Obama says Tea Partiers owe him a thank you
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/16/art.teaparty6.gi.jpg caption ="President Obama said Thursday night that he thinks the Tea Party movement owes him a thank you."]
(CNN) - Tea Party activists marked Tax Day with a high-profile rally in Washington, DC, and other protests across the country, but President Obama says the anti-tax movement actually owes him a thank you.
Speaking at a Democratic fundraiser in Miami Thursday night, the president touted tax cuts in the stimulus measure and the fact that the tax rate has not been increased for those making less than $250,000 a year.
"So I've been amused in recent days by these people having rallies," he told the crowd at the fundraiser to laughter. "I think they should be saying thank you."
Members of the crowd, who paid between $250 to $1,250 to attend the event, immediately rose to their feet and replied "Thank You!"
The White House noted Thursday that federal taxes were reduced by $173 billion in 2009 and said that the average tax refund is about 10 percent higher than last year.
Obama also won a standing ovation from the Miami crowd when he praised the recent passage of the health care reform plan.
"As my vice president said, 'This is a big deal,'" Obama said to laughter in reference of Vice President Joe Biden's verbal slip at the bill's signing ceremony where he was heard telling the president "This is a big F-ing deal"
"And he was right," Obama said.
Oh yeah sure, I forgot the Almighty needs a Thank You! thank you for driving us further into an oblivion of debt. Thank you for raising taxes even though you said you wouldn't. Thank you for lying! Thank you for making us less safe!
Thank you for the lies that you will continue to spread! This is one president that does not know what it means to be Presidential. At least when Bush was president he let the groups protest and did not have anything demeaning to say. This president however is so full of himself it is quite disgusting.
Thumbs up, Mr. President. The dems need to directly challenge the mindless claims from those who wonder around in hallooween costumes, speaking like bumper stickers.
It is humorous to see these people fork out the cash to attend these goofy rallies and rants, yet kick and scream over a tax bill that actually contributes to something. Go figure. Oh, wait.....maybe a few grand for a photo with the shrill sisters, Palin and Bachman, not a problem!
We will be thankful when President Obama and the Democrats are out of office. Tax Enough Already. Anyone miss President Bush yet.
For being so well educated these tea Party people don't have much commen sense. They complain about higher taxes yet say what they pay is fair? Complain about Socialized heathcare and programs yet alot are on medicare and collecting social security. Drive around the country in their 100K plus RV's to these rallies and try to make us all think they are a huge majority when they are but a small minority of the population. Hey guys Wanna save some money, quit paying Sarah Palin a 100K a pop to speak at these things
Last year, I got zero back...this year I got 210 bucks back...not much but better than nothing. My tax status didn't change much at all so it really is true, at least for me that I got taxed less this year. Go figure...
The Tea Party has been fed lies and construed facts to invoke fear. Several of the comments here refer to things that haven't happened and aren't going to happen.
I'm sorry, but I have not forgotten the disgraceful position Republicans left this country when they were booted from office in 2008.
Even the Socialist party members flat-out dismiss the notion that Obama has a socialist agenda. Perhaps the Tea Party supporters should actually learn for themselves what socialism is, instead of relying on the definition and facts from individuals with political agendas.
Lauging with the President on this! Clinging to ignorance isn't exactly advancing GOP causes much, is it?
Cue the fear-mongers, the haters, and the you'll be sorry crowd.
I agree with you It's Me..It's too much like right for credit to be given were credit is due!
OK Mr. or MSSS ME – I will not give up my SS I've paid into it my whole life. So Lol! when I retire it won't be there dumb ass
Thank you, President Obama. Our household is much better. We are much better today that when Bush and his Republicans were running things. God Bless You and you and the rest of the Democrats, PLEASE KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
Just shows that Obama continues to be out of touch with mainstream America. Believe me, that is by choice. He absolutely knows this is a problem for the party and is taking every opportunity to down play it. He didn't raise FEDERAL income taxes for families making less than $250K.,,,but he did increase taxes for any family making more than that. He has to pay for the new "entitlements" and tax incentives for the freeloaders and is starting here. Do you really believe it won't make it to the families that make $150K per year? The toll of health care on us all is yet to be determined. Obamabots please keep laughing and thinking this is meaningless.
Obama is the most arrogant and corrupt president ever. People are ignorant if they think his policies won't lead to higher taxes and costs! We can't sustain this level of spending.
No More Refunds! We are losing money in the Federal level and he's proud that he isn't taking in taxes fairly??? Eliminate the IRS and the income tax, go to a straight VAT and things will be a lot smoother and the federal budget will be reduced since we don't have all the IRS agents!! Of course, if Comrad Obama would stop handing out money to everyone then the amount of taxes coming in would be sufficient.
You all do realize taxes HAVE to increase to continue to support all of this spending, don't you? True, they're not up now, but it's going to happen. Just wait.
The "mentally unbalanced" / mentally ill accusations are lovely. That's an old Rudy Giuliani trick. Every point made against him is "just politics," everyone who disagrees "needs psychiatric help."
Actually, people who vote against their own interests – i.e., those who vote Republican and are not white, male, Christian, and wealthy – need to examine their motivation. If you hate liberals because of "tax and spend," you must know of course that the previous administration – a Republican one – spent money like a drunken sailor.
The comments above are funny as all get out. You're angry because taxes "will go up," "give it time," etc.
The Tea Party movement is propelled by the GOP . ie Michelle Bachman.
What bothers me the most is that people, specifically the tea partiers, want the deficit reduced and the spending to stop, but they don't want to be inconvenienced while this is done. No taxes... well I hate taxes but at a time the government has a huge debt, I'm will to pay my fair share. This administration seems to be going out of their way to make sure we don't pay more than we have to and to ensure the burden is on those that can afford more. I give them credit for trying.
Oh , yes Mr. President! Thank you for being the reason that the Conservatives will be triumphant in Nov. Overturning your Socialist agenda has been a rallying cry for us. Thanks again!!!
The irony of this whole situation kills me! I sometimes try to listen to Hannity and Beck on the radio (as much as i can stand before I want to throw up), and they are complaining about disregard for the constitution, not listening to the people etc., and all I can think is, now you know how Democrats felt for the past 8 YEARS!!! Did bush respect the constitution? I think he wiped his butt with the constitution.
Don't expect appreciation from this group. They are on a group rant that defies all logic and reason as well as a grasp of recent history. If they want things to get better, start with themselves.
In order to pass health care, stimulus and other tax increasing bills, we have to cover them with capital. We don't have it, so we print it and borrow against it from China and Japan. Remember what happened to the housing bubble, banks stopped lending and most of us lost everything. Once China and Japan wake up and stop lending we are ALL going to lose everything and USA will no longer be the world's best. I am not saying "wake up'" all I am saying is to open your eyes. After all, if we are broke and don't have money, we don't need health care or any other stuff they are trying to feed us. We need jobs and we will help ourselves.
This is another typical Obama magic show. With his oratory skills and sarcasm, he pretends that the only thing that matters is that he hasn't increased taxes.... YET.
He's done everything in his power to ensure our taxes will go up dramatically in the next decade. Bravo, Mr. President. Yet still you pretend to be ignorant of this. Maybe the people in Switzerland love to praise you before you've earned it, but don't mock the Tea Party for not falling for the same ruse.
It's really true.
The only people who can complain about Obama are the selfish and wealthy.
The facts are the facts. Obama cut taxes. Obama inherited a complete disaster. Obama has turned the economy around, just look at the strength of the dollar, the DOW, the Nasdaq, SP 500. It's amazing how all these idiots go out and call Obama a socialist and yet they collect social security checks, they drive on roads built with tax dollars. They actually defend the very insurance companies that have been ripping off the American people for decades. This Tea Party is nothing but a split in the Republican Party. The GOP is falling apart. They have no leadership, they have no direction, they have no solutions and neither does the Tea Party. Palin is a joke. She couldn't even finish her term as governor. Who is going to vote for a quiter? Not me, that's for sure.