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New reaction to president's approach to fiscal cliff

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    Will he work with GOP to get a deal done?

  • Duration 8:23
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Plenty of questions today about president Obama's approach to these fiscal cliff's negotiations you know taxes are gonna go up.

And there's going to be massive defense.

Spending cuts come next year if they don't do something -- Capitol Hill.

We showed -- the top of the hour how the White House was grilled today about.

What spending cuts are being negotiated.

In order to avoid.

The spending cuts were about to get which may feel are draconian.

And whether the president wants to raise these now and deal with them or whether he wants to postpone them until the new year and what cents.

Would that make.

Well just last night syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer claims the president is not serious about solving the country's fiscal problems.

In particular -- not in the context of these negotiations.

In fact mr.

Krauthammer claims doctor Krauthammer claims that the president is trying to drive a wedge here what that's his real strategy to drive a wedge between Republicans.

And Ryan reported to a lack of discussion.

Over those spending cuts as evidence.

Why -- Republicans.

Well I -- the entire debate to be about taxes and about the war among Republicans.

Over holding a line on the Norquist pledge or not.

When what Obama is proposing and raising the race on the 2% is -- true reality it will reduce the deficit from one point one trillion.

At one point 10 trillion.

21 point 02 trillion.

Eight cents on the dollar it is nothing it's lunch money it's.

It's it's it's a rounding error and yet that's all the debate that we're hearing.

Obama understands this he's trying to he's not trying to fix our fiscal issues and problems he's trying to destroy the Republicans.

By insisting that there is a split among the Republicans on this issue which is held them together.

The same way destroyed President Bush senior when he went back on the pledge he made -- as a political attack on Republicans there is no.

Evidence right now that he has any interest in the real fiscal issue because he would have to talk about spending and entitlements and he isn't.

Joining me now Marjorie Clinton former consultant to the Obama campaign and principal of -- consulting.

And Noel nick -- nick -- who's a Republican fund raiser and strategist now welcome.

And you're you're on that -- -- -- he is a Democrat on whether you think that makes any sense.

Well I have a hard time understanding what motivation President Obama would have for not getting the deal done this would potentially -- this and a recession.

Reflecting very poorly upon his economic policies.

Cutting extreme DOD spending at a time when.

Issues in the Middle East are rising and and there's instability.

So there would be no visible benefits on -- my opinion.

-- his not getting the deal done and everything he's been saying in the media everything he's been talking about Clinton even before the election.

Has been focused on getting this deal -- -- -- -- -- has he bit but it was it was it was Krauthammer saying he doesn't wanna get a deal done or is it was saying that the way he's making it all about taxes.

And not mentioning spending cuts had seen any more his focus.

Well he was saying yeah a little bit about it but I think that the bigger issue is is -- is raising taxes and imperative.

Absolutely and that was something that he saw as a mandate coming -- the election given that he ran on the platform of raising taxes.

But absolutely spending cuts are going to be an issue is going to be his responsibility to strong -- some of those Democrats who are putting their feet in the sand.

But I think he's also acknowledged a willingness to compromise and that spending cuts do have to be part.

Of that also adding taxes took to solve the issue Noel you know what's interesting is that President Obama Marjorie is right he did say at that press conference he held.

At ten days ago that.

Spending cuts would be on the table that he would he did want to look at that and yet.

The reporting that we talk about early in the -- in the Washington Post was that.

He had -- big meeting with progressive groups yesterday including unions as mothers and they emerged very happy believing that that wasn't really going to be the case that he was not.

That that that they were gonna merge very -- because he wasn't gonna touch any of the so called social safety net programs.

Let me you know Charles Krauthammer it's totally right this is absolutely ridiculous -- a dog and pony shadow I mean do it doesn't.

And if -- Obama wanting -- actually believe that if the Republicans don't act.

That -- we don't increase taxes that we're going to fall off this.

Fiscal cliff because they're playing another part to this -- And that yes -- span -- cut just thinking I mean.

And we all know but I mean these taxes are not going to amount to much of any bank at all all.

It is be spinning that is an enabling.

You know I just think that when -- cut -- to -- raise that as well about what it's what a -- in the ocean this is that they're fighting over -- I -- I visited by the rich people are gonna pay it they don't see it that way so another respect.

But you know even if they knew they get that tax hike on the rich.

It does it does so little.

Well all of them are pieces of the bigger -- all these things have to happen in tandem which is -- all things are on the table.

What I will say is people like a Lindsey Graham and our president Steve King who -- have been very.

Wong and in their position Republicans are very respected Republicans taking a national stage on the issue -- tax hike.

To me indicate that the conversations happening in the back room.

The conversations happening with Democrats are in fact promising.

Because why else would they parade around in and take a stand that they are that's causing trouble within the party.

So I think that's actually a good indicator.

A compromise that's happening in you know a lot we don't see all of that a lot of -- happened now behind closed doors of what the media picks up the sometimes a very different thing no what do you make of it because it.

Marjorie says okay so that the tax hikes and maybe they would amount to a small amount you know and then you look at the larger picture like Charles says -- surrounding here it's lunch money.

But she says you have to have all the things on the table but isn't that what we're discussing right here where are the other things.

That's exactly what I'm gonna say I'm outraged about this I mean especially when we've got 33 open senate -- coming out and you know the Republicans are looking at this.

Yeah the seats pretty hard this is -- back -- Cutting spending -- anywhere we not gonna get this.

Obama is acting like you know I wanna work with the Republicans -- not only -- come to terms with -- taxes and give white.

This is about -- to yes a little bit -- taxes but this the bigger picture the bigger picture.

Is about an entitlement programs and cutting this -- and -- Be interesting Marjorie the Republicans went in and said you know what you want tax hikes on the -- he got it let's go back to the Clinton Era tax.

Rates well in reality the -- we're fine with rates to go out.

And and then said now -- the dollars and your court what is your plan for reducing the deficit and the debt and and would you please let us know what you -- -- I think that might be wildly effective had a look at -- like a poker game you know just go ahead and ended up put it all in the middle of the table and see what happened I mean.

You know if anything about what that would do with put the onus on Democrats actually stand by what they're saying in -- compromise and so.

-- Republicans are willing to do -- I would love to think nothing more because the compromise -- have to happen and again as Ronald Reagan with that you have to you know get 10% to get nine Indian right now.

There it Democrats and the White House they got at least get that ten which it is the cut.

Why why why I mean I've let the Republicans today just don't they're not gonna do that are they Noel because they just don't seem to believe that tax increases are.

What's needed.

It's not a Republican problem they have is a Democrat problem this is an entitlement problems.

Probably you have got -- enormous.

Thought that Grover Norquist you have to look at -- like why are not Grover nor the know but he's back to be fair he's put a lot of Republicans and a very tough spot I mean you again got Lindsey Graham.

And even -- saying look we understand it's a different is what this is what Charles Grant.

Cameras says.

He he says you're doing the same thing president -- -- doing which is making the debate about Republicans and Grover Norquist as opposed to.

He had a huge deficit spending we have in the debt.

But -- -- get the last word -- -- Noel.

Mean we need to get over -- it it comes down to the spending.

It even if the Republicans -- OK forget governor you know forget Grover Norquist we're gonna go ahead and go with an attack it.

The Democrats Obama they're not doing an air park point -- We'll think we're not there yet I like I'm getting -- -- typical stuff they think you so much.

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