Playing
the role of negotiator for the Democrats, Good Morning America's George
Stephanopoulos on Tuesday pressed Senator John McCain to "move the
President's way" on extending the Bush tax cuts. He also oddly spun such
a continuation as a "tax cut" for millionaires.
The ABC anchor lobbied McCain, asserting, "[Obama] moved your way on this freeze of all pay for federal workers.
Are you prepared to move the President's way for any items on his agenda?"
Stephanopoulos then forced the Arizona senator to listen to a clip of
Democrat Claire McCaskill arguing against extending tax cuts for the
wealthy. "What's the answer to that," the host goaded. The former
Democratic operative turned journalist complained, "But, do Americans
making more than $1 million need a tax cut right now?"
He didn't explain how it's cutting taxes to keep current tax rates in place.
On
November 16, 2010,
Stephanopoulos hit Congresswoman Michele Bachmann with the same
Democratic talking points: "But, why is it okay for the wealthiest
Americans, earning over $250,000 a year- And remember, the President has
called for extending all tax cuts for those under $250,000."
On
November 15,
he talked to Erskine Bowles, the co-chair of a commission on debt
reduction. Sounding a similar theme, Stephanopoulos worried, "Couldn't
some of this be avoided by keeping the tax rates where they are? I mean,
by letting them go back to where they were in 1998 when you were White
House chief of staff?"
More examples of Stephanopoulos' arguing for tax increases can be found in the MRC's
Profile in Bias page.
A transcript of the November 30 segment, which aired at 7:12am EST, follows:
GEORGE
STEPHANOPOULOS: And for more on this we're now joined by Senator John
McCain in Washington. Thank you for joining us this morning, Senator.
And we just heard Jake go through the agenda. The President made an
opening bid yesterday. He moved your way on this freeze of all pay
for federal workers. Are you prepared to move the President's way for
any items on his agenda?
JOHN MCCAIN: Well, what I hope that we could do is agree to the
extension of the tax cuts at all levels. And also, reach some agreement
on moving forward with the START treaty, as well. I think that that is a
serious result that could end- could ensue from the meeting today. And I
would point out that the election was about tax cuts, the economy, and
jobs. That's what it was about. It wasn't about the Dream Act. It wasn't
about Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It was about the tax cuts, give some
confidence to businesses, large and small, that they will have some
surety and confidence about what their financial situation will be in
the coming year. And hopefully, we can move forward on that.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Let's talk about the tax cuts. Because the Democrats
seem to be prepared to compromise at least a bit. Before, they were
saying extend the tax cuts for Americans only under $250,000. Now,
they're saying, many of them are saying, they are willing to move that
ceiling up to $1 million, that the tax cuts would expire only for
Americans who make more than $1 million a year. Here's Senator Claire
McCaskill on that.
CLAIRE MCCASKILL: Well, I think we should draw the line in the sand for
millionaires. Honestly, with all of the talk and righteous indignation
about the deficit, are we really going to hold up tax cuts for all of
America just for the millionaires?
STEPHANOPOULOS: What's the answer to that?
MCCAIN: The answer to that is, let's give everybody confidence in the
future, that they can invest, they can hire. Understandably, the amount
of money that corporations and businesses are sitting on is at an
all-time high. They- We want to give them confidence that there will not
be any tax increase.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But, do Americans making more than $1 million need a tax cut right now?
MCCAIN: [Sarcastically] Or a billion dollars, or a billion dollars or
ten billion dollars. What we're doing here is trying to find some level
where the populism will take over. The fact is that we don't want to
raise anybody's taxes in a time of economic recession that we're in. And
that's the fundamental principle that we're adhering to. And we believe
that's the message that the American people sent, to get some
confidence into businesses, large and small, as to what their future
will be, so they can invest and hire.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You said you wanted to see action on this START
treaty. It's your colleague from Arizona, Senator Jon Kyl, who says he's
not prepared to vote on it this year. But as you know, many even
Republican former Secretaries of State and Defense, have said this is
vital to America's national security. Can a compromise be reached before
the end of this year?
MCCAIN: I hope so. I have some concerns about missile defense. In fact,
I'm a little disturbed about the news this morning that tactical
nuclear weapons have been moved closer to Europe than- by the Russians.
But that is not directly related to the START treaty. But certainly is
an indication for the need to have verification. I believe that we could
move forward with a START treaty and satisfy Senator Kyl's concerns and
mine about missile defense and others and I hope that we could do that.
STEPHANOPOULOS: This year?
MCCAIN: I would hope so. I would hope so. But Senator Kyl's concerns
are very legitimate. And I think they are- the attempts are being made
to address them.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Finally, sir, on WikiLeaks. I know you think that leak
is deplorable. But, I'm wondering is there anything that can be done
about it?
MCCAIN: Well, first of all, let's go back to the principle of need to
know. Why would a private first class have access to all of this
information?
STEPHANOPOULOS: It's a very good question.
MCCAIN: Somebody is responsible for that. And it isn't just the private
first class. They should be held accountable and responsible for a
change. We should make sure that we have the fixes in, that we have
confidence that that information will not be disseminated, except for
those who need to know. And, frankly, I'm worried about the additional
information that WikiLeaks apparently has and how much damage that will
do to America's national security. Let's fix the problem, hold people
responsible, and make sure this kind of thing never happens again.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Okay. Senator McCain, thanks very much for your time this morning.
- Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
