Dismissing President Obama's embrace of Republican demands for tax breaks for billionaires and a massive estate-tax exemption for millionaires as "an absolute disaster and an insult to the vast majority of the American people," Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has promised to "do whatever I can to see that 60 votes are not acquired to pass this piece of legislation."
The White House was trying to sell the deal Tuesday morning as a necessary bargain—meeting all the major demands of Congressional Republicans in order to achieve an extension of unemployment benefits. But Sanders was not buying that line. The senator said the Republican determination to hold jobless aid hostage to get a better deal for the rich was an "insult" and an "outrage," and he said it was "absolutely wrong" for Democrats to cut deals with them.
"Millionaires and billionaires do not need huge tax deductions. That's the simple truth. And the fact of the matter is—despite Republican rhetoric—if we're serious about creating jobs in this country, which should be our main priority, that's one of the worst ways to do it.," declared Sanders. "[It's] much better to take that money, invest in our roads, bridges, railroad systems, infrastructure. You create jobs doing that."
Pressed by MSNBC's Ed Schultz—who referred to Obama as the "capitulator in chief"—Sanders did not rule out the prospect of a filibuster.
"I will do whatever I can on this. This is a very, very bad agreement," said Sanders, who noted polling that says the American people oppose extending tax breaks for the rich. "I think we've got to hold tough on this, hold firm on this and not concede to Republicans who...have absolutely no inclination to compromise. They want it all for their rich friends."
Sanders was not alone.
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