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Hannity: GOP needs to do the right thing on fiscal cliff

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    Sean's message to the Republican Party

  • Duration 5:38
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And welcome to Hannity now that the president through Tim Geithner announced that he wants to go over the fiscal cliff I begin tonight with some advice for house Republicans now first.

Republicans and conservatives need to understand.

But the person that they are negotiating with Barack Obama he views this more through the prism of politics and ideology -- economics now how do we know this it's easy.

Because his proposal to raise taxes on the top 2% in terms of the revenue generated -- that's the equivalent of a grain of sand on a beach.

Now even if Obama gets what he wants which is to raise the top rates from 35% to 39 point 6%.

The revenues would merely -- this government for roughly eight days.

And the money the federal government would add to the treasury would hardly make a dent in the yearly deficit and not even a chip Abbas sent off the sixteen trillion dollars -- in debt.

Obama saying that raising revenues has absolutely necessary this is a moral imperative.

He'd rather go over the fiscal cliff than not to raise tax rates so Obama is pushing higher taxes on the top 2%.

Not for economic reasons but for ideological reasons.

But there's also this obvious fact Obama wants to raise the -- -- for political reasons and that is he wants to force Republicans.

To raise taxes in order to trigger a civil war within the GOP and the conservative moment.

And in that respect sadly Obama is having some success now.

So long -- this debate is focused not on cutting spending on on raising taxes and revenues with the only question being which taxes how much revenue.

-- that Obama wins help Obama succeeds in making the argument.

Not about his spending but about Grover Norquist he wins there to.

Help Republicans on the other hand if they can figure out a way to refocus this debate on spending they wind and the country wins.

Now we can't kid ourselves that is not easy to do Obama has the biggest microphone on the land and he also has the media in his hip pocket.

Now all the GOP has is control the house.

Now it's very hard it's inherently hard for any branch of congress to present a unified discipline front.

Well now the polls show that the public will blame the GOP if we go over the fiscal cliff now.

If that's the case if Obama and fact wants to go over the cliff and door won't deal unless Republicans agree to raise the top rates or revenues.

Then Boehner needs to understand this reality and not under any circumstances.

Surrender or appear weak.

Now that what what that means specifically is Boehner cannot allow himself to begin to negotiate with himself and other Republicans.

Because all that will do is -- and reward Obama's inflexibility.

And cause a fierce and harmful internal fight within the GOP in conservatism.

And -- -- I get the feeling with the each and every passing day as Republicans move closer and closer to the Obama position.

That they're too afraid to go over the -- it too early to make a deal any deal no matter how bad that might be and that's the danger.

And there's a feeling out there these days in terms of the body language and the posture of the Republican leadership that's the direction they're headed.

They look like they're afraid they look like they want -- deal and if they don't get one all the world's gonna come crashing down on them.

And that's the mindset that needs to change so what Boehner and company need to do -- the following want.

They need to understand that game that Obama's playing.

And they need to adjust accordingly to this -- Obama's acting in a way that isn't helping the economy but is meant to destroy the Republican Party.

While they -- except that an act wisely it would be suicidal to assume that -- dealing with a reasonable flexible man.

When in fact Obama is a hyper partisan ideologue.

Number two house Republicans need to begin to pass legislation that advances their agenda and they need to send that to the senate -- the bill dies while so be it.

Police Republicans will be offered a positive governing alternative to Obama.

-- three Republicans need to keep in mind that if we go over the cliff recover Republicans we know -- going to be blamed.

But Obama will also be badly damaged by this he's the head of this parade and for one thing it badly weakened economy is going to hurt him more than anyone.

So Republicans need to figure out that their -- is stronger than they think and they need to remember they're the ones that control spending.

And under no circumstances.

Should they ever give Obama a blank check or give up their constitutional authority.

Now -- before Republicans and in particular John Boehner.

He needs to lift your eyes and remind yourselves that a party that gets trapped into negotiating.

On the terms of the opposition.

You always suffer and they suffer in particular if they lose the battle over the narrative.

-- right now that's what's happening to Republicans since all the focus here is on taxes and not spending.

Republicans need to take steps like passing real legislation.

That allows them to talk about their agenda not what Obama wants to talk about and they have to figure out creative ways to make their case to the American people.

It's time the Republicans have the courage of their convictions.

It is simply immoral to continue to steal from future generations.

With out of control deficits and now record debt.

Now going over this -- to prevent the country from going bankrupt.

Would be under these circumstances.

I argue a very noble endeavor a noble goal.

This is simply standing up for what is right what is moral what is just it's standing up for your children and future generations.

It is the right thing to do.

Because this is now a fight for the soul of America.

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