Does President Obama's 'fair share' argument work?

This transcript is automatically generated

-- before he stepped in front of congress to deliver last night's State of the Union Address the president's campaign team made it clear.

But this speech would frame the reelection effort the president spent a lot of time talking about fairness as he tried to sell the idea of a tax hike on the upper tax brackets.

But does that appeal to a broad part of the country.

Or is it more of the so called class warfare that has divided Washington and the electric here's the president and then the GOP response.

Time.

Reform should call the mob -- If you make more than a million dollars a year.

You should not pay less than 30% in Texas.

Now and you can call this class warfare all you want.

But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as the secretary and taxes.

Most Americans would call that common sense.

No feature of the Obama presidency has been sadder than its constant efforts to divide us to curry favor with some Americans by castigating others.

As in previous moments of national danger we Americans are all in the same boat.

If we drift.

Quarreling and paralyzed over a Niagara of debt we will all suffer.

Regardless of income race gender or other category.

And joining.

At a discussed at our panel half Democrats half Republicans today -- -- -- we knew Doug Schoen welcome to the panel thank you as a Democrat.

It does the president strike a note that's going to sell with the electorate here well.

-- I worked for Bill Clinton and we consciously tried to bring people together in the state of the union I think that -- incredibly.

While class wolf warfare sounds very good in the abstract in -- speech last night as a practical matter dividing people.

And saying you want to raise taxes and we distribute ultimately in the course of the campaign probably divides and probably hurts.

Alice Benjamin your Democrats and even if it's just the rich we're gonna take it attacks -- I several people make over a million bucks that's gonna divide people I X.

Don't think it's gonna divide people -- to think it's better for the nation.

And I just think that we just need to get over this to work together as a people realize that but present Obama's trying to put Ford is something that will work but it can be given the opportunity away.

Marry Walter your Republican is the coming apocalypse comes I agree with on the -- -- Know what I think that it will divide people -- It will it will -- -- portion of people because -- -- -- nineteen -- -- -- -- nobody thinks they only got weapons if people make a million dollar die hard don't we all he -- and it's something it doesn't matter whether it's accurate or not doesn't matter if what he's saying is true or not.

What matters is it's a good sound -- and it's well I had -- -- I was talking politically I mean even if you don't make a million that you have this in no one sitting on -- panel makes a million -- kind of what your finances are.

Isn't it easy to say let's get those people who -- those -- the -- I want paying more there was that -- politically risk.

It does so well it's very simple to say that its campaign jingoism that's how -- -- -- plans on getting reelected.

This is a man -- campaign four years ago about bringing people together and a whole new atmosphere in Washington DC.

The -- we have right now is more divisions in our country than there ever have -- four.

This is a man that that thrives on division that he he put -- one class of people against the class of people backs -- -- -- that he believes the real.

-- he was saying look we can either make the millionaires pay more or you're gonna have to make cuts in the military -- and health care and education.

Is that a real point or is that a hobson's choice going hadn't let -- Greg GM for -- -- when I was.

-- -- say is you know I kind of see -- -- coming from because.

You know on the one hand he's saying we've got to tax the rich more but on the other -- saying we've got to allow tax.

Tax incentives for small businesses so you're kind of saying to the it to the small business person look.

Do well and then once you -- you know hit it out of the box and you become wealthy then we're going to penalize you for big wealthy.

Yeah.

Now -- not sound like Democrats.

Let me let me I don't know -- -- -- say you're a Democrat as well yes absolutely I think that would be a good problem how they'll let you -- that wealthy then you had that problem I mean all of these small businesses can't even get off the ground.

Because of the current tax -- because of the current state of our country if you did -- -- you think it was effective to have Warren Buffett's secretary there you see you're sitting there this for a woman is now paying a higher tax rate than Warren buckets of billionaire.

Do you think it -- average person that homicide is respond -- that -- -- Republican.

Please look at the words.

She pays more taxes than Warren -- which is absolute and total fault so that's right she doesn't have patience pays a higher tax rate but.

The Democrats in the senate are the ones that protected this stuff from this was really a reference for Romney and in his well.

This is typical democratic populism but here are some facts in the math doesn't compute.

You can confiscate every dime that the millionaires make in it still will not.

Solve the deficit problem in the spending problem that Obama has run up.

But isn't all that but is that the way people think it did do it did a regular American Alexander is that I'm gonna like my mom and my -- gets it they're making.

Very little muddy thinking I'd rather see the millionaire's tax more then let's see how I -- this big I had Kyle Harrington of.

-- and if it I think it's a good point to have a discussion about the tax code okay.

But be very careful I -- Barack Obama is very crafty and creative when it comes to his word so there's capital gains tax.

