot of money," said Obama. "But anyone who knows how to stretch a budget knows that at the end of the week or the end of the month, $40 can make all the difference in the world."

Obama spoke after Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, called out House Republicans for balking at the two-month extension. "This is about people," said the president at his White House event. "How can we not get that done? Has this place become so dysfunctional that even when people agree to things we can't do it? It doesn't make any sense. Enough is enough." Not all the coverage is sympathetic on the 40-buck front: See here.

President Obama speaks at the White House, flanked by people who commented on Twitter about the payroll tax cut.
President Obama speaks at the White House, flanked by people who commented on Twitter about the payroll tax cut.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Obama speaks at the White House, flanked by people who commented on Twitter about the payroll tax cut.
President Obama speaks at the White House, flanked by people who commented on Twitter about the payroll tax cut.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Obama speaks at the White House, flanked by people who commented on Twitter about the payroll tax cut.
President Obama speaks at the White House, flanked by people who commented on Twitter about the payroll tax cut.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 63 comments
SpaceCadetGlow
Dec 23, 2011 10:49 AM CST
there are two ways to take this BS if you swallow it and process it properly (and i would say the same thing if it were anybody,not just Obama). "It's about people....that are CEOs and big wigs at corporations that pay for my campaigns in exchange for kickbacks and other benefits" or.... "It's about people....for now until i reclaim the white house in 2013 if i am lucky enough to do so and you believe what lies i spread  then it will be back to business as usual"
GeorgeEC
Dec 22, 2011 5:35 PM CST
"This is about about people."  "This is about politics."  "This is about BS!"
without_hate
Dec 22, 2011 4:20 PM CST
Obama and the democrats do not care about people. Where are the democratic appointed members to the conference committee. It will take one hour to clear up the flawed bill of the Senate and send a workable bill to the President desk. The lies and spin are the democrats will not work.  The destruction of the Democratic Party started with talk radio and the net is the closer. The media hide the truth for decades. That is not possible now.  Please call Harry, you know the senile old man that has stood in the way of creating jobs for the last two years and tell him to get his duff back to Washington and go to conference. If he can not do his job then resign. 

 
House Republicans • payroll taxes • President Obama

 
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