Senator Blunt: Democrats focus on "the wrong things"

Updated 9:40 a.m. ET

(CBS News) Freshman Senator Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said the Senate's vote on the Buffett Rule is a symptom of misplaced priorities.

Blunt called the Buffett Rule "a gimmick that would do nothing to jump-start jobs or lower fuel prices for average Americans." The Buffett Rule, which failed to clear a Senate vote earlier this week, would impose at least a 30-percent tax rate on those making more than $1 million per year.

"Unfortunately, instead of working together to pass bipartisan solutions that would relieve pain at the pump and pressure on jobs, this administration is focused on the wrong things," Blunt said in the Republican weekly address.

Acknowledging that gas prices are a top concern to American voters, the Republicans focused their message on energy for the ninth consecutive week.

"If we're going to talk about economic fairness, or about fairness, one of the most pressing economic issues facing families, seniors, and job creators in Missouri and across America is the strain of skyrocketing gas prices," he said. Gas prices fell this week to $3.87 per gallon from $3.90 per gallon for the national average last week. 

Face the Facts: A fact check on gas prices

Again, the Republicans used their weekly address to criticize the president for blocking the Keystone XL pipeline.

"The Keystone Pipeline is one common-sense step in the right direction to help put more people back to work, reduce prices at the pump, and position our nation for greater energy security now and in the future."

TransCanada, the company proposing to the pipeline, proposed a new route this week, taking into consideration Nebraska's aquifers, which the administration said was a reason for not approving the pipeline.

[hogan168]

Obama's FAIR doctrine =

Forget
American
Individual
Responsibility

[rayward73446]

All of the GOP supporting posts on here spout the political agenda of the Koch brother's propaganda machines. These tea party founders use Stalin's tactics to indocrinate people to believe their self serving politics, and create disdain for the elected government. If they would use sources other than Fox News, and the nonsence preached by the Kochs' they will soon see that they are being lied to, and controlled by corporate greed, and are not "saving America".

[tvwatcher5345]

isn't this the nut who authored the blunt amendment?

[gep1955]

If passed, the Buffet rule would raise about $5 bil a year in additional tax renenue to the treasurey. If a 1% cut in expenses to all government departments were enacted, about $33 bil a year in costs would be reduced. Which one makes sense and which one sounds like a Saul Alinski tactic?

[Fox_Rush_Zombie]

by michaelz06 April 22, 2012 8:14 AM EDT
I'm curious....exactly what was "nonsense" in the topics he addressed?
***************

Well... let's see.

First he said the 'Buffett Rule' is a gimmick that would do nothing to lower fuel prices. That's nonsense because no one ever said it would lower gas prices.

Then he talked about working together to pass bipartisan solutions that would relieve pain at the pump and pressure on jobs. Republicans in congress made it their stated 'main objective' to make sure Obama is a one-term president and have obstructed any attempt at bipartisanship to meet that goal... so that is nonsense too.

Next he railed about 'skyrocketing gas prices'. The price of gas has dropped by 20 cents per gallon over the past two weeks where I live and have NEVER reached the level they hit in 2008... more nonsense.

Finally, he said, "The Keystone Pipeline is one common-sense step in the right direction to help put more people back to work, reduce prices at the pump, and position our nation for greater energy security now and in the future." That pipeline is proposed for the purpose of moving 'Canadian' oil to the Gulf of Mexico so it can be exported to other parts of the world.

[michaelz06]

First, you either missed the main thrust of his point about the Buffet rule, or deliberately chose to ignore it....and interestingly chose to edit the quote as you repeated it. As for the "main objective" being to make Obama a one term president, that is political rhetoric that both sides routinely engage in. As for solely blaming Republicans for "obstructionship" that is complete BS. Try revisiting how the Healthcare law was passed.

Gasoline prices have skyrocketed....two week drop not withstanding. The real point here is what are we as a country doing to fix our dependence on foreigh sources?

And what part of "one common-sense step" escaped you? Will it not provide jobs? And rather than rule it out, how about a proposal to change what you object to, and create a provision that diverts some of that oil to us? Who is being obstructionist, and who is actually talking about things that might really fix something?

[Orca_Nunchuka]

This imbecile Republican is the representative for state with very low wages barely a handful of millionaires in it yet he preaches this nonsense.

[michaelz06]

I'm curious....exactly what was "nonsense" in the topics he addressed?

[aldrich617]

Senator Blunt said we should seek "bipartisan solutions that would relieve pain at the pump
and pressure on jobs", but how can this be achieved when it is likely that it is actually Romney
supporters who are driving the price of gas upward? Would those supporters do such a
low-down skunky thing? Fraid so, yes. Is there certain proof that they are? Tough job there, no.
What would a bipartisan solution actually look like? Is a cynical sellout of ecological concerns the only
alternative?

The fact is that even immediate approval of the Keystone XL pipeline would have no effect on gas prices
or jobs short term, may permanently damage an important aquifer,and that the squandering of natural
recources short term would surely short change our children long term. Senator Blunt knows this and
yet he persists because he is a prisoner of private sector special interests and his integrity level is zero.

[michaelz06]

Did you catch the part about a revised route to address the concern you mentioned? And what is wrong with revisiting all the possibilities of drilling? Rather than dismiss that out of hand, why do the Democrats focus on proposing some safe guards and getting it done?

[liberalmike]

LET me be blunt..........your a freaking teabagging idiot!

[michaelz06]

Let me be equally blunt. You contribute nothing constructive, so why not simply go off somewhere else and spew your meaningless vitriol in the mirror. At least that way, it would be directed at someone who needs to be told off.

[liberalmike]

O'BAMA IN 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[steveandrew5]

GOP Propagandists agree that the country is filled with Republican gullible, ignorant, drunk and radical as Islam thinking Christian snake oil salesmen and women. All of which are lead like a horse to water. Just give us all your money so we can elect the worst possible GOP candidates imaginable like 22 felony count for Medicare fraud
Rick Scott now the Governor of Florida after the GOP campaign spent over $120 million to get this crook in office.

The only way per the GOP is for the super wealthy to go tax free. It is their freedom and their right now our right which is saying we are the GOP slaves working for the super wealthy and we will get nothing after it is all done.

[sandiegopete]

Let's see Mortar, in 2008 most of the citizens who qualifed to vote supported Obama. You now accuse most of the people who qualify to vote in the United Statews as gullible, ignorant, drunk Islam thinking neoMarxists. If you don't like the people of my country why don't you get the .... out? There are enough bums bad mouthing the United States. We don't need you here as well. That is if, in fact, you are a U.S. citizen. I have my doubts. Possible Putin connection?

[sandiegopete]

Mortor, steveandrew5 posted that the GOP propagandists agree the country is filled with Republican gullible, etc. Evidently you could make sense of his comment. I couldn't. I could, however, understand what you posted. I took your posted reply at face value. If you were just trying to turn the tables on steveandrews, that is one thing. However, just reading your comment as a stand alone submission it reads as a criticism of many of our citizens.