There's personal income tax there's real estate taxes so which is -- speaking about to say that his.

But Warren Buffett's secretary pays more than Warren Buffett.

In taxes a tax would raise tackle -- had to raise taxes -- is higher than his -- He the president suggested was essentially at organ attacked people who make a million dollars or more a 30% tax rate now that would basically double the capital gains tax rate on capital gains -- reason it's low -- to -- wanna encourage investment I think we believe that's good for the country is good for creating jobs.

Doubling it controversial -- Gonna hurt economic growth we've lowered the capital gains rate under Bill Clinton to stimulate the economy no plan for growth no plan to create jobs.

Very good political theater Megan I don't think good governance and I don't think it's ultimately going to -- You say is that the problem Tracy Davis can you boil it down to actual policy it may not fly well it sounds good to sound bytes is sort of the -- -- policies that has been trying to the last three years bigger and bigger government more regulation.

I'm taking -- sentence for people who can create more jobs for other people that this is the class of people that can.

To stimulate the economy spend money in the economy.

And grow more jobs I'd rather have them.

Have money -- that I think give the money it's a government I wanna have I wanted to ask you about another sound -- the other the president elect adding that he's taken a little heat for people are saying he misunderstand the nature of America and they see their point he does this sound -- As an example watch this.

No one built this country on the wrong.

This nation is great because we built together.

This nation is greater because we -- every team this.

Nation is great because we get -- each other's back.

And now summer -- summer responding saying get when it's and it's based on individual bill of rights that bit the power of an individuals to overcome circumstances on -- you I think -- I sent him.

He's done exactly the opposite us and has.

It showed no intention to work with congress when I was.

When I was working for the president has also very good friends with senator the late Senator Ted Kennedy you're there -- -- -- -- and I also work well I did work -- -- Kennedy also but that was when I was younger but it was still.

Very good friends they -- the president knew how to be a leader and work with congress.

And that is the difference this guy has shown no but he seemed to being -- and it might think but what I mean I think actually always done -- lost in the atmosphere of -- in the government's the government legally your needs to that's what he believes in where -- that that's not it doesn't have acronyms we're gonna I don't dozens.

We also -- individual initiative.

-- we got was common purpose.

Individual initiative what is by the way it went -- -- -- thanks -- that the that is shifting a an approach to being an American -- that reflects his vision of being more -- there is not consistently get -- -- very -- -- is the exception was in the American people.

The fact that we are unique country.

That we strive for the best that we thrive on crises and that what he is lacking is the leadership to connect with the American people can take us out of the Chrysler.

Let's not only encouraging people having chatted about extending knew how are we seeing too little of that today's -- how we actually are -- too little of that again I don't understand all this device -- this talk when.

Obama is essentially trying to unite that 99%.

That's obviously a big part of the country now begins -- -- not blocking a lot yeah I think he was talking about.

His inability to deal with congress and in his trying to do than what he thinks.

Is the right thing and maybe he's just being met with a stone wall with congress is don't you think maybe.

That he was trying to say that you know congress.

Have my back.

Do you believe that's usually how I -- -- usually -- -- you know you're not feeling for Americans the rich need to have that the -- back and vice Versa how many times.

Right now President Obama okay what did all my desk I'll sign it or not.

-- -- -- I say yeah.

And work and then -- -- is a perfect example of how exact time that the division we don't want crazy come you aren't.

That's.

Exactly what the president is doing with respect -- he he is creating a division and saying put it on might put it on my desk.

Let me sign off on it and he's pushing the blame off on can't get a monopoly on hypocrisy puts it Democrats got control of congress for ten years during his presidency.

The president could had anything he wanted what did -- give us three incredibly bad policies Obama care.

Dodd-Frank.

And stimulus plan that has provided absolutely no jobs whatsoever -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Let that be the last word and that they're now we are now great job they -- wrong.

Love these panels and we're still taking your thoughts on it as well it Kelly at foxnews.com.

Watch Live

Does President Obama's 'fair share' argument work?

Details

Clips

Editor's Picks

Sen. Marco Rubio outlines future of immigration reform

Buchanan: IRS is a 'rogue agency'

Massive fire breaks out at fuel-depot in Brazil

Holder's changing tune on involvement in journalist scrutiny

'The Five's advice for newly minted college grads

Cavuto: We're in a global war on terror

New information about the London terror suspects

Travis Alexander's friend: Family wants Arias on death row

The new face of US drone policy

Investigation into death of US engineer in Singapore a sham?

Former President Bush hosts wounded warrior bike ride

New developments in Maxim model murder trial

Transcript

Recommended