Pawlenty accuses Obama of scaring Americans into higher taxes

Tim Pawlenty (Credit: CBS)

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty responded Tuesday to comments President Obama made in an interview with CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Scott Pelley on the status of debt negotiations with Republicans.

Pawlenty, a Republican presidential contender, accused the president of scaring Americans "into agreeing to higher taxes and spending."

Mr. Obama told Pelley he could not guarantee Social Security and other government checks after August 2nd, a deadline set by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner for a debt ceiling increase.

"I cannot guarantee that those checks go out on August 3rd if we haven't resolved this issue," Mr. Obama said. "Because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it."

Mr. Obama also told Pelley "this is not just a matter of Social Security checks. These are veterans checks, these are folks on disability and their checks. There are about 70 million checks that go out."

In a written statement, Pawlenty called it "unconscionable" the president "would be proposing higher taxes and more spending, but not surprising coming from the same man who gave us the failed stimulus and ObamaCare."

The Republican presidential candidate statement continued: "I would use the debt limit as a moment to stop out-of-control government, and force real spending cuts and balance the budget."

Pelley's full interview with Mr. Obama airs on the CBS Evening News Tuesday.

[nomikjustkaty]

We are a country and we ALL need to do our part, if the already suffering little people can make the sacrifices and are doing without, then these corporations and rich people need to pay out as well.. it would not even hurt them. Even if they are forced to pay more taxes and cut the tax loopholes.. they would still be fat as rats and the difference in their losses and ours is that while we are doing without and suffering, they will still have plenty and not wanting for anything and still be able to afford all of their little luxuries. Social Security is an entitlement, those of us who work all of our lives, we are entitled to it if we paid into it and also our employees have as well. Veterans earned theirs by fighting for this country and they deserve theirs also. Stop handing out Welfare to the the illegal citizens [welfare mama's] whose jobs are coming to our country to leach off our money, spitting out one child after another, keeping a child under the age of 2 in their home constantly, so as to not be mandatory to work. If this were a legal citizen leaching off of the welfare system, they would have made them get their tubes tied and FORCE them to be mandated to work after spitting out 2 or 3 children. Yet these illegals, for whatever excuses they can think of [most of the time using their religion as an excuse] Keep having up to 7, 8 and 9 children.. enough to stay here and get lot's of grants and loans & brand new cars & drain our economy as much as they possibly can.. then they high-tail it back to their own country with all of it and live like fat rats as well.. after sucking our finances dry.. If you people in Congress were living in the working class, you would obviously understand what I am talking about as you would see this happening everyday.. these illegals are celebrating OUR Independence Day.. while us legals sit here and watch them and cannot afford to celebrate.. what kind of !@#$ is this? Aren't WE the ones who are supposed to be celebrating this holiday? Instead, the legals are sitting here watching the illegal neighbors families all pulling up in brand new cars next door and pitch tents and BarBQue pits, smelling and watching them cook all of their delicious food for the holiday, watching their kids playing with their toys and having fun and firing off the fireworks that they purchased and us legals children have no special food for the holiday, are not even celebrating, have no reason to, and could not afford the gas to take our children to see the free fireworks even if we wanted to.. Now that has to be proof that there is something seriously wrong with this picture..

[nomikjustkaty]

We watch the illegals celebrating our holidays, enjoying all of their nice cars and good food, all the while us legals are saying.. "it must be nice"

[HolyVoice]

Actually the biggest tax breaks Bush instigated with his tax cuts was for the poor. The lowest tax rate went from 15% to 10%. Bushes tax cut graduated up the scale to give the rich a break from 39% to 35%.
by Sirius_Payne July 12, 2011 6:01 PM EDT

So your suggestion that a 10% tax rate of the low to median income ($9 to $32K), as compared to 35% of the highest ($250K to $10M), is somehow a great tax break for the poor? On the low end that's the difference between $900 to $3.2K in taxes, keeping 5%; and on the high end $97.5K to $3.9M in taxes, keeping 4%.

The biggest tax breaks, measured in dollars, was for the rich. Mathematically, it makes perfect sense.

[endurorob_5]

fiberglass3 July 12, 2011 6:43 PM EDT
1 - Man who gave us the failed stimulus was Bush. Remember?

2 - Higher taxes only on the rich and big corporations (OIL)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++No, Mr. Wizard, Bush did not give us the stimulus, Obama did. And you want higher taxes for those who actually provide jobs and investment? Best way possible to ensure this recession continues.

[jimbom121]

There is little correleation between taxes and jobs. If there was, we would have more jobs. The tax cuts from 2001 & 2003 provided zero jobs.

[Progress4U]

Americabeforecorporations, endopo_5 can't remember ANYTHING past Jan 2009. Sad really...total memory dump.

[nearl451]

Well, look at that Mr. Milquetoast himself accusing Obama of scare tactics. A little low in the polls, Timmy? I guess it does hurt being outwitted by Bachman.

Panic time in T-Paw's corner.

[robbyr2]

Higher taxes? For whom? Oh, that's right, the only people who matter in Pawlenty's world- the American nobles. Time for a French Revolution here.

[dzaffina]

"I would use the debt limit as a moment to stop out-of-control government, and force real spending cuts and balance the budget."

force real spending cuts on the backs of the american people, just another thug. bachmann will do the same and eliminate the minimum wage.

[fiberglass3]

1 - Man who gave us the failed stimulus was Bush. Remember?

2 - Higher taxes only on the rich and big corporations (OIL)

[jabber2]

Meanwhile the Republicans have been trying to scare the American people into losing social security and medicare. THis is called disaster economics. This is how the IMF scares third world countries into selling off their natural resources and assets for a loan. Somebody has to stop these evil Republicans.

[noloyalisti]

With idiots like this Pawlenty guy who needs enemies?

You know at some point we are going to have to Egypt this place.

[Lindag10]

If that's what it takes to bring the Republicans to their senses, so be it. The rich and big corporations need to pay their share.

[Jhihmoac]

...easier said, than done